Upstairs Gallery

2009 TCAC Emerging Artist Award Winner: Linda Anne Dixon

Nuance - Oil

My background in art includes a Diploma in visual Arts. Completed in 2007 at Rutherford College, Te Atatu, Auckland. And also Artstation, Painters Studio, Ponsonby Auckland 2008. I frequently find myself in awe of the many birds that live and play in the trees that surround my home and the way they interact, nature tells you that there is beauty in harmony and that is where I receive my inspiration in all its variations

2009 TCAC Emerging Artist Award Runner Up: John Simpson

Twilight Tide - Bethells - Photography

The amazing light and energy that hit me at Bethells, inspired me to do this work. I have a passion to capture and portray the beauty found in our natural world. I have had a love of photography from a young age. My first camera was a Kodak Box Brownie, which I still have today. My first job was at the National Film Unit. I later moved into electronics and computers. When photography went digital, it re-fired my passion. I found I was able to combine my computer skills to enhance my images, which opened up many new artistic possibilities for me. My goal is to be recognised as an artist, and be able to exhibit and sell my work.

John has been inspired by his partner Lyn Simpson. Click here to view her website. 

 

2008 TCAC Emerging Artist Award Winner: Elise Ure
Rachel - Oil

Three years ago I left high-school feeling that the formal environment was not allowing me to meet my own needs as a creative person.

As a free thinker I immersed myself in personal studies. Eventually I felt brave enough to give in to the temptations of oil paints. what a find! I quickly applied my growing knowledge of the human form and attempted portraiture.

A year or so later of painting, observing and hours of self discovery that have led me to find passion in the human form and, strangely, in architecture, environments and spaces, I have found what it is that set's my mind alight with pleasure.

It is now my dream to apply these loves into my work. I have yet to achieve this, but I look forward to a lifetime of closing the gap between now and then.

2008 TCAC Emerging Artist Runner Up: Annie McIver
Podform and Nepenthes Podform - Earthenware

In 2008 Annie completed her Diploma of Ceramic Art through Otago Polytech and Auckland Studio Potters.

The winning pieces are from a collection of podforms that she created while studying.

"I have always had an interest in natural design and have been experimenting to make some imaginary plants that have some relationship to real ones."

 

 

 

 

 

 Podform - Brick Red Earthenware
This piece has some elements of a pitcher plant or Nepenthes, one of the carnivorous plants.

Nepenthes Podform - White Earthenware With Terrasigillata
This piece is an interpretation of Ernst Haeckel's original print of Nepenthes which I have painted onto a curved pod like surface.

Painter

A self taught artist, Lorna Allan captures the quintessential New Zealand in her acrylic on canvas landscapes. She journeys far and wide in search of the views that move her to capture their beauty, no easy task in a country where every bend in the road reveals another panorama fit for a masterpiece.

Lorna tries to share with the viewer that ‘Wow’ factor that she feels when she comes upon a view that takes her breath away. She is a member of Titirangi Community Arts Council, Auckland East Arts and Waitakere Central Community Arts Council.  She has had three solo exhibitions in 2007, also demonstrating and teaching when time allows.

Click here to visit Lorna's website.

Painter

Tony Brown offers us all a vision of perseverance and triumph over turmoil. An enthusiasm to forge a better life is what fuels Tony's passion to create works that inspire powerful and emotive responses: "I want to reach out to people who are stuck". Tony's paintings, which are deeply inlaid with a locality and familiarity and in some cases, are intimately provocative, grapple with issues such as depression, adoption, loneliness and sobriety.

Tony's dark and raw works show an artist who interprets issues with an innate sense of compassion and individuality. Through a process of rehabilitation, Tony rediscovered art as a form of expression from childhood and values the emotions he is able to stir within viewers of his work.

Click here to visit Tony's website

Painter

Maurice is an emerging self-taught artist and considers his skill and talent to be a gift.  He was born  and raised  in Bombay , India .  He has spent most of his working life in the Middle East.

Having moved to New Zealand nearly 6 years ago, he is now able to pursue his passion and love for art and painting, has even tried a bit of sculpture. Maurice loves to experiment with different ideas and works in a variety of styles.

Not restricted by the brush, he enjoys working with different media to translate his thoughts and ideas on to canvas. He enjoys the creative thinking each piece of art requires and his creativity comes through strongly in his works.

