Art @ the Library

Westland Arts Incorporated and Westland District Library are collaborating to make a free exhibition space available.

Art @ the Library is a small, nimble and flexible project that aims to provide exhibition space for artistic and innovative proposals.

Current Exhibit: Joe Abbott - South Island Landscapes

Artist Statement:

The West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand was home to me for 26 years. I was born here, a fourth-generation Coaster. Descendent of pioneering families, hardworking mothers, coal miners, saw millers and bushmen. In particular, I have ties to Ross, Blaketown, Dobson, Te Kinga, Bell Hill, Rotomanu, and Inchbonnie and still have family and friends dotted all over the Coast.

Now living in Australia, I return to the Coast regularly and feel drawn back towards the glory of the mountains and the rivers of my youth. The colours and shapes particularly of the West Coast bush and the changing light on the mountains or a river have inspired me to try my hand at painting only in recent years (I'm in my 60's). I actually went ahead and tried it out to encourage & show my children firsthand that anything is possible and it's never too late to acquire new skills or unlock your creative flair (that you may never have known existed unless you gave it a crack!). Fortunately, acrylics have allowed me to develop a style and colour range that captures & highlights the raw and wild scenery of this rugged land that I love.

I hope that my paintings give that sense of inspiration to others and encourage them to visit this very special place and like me, maybe pick up a paintbrush and create their own version of this wonderful world!

You will find a little rabbit hidden in each painting - it's a quirky trademark of mine.

Most of the paintings are available to purchase. Please contact my niece if interested nickimay@live.com or 021 0833 2069.