By Jane Brooke

The Lakes District Museum is home to one of Arrowtown’s busiest art galleries, open daily for visitors to experience with works on display available for sale.

“The gallery is one of the museum’s  most popular areas and regularly hosts exhibitions for local and visiting artists,” says director Jane Peasey.

Several exhibitions have been timed to coincide with the Arrowtown Autum Festival which is celebrating its 40^th year.

“Until April 12 we  are presenting COOTS – Central Otago Outside the Square –which is a collective of fibre artists. The exhibition is called A Common Thread and is always popular with visitors as it is both colourful and relatable. The artists create wonderful artworks in quilting, felting, embroidery and other fibre mediums.”

This is followed by the annual Bayleys’ Arrowtown Autumn Festival Exhibition. The opening night for the ticketed event is Friday April 17 and the exhibition runs until May 24 featuring work from over 70 local artists and includes more than 170 works. Jane says both exhibitions are centred on the artistic community in the Queenstown Lakes District. 

“Our gallery space is a lively, accessible, low-cost space to support artists, community collectives and local creativity. Fees are kept low so that more groups can share their work with the public”

Charming Sculptural Studio

Arrowtown artist Fiona Garlick explores nature, place and identity in her compelling original bronze sculptures on display at her charming Arrowtown studio and gallery.

“My artworks tend to have a story behind them like the survival of the Chatham Islands robin where one last breeding pair brought the species back from the brink of extinction. This work is a medium scale bronze inspired by the poem Love Birds by young poet Harriet Salmon.”

Fiona’s sculptural studio is just a short walk from the main street of Arrowtown and she welcomes visitors to pop in or book into a personalised studio tour.

“Booking in to view the gallery means people get to spend more time in the studio with me where they gain a greater insight into the creativity of the craft and discover the art themselves. It’s fun and engaging learning about the gallery pieces and garden sculptures firsthand and visitors from all over the world have enjoyed the experience.”

After a career in documentary production in London Fiona attended Falmouth College of Art in Cornwall before completing an honors degree in Fine Arts at Elam in Auckland.  She began working full-time as a sculptor when she opened her Arrowtown gallery two years ago and more recently she has begun exhibiting outdoor works by fellow sculptors along with her own.

“In the sculpture garden are examples of my larger outdoor pieces on signature plinths made from Timaru bluestone,” says Fiona. “All these works are for sale and can be shipped worldwide.”

Gus Watson – Dalefield Artist

Queenstown artist Angus Watson Angus has been a professional artist for more than 35 years and his art attracts both New Zealand and offshore buyers.

“I love to welcome people at my gallery which is always open if I am home. I enjoy discussing my work with visitors so simply roll up at 365 Littles Road Dalefield or call ahead on 0274428488 to double check I am available.”