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Nationally recognised art collector and philanthropist Sir James Wallace has become the first patron of the newly-formed Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust.
 Sir James donated $1000 to the trust, presenting the gift at the opening of the 2011 Art Escape at Hot Waves Café, Hot Water Beach, on February 25, 2011.
The trust has been formed to make art lovers and art buyers throughout New Zealand aware of the richness, quality and eclectic character of the art scene in Mercury Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula.
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It will also be a repository for funds generated to support arts-related events.
Organising committee chairman Jerry Thoma says the trust will help to more rapidly advance the vision of the Art Escape being the most respected open studio art tour in New Zealand.
The trust has six levels; Friend , Supporter $50 annually, Art Lover $250 annually, Patron $1500 biennially.
For more information about the trust click here
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ART ESCAPE 2010
On January 3 a highly successful Long Lunch was hosted by Jane and Tom Parson at their home at Hahei. Fifty-six people - some Coromandel residents and others on holiday on the peninsula - attended the fund-raising lunch, enjoying fine food and beverages and the chance to buy some wonderful works of art.
Flaxmill Bay artist and chef David Fowell catered the four-course gourmet meal, with the help of the extended Parson family and several artists, and nearly $10,000 was raised.
For the first time last year, there was an official Art Escape launch, at Hot Waves Café in Hot Water Beach, on the evening of the first day of the tour. The launch also doubled as the opening of the inaugural Taste of the Tour exhibition, which featured a stunning collection of works by participating artists.
About 120 people attended the lunch, which featured local wine, food and music as well as art. Arts patron James Wallace and ceramic artist and teacher Bronwynne Cornish selected their favourite pieces in the exhibition.
Mr Wallace chose a painting by Michael Smither and Ms Cornish selected a fish-hooked figure created by ceramicist Ian Webster. Painter Jacqui Elley won the People’s Choice award with a work called Exhale.
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A member of the Art Escape organising committee, Rachel Olsen says the Taste of the Tour Exhibition was an exciting addition to Art Escape 2010. “Our opening night was a highlight with tickets all sold out beforehand. The evening was most enjoyable and a huge success. The exhibition was free to view at Hot Waves Cafe during the following nine days and many people visited to see the collection on display and make their 'people's choice' vote.”
Rachel says she had a record number of visitors to her studio over the two weekends. “Many were pleased to have had the opportunity to see all the artists’ work showcased at Hot Waves beforehand and commented it had also helped plan their tour of the studios and decide which artists were a 'must see' for them.
“I enjoy welcoming visitors to my home studio and gallery during art escape, I think it's a wonderful opportunity to get feedback about my work and share a little of how I create and what inspires me.
“I work toward Art Escape during the year and always have some new work on my walls. Often people have seen my images in print form and appreciate seeing the originals I have on display. They are genuinely interested to learn more about an artist's process, enjoy seeing my card and print range and looking through my albums of earlier works.
“They are very keen to see my studio with working drawings and paintings in progress - they often have questions, sometimes technical, sometimes about certain paintings, and really enjoy hearing background 'stories' to some works and why I have chosen that particular subject.”
Interest from artists and galleries is high again for next year’s event, which will follow much the same format as this year, with some exciting developments – more details to come.
Another Long Lunch is planned in January and the tour will again be officially launched at Hot Waves Café on the evening of the first day of the tour. The Taste of the Tour exhibition will be opened at the same time. Watch this space for details.
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Painter Michael Smither, from Otama, and ceramic artist Ian Webster, from Kuaotunu, were named on Friday night (February 26) as producing the best works in the opening exhibition of this year’s Mercury Bay Escape.
Art patron and collector James Wallace and ceramic artist and teacher Bronwynne Cornish chose their favourite works from 39 entries in the inaugural Taste of the Tour exhibition at Hot Waves Café in Hot Water Beach. Each of the participating artists in the Art Escape entered a work.
Mr Wallace chose a painting by Michael Smither which continues his exploration of the colour of sound and Ms Cornish selected a fish-hooked figure created by fellow ceramicist Ian Webster.
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Michael Smither with his painting and James Wallace
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Ian Webster with his sculpture and Bronwynne Cornish
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About 100 people attended the exhibition opening and the launch of the Art Escape at the café on Friday night. Special guests included former Governor General Dame Cath Tizard, Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie and Mercury Bay Community Board deputy-chairperson Alison Henry.
Dame Cath said the Coromandel Peninsula had an amazing proliferation of art and artists. “Everywhere you go, there’s an art studio, an artist and exhibitions.” Ms Goudie said the Art Escape was a really important event and the organising committee had done an outstanding job.
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Dame Cath Tizard
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MP Sandra Goudie
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The exhibition, which runs until March 7, features a wide range of styles and subject matter. Mr Wallace said the variety made it hard to judge the event. “It’s always difficult to judge art … and in the end choosing is always subjective.” Ms Cornish, who helped curate the exhibition, congratulated everyone who took part. There was plenty to choose from and everyone would have their own favourites, she said.
Good numbers of people visited artists’ studios and exhibitions during the first weekend of the open-studio Art Escape. The event continues next weekend, with studios from Tairua to Otama open from March 5-7. Art work ranges from paintings, prints and photography to sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and fabric art.
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The intriguing world of Mercury Bay Art Escape participants Julie Burns-Nevin and Gary Nevin features in an extensive article in the February edition of House & Garden. Writer Sally Duggan finds a couple who literally live and breathe art in their unique Whenuakite house.
To read the article follow the link In The Magazine - NZ House & Garden
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To have James Wallace and Bronwynne Cornish agree to be present and for them to select their favourite pieces from our Opening Exhibition shows that the Art Escape has become an important event in the New Zealand arts calendar.