Maurice does a lot of sketching but is now leaning more towards acrylics.  His use of bold and warm colours and paints are evident in most of his works.  His art is more symbolic.

Click here to visit Maurice's website.

Textiles

Maxine Jepson has spent her life exploring and discovering the potential of textiles to produce innovative and distinctive art forms. Maxine's career began as a freelance visual merchandiser, her creative and ground-breaking approach fuelled her passion and persistent attraction to textiles, fibres and form.

 

Ceramic Sculptress

Karen lives in the HendersonValley with her husband and chooks. She has been happily creating ceramic sculpture for 25 years, is largely self taught and has won numerous awards.She is a member of Waitakere Central Community Arts Council, Titirangi Community Arts Council and Titirangi Potters.

She mostly sells her work through New Zealand Galleries.Small Collectables: Dogs, cats, mice, folk figurines, whistles, roosters, clowns, tiles, all in fine white clay, meticulously hand painted, clear glazed and mid fired.Mid Range: Hollow dogs, cats, woodpigeons and other birds, traditionally glazed and mid fired.Large Paper Clay: Dogs, cats, boars, people, slip coloured and glazed, sometimes bronzed work. Weatherproof. mid fired.Public Sculpture: Seat and table in Onehunga Mainstreet, Dragon Seat in Ngataringa Reserve, Devonport. All ferro cement and hand made tiles.

Ellen is a mixed media artist.

She has participated in several exhibitions and charity art auctions both as artist and organizer.

Her background is in photography, graphic design and video.

“I enjoy using shapes and textures that sometimes incorporate ideas or effects I have experimented with on the computer.  I am also a video editor/multi media producer, so it is very satisfying, working with the physical and not the virtual aspects of a work to create some dimension and interest.”

Painter - Bdes (VisCom) 2001

Creativity. I am involved in it, I stand from afar, observe and admisre it and I travel the road it takes me on. I have practiced in the Arts since my highschool years and continue to find creative energy and inspriation in my community, environment and self.

Graduated from Unitec – New Zealand in 2001 with a Bachelor of Design, majoring in painting. Printmaking and painting were disciplines and techniques that challenged and intrigued me technically and compositionally. After graduating, I relocated to the Far North and set up an art studio at Coopers Beach, became involved in a series of collective projects, was invited to submit work for local and regional exhibitions, and became an exhibiting member of the art collective (Exhibit A gallery) in Mangonui.

My first solo exhibition ‘Transition’, was a series of six oil paintings, held at the Lopdell House Gallery, Titirangi, in February 2005.In the same year I taught printmaking for a Term at Peria School, and was the Arts Coordinator at Taipa Area School. In 2006, I did commissioned work, and began working on a series of five oil paintings, and six pen drawings for my next solo show ‘Migration’, which was  exhibited in February 2008 at the Depot Artspace Gallery in Devonport.

In 2007, I initiated, coordinated and exhibited in a collaborative one –night only event ‘Condensed ’ which was held at ‘Barossa’, Titirangi. This event combined music, poetry reading, photography and paintings. Have lived in and around Titirangi and West Auckland all of my life except for three years when living and working up north, and continue to pursue art as my chosen profession.

Photographer

At the age of 11 Arne Loot already had a darkroom in a wardrobe of his parent’s home in Holland. Ever since photography has remained a lifelong interest for this man with multiple occupations - Sailor, Designer, Builder, Painter, Cook, Farmhand, Musician, Writer and Herpetologist ... you name it.

He arrived in New Zealand in 1952. His first job for 8 years was with the largest Portrait and Bridal Studios, becoming the Manager. Then 3 years with one of Auckland’s leading agencies where he invented his iconic bleach out technique with black and white prints before establishing himself as a freelance photographer for the rest of his life specialising in photographing works of art and antiques for galleries and contemporary artists.

Photographing Art, Antiques etc was a great passion...

•    35 years for Peter Webb galleries and auctioneers, including Sotheby's. 12 years with the Art New Zealand magazine, 3 years for the Auckland City Art Gallery.
•    Photography for galleries has included: New Vision, Dennis Cohn, The Mill, Barry Lett, R.K.S., John Leech, Dunbar Sloane, and Gow Lansford.
•    Privately for many artists including Friedensrich Hundertwasser.
•    Commercially for Air New Zealand, Watties, Tip Top, Eta and Winstone.
•    Photography for more than a dozen books including the very successful 'Gottfried Lindauer', 'Colin McCahon' and 'Jonathon White'.
•    Arne has exhibited in many venues, once simultaneously with the late Brian Brake. An exhibition of his private photography 'Then And Now' was held at the Upstairs Gallery in February-March 2006.

