Artists around New Zealand are throwing their support behind the annual RSM Law Plunket Art Show.
The show, which has its opening night on Friday, May 16, and runs from Saturday, May 17 to Sunday, June 8, is in its 47th year, and features work from a wide range of New Zealand artists, in a variety of mediums — oils, watercolours, glass, ceramics and more — that would not otherwise be available in a single, local, exhibition.
The exhibition, at Timaru’s Aigantighe Art Gallery, raises funds for the Timaru branch of Whānau Āwhina Plunket, and over the past three years alone has contributed $40,000-$50,000 annually to the branch, helping support fundamental courses and activities such as music and movement.
Art show committee chairwoman Josie Laming said artists approached had been keen to participate in this year’s show, and some had even donated work to be sold or auctioned.
Notable among those artists was Kelvin McMillan, whose three works in last year’s show — ranging in price up to $3500 — all sold on opening night.
Mr McMillan’s donated painting will hang in the waiting area at RSM Law in Strathallan St until the exhibition.
Mrs Laming said those donations of artworks reinforced how important Plunket was to the whole community.
‘‘We’re overwhelmed at Kelvin’s generosity — it was completely unexpected, and will help us raise as much money as we can for this very worthwhile cause,’’ she said.
This year’s exhibition — running for the first time for three weeks instead of the traditional two — is dedicated to local Plunket stalwart Jane Denley, who died in March, aged 58, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mrs Denley had spent 27 years working for Whānau Āwhina Plunket in South Canterbury, firstly volunteering in car seat hire before serving on numerous committees and area societies and then spending 23 years as the community services manager of Mid-South Canterbury.
Behind the exhibition has always been a committee of local women — some have served a couple of years and moved on, while others have offered decades of their time to the show.
The voluntary committee members spend the year sourcing work from artists around New Zealand, visiting galleries during their travels in order to seek out new and exciting artists to bring on board and ensure a wide range of art mediums and styles is available to appeal to the widest possible audience.
This year, more than 30 artists are involved, exhibiting up to 180 artworks, both hung and podium work.
Opening night is traditionally a sold-out event, and indications are that will be the case again this year, as tickets are selling fast.
Tickets are available from RSM Law, Strathallan St, or online at timaruplunketartshow.nz/ tickets
