Marton artists welcome plenty of open studio visitors

Lorraine Barnett and Ross Wilson in their outdoor open studio in Marton. Photo/Bevan Conley.

Marton artists who joined Artists Open Studios this year have seen plenty of visitors over the past two weekends.

Painter John Archbold said he welcomed a steady stream of browsers at the Marton Barber's Art Gallery in Wellington Rd On Sunday.

"They have come from Whanganui as well as Palmerston North and Wellington," he said.

"Some have said they have made a special trip to visit the galleries as well as the Harvest Festival."

The Open Studios exhibition features work by the gallery's nine regular contributors as well as work by guest artists.

The group have decided to keep the exhibition running until the end of April.

The Barbershop was one of four Open Studios in Marton this year as the Marton Arts and Crafts Centre in Grey St opened its doors with an exhibition and artists were on hand to share their creative journeys with visitors.

Sam Lewry opened her studio on Hendersons Line for the first time this year and said it has been a wonderful experience.

Originally from the Kapiti Coast, she has moved from Napier to the Rangitikei and set up a studio where she produces her oil paintings and paper mache work.

"I had a lot of visitors over both weekends and made quite a few sales so I'm very happy," she said.

Bronze sculptor Ross Wilson opened a pop-up Open Studio in his garden and shared the space with printmaker Desiree Singer, potter Lorraine Barnett and fellow sculptor Stuart Welch.

Ripening pumpkins and the colours of autumnal foliage provided the perfect backdrop for the metal and clay ornaments while a small shed provided a perfect temporary gallery for Singer's work.

"We have had a lot of people coming through on their way to and from Whanganui as well as a number of visitors from the Harvest Festival," said Wilson.

"It has been good for visitors to see the sculptures in the kind of setting they are intended for."

Artists Open Studios 2018 concluded on Sunday with a record number of 83 venues in Whanganui, Brunswick, Marton, Fordell and Waverley opening their doors.