Internationally recognised for the quality of his work, he has received numerous awards including Kodak Photographer of the Year, RKO Film Studios, Golden Needle Award in Chicago, photographic design in Hong Kong and Golden Scoop in the USA.

A self taught artist who loves to experiment and play with colours, Chirstina McTaggart-Tie has been interested in art all her life.

She came to New Zealand in 1971 from Singapore and is now a  New Zealander. She has been involved in Arts and Crafts, taught Copper Art and makes her own greeting cards. In 2005 she resumed her love for Watercolours.

She is a member of the Titirangi Community Arts Council, Upstairs Gallery and has exhibited there in The Ethnicity Of The Waitakeres exhibition. She has also sold her work privately.

 

Rag Rug Weaver

“I have been a TCAC member since the  late 80's and am member of Handweavers and Spinners Guild. I am essentially a rag rug weaver, working from my studio at WoodBay on commissions and for exhibition. All my fabric is of the previously used, or the no longer wanted, variety. My addiction to fabric and colour is a passion, and my work is on walls and floors locally, nationally and internationally.”

Recent exhibitions include: Juxtaposition of Journeys and Junk Art at Upstairs Gallery, Fine Threads at Corban Estate Arts Centre and Smart Tarts and Social Butterflies at Signal Gallery.

Artist

Pam is a full time extramural student studying stage 2 fine arts and a part time home carer.

Click here to visit Pam's website

 

 

 

 

Painter

Terry Prince is an artist living in Oratia. Growing up and living in West Auckland, he spent the best days of his childhood at Foster’s bay Huia, and as he became old enough to roam, the big surf beaches.

He finds the grand scale, shapes, and endless colour shifts of these places fascinating, and derives great joy from trying to capture them.

An ex student of Garth Tapper and Ralph Venables, he then worked for many years with his long time friend Ted Dutch.

His work is in private collections and galleries throughout Auckland.

Carol Rewega is an emerging, self-taught artist. Her inspiration is nature - with a special affinity for trees. Born and raised in the semi-wilderness of Canada (avoiding bears & cougars whilst playing in her mountain forest backyard), then travelling to faraway places, she settled in Aotearoa and has now spent over 20 years in the 'wild west' of Waitakere. Going for a bush walk has never felt so wonderfully safe!

Working from the premise that a painting is not finished until she absolutely loves it, each piece of artwork has taken months to reach that level of completion. Applying multi-layers of paint with everything ftrom brushes to sponges to fingertips, Carol's goal is to make each painting a journey into nature itself - where one can enter into her artwork and enjoy it forever ...

Kiln Cast Glass Objectmaker

Essentially a self taught artist, my craft skills employed in object making have been garnered though community based art education programmes, supplemented by the generous sharing of knowledge that takes place within New Zealand's many small independent professional studios & workshops.
 
Art is a gift, a conduit to communicate across the barriers of race, language, culture and generation, a message of hope for humanity.   
 
Since early childhood I have had an unquenchable passion for the marine & freshwater environment, as an object maker the material qualities of glass with its 4th dimensional depths and distortions, provides an alluring hypnotic medium within which to explore this mysterious affliction.

Image: Helen Cossey

Bachelor Of Fine Arts

Tania Sunde has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works as a full time artist and designer, creating contemporary art that is eclectic and includes representational, mixed media, sculpture and digital photography. "Great North Piha", demonstrates Tania's enthusiasm in painting the magnificence of New Zealand coastal landscapes. Tania exhibits in Auckland and Wellington and her work is held in private collections worldwide.

Click here to view Tania's website.

Click here to view Tania's art profile at  www.thebigidea.co.nz

Mixed Media Artist

I am a multimedia artist based in the suburb of Swanson in Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand.

Living amongst the native bush of the Waitakere Ranges is a constant source of inspiration. This regions colour, form, movement, pattern and texture influence all my works as does the areas bird life, the native Tui in particular.

Multi media materials range from bamboo, supplejack, harakeke, paper, paint, perspex, clay, fabric, crayon, inks, dyes and found objects.

Past work has included banners, paintings, sculptures and wall hangings.