There will be a whale of a time this winter at The Coolstore Gallery as owners Corene and Laszlo create a whale, dolphin, and sea creature exhibition to support and celebrate Project Jonah. Project Jonah is dedicated to protecting and helping marine mammals throughout New Zealand by undertaking rescue operations during strandings and running action and protection programmes.
Corene was inspired to undertake the Marine Mammal Medic training with Project Jonah after the organisation visited her daughter’s school. “She was so taken with everything they did; she came home determined we had to help. We looked up their website together and she wanted to train as a medic, but being only five at the time, was way too young. So she asked me if I would do the training instead,” she explains.
Corene adds, “We had been thinking about holding a charity event and when we heard it was Project Jonah’s 50th anniversary, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to support them while encouraging artists and creatives to get busy making whale-related pieces for an exhibition.”
“Almost half the world’s species of whales and dolphins either visit New Zealand or call it home,” says Project Jonah’s General Manager, Daren Grover. “We might be a small country, but we have a long coastline that spans from subtropical to subantarctic regions.”
Daren Grover further explains, “There are around 18 reasons whales and dolphins may strand on our beaches, and stranding events are often due to a combination of these. Our organisation, with 5,000 volunteers throughout the country, exists to respond to as many strandings as possible, as well as raise awareness around the importance of protecting our marine environment to benefit all the species that live in our waters or visit them.”
“Nelson has about 200 trained Marine Mammal Medics like Corene, but we can always do with more,” he adds.
The Coolstore Gallery is contributing a percentage of their commission on pieces to the organisation, while some artists have fully donated their works. There will also be a raffle and silent auction generously supported by artists and supplier donations. The range of works in the exhibition covers everything from paintings and art prints to ceramics, sculpture, photography, fibre, and jewellery, all celebrating whales, dolphins, and sea life.
Laszlo, a talented artist himself, has even crafted an exquisite work out of an issue of the Nelson Magazine. “We are excited about the opportunity of spreading the Project Jonah story and all the good work they do, and are hoping the exhibition will also encourage more people to support them,” says Corene.
Whales opens on Thursday, August 1, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm and then runs daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm until September 12.
Coolstore Gallery
Mapua Wharf
The Cool Store Gallery
