Nelson artist to feature at Affordable Art

Media Release – June 6, 2006

Leading Nelson artist to feature at annual NZ Affordable Art Show

Leading Nelson artist Marilyn Andrews will feature in the annual NZ Affordable Art Show in Wellington in August.

The New Zealand Affordable Art Show is for budding artists and Andrews is becoming widely known for her rich works.

The August 4-6 event is the biggest art exhibition in the country and will feature about 1000 established, new and emerging New Zealand artists.

The New Zealand Affordable Art Trust executive director Carla Russell said Marilyn Andrews was an outstandingly promising artist.

``Marilyn won a Nelson and Bays Telecom arts scholarship a few years ago and her mixed media work is inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape.

`` Her colours are amazing and she is really making great strides as a prominent NZ artist. It will be great to have her at the exhibition again along with many rising artists from all over the country.’’

Andrews sold her first painting at the age of 16 and is now a full-time artist. She has a certificate in Art and Design and a Diploma in Visual Art, majoring in Jewellery and Sculpture from the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. Since 1990, her works have been seen in about 100 exhibitions.

The New Zealand Affordable Art Show has great prospects for the future. Statistics indicate that the show will continue to grow, rapidly approaching the popularity of similar events, such as The World of Wearable Arts (1997 finalist) and the International Festival of the Arts.
Marilyn has sold her works in 31 galleries around Auckland, Wellington, Akaroa, Sydney, Christchurch and Nelson.

She has sold 1200 of her 2000 paintings but has decided not to have prints made of her works, to help retain the value and integrity of each piece.

``I have been invited to exhibit at the Mazda Artworks 2006 exhibition in Auckland in August.’’

The Mazda Artworks is a charity exhibition and sale of fine New Zealand art to enhance the awareness of New Zealand art and artists.

She will also exhibit her works at the Riversdale Arts Annual exhibition in Southland on July 21-30.

She frequently sells paintings at fundraising auctions and her top price of $4700 (seen in an airport koru lounge) seems destined to rise shortly.

``Much of my inspiration comes from my appreciation of enjoying this precious planet. Everything I see, feel, hear and touch cries out to be captured in a painting.

``My environment, largely the geographical, appears most in my work. Landscapes of New Zealand, England, Hong Kong, Australia, Thailand, Spain and Greece feature,’’ she said.

Andrews has donated more than $1000 from her to the Brook Sanctuary Trust which administers Nelson’s old water catchment. The reserve area is being fenced and returned to its original condition to become a mainland island wildlife sanctuary.

ENDS

Photolink: http://marilynandrewsart.co.nz/NewWebSite/images/1896AwalkinthegardenWindow.htm

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