The Mount Art Group (written Oct 2011)

The name was later changed to Mount Maunganui Creative Art Club and in 2008 to The Mount Art Group.

Since then, membership numbers have increased to 30 with one founding member, Joy Gosling, still attending. 

Members are always very involved which says much for the friendly, sociable and supportive group atmosphere found at group gatherings.

Last year TMAG celebrated 35 years with a reunion dinner and a special exhibition.

For the last five years TMAG has run an annual exhibition at the Mount Surf Club to give members both an incentive and confidence in themselves to better their artwork. 

Last year’s exhibition was very well received and the standard gets higher each year.

Painter Merilynn Crean.

In the photo we see Merilynn Crean working on her painting for the art group’s small picture competition. The theme is ‘Around the Mount Area’ and these paintings will be displayed at the October exhibition at the Mount Surf Club.

Merilynn is a new member to the group this year and has lived in the Mount all her life. She has been painting for four years and mainly works in acrylics.

The Mount Art Group is made up of a good cross-section of people from all over the area as well as the Mount.

They all have their own individual styles and are at different levels of achievement. 

Several workshops are held through the year run by ‘outside’ artists and tutors as well as technique exercises led by group members.

Outings to artists’ studios, galleries and outdoor sketching trips are arranged.

TMAG also has an annual exhibition and run an ‘Open Day’ art display in April to promote the art group to prospective members.

Newcomers are welcome at any time of the year. The current annual subscription is $35.

Painter Gemma Brunt.

Gemma Brunt will have two acrylic paintings on show called ‘Fryslan – Back to the Moo-Roots’ and ‘Tui’. 

Gemma joined the group nearly five years ago after moving to the Mount from Holland.

She worked as a framer and also in art supplies where she learnt about all mediums.

Her favourites are acrylics and pastels. 

Gemma’s art started with the drawing of people and animals but now her new environment has given a new aspect to her work.

Gemma will be this year’s ‘exhibition artist’ painting on site each day of the exhibition.

Shirley Frost is another enthusiastic painter at the exhibition. 

She will be exhibiting a number of works including one of her exquisite floral paintings.

Shirley lives at Matua and has painted most of her life.

 For a number of years TMAG has also invited the Mount College art students to display their work at the exhibition.

This is an ideal showcase of work by local students and their collaboration is much appreciated. 

As an added attraction there is also a painting table especially for younger children and all those ‘budding artists’ who would like to try their hand at painting.

The Mount Art Group Exhibition runs Friday to Sunday, October 14-16 (9am - 6pm daily) at the Mount Maunganui Surf Club. Admission is free.

If previous exhibitions are anything to go by, this year’s show is not to be missed.

Be sure to jot the dates down on your Arts Calendar.

For more details email the exhibition coordinator Bronwyn Oldeman at bronwyn_oldeman_@hotmail..com

by Pete Morris (2011).

Pete Morris is an occasional painter and an art lover. He is a free-lance writer with a particular interest in promoting the visual arts in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.

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This page archived at Perma CC in November of 2016: https://perma.cc/SWT8-7YZV