The Quarry Arts Centre in Selwyn Avenue, Whangarei are opening their doors to the public on Sunday 10 December to offer the wider community the chance to have a go at carving in Oamaru stone, making mosaics or t-shirt printing, at the annual Quarry Arts Centre Open Day.
This free event enables you to indulge your creative side through workshops and ‘taster’ sessions in a wide range of arts and crafts. “The Open Day lets anyone in the community to have a go at making art”, says Quarry Arts Centre Manager Ali Goodman. “Whatever ability or age, you can come along and try something. Or just watch the artists at work. It’s a true celebration of the creative process.”
This year’s Open Day marks the Quarry’s 35th anniversary and the date will also be marked with a seven day community firing in the wood fired kiln built earlier this year and a new gallery space in the main office. Both the Supporters Show and the Member’s Exhibition will also be open during the Open Day.
The Quarry Arts Centre is a community art and craft space which supports the development of visual arts. The Centre has studios for artists in residence and is home to Te Kowhai Print Trust and the Northland Woodturners and Woodworkers. Throughout the year the Quarry runs a versatile and exciting workshop programme, and the Yvonne Rust Gallery showcases some of Whangarei’s best arts and crafts with regular exhibitions.
The Open Day is really about celebrating the great array of artistic diversity at the Centre: throwing on the potter’s wheel, wood turning and lathe working, t-shirt and bag printing, traditional weaving, painting workshops, craft workshops, watercolours, stone carving and much more. During the day, working artists including potters, carvers and weavers will be doing live and interactive demonstrations. There will be food and drink and the newly refurbished café will be open for business. Make a day of it and let the creativity shi