From Jan. 2015: Taranaki à Paris [Art de Nouvelle-Zélande]. Artists from the Virtual Tart Showcase show their work at Gallery 59 Rivoli in Paris, France.
French Connection Eleven Taranaki artists will be travelling to Paris in November with about 150 works by local. They will exhibit the artworks of 35 Taranaki artists over a two-week period at the Gallery 59, Rue de Rivoli, from November 5. Exhibition organiser Dale Copeland said the winter event had been in planning for more than a year. "Apparently that's a good time to exhibit because the place isn't full of tourists," she said. That gave the residents of Paris a better opportunity to acquaint themselves with some small slices of Taranaki. The exhibition idea came from Copeland. She said the opportunity to travel to Paris was too exciting to pass up. They will be taking New Zealand-made cheese and wine to serve at the opening in a bid to boost provincial New Zealand's profile in Paris. She said the artists were hoping to sell as much of the work as possible while there as each traveller had only a 30 kilogram luggage allowance each. The weight restrictions have meant that each work has to be light, portable, rolled and compact if it is a painting or canvas work. The unusual requirements had caused quite a few artists to become even more creative with their designs. "It will happen and it will be good," she said. Copeland and fellow artists Mili Purpil and Caryl Murray were made official South Taranaki ambassador's last week. As representatives of the region, South Taranaki District Mayor Ross Dunlop said they would perform an important function. "New Zealand has a good reputation internationally. "This is quite different to actually have artists going overseas, I thought it was quite important to recognise that," he said. The group leaves on November 2 and will return on November 20. PETRA FINER - TARANAKI STAR Featured Taranaki Artists: Dorothy Andrews, Ian Axtell, Jenny Bielawski, Deirdre Brockhill, Maria Brockhill, Julie Cannon, Alby Carter, Tim Chadwick, Anne-Marie Clegg, Barbara Clegg, Robert Clement, Dale Copeland, Laurel Davis, Viv Davy, Coral Dolan, Lester Earl, Carl Fairweather, Joan Fitzpatrick, Deborah French, Marita Green, Amanda Griffin, Lesley le Grove, pip Guthrie, Karen Hamer, Waldo Hartley, Amanda Hewlett, Anne Holliday, Sharyn Lee Hoskin, Glenys Howland, Jan Huijbers, Leila Hunter, Paul Hutchinson, Graham Kirk, KM Gallery, Anna Korver, Karen McDell (Vasalisa), Linda McFetridge, Milarky, Steve Molloy, Rebecca Mooney, Lynn Morresey, Roger Morris, Wayne Morris, Marianne Muggeridge, Caryl Murray, Denise Newland, Fern Petrie, Chris Poletti, Mili Purpil, Frances Rookes, Tony Rumball, Lee Russell, Margaret Scott, Michaela Stoneman, Filipe Tohi, Renate Verbrugge, Pam Walker, Joanne Wilkes, Lee Williams-August.