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Bronwynne Cornish is a ceramic sculptor who is also well-known for her installation work and other 'multi-part' pieces.
Cornish originally studied to be an industrial designer but later discovered her true passion lay with earthenware and became an apprentice to leading New Zealand potter Helen Mason in 1968.
Cornish has since become one of New Zealand's best known ceramic artists. Highlights in her career include representing New Zealand at the Brisbane Triennial in 1996 and a solo show at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki in 2002. This exhibition, entitled 'Allude', referenced Cornish's fascination with New Zealand expatriate painter Frances Hodgkins who, in turn, had been fascinated by ceramic art. Cornish has also been the recipient of several awards, including a major prize at the Norsewear Art Award in 2004 for work she created in collaboration with her partner, painter Denys Watkins. She is an important figure in the recent history of New Zealand ceramics, in her role as both an artist and a teacher. Her approach towards her sculpture has seen her exhibit widely and earned her recognition and critical acclaim as a highly influential contributor to New Zealand ceramics and art-education.
Cornish's current series 'Trans-animals' looks at the crossover between people and animals, placing those characteristics in fine balance and emphasising the 'wildness' that we have lost in our lives today.
Cornish says, 'I make work that I hope will create a certain atmosphere, ring a long-lost bell, and help people create their own mythologies'.
 
 
Works by Bronwynne Cornish
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Sunday Jan. 3rd
Art lovers from around New Zealand dug deep last week to support the Coromandel Peninsula’s fourth annual Mercury Bay Art Escape.
Fifty-six people, including some who live on the Coromandel and others on holiday, attended a fund-raising Long Lunch at Hahei on January 3, enjoying fine food, wine and beer and the chance to buy some of the best art on the peninsula.
Works by sixteen artists were available for sale and 10 selected works were featured in a silent auction at the event, which was hosted by Jane and Tom Parson at their home in Hahei.
Flaxmill Bay artist and chef David Fowell catered a four-course gourmet meal for the event, with the help of an extended Parson family and several of the participating artists.
Nearly $10,000 was raised for the Art Escape which will be held on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of February 26, 27 & 28 and March 5, 6 & 7. Thirty-nine artists exhibiting in 29 individual studios will be open to the public. A number of other well respected artists will also be represented in seven participating galleries.
Coromandel MP Sandra Goudie, who spoke at the lunch, says the Coromandel needs to let everyone know how good its artists are and the Art Escape is a great way to do this.
The Art Escape Board is delighted with the success of the first-of-a-kind Long Lunch, chairman Jerry Thoma says.
“The goal this year was to raise awareness of the quality of art and artists on the Coromandel and to raise the profile of the event in the minds of potential art connoisseurs.”
The board hopes this event, which grew out of the vision of a very few dedicated and diligent artists five years ago, will soon become one of the most coveted destinations in New Zealand for art lovers and art buyers.
“As art patron James Wallace has remarked, Coromandel art is undervalued and under-recognised,” Mr Thoma says.
Along with art patrons, The Long Lunch was supported by several very generous sponsors. These include:
Brian and Chris Bowerin the proprietors of Peninsula Party Hire, 60 Racecourse Road, Whitianga, for supplying all the equipment for the Long Lunch
John Davies, Ohui Vineyard Coromandel Wine, 8 Calypso Rd, Flagstaff, Hamilton, for supplying the fabulous wines
Greg and Lorane Miles, Aquaculture Pacific Limited, Hot Water Beach,for supplying their lovely paua.
Peter Wills, DB Breweries Ltd, 1 Bairds Rd, Otahuhu, Auckland, for supplying Tui Blond beer.
Hahei residents Gavin White and Penne Clayton take a close look at a Lucy Horne painting.
Plating up the dessert 'outback'
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Art lovers enjoy a Long Lunch at Hahei, held to raise funds for the Mercury Bay Art Escape.
Leah Ashton from Auckland with Mercury Bay Art Escape committee chairman Jerry Thoma.
(from left) Kirsty and Murray Higgs from Auckland and Cooks Beach, at the Long Lunch with Mandy Reid from Te Awamutu and Cooks Beach and Thomas Parson
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(from left) Rhonda Hawley, from Hahei, Mary Brook, from Auckland and Front Beach and Sandra Foote from Auckland and Hahei enjoy a drink before lunch.
A beautiful fine day, dining in the shade, wonderful food and an action packed auction to finish off a happy day!
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Three Coromandel Penninsula artists were recognized for outstanding work during the 2010 Taste Of The Tour event. Best of Show works were selected in three categories:
2D work: Michael Smither's entry 'C# (C Sharp)', oil on stretched canvas, was chosen by noted collector and philanthropist James Wallace.
3D work: Ian Webster's 'Continuum', stoneware sculpture was selected by respected ceramic artist and teacher, Bronwynne Cornish.
Peoples Choice: Jacqueline Elley's entry 'Exhale', oil on canvas, was selected as the Peoples Choice winner by accumulating the largest number of 1st place votes from visitors to the Tour's opening exhibition.
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Tairua painter Paula McNeil’s work, The Potter’s Hand, was chosen by artist Michael Smither as his favourite two-dimensional entry. Michael said he had real trouble deciding which painting was his favourite, but Paula’s work kept drawing him back because of the human emotion in it.
Ceramic artist and teacher Bronwynne Cornish chose a knife made by Lloyd Franklin, from Kuaotunu, as her favourite three-dimensional object. “The unlikely marriage of car coil and swamp kauri, bringing together technology and nature, in a beautifully crafted knife has won me over,” she said. 
A new award for an emerging artist was presented by James Wallace to Otama artist Claire Elliott for her painting, Silver Swell. 
