Artists of many talents band together

Six artists are turning a Gonville studio into a mini gallery and making it a destination by having people working inside and refreshments available in the garden.

The six decided to band together for the two Whanganui Artists' Open Studios weekends, March 17-18 and March 24-25.

It's the first time they have been part of the open studios and their common connection is libraries. Kelly Harrison and Bridget Tyson both work in the library at the Gonville Centre. They said it was a community hub where they had made connections with other artists, some of whom live in that area.

"It's a really interesting place in terms of how relationships are formed and the conversations that we have."

There's a third librarian too - Jessica Kidd works in the UCOL library. Like Ms Tyson, she is an arts graduate.

The studio space the six will be using is at 43 Tawa St, next door to the former Gonville Town Hall. It's owned by Ross Mitchell-Anyon and leased by Maddy Newton, who has made it available to them.

They will be showing a huge variety of work - hand-painted and dyed clothing, clothing made from recycled fabric, glass mosaics, jewellery, felted goods, watercolour paintings, homewares, accessories and bone and greenstone carvings.

Akona Studio will be open from 10am until 4.30pm on March 17, 18, 24 and 25.