Two young artists whose vibrant lives were tragically cut short a year ago will posthumously exhibit their work alongside some of Hawke’s Bay’s best.
On December 9 last year, Napier brother and sister Ruben James Stockdale-Frost, 19, and Amelia (Millie) Rose Stockdale-Frost, 26, died when the vehicle they were in crashed in Rotorua, killing them, two others and injuring two more.
Millie left two young children, Hazel and Ava, and husband Josiah Lamont.
An art exhibition and silent auction honouring the lives of the siblings and celebrating their artistry is happening at Creative Arts Napier this Saturday.
Organised by the Millie and Ruben Trust, established by whānau to honour the siblings’ memory through creativity, positive action and public awareness – it features artwork donated by local and national artists, including Kat Foundling, John Lancashire, Louise Chaffard, Jennica Foote, Dali Susanto, Josh Lancaster, Erica Toh and Nick Wilkey, along with original pieces created by Millie.
Two works Ruben designed for the National Aquarium will also be on display, and his original music will be played throughout.
Money raised from the auction will go to Millie’s children, their education fund and the Millie and Ruben Trust.
Kat Foundling, who organised the evening, said the idea for the exhibition and auction came from a discussion reflecting on Millie and Ruben with their mum Ariana Stockdale-Frost.
“Their creativity is a huge aspect of who they were and also their community spirit,” Foundling said.
“So, we thought what better way to honour them than have a nice community-based art show.
“It also allows Millie and Ruben, who were both phenomenal artists in their own way, to finally get to exhibit their work, which they obviously weren’t able to do in their short time here.
“It’s a really beautiful way to respect and honour them both – a celebration of life really.”
Ariana said she had been blown away by people’s generosity, the calibre of artists that had donated their work, and Foundling’s phenomenal effort.
The evening will run from 7pm to 9pm.
“Millie and Ruben were kind, creative young people who filled our lives with laughter and light.
“This kaupapa is about honouring who they were — by celebrating their creativity, raising awareness of safer driving, and turning our grief into something that can help others.”
Millie’s favourite flower, the sunflower, is the emblem of the Millie and Ruben Trust, symbolising light after loss and reflecting the family’s commitment to carrying forward the warmth, generosity, and creative spirit that Millie and Ruben embodied.
“Like sunflowers, they always turned toward the light,” Ariana said.
“This is our way of doing the same.”
Bidding on the artworks is now open at millierubentrust.squarespace.com, with all proceeds held transparently in support of the Trust’s future kaupapa.
The driver of the vehicle that Millie and Ruben were in on the night of the fatal crash, Dante Te Wero Noa Takiwa Lamont, 21, appeared in court this week on four charges of drugged driving causing death and two of drugged driving causing injury.
He is to defend those charges at a judge-alone trial in March.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.