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Summer show opening a great success ■ ASHBURTON SOCIETY OF ARTS

By Su an Sandy susan.s@theguardian.co.nz More than 50 people revelled in the talent of local artists at the Ashburton Society of Arts Summer Show opening on Saturday. H eld at the Short Street Studio, it was the first time for many y ears an opening night was held for one of the society’s seasonal shows, and it ended up being a great success.

Spokesperson Lynda Scott said as many as 14 of the works were sold. Some of the artists would be replacing their sold works, so there would be new pictures hung over the next week.

Guest artist was Christine Lang, who talked to the gathered crowd about her award-winning work.

Today based in Christchurch, Lang grew up in Carew where she first began her passion for drawing.

She said her parents Audrey and Ron Bush dabbled in paint ing and were friends of Austin D eans, and she had many people who encouraged her in her work. “Mid Canterbury was and still is a very rich area for people in the arts,” Lang said.

She is today best known for her contemporary realism and strik ing landscapes, mostly of South I sland scenery.

Her work on display at the Summer Show is a series of acrylic-on-canvas works, which include landscapes and studies of nativ e flora and fauna. Lang is a former nurse and air hostess who today spends most of her time painting in her homebased studio, and sells mainly through Art Box Gallery at Pa panui and her Facebook page. S he also works two days per week in Christchurch Hospital’s MRI department.

“That socialises me for two days per week, otherwise I would spend all my time on my own,” Lang said.

Meanwhile, the Summer Show will run for four weeks, through to March 22. It will be open at the Short Street Studio on Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 4pm, and Mondays and Wednesdays when the studio sign is out. Clive Scott and Bronwyn Hughes were among more than 50 art buffs who turned out to the Summer Show.

PHOTOS ROBYN HOOD 220220-RH-307

Christine Lang is best known for her contemporary realism.

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Judi Christie and Celia Folley take in the colourful art works at the Short Street Studio. 220220-RH-305

Your Local MP

I’m available to meet with constituents on Mondays and Fridays and any day that Parliament isn’t sitting. Contact my office in Ashburton to make an appointment to meet or speak with me.

Andrew Falloon MP for Rangitata 81 Harrison Street, Ashburton • 03 308 7510 rangitatamp@parliament.govt.nz andrewfalloonforrangitata