WAIRARAPA NEWS, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1990 - Page 3

Local art adds new perspective to Town Hall foyer

VISITORS to the Masterton Town Hall foyer will now have a new perspective on the Wairarapa with the unveiling last week of four outstanding Wairarapa art works.

The works, by well-known Wairarapa artists Heather Busch, Rhondda Greig and Simon Payton, were specially commissioned by the council as a fitting touch to the refurbishment of the Town Hall building which began six years ago.

At a special evening function attended by the artists, artists, councillors, council staff and members of the public, the art works were officially unveiled. Resources committee chairman John McDonald, said the art works would be an appropriate welcome to visitors to the district council headquarters and it was fitting that the artists were from the Wairarapa.

"The artists are leaving with us a gift in this building which is part of themselves... the works enhance the refurbishment of the building," he said.

The works are all relatively large, and while they are outstanding individual creations, they combine to make a pleasing whole.

"Skylights" is a large illuminated stained glass work designed by Heather Busch and constructed by Heather Busch and Simon O'Connor, who together are Glitzorarty Stained Glass. The scene depicted in the skyscape typical of the Wairarapa with the afternoon sun shining through illuminated clouds on one side, and a bank of storm clouds on the other. The valley floor in the centre is dappled with spots of light.

The glass for the work was imported from Germany and the United States. Many of the pieces are hand-blown and therefore are unique. Rhondda Greig's two works are from a recent series called "Matarawa revisited on a bicycle". The series arose from a fresh perspective the artist saw in her local district when she began cycling nearby country roads 18 months ago.

Simon Payton's work, entitled "Awake take this land and be gentle to be strong", is one of six works painted last year, all of which, he says, emphasised the need to be positive in life, and the strength of unity. The district council commissioned internationally known New Zealand artist John Drawbridge to design a pleasing environment for the foyer and to bring the contributing artists together.

At the unveiling Mr Drawbridge congratulated the council on recognising local artists and allowing them to contribute to the community in which they lived.

"It gives the building a spirit and that spirit is a local one," he said.

"Your local talent needs recognition and needs fostering. I hope this venue becomes known. The community will use this foyer more easily than an art gallery, they can't avoid these works and these will open their eyes to art."

Masterton Mayor Bob Francis thanked several people who had helped promote the project including former councillor Ken Walton, deputy mayor Rod McDonald, assistant general manager David Absolem, and administration manager Wes Ten Hove.

Although all the artists were based in the Wairarapa only one was from Masterton and Mr Francis said this showed the council did look beyond the Waingawa Bridge, "despite what some say".

Mr Francis said in the past the purchase of art works was not a high priority with the council but he said that the present council "was raising its horizons and looking at wider issues."

"It has been decided that funding for the Wairarapa Arts Centre will be increased by 55 per cent this year, though this has still to be confirmed by the full council."

The three artists sell most of their work outside the Wairarapa and they spoke of the pleasure at contributing something to the community in which they lived, and from which they derived their inspiration.

Increase in grant

THE Wairarapa Arts Centre should get a funding boost from the Masterton District Council.

Masterton District Council Mayor Bob Francis announced last week that the council's funding for the arts centre would be increased by 55 per cent. However, this has still to be confirmed by full council.

This amount would be additional to the Wellington Regional Council grant of $20,000 also announced last week.

Mr Francis was speaking at last week's unveiling of the new art works which now grace the walls of the Town Hall foyer. Mr Francis said the council was raising its horizons and giving the arts a somewhat bigger priority than before.