Pohutukawa Festival Coromandel

	Susan Dunster—Painter Susan is an artist living in Tairua. In her current work she is starting with still life and abstracting from this. The subject matter is an anchor. Susan’s desire is to paint directly, freely and vigourously so that it feels alive and energetic. She like splotches, dribbles and random effects. Her greatest pleasure comes from the use of colour and the interplay of tones. Susan’s Dark Horse studio is open to the public.
	Nicola Hansby—Painter Nicola is graduating from her art studies in Dunedin this year. Her family run the River Craft gallery on the Kopu-Hikuai road. Nicola’s work ‘On the Verge’ generates a questioning within the viewer by demolishing preconceived ideas about the nature of all things living. The procedural way in which the work is created, imitates the way Nicola sees and experience the human being as unpredictable and it also ties back in with the underlying themes of the body and nature and constant fluctuation.
	Peter Plumb—Pounamu Artist Peter Plumb is of Ngai Tahu and English whaling ancestry. He has been carving greenstone for the last 15 years. Peter draws on ancestral tradition and culture in his carving technique and design. He specializes in creating individual pieces based on whakapapa (geneology) and personal interests of the person a carving is meant for, so each carving is unique in its design and meaning. Peter has carved pieces for people all around the world.
	Frances Olsen—Mosaic Work Frances tries to stretch the confines Mosaic has been used in in the past so it can be a more versatile medium. She likes to play with colour and context to create not only garden pavers but sculptures & landscapes.
	Heidi Turner—Mandalas Heidi produces paintings predominantly in the form of "mandalas", circular forms representative of a "whole world" or healing circle. These are painted onto tiny stones and large rocks as well as small canvass and framed works. She uses a combination of paints, leaves, feathers, shells, beads and anything else that takes her fancy! The resulting works have a multi-dimensional look and feel.
	Julie Burns-Nevin—Clay Sculpture Julie has been living as an Artist on the Coromandel for the past 20 years. She has been a Telecom Art Awards finalist twice, and designed and created a Lawn Maze in the Auckland Zoo. She enjoys "Creative Problem Solving". Julie will be hand building in clay at The Cow Shed Café & Wine Bar. This aspect of her work generally includes birds, hand Coiled pots, and carved tiles.
	Belinda Marden—Weaver Belinda has been weaving for 28 years, particularly enjoys tapestry weaving and has recently taken up felting. She produces many creations through the weaving process including blankets, shawls and scarves. Belinda enjoys working with wool because it is both a brilliant fibre to work with and that it also offers endless possibilities. Belinda will be demonstrating her weaving technique at The Cow Shed Café & Wine Bar.
	Jessica White—Flax Weaver Jessica’s passion for ‘harakeke and weaving’ began in Taranaki where she was born, and has followed her to the Coromandel where she was fortunate enough to do two years studying customary mahi ranga (weaving work). During this time her weaving has evolved from traditional kete to now exploring customary techniques to make contemporary art. Jessica will be demonstrating her weaving techniques at The Cow Shed Café & Wine Bar.
	Julie Ferne—Painter “The freedom of water combined with colour soon became exciting & held ongoing surprises.” Julie likes to work with the idea that it is not to control but rather encourage the movement of colour. Julie is an Artist, Educator & Tutor who lives at Hahei where she has her studio open to the public.
	Paula McNeill—Painter Well known award winning painter and tutor who lives and paints from her Pumpkin Hill Studio..Tairua. Paula works in all mediums and nothing is ever lost to her imaginative creativeness when best expressing herself through her mixed media work. Her works are expressed in a clear,sincere and original style and are included in numerous collections throughout the world and New Zealand.
	Christine Hatton—Sculpture Christine’s work is inspired by humanity and its connection with the earth, including the sea, bush, birds, insects and animals. Through the understanding of quantum physics she believes we are all one at a base level. Christine sculpts in her studio at Sailors Grave, Tairua. “I believe emotions are realized through active and passive, and these energies emerge in all my sculptures”.