Bay artists show their EXIT strategy

Three of EXIT artists' co-operative Makiko Sakamoto (left) Kathleen Arthurs and Anna Fuhrer at the Co-exist exhibition by EXIT at Photographers' Gallery Hawke's Bay. Photo / Shayne Jeffares

EIT graduates' collective EXIT is holding its third annual group exhibition at Photographers Gallery Hawke's Bay until November 9.

Co-exist, organised by Sharon Wrigley, is a multi-media presentation featuring work from 21 artists including herself, ranging from oils, watercolours, acrylic, collage and ink art, to wood, clay and paper sculptures, prints and photography.

The artists studied for the institute's visual art and design degree between 2010 and 2012, and include Jade North, Raewyn Paterson, Paul Roberts, Anna Fuhrer, Ashton Northcott, Annaliese Hough and Emmanuel Dunn.

The first exhibition happened quickly, Wrigley says.

They approached the Hastings Community Arts Centre and discovered that in a few weeks there would be a "gap" in exhibition space.

The EXIT name refers to the fact they are ex-EIT, and the naming of each exhibition comes from that word.

It means different things to different members, says Wrigley, but also refers to each one of them existing as artists in the world as they see it.

"We all go about our lives as artists in the community, working other jobs to keep our dreams alive and it is when we come together with a shared interest and passion for art that we feel we are not alone struggling to 'make it'," she says.

The friendship and support of one another is crucial to their creativity and success.

"The importance of keeping our art group alive is vital to each of us. Some people have been in since the beginning, some have left, some have returned and some are new, it evolves all the time."