Darfield Art Week 2020 – A Celebration of Local Art

I had a wonderful time at the opening of Darfield Art Week 2020, and then again when I returned to view all the artworks again the following Saturday. Darfield Art Week is organised by a dedicated team from the Malvern Community Arts Council who also run Te Huanui Gallery in Darfield.

Opening night was very busy, and it was so nice to see lots of familiar faces amongst the crowds of people. Setting up Selwyn Practicing Artists has certainly created a lovely sense of community amongst artists locally. We were all chuffed that three members of SPA won awards on opening night, and that another award-winning artist has since joined our group. It is so nice to feel the mutual support that we all have for each others’ art practice.

I only entered one artwork this year – Flying Around? a new linocut work on tea bags. This artwork is a celebration of some of the New Zealand native birds listed as Nationally Critical on our list of endangered species. Someone else must love these birds as much as I do, as this artwork sold on the first weekend of the exhibition.

I am already looking forward to next year’s exhibition and seeing more of the amazing creativity in the local area.