Newspaper Article 1988 – New Gallery for HB crafts

New Gallery for HB crafts

A small gallery specifically for Hawke’s Bay craftspeople who want to exhibit and sell their work in pleasant surroundings has been established by Napier photographer James White and his wife Judy.

Opened in November, the gallery fills most of James White Photographer’s office reception area in Focal House, Clive Square.

In a room decorated in soft peach, small tables support unique crafts made by Hawke’s Bay, potters, weavers and sculptors. On the walls hang some of James White’s finest photographs.

James and Judy decided to set up Several Arts Gallery to help Hawke’s Bay crafs [crafts] people exhibit their work.

“They don’t seem to have an area to display their work which is conducive to their creativity,” Judy says.

“When we wrote to some Hawke’s Bay craftspeople with our idea, they jumped at the chance!”

“They were really keen to see a gallery like this in Napier.”

The gallery opened with a display by graduates of the Hawke’s Bay Polytechnic craft course, and is now filled with work by Hawke’s Bay craftspeople and special displays by artists from other districts.

“We’ve got quite a good range by out-of-towners,” Judy says. “Displays have included glasswork by a Taranaki artist and coming up is brass and leather work by a Rotorua couple.”

Although the gallery is still in its infancy, James says a lot of people have already come in to browse.

“They seem to find out about the gallery through word of mouth.”

It’s all creative work – no domestic wares are found at Several Arts gallery.

The Whites are long-time collectors of creative work and the gallery is an extension of their natural love of craft.

“Their work and mine complement each other, especially in the gallery,” James says.

He says there are many “very talented people” in Hawke’s Bay and he has given them a show place.

“A lot of Hawke’s Bay crafts are displayed outside the region, and that’s sad,” he says.

“I think all cities are the same – they look to outside creations and not “homegrown” crafts because they think they’re not as good.

“Hawke’s Bay people are doing very well outside the region, but we’d like to keep their crafts in the bay, too.” The gallery, can be extended for major exhibitions. Everything is for sale and already, many works have been bought.

There are several permanent contributors and throughout the year exhibitors will be invited to display their work to give variety.

Although it’s early days, James and Judy say they want to create “a really nice atmosphere where people feel comfortable about coming in and having a look at the crafts”.

Photo caption – James and Judy White with some of the stunning pieces displayed at the Several Arts Gallery.