La Fiesta's surprise first responders

Paul Rayner, Kelly Scarrow, Mark Rayner, Antonia Sims, Sarah Williams and Justine Handmethatpencil. Photograph by Lewis Gardner.

The La Fiesta festival has its official launch this Saturday with the opening of An Artist's Response at Space Gallery.

The exhibition promises to be full of surprises and even the main organiser, Kelly Scarrow is unsure what the works will look like.

Last year, Ms Scarrow asked women in Whanganui to write their memoirs in just six words and share them for the La Fiesta festival.

The aim was to give voice to women in the local community and allow them to express themselves in a "concise and powerful way."

The six word memoirs then formed an exhibition held at Gallery on Guyton for La Fiesta 2016 and this year they will be displayed again alongside works by local artists.

"I approached local artists and asked them to choose a memoir and create their responses to them.

"They are a very diverse group of artists and they all work in different mediums so I'm really excited to see what they have come up with."

The exhibition will be curated by Sarah Williams at Space Gallery and Ms Williams says 12 artists have contributed works including paintings, photographs, ceramic pieces and mixed media interpretations.

Ms Scarrow said local businesses have sponsored the artists to the tune of $100 each to cover their material costs and all proceeds from the sale of works will be donated to Women's Network Whanganui.

The opening of La Fiesta and An Artist's Response commences at Space Studio and Gallery, 64 Taupo Quay at 5.30pm today. All welcome.