New Zealand Arts in My Thoughts

New Zealand is a beautiful country and I met so many wonderful people while I traveled there years ago.

My thoughts are with them as the rebuild Christchurch after the earthquake that devastated the historic downtown region and now with the miners trapped due to the explosion in the mine.

As lives, families and cities are rebuilt, it takes the combined efforts and positive thoughts of us all to bring the best possible outcome given the circumstances beyond our control. Truly, many of these people are going through a horrific time--one that we would not wish upon anyone.

Rebuilding the cities will be the easier task. It is time-consuming, but they are blessed to have an abundance of beautiful stone (Oamaru stone is great for both sculpture and buildings) and talented artisans for reconstruction. There are options as to whether they choose to rebuild in the style of that which was lost or go for a new look altogether as Napier did years ago when it was destroyed. That city was rebuilt in the then contemporary style (Art Deco) and is a testament of how we can take advantage of a tragedy and turn it into a time capsule of sorts...creating an artistic and historic snapshot of a different era.

Lives and families are not so easily reassembled, and my thoughts are with all who have been touched by these disasters. May you know peace, love and beauty in your lives.

New Zealand Gallery Annual Sale

If you happen to be in New Zealand this month, be sure to stop by the Birdwoods Gallery in Hawkes Bay. They are having their annual sale so it is a great opportunity to buy some art to go with fine wine from the region.

Birdwoods has a nice collection of Shona stone sculpture along with metal pieces. In November 2009, Louise and Bruce converted an additional paddock into a beautiful sculpture walk with extensive olive tree plantings. Visitors follow a meandering mown path to view a further display of stone sculptures, as well as the life size metal giraffes and crocodiles. Sizes and prices range to fit every budget and suitcase (or shipping container.)

Birdwoods also has a Sweet Shop to tempt you as you stroll the garden...so literally they have something for every taste!

Birdwoods Gallery, Sculpture Garden and Sweet Shop Welcome to Birdwoods - a very special place in the heart of beautiful Hawke's Bay. Set in the countryside just 3km from Havelock North village, Birdwoods Gallery and its small companion, the Birdwoods Sweet Shop, are a 'must see' for all visitors and locals. Opened in February 2005 by Bruce and Louise Stobart, Birdwoods Gallery features sculpture and decorative arts from both local and African artists. The gallery's home is the original church hall from St Peter's in Waipawa dating from the late 1800’s which Bruce and Louise moved to its new home on Middle Road in 2004. The old hall has since been surrounded with a beautiful sculpture garden. Right next door to Birdwoods Gallery is the Birdwoods Sweet Shop, an old fashioned sweet shop 'just like you remember' housed in a charming one room colonial cottage made from reclaimed materials. Opened in December 2006, the cottage is a treasure trove of old fashioned sweets, lemonade, sherbet, fudge, ice creams and other novelties.

Stone Sculpture Connects Zimbabwe, Colorado and New Zealand

Here in Loveland we have our wonderful Chapungu Sculpture Park which features stone sculptures from Zimbabwe. The setting is beautiful with water and views of the Rocky Mountains.

Well, I just got an update from a wonderful gallery in New Zealand which also promotes the wonderful Shona sculptures and has a sculpture garden as well, the Birdwoods Gallery

Whether you are in beautiful Colorado or New Zealand, you can see and collect fabulous works of art from Zimbabwe, and join the many collectors of these Shona masterpieces.

Shona Sculpture Exhibition in New Zealand

The wonderful stone sculptors of Zimbabwe are having their 3rd annual exhibition at a winery in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. A gorgeous spot for exquisite work.

Louise and Bruce Stobart are originally from Zimbabwe and have created a special gallery, called Birdwoods Gallery. This gallery opened in 2005...and my visit to New Zealand was in 2000, so I have not actually been there, but the website tells their story and it looks like quite a nice place.

If I were nearer I would definitely pop in...somehow a flight from Colorado is not in the cards at the moment, but perhaps some of my Kiwi friends will go check it out and give me a report!

The Stobarts have no connection (as far as I know) to the director of the Chapungu Gallery here in Loveland, Colorado. I have met several of the sculptors and the director, as you know from earlier posts, and we have the wonderful gallery and sculpture park here to showcase this fantastic, expressive work. I'm pleased that the Shona work is having so many opportunities for exhibition around the world!

And if the treats for the eyes are not enough, you can get treats of another sort at the neighboring Summer Sweet Shop!