Live artwork created by locals, inspired by Spring

Spring is a time for new beginnings and new ideas – and that’s exactly what four of the Bay’s most well-known artists are about to embark on creating in the form of a Live Art installation. Banding together to create a series of portraits inspired by spring fashions, local artists Memphis, Mandy Williams, Kristian Lomath and Vanessa Locke are keen to use their respective talents to help foster the local arts community.

Through the week of Monday 22 to Thursday 25 September, one local artist will each day be positioned in Bayfair Shopping Centre to create art live among shoppers from 11am to 3pm. Tasked with creating their own ‘Portrait of Spring’ using this season’s key fashion looks as inspiration, the artists will create works that will be displayed at Bayfair until Sunday 28 September. 

At the close of the Bayfair showing, the artwork will be exhibited and auctioned off at Creative Tauranga, with proceeds going back into the Creative Tauranga fund to further foster artistic talent in the Bay of Plenty.

To involve the public and encourage shoppers to take what they’ve learned from seeing the professionals at work throughout the week, Friday 26 September will be wild card day. Bayfair will place five easels at the ‘Spring Blossoms’ fashion zone for creative shoppers to create their own interpretation of spring and what it means to them. All artwork created on this day will be judged and the winner will receive $1,000 worth of Bayfair Shopping Centre gift cards.

Creative Tauranga CEO Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell believes this exhibition-with-a-twist will enhance both the artists’ confidence and the public’s knowledge of the artistic process.

“Bay of Plenty residents are, at their core, very creative. We see this in every facet of the arts; painters, dancers, performers, actors, authors. Every genre is different but as important as the others. I think what’s great about this Live Art installation at Bayfair is that shoppers and locals will get to see the process an artist goes through to get to that final product.

“Painting is, by nature, a very insular process, so this will be a growing exercise for the artists too. We are grateful to these artists who are donating their time and skill in the best way they know how in order to give back to the arts community to which they belong.”

Bayfair marketing manager Kylie McGregor is excited to see Bayfair turn into an art gallery for the next few weeks. “We’re looking forward to having the artists reveal their creative process in the centre and offering them a platform to display their work. What better way to incorporate art and spring / summer fashions, than turning the centre into an art gallery?! People love art as an activity, a form of self-expression and a therapeutic outlet so we are excited to partner with Creative Tauranga in giving the artists a dedicated space.

“We’re also enthusiastic about seeing what kinds of art the locals can produce for the wildcard entry - I can’t wait to see the untapped artistic talent I know is alive and well in the Bay!”

Live Art Installation schedule:
Monday: Memphis. Theme: Spring Surf.
Tuesday: Mandy Williams. Theme: Spring Sunshine.
Wednesday: Kristian Lomath. Theme: Spring Vitality.
Thursday: Vanessa Locke. Theme: Spring Spruce Up.
Friday: Wild card. Theme: Spring Blossoms