Snowballed support by the Art Group Nelson committee has radiated its winter exhibition to warm Nelsonian spirits for half a century.
The annual event first adorned the walls of the popular former Trafalgar St café, Chez Eelco, in 1973, with artworks designed by 30 members of the society.
President Karen Loten says the 50th event was warming up to be “extraordinary” with 45 exhibitors, the highest number of its more than 100 members to feature their artworks.
“The fact that people have been willing to volunteer to run the group, we manage [the event] each year and we hope we’ll go on for another 50 years,” she says.
“It’s a family exhibition, so we welcome children, elderly people, disabled people… it will be fantastic - a very colourful event.
“Some might do abstract, some might do portrait, some people may paint animals, landscapes, townscapes, anything interesting really that’s a bit different.”
Karen says the exhibition had been held at various venues in its 50 years including the Trafalgar Centre, Club Waimea in Richmond, Stoke Hall, The Refinery, and the Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre in Stoke for the first time last year.
She says the free event will be held at the same venue on August 12 and 13 between 10am and 4pm.
“It’s definitely something to look forward to, it gives a name and a purpose to everybody and what better can you do than show your work to someone else,” she says.
