23 January 2021
MD Gallery in Whangārei has announced its attendance at the 2021 Auckland Art Fair, making history as the first Northland art gallery to ever be accepted to exhibit at this prestigious event.
The Auckland Art Fair, held next month, will showcase art by more than 150 artists, exhibited by over 40 of the best galleries of the wider Pacific Rim region. MD Gallery will exhibit artists Rosie Parsonson and Richard Darbyshire – aka Rosy & Rich – a Whangārei-based duo specialising in the traditional mediums of ceramics, painting and sculpture.
Megan Dickinson, founder of MD Gallery, says she is absolutely thrilled by the news. “We operate as a little gallery on a big mission and this is an opportunity for two of our exceptionally talented Northland artists to take the international art world by storm.
“There is a vast breadth of creativity and artistic ability in Northland and I am overjoyed to showcase this to a wider audience. We are looking forward to rubbing shoulders with some of the best galleries and artists in New Zealand and internationally.”
Founded in 2017 in central Whangārei, MD Gallery hosts solo and group exhibitions by both established and emerging Northland artists on a monthly rotation and is currently the singular contemporary fine art dealer gallery in Whangārei.
“MD Gallery is a physical representation of how artworks interact and connect with people, with the physical environment they are placed in, and with the artworks positioned around them,” says Megan.
Artist duo Rosy & Rich have been working collaboratively for thirteen years and say they are excited for their art to be shown on the world stage. Richard Darbyshire moulds and sculpts their creations through wheel throwing and hand building techniques in clay, while Rosie Parsonson graphically etches and paints to give each creative piece life with her engraved lines and infused colours.
“Our work is influenced by human stories and we especially love to capture the street appeal aesthetic of our art. We seek to find a classic and contemporary beauty in adornment and decoration, portraiture and the gaze, graphic art and small furry animals,” says Rosie.
The Auckland Art Fair will be held in Auckland at The Cloud from 24th – 28th February. A Virtual Art Fair was developed in response to the cancellation of the 2020 Auckland Art Fair, due to Covid-19 restrictions. Because of its success at a time when the arts and culture sectors are particularly hurting, a second Virtual Art Fair has been confirmed from 3-14 November, 2021.
Megan Dickinson Gallery has created a Givealittle page to help raise funds to cover the cost of attending the Fair, including booth fees, storage, insurance, freight (transport) and accommodation. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/the-little-gallery-on-a-big-mission
For more information: Megan Dickinson, 027 338 1578, megan@mdgallery.co.nz , mdgallery.co.nz/auckland-art-fair
