Exhibition a flash from the past

Julie Laird with work by herself and Pauline Allomes. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Following the theme of Anniversary Weekend in Whanganui and tying in with all things vintage, Fine Arts Gallery Whanganui has an exhibition of historic significance.
Five members of the 11-strong gallery in Taupo Quay have used old photographs from Whanganui's early days to interpret in their own, unique ways in an exhibition entitled Flash Backs.
"The artists that are going to be involved have chosen an image. The Alexander Heritage and Research Library kindly allowed us access to their archives," says participating artist Julie Laird. "We've all got the same brief but the diverse range we've come up with has been fun. This is our first themed exhibition."
Julie, for example, has taken a studio portrait of a woman reading and used it to illustrate a spectacles case and a portable writing desk, a compendium. The woman in the photo is named only as Mrs Hewett.
The five artists involved are John Archbold, Jane Toy, Julie Laird, Craig Hooker and Pauline Allomes.
Craig has taken a photo of an early Whanganui carrier, J Dunlop of Aramoho, with his horse and cart, and repainted it in colour in his own detailed style. Pauline has taken a picture of a river scene and recreated it in her "word art".
The artists can do as many works as they like based on their chosen photo. These works - the original and the artist's interpretation - will hang side by side for the duration of the exhibition that will run for one month until February 20. The exhibition opens this Friday, January 20 at 5.30pm, at Fine Arts Gallery Whanganui, 17 Taupo Quay.