Talisman charming piece for MTG

An exhibition by Napier designer Roger Kelly, The Talisman, will be installed in the MTG Hawke's Bay's main foyer later this month. Meanwhile, an upcoming exhibition at MTG Napier by contemporary jeweller Mary Curtis will comprise work (right) completed after an artists' residency in Munich. Photo/Supplied

Two renowned Napier-born artists will return to the region for an upcoming exhibition programme at MTG Hawke's Bay this month.

From July 23 Napier designer Roger Kelly will begin a three-day installation of The Talisman: a giant interactive tunnel.

Visitors were welcome to watch the large-scale project take shape, and upon its completion would be able to walk through it.

Kelly, who teaches design at the Eastern Institute of Technology, received Creative New Zealand funding for the project.

The Talisman would arrive in the Bay following a showing at Auckland gallery Objectspace, as part of The Tailsman Project.

Objectspace director Phillip Clarke said The Talisman had "astounded and delighted visitors" in Auckland.

Mr Clarke said The Talisman allowed visitors to interact with objects in the gallery in a way they hadn't been able to before.

"It is fantastic that Roger's work can be now shown in his hometown."

Another Napier-born artist, contemporary jeweller Mary Curtis, would also feature in the pop-up exhibition programme from July 10.

Curtis' exhibition, Metadecorative, would present brooches, rings, earrings and necklaces made in the two and a half years following her residency in Munich in 2007.

Curtis is a senior lecturer at Manukau School of Visual Arts and has exhibited internationally.

MTG director Douglas Lloyd Jenkins said the pop-up exhibition programme would celebrate "great Hawke's Bay talent".

"Make sure you come in and see the tunnel and the jewellery on display."