Sculptors show a touch of glass

The striking creations of sculptors Ron van der Vlught and Hamish White have visitors to Rotorua's Arts Village all glassy-eyed.

Mr van der Vlught, who runs the De Flute Glass Gallery and Studio, and his "creative offsider" Mr White are two of the featured exhibitors in Te Kete Toi.

The exhibition of Rotorua artists is now in its third year.

The annual event was a great opportunity to display his wares to art lovers in his own community, Mr van der Vlught said.

His studio had been open for seven years but his works were not well known in Rotorua, although he supplied 13 galleries around New Zealand, he said.

Most of the people buying his works were international tourists.

"That's where the money is ... glass blowing is a horrendously expensive business, what with getting the furnaces going all the time."

A Rotorua born-and-bred artist, Mr van der Vlught was originally a stained glass window designer, a vocation which eventually evolved into more purely artistic creations.

Creating new bowls and sculptures was a slow but rewarding process, he said.

"We come up with one or two or three new designs a year. It's a bit like becoming acquainted with a new musical instrument and learning how to play a song. There are always a few disasters along the road to getting the end result."

This year Te Kete Toi focuses on the artists listed in the recently-published Rotorua Arts Trail, as well as some of the community's eminent professional artists.

The exhibition is being co-ordinated by Arts Village manager Janet Price, and Rotorua District Council arts officer Kiri Jarden.

"While it's not a comprehensive exhibition of local talent, it is a representative group of professional and community artists who have been invited to exhibit at the Village," said Ms Jarden.

"We are fortunate to have Jill Walker and Bronwen Ropiha exhibiting as well. These two artists usually co-ordinate community arts events for children and families, but are talented artists in their own right.

"Ron is exhibiting some stunning glass artworks along with Hamish White.

Painters Susan Currie, Geoffrey Cox, Regan Balzer, Ron Reid and Nell Monrath, object artist Gordon Leslie and sculptors Martin Tissink and Brett Taylor headline a very talented cross section of local talent."

The exhibition runs until April 29 at the Arts Village. Entry is free and the village is open seven days.