New Zealand 2011

I got to travel to New Zealand in February 2012 to visit friends, sight-see, and hang out and do art. I stayed in the small bohemian surf town of Raglan on the west coast of North Island. I really loved the town of Raglan. It's everything I imagined...it's small, it's friendly, it's main street is filled with art galleries, coffee houses, surf shops, fish n chip shops,...and it sits right at the water. I could see myself living here if I had that sort of opportunity. The people are my kind of people...surfers, artists, hippies, granolas and those who love the relaxed bohemian lifestyle that Raglan offers. I fit right in!!!! yes...that's me laying out on the beach after going for a swim in the ocean.

This is the house I'm staying at. My friend's husband built it (he does construction for a living). It's in an ideal location with a view of the water and plenty of outdoor deck space for BBQs and parties. I've met a few of their friends and neighbors and they are all lovely.

It's about a 20 minute walk from the house to the heart of Raglan. Yesterday I had the chance to explore on my own for the day...so after a leisurely morning (breakfast of Mueslix and toast, and a wonderful cup of cofee) I set out on foot to have a look around the town.

As I walked along I passed this mural that was painted on a water tower. Being an artist that does a lot of mural painting...I admired the design and thought about how many hours and how much man-power it would've taken to do something of this scale. Being a full-time artist and business owner (www.revelatorart.blogspot.com)

and being a leader (and gallery curator) in a large artist community called VineArts in Boise, Idaho (www.vineartsboise.org) I am always interested in the art scene wherever I travel. So armed with my business cards and informational brochures I decided to do some networking. Raglan has quite a large community of artists for being such a small town. My friend knows a lot of the gallery owners, so I popped in on several to have a chat...artist to artist, and gallery curator to gallery curator. I went into the Matapihi art gallery and they had artwork displayed from Ragland artists and artists from all over New Zealand. I enjoyed chatting with the curator Ardre Foote about the art styles of New Zealand (the artists like to incorporate the native Maori symbols and patterns into their art). You can see more about the Matapihi Gallery at www.raglan.net.nz

I stopped into the Combined Artist Studios+Gallery (www.artistsgallery.co.nz) to talk with artist & curator Amanda Watson (she is a really good friend of my friend). The Combined Gallery is a studio collective that has studio space for three artists to work and then a gallery to display their work.

Here is a painting by Amanda Watson. One of the styles she does are these amazing abstract seascapes in oil. Being a lover of water as I am...I love love love her stuff!!

I also stopped into the Tidal Bottega art & floral Gallery (www.tidalbottega.co.nz) owned by artist Yvette Harry-Wright. She is also a good friend of my friends.

She does these mind blowing acrylic abstracts that have hidden meanings and symbolism. This painting (a 3 piece series) tells the story about Creation to Christ to Revelation...all covered in the blood of Christ. Amazing stuff!! She covers her paintings with a thick layer of acrylic resin to get a glass-like shine.

After I took a couple of hours to look around I found my way to a coffee house that serves Raglan Roast coffee...this one is called Bobo's. After getting my white coffee (espresso coffee with milk)I joined a few other afternoon chillaxers and sat down at a picnic table outside of the shop to drink my coffee, do a bit of journaling and painting...and chillax.

This is the coffee house. Yes...I know...it's so...ME!!! Palm trees and a surf shop next door...tribal tattooed surfers and dreadlock wearing hippies hanging out inside and outside.

This sign sums up the feel of Raglan...am I "home" or what?!!!! This is like the signs we put up in the VineArts Studio!!!

Here is one of the surf shops...lined with surfboards. I might have the opportunity to go surfing while I'm here in Raglan. I'm hoping I get to...it all depens on the waves and weather. My friends surf a lot and they tell me that right now the waves have been quite big...ideal for experienced surfers...but not so ideal for those who have never surfed before. .Raglan seems to live and breath surfing...everywhere I go people are talking about surfing.

Here is a colorful artistical van I saw in town.

Here is a sticker plastered surf board in front of a surf shop.

Here's another painted truck with surfboards attached to the top.

One thing I've had fun with while here in New Zealand is being able to experience a great amount of the local art scene...through art galleries, art exhibitions, colorful murals, and conversations with artists.

I've learned about new ways to hang art in galleries...like this round hole & peg hanging system in a gallery in Raglan...

gotten to see a pottery workshop at the Raglan wharf...

enjoyed this wall mural outside of a backpackers hostel near the beach...

went to an art opening at a local shoe shop...

experienced the local scenery through a resident artist's eyes...

marveled at the colorfully painted vans for tourism...

enjoyed a new take on some older art...

gazed at some modern views of New Zealand patterns...

hung out at an artsy-bohemian cafe...

chatted with an artist painting for his living on the east coast...

and viewed a beach I was unable to stand on...through a painters eyes.

I've really had a great time enjoying the art of New Zealand...whether it be tribal Maori art or modern Kiwi art...and I loved getting to meet and converse with the local artists of New Zealand and learn about their art, their creative process, and their hopes & dreams. it's all been inspiring and inviting to my artistic heart.