MEDIA RELEASE DATE: 25 February 2014
Artists Explore Alternate Worlds
An exhibition opening soon at Lysaght Watt Gallery will present new works by Waverley artists Lisa and Jimi Walsh,
following their artistic journey of adventure to China earlier this year.
The husband and wife team represented New Zealand at the 2014 Harbin International Ice Festival Sister City Snow Sculpting Competition, the largest ice festival in the world.Harbin is situated in Northeastern China with a population of over 10.5 million people so the Walsh’s needed to adapt
quickly to freezing weather conditions and a vast change of culture.
The exhibition will be launched at the community gallery in Harbin’s Sister City, Hawera. It will focus on the alternate
realities faced by the artists during their eleven day residency.
“Faced with a four metre square block of compressed snow to carve in minus 30 degree temperatures is not a situation
many southern hemisphere artists would face in their career. This exemplifies the Walsh’s constant drive to seek new
challenges and push the boundaries of their artistic development” says exhibition curator, Michaela Stoneman from South
Taranaki District Council.
To assist with funding their trip, Lisa and Jimi offered limited edition glass artworks to the local community. These
will be exhibited alongside works in a variety of mediums that explore the differences and similarities of culture.
The show is part of Te Ngira: New Zealand Diversity Action Programme run by the Human Rights Commission in March each year.
All are welcome at the opening at 5.30pm, Thursday 6 March. Come along, enjoy refreshments and meet the artists behind
the works. Exhibition runs until 31 March 2014 at Lysaght Watt Gallery, 6 Union St, Hawera (beside the Hawera Town
Square).
Alternate Worlds – An exhibition by Lisa & Jimi Walsh.
6-31 March 2014
Opening: 5.30pm Tuesday 6 March 2014 - All welcome
Lysaght Watt Gallery, 6-8 Union St, Hawera
Open: Monday-Friday 10am – 1pm Saturday 10am- 1pm
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