Pataka Arts Trail 2019

Pataka Arts Trail March 2019 it was a very good weekend. But, to use those words seems so wrong. As its the weekend that 50 human beings lost their lives here in New Zealand. And for that I am so sorry. So saddened by the atrocities that happened here in my new country.  As I came here in 2004 to make the land my home. I am an immigrant to these beautiful shores at the other end of the world. And my heart aches when I think of the horrors committed here.
​New Zealand will change and for that I am sorry. Having gun laws change and semi-automatics banned I applaud. There is no place for them anywhere in my opinion.

​To the people that came out and there where hundreds I give my heart felt thanks.
I smiled, chatted, painted a wee bit and shed a tear with a couple of you. As one lady at the very beautiful and touching opening said 'We need to go on, we need to celebrate the good things and Art is one of these'

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Living coral is the Pantone colour of the year 2019. Its a colour I love and always have. I usually mix its tint and use it somewhere in my paintings.
Here was a visitor to my open studio all the way from British Columbia, Canada. I asked her permission to photograph her viewing my work, as she was wearing the colour featured in the works she was admiring - my series of dogs lusting after donuts and the Adelie penguin. We chatted as I used to live in Powell River, B.C and was represented in a gallery over on Texada Island too. The lady knew Powell River and connections were made.
For every person who stopped smiled, giggled, purchased, and chatted you made my weekend. Adults whose shoulders moved in laughter at my dogs antics with a donut, you brightened my day seeing this response. A gentleman who wished he had enough money for the giraffe that made him grin I wish I could just hand him over to you, to make you grin often. To the gentleman named Robert that took a long time looking at my work, could not remember his email in order to sign up for a newsletter. But, later sent a text with it. Thank you. It was an absolute honour to meet you. 
Friends visited: which always makes me happy as I'm one of a family of three  - so friends are my whanau here in New Zealand.

As a young girl came over wearing the gorgeous neon colour I love so much I asked her mothers permission and hers whether I could photograph her viewing my work. They agreed thankfully.
​For me you see colour brings happiness. So whenever I saw someone wearing Living Coral or neon orange I smiled. And smiles help to heal. Just as another lady said Art Heals.


To those of you that signed up for information about my art, events and workshops - THANK YOU 
(Diolwch y fawr - in Welsh) Nga Mihi in Maori.

I will send one out every couple of months.

​Karin