Dunedin airport staging major art exhibition by award-winning artist

Dunedin Airport will later this year stage a significant major solo art exhibition by leading Otago artist Kerry Fenton-johns.



The November 15 to December 10 art exhibition will feature a series of special pohutukawa works. Fenton-Johns won the Otago phone book art award last year and was runner-up this year. She has exhibited all over the South Island.



Fenton-Johns says she has had a life-long passion for pohutukawas (NZ Christmas trees) and the airport art event is perfectly timed in the run up to Christmas.



``I love the blazing red colour, the softness of the flower, the insects and birds that are drawn to the tree and the strength of the older trees trunks. I just love the mist of red they leave on the ground when the flower is spent.



``I know there have been concerns in parts of New Zealand because of possums but it seems we are protecting, caring and appreciating our pohutukawas more these days.’’



Pohutukawas were devastated so badly some years ago there were grave concerns about the species extinction in some places. Possums are the greatest threat to their future. Project Crimson was formed in 1990 following conservationists' concerns that the pohutukawa was in genuine danger of extinction. There are about 30 million possums in New Zealand



Fenton-Johns’ friendship with mentor and New Zealand artist Kees Bruin has been a huge inspiration to her career.



Dunedin International Airport chief executive John McCall said they were excited about staging their first significant solo art exhibition by Kerry Fenton- Johns at the terminal.



``We are keen to support the Otago creative arts community. Kerry is an outstanding local artist and her work will really add-value to travellers experience while waiting or passing through the airport. We know there will be a lot of interest in this event which is great for Dunedin Airport.’’



About 775,000 passengers a year move through Dunedin International Airport.