Raglan artists Sam Mathers and Sarah Bing have combined their favoured mediums for a very limited range of collaborative pieces for Raglan Arts Weekend this Labour Weekend.
The largest work, ‘Good luck good boy cobra’ was sculpted in ceramic stoneware over two months by Bing, thrice fired with gold fangs and passed on to Mathers to be painted, a process which took another three weeks. The pair are next door neighbours although it wasn’t until their kids started talking over the back fence during the lockdown that they met.
“The piece came out so well, I love the complete unpredictability of what Sam has done with it. That’s the magic of collaborating with another artist, they come to the work with a totally different aesthetic, process and experience,” Bing says. “When I asked Sam if he would be interested in collaborating earlier this year, I was stoked when he agreed. I love collaborating anyway, plus it made sense; we both have a colour heavy aesthetic and make really playful work. Also, it’s close!”
“I hardly ever work in three dimensions, so found this a fun challenge to paint,” Sam says. “I had to keep taking breaks because the yellow against the blue patterns was so intense on my eyes, and it took so long and needed so many coats of paint but it was definitely worth it.”
Both artists have their studios round the corner from each just past the beach turnoff, and will have their latest works for sale from 10am-5pm, Sat, Sun, Mon this weekend.
The good luck cobra sculpture and several smaller wall pieces from the collab will be available at Sam Mathers studio at 536 Wainui Rd.
Janine Jackson
