Rewriting the narrative _{by Alessia Belsito-Riera}

As Wellington weathers an economic storm, a local business and four artists have chosen collaboration over competition to rewrite the narrative and continue thriving. When Furniture by Design opened in Kaiwharawhara, the company saw the potential of having the retail store double as a pop-up exhibition space where visitors could view locally made artwork in a home environment. With support from NZ Art Show, that idea became reality and now they present their first exhibition Garden Party, featuring local Wellington artists Jane Blackmore, Anna Stichbury, Veronica Young, and Lizzie Pannell.

“As a long-time art practitioner it is important to be open to showcasing your work differently,” Blackmore says. “We all have different ways of getting our work out to the public but collaborating with a likeminded and locally owned business such as Furniture by Design is always a win-win situation.”

Running from the 30^th of August until the 12^th of October, Garden Party showcases 16 floral works nestled amongst lounge and bedroom spaces and will include several talks where visitors can learn more about the creative techniques, practices, and styles of the artists.

“We all approach our subjects differently but the connective line throughout this show is the joy we get and give by painting florals,” Blackmore says. “This current environment is very tough, but creating art is one of the most basic and powerful ways to connect people and community. We need community, we need connection and that’s what this show is all about.”