“Flora” will be an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by Jane Galloway and Hayley Hamilton inspired by the coming of spring, the creation of new life and the blooming of flowers after a long winter.
Knowing that life is challenging for many people right now, the two artists wanted to put together a light and positive show that lifts peoples’ spirits and encompasses the feeling of a new season. Artists at Work Gallery has been open for the past 3 years but this its first “official” exhibition, so it’s a double celebration for Jane to have an advertised show and celebrate running the gallery.
The paintings in this exhibition have a lot in common, sharing the artists’ love of flowers and the female muse as Goddess of Spring. The two artists talk on a regular basis, sharing ideas about their painting processes and subjects so it evolved naturally that they would exhibit together.
“Flora” is an eclectic, colourful mix of styles and media. Jane has stepped away from her recent abstract work and has completed a collection of representational paintings – some in watercolour and others in acrylic and collage, an experimental technique for her. The paintings continue two themes: retro New Zealand vases with native flora and fauna plus a range of her tattooed girls using her daughter as her model.
Hayley will be exhibiting paintings and re-visiting her love of clay with some ceramic vessels. This time she has experimented with a combination of illustrative patterns, portraiture, and figurative pieces – the emphasis being on all things floral.
Hayley’s work strives for a connection with the viewer by telling relatable stories in paint. Inspiration comes from life experiences, relationships, and being consciously child-like, trying to see without prior concepts and recording interactions that are scribbled into her sketchbook. Being a naturally curious person and delving into other worlds through books, films and conversations, ideas emerge that become paintings.
Jane’s output is so varied it’s difficult to describe except as a list of different media and styles: several themes run through her watercolour illustrations – New Zealand botanicals and birds, modern fabric design history, and messages to young women about self-acceptance and self-expression. These designs become greeting cards and calendars produced and distributed by Live Wires NZ. Jane’s other love is abstract painting which she has focussed on for the last 3 years.
Hayley says she stays in the creative zone by keeping to a routine. “I can’t afford to wait for the muse or I would achieve nothing. So it’s total focus every day, even if I feel I am going backwards. It’s a matter of just getting up and going to the studio no matter what. That’s the ups and downs of being true to your own creativity.” She has learned that it’s ok to doubt yourself and think “What on earth am I doing? It’s all part of being your authentic self, letting your intuition push you forward into new territory.”
Keeping to a routine, rather than waiting for inspiration to strike, also works for Jane. Doing the work leads to a constant flow of new ideas. She feels there’s never enough time to see them all through so it’s a matter of paring the inspiration back to manageable themes. Running the gallery, illustration and abstract painting mean every day is full and she’s very grateful to have a life full of creativity.
As a guest artist Hayley is looking forward to seeing the exhibition as a finished project. “Exhibiting at Jane’s gallery is pretty special as she has been a mentor to me in the last few years which makes the inaugural opening at ‘Artists at Work ‘ feels rather celebratory. We will both be extremely busy after the exhibition as we roll straight into the Raglan Arts Weekend when both of us will be exhibiting at our own studios.”
FLORA exhibition
Artists at Work Studios and Gallery
5C Wainui Road, (behind Zinnia)
Preview opening Friday 15th September, 5pm-7pm.
The show runs for 2 weeks until 29th September
