MORE than 30 years ago – about the same time as Gisborne’s community arts group was getting geared up to stage its first ever Art Mart – Kath McLaughlin was perfecting her craft as a silk painter.
Today, both of those arty entities are still around. The 2011 version of the Creative Tairawhiti Art Mart will be on this Sunday. And market-regular McLaughlin will be there with an entirely new collection of work.
While McLaughlin’s work is new, however, much of it has its basis in the silk paintings she was producing all those years ago.
These days though, the portrait and textile artist has eschewed the silk, instead using cotton to create the vivid sarongs that she brightens up with tie-dye and batik techniques. And those same sarongs turn up in the beach-themed paintings she has become known for — naturally, she being a portrait artist, draped over human bodies.
What McLaughlin won’t be doing at this year’s Art Mart, however, are the pencil portraits she used to do on the spot (though she will be accepting commissions).
“It’s just too hard to focus on a portrait — which takes about 15 minutes to do — while keeping an eye on my stall,” she says. “And with all of the excitement that’s going on at the Art Mart, it’s nigh on impossible to keep junior sitters still.”
Kath McLaughlin’s stall will be just one of an estimated 80-odd that will be set up at Marina Park for this weekend’s Mart.
They won’t be limited to locals . . . such is the event’s reputation that craftspeople travel from out of town to take part.
But the standard criteria will apply: That is, all products on display must have been crafted by hand.
“Inquiries have been particularly strong this year,” said Pene Walsh of Creative Tairawhiti. “We’re aware that makers have been very busy over the winter months so we’re looking forward to seeing who — and what — pops up. ■ The 2011 Art Mart will be on at Marina Park this Sunday, November 27 (10am-2pm).
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