Artistic perpetual blanket ready at last

Artists, from left, Carmen Simmonds, Deanna Randell, Rena Starr, Emma Cunningham, Sophie Klerk, and Nieske Hutchison with the perpetual blanket. Photo/Stuart Munro

One month, more than 100 pairs of hands, and a colourful array of materials went into making a unique artwork that will help raise money for charity.

The perpetual blanket, the brainchild of artist Carmen Simmonds, has been lovingly made over the past month at Rena Starr's Gallery On Guyton.

Ms Simmonds said the idea was that anybody could walk in off the street and contribute something to the blanket, using either materials they've brought in themselves or supplied materials.

"It might be a beautifully elaborate piece, or it might be as simple as sewing a button on to the blanket."

Contributors had included people of all ages and from as far away as Germany, Italy, Denmark and France. Local artists had taken part, Frocks On Bikes participants, members of a local knitting group, and students from Training For You.

"It was a bit like the old sewing circles, where people chewed the fat and the older ones taught the younger ones their skills. There are a lot of stories in this blanket," Ms Simmonds said.

The blanket was finished on Saturday and Ms Starr said it was a "stunning, warm, visually delightful art piece or practical blanket."

She said it would be on display at the Starting Point exhibition at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre, as part of the Artist Open Studios Whanganui event, which will be held March 22-23 and 29-30.

During that time the blanket will be raffled.

"All donations and funds raised are for the Wanganui Women's Network, who do a tremendous job offering incredible support to women and families in town," Ms Starr said.

She said Gallery On Guyton would be a busy place during Open Studios. The artists exhibiting there include Deanna Randell, Emma Cunningham, Nieske Hutchison, Sophie Klerk, Laurel Lomath, Carolyn Stephens, Ms Simmonds and Ms Starr.

For more information visit www.openstudios.co.nz