Artist story –Jenny Cotterell: Whitianga Lions Art Expo Matariki Weekend

Jenny and other local artists will be exhibiting at the Whitianga Lions Art Expo 13 - 16 July over the Matariki long weekend. There will be an estimated 600 artworks for sale, with a percentage of proceeds from sales going to Project Mammogram. 

Jenny Cotterell - Pointillism Art

In her work, Star Compass, she uses this technique with acrylic paint to build definition in a pattern stars with compass locations. The painting brings together indigenous art inspiration and star navigation, both of which are significant to Matariki.

I got my inspiration from Aboriginal art and I’ll be exhibiting several pieces of art in the expo, seven of them using pointillism

Jenny Cotterell – Whitianga Art Group

Celebrating Matariki in Art

July 14 is the start of Te Iwa O Matariki, the national celebration of our indigenous culture with the rise of Matariki herself, the central star in the cluster (the kai whakahaere or 'conductor'), and six children.

Early Maori used Matariki as a compass to help guide them on their ocean journeys.

Jenny’s paintings will be among 110 pieces of art by 13 members of The Whitianga Art Group, and there is bound to be something to appeal to most people from paintings in oil, acrylic, water colour or oil and cold wax; wall hangings, and magnets to brighten your home, right through to cat paintings set in stone, literally. They are painted on rocks.

Art in support of Project Mammogram

Being part of the expo means a lot to the artists, says Jenny, with some supporting it in the two previous years as well, and for some this is their first time. They all agree, though, that helping raise money for Project Mammogram is an important cause to support.  

 It means everything to be supporting Project Mammogram with this art exhibition because we need this service here. It’s vital to our community, and for me personally, it would certainly save me a lot of travelling to know that I could easily have that service available locally.

– Jenny Cotterell

Whitianga Art Group

 Jenny explains that The Whitianga Art Group is a thriving organisation with an art centre and a gallery. "The gallery is ongoing. We have artwork for sale there all year round. The gallery is open every Thursday and Friday and that’s when the artists go and work there as well. We work together, paint together and it’s a nice social gathering for the day.”

WHITIANGA LIONS CLUB ART EXPO 2023

For more information please click on the link below or go to the Events pages.