Zappekin artists and allies were thrilled to host their second Get Zapped artist residency exhibition, offering a vibrant showcase of diverse creative practices and styles.
The exhibition featured three awesome local artists—each of whom spent eight weeks developing unique projects in the shared Tasman-based Zappekin studio environment. Together, they crafted a rich tapestry of visual storytelling, thought-provoking themes, and inspiring interpretations of life and art.
The exhibition welcomed visitors into an eclectic space where each artist’s distinct style and creativity resonated through their chosen medium and techniques.
One of the featured residents, Rowan Taigel, is the artist behind Guerrilla Poetry, a project that seeks to connect people with poetry in a stealthy, yet engaging way.
Through the charming and visually captivating medium of zines, Rowan creates what she refers to as, “poetry picture books for grown-ups (and clever kids).”
“Poetry is often stereotyped as being inaccessible or too intellectual,” says Rowan.
“I want to challenge that idea by presenting poetry in a mixed-media collage format that’s inviting and enjoyable.”
Using a vintage typewriter, Rowan types out her poems and carefully pairs them with hand-cut images from magazines and children’s books. Each zine is an artistic treasure that combines visual art with the rhythm and meaning of poetry, making the reading experience both tactile and rewarding.
Audrey Anderson, another of the resident artists, is drawn to storytelling through detailed and intelligent illustration. For her project, Audrey chose to work on what she refers to as, “a slice-of-life project”.
Delving into the rural life of the Nelson/Tasman area, she spent a day with a couple living their dream of owning a small farm. They shared their annual cider-making tradition, which became the inspiration for her project.
A skilled and experienced illustrator, Audrey’s exhibit included a collection of richly detailed graphic novel style drawings and snippets of observed life, to form a visual narrative celebrating rural life and its simple yet profound moments.
Finally, Lydia Hannah Thomas brought her love for the beauty of everyday life into her residency work. Influenced by, and drawing inspiration from her surroundings, Lydia collected objects, observations, images and stories from her adventures in the Tasman area. Her exhibit was a vibrant and sparkling journey shaped by photographs, drawings, shells and found objects. Real life and times of the immediate studio surrounds streamed through her work: handwritten fruit signs, blooming wattle, sunlight on the Moutere Inlet, and local people and animals.
“We all navigate life, dreaming up our own journeys,” she reflected, “and this captures mine.”
Get Zapped is an artist-led intitative, providing studio time and space for local artist to create in a unique environment, expand on their practice and engage with local art community.
Zappekin Artists & Allies would like to acknowledge and thank the Tasman District Council Creative Communities Scheme for supporting this local initiative, and to Sea Level wines for their contribution to the exhibition event.
