"Woolsheds to Wilderness” - Paintings by Jan Thomson
Opening will be held on Wednesday 9th February 5.30 -7pm
Please note that the Suter requires vax passes, masks and social distancing.
As an artist living and working in rural New Zealand I am constantly aware of how many of our South Island farms border, or are surrounded by conservation areas. In "normal "times I'd be up painting at one of the high country stations as often as I can.
Glentanner, Mesopotamia and Glenfalloch Stations are all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Southern Alps.
Rainbow Station meanders through rugged gorges to Molesworth Station.
Near to our home at Lake Rotoiti "No Catch'Em" and Lake Station farm beside Nelson Lakes National Park. In these and many other remote places, farming families have made their homes in often very difficult conditions.
During the years that we've lived in Te Wai Pounamu we've developed enormous respect for the way the farmers who we've become friends with are also ardent conservationists - something which they're not often credited with. Their love for and stewardship of their land deserves our respect.
This exhibition featiues paintings both of some of the stations themselves and their backdrops, as well as some of the inhabitants!
I hope that you'll enjoy looking at my work and that you'll maybe gain an insight into the effort which farmers put into food production as well as being stewards of their land.
All images copyright to Jan Thomson 2022
The exhibition runs from 7th – 27th February at the Nelson Suter Art Society's McKee Gallery , located within The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatū, 208 Bridge St, Nelson.
Ph: (03) 546-9164
Open every day 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
For those who live away from Nelson, or who would rather not go to an opening at the moment, here's a link to the online exhibition ... www.korimakostudio.com/woolsheds-to-wilderness-exhibition.html