Local As exhibition showcases Tairāwhiti artists in Gisborne

Gene Paul Walker is one of three artists displaying works in the Local As exhibition at Tairāwhiti Museum. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin

• The works of Scott Gardiner, Gene Paul Walker, and Jason Braybrook are being exhibited at Tairāwhiti Museum.
• Gardiner’s diverse art includes surfing themes, while Braybrook focuses on tūrangawaewae – home and place.
• Walker explores spiritual journeys.

The works of three artists are on display in an exhibition entitled Local As (locals only) – Life in Tairāwhiti past and present, which is running at the Tairāwhiti Museum until July 27.

Scott Gardiner, Gene Paul Walker and Jason Braybrook’s artworks are varied and showcase a range of themes.

Keen surfer Gardiner is described on the museum’s website as having “a diverse art practice encompassing painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture”.

“[Braybrook] works primarily in paint, enveloping a wide variety of themes, but more recently he has focused on the concept of tūrangawaewae – home and place and its wider meaning and significance.”

A piece by Jason Braybrook on display at Tairāwhiti Museum as part of the Local As exhibition. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin

Walker, who has lived in Tairāwhiti since 2004 and helped establish the Paulnache Gallery in Gisborne, said his focus was on spiritual journeys.

He connected with Braybrook through Paulnache where he used to sell Braybrook’s work.

In turn, Braybrook sold Walker’s work at the JB Contemporary Gallery in Lowe St.

Walker said he used to stay with Gardiner in Auckland before Gardiner also eventually moved to Tairāwhiti.

Scott Gardiner has a diverse art portfolio encompassing painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin