71 Sharing the love of art

ANDI CROWN

Comfrey Saunders

Sharing the love of art

Growing up in a house surrounded by art and artists, it isn’t surprising that Comfrey Sanders is most at home on the stage. Judene Edgar sits down with Comfrey to talk life, art and performing.

In Nelson, she’s possibly best known as the daughter of Bridget and Roger Sanders, but across New Zealand and the globe, she is regarded as a formidable actor with a string of successful shows and international tours under her belt.

Originally from the UK, her family packed their bags and brought their two young daughters to New Zealand for a holiday. They bought an old-school, pop-top Kombi van and travelled around the country. In Nelson, Bridget a visual artist and Roger a storyteller and musician, found a thriving arts community, so as artists themselves they felt at home and decided to put down roots. Initially settling in The Glen and going to Hira School, they shifted into central Nelson in time for Comfrey to go to Nelson Intermediate. It was there that her creativity started. “I was looking for extra-curricular activities and found live theatre,” Comfrey says. “There happened to be a cool confluence of me looking and finding a lot of musical theatre for young people at that time.” The path wasn’t necessarily a straight one as she tried piano, flute and even rock climbing along the way, but she found her voice when she joined the Nelson Youth Theatre. Along with her younger sister Rose, they were both in the choir in their first Youth Theatre production, Les Miserables. From there she joined SoundStage, Nelson’s music and performing arts school, along with singing lessons and a youth choir. Naturally, she says her parents were always encouraging her and sharing different artforms with her. “My parents also introduced me to foreign cinema and beautiful art-house films. Through their love of the arts, it opened my mind and heart to cinema, storytelling and theatre.” Somewhat surprisingly, even to herself, she then developed a love for Shakespeare. “I have dyslexia so I didn’t enjoy reading when I was younger, but once I found Shakespeare something clicked, and it came to life for me,” she says. At Nelson College for Girls, she competed in the annual

My parents also introduced me to foreign cinema and beautiful art-house films. Through their love of the arts, it opened my mind and heart to cinema, storytelling and theatre.

Comfrey, Roger, Rose and Bridget Saunders

Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, taking out a number of awards, including best delivery of lines and top Nelson performer. She then went on to represent Nelson at the national competition where she was selected to go to The Globe Theatre in London with the National Youth Shakespeare Company. “I feel very lucky to have had so many opportunities available to me as a young person,” she says. And while she also says that she was very lucky to get accepted into the prestigious Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (Toi) on her first attempt, those who have worked with her or taught her, know it was anything but luck. Graduating from Toi in 2014, she found the industry wasn’t quite as she thought it was going to be, but has settled into life as a freelance actor, despite all of the uncertainties that brings, especially at the moment with Covid-19. “Being an actor can be challenging as you’re always in a state of flux and there’s no ladder you can climb.” Many shows in New Zealand don’t last longer than a season, so Comfrey is incredibly grateful to have been involved with a number of shows that have been developed and staged over several years. The last time she was in Nelson was bringing the farcical, slapstick comedy Jekyll and Hyde to life as part of production company A Slightly Isolated Dog at the newly reopened Nelson Centre of Musical Arts. Like Don Juan before it with the same team, she says that creating the show had been an iterative process of devising, developing and improvising; a live trial and error process of “seeing what flies and what dies”. Both shows have since been staged, with rave reviews, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival followed by UK and Australian tours. Comfrey was looking forward to sharing her show Owls Do Cry with Nelson as part of the Nelson Arts Festival, but unfortunately Covid restrictions has resulted in the cancellation of almost 30 shows, including hers. “As a young theatre maker and writer, and from where I’m sitting here in Auckland, I anticipate that we will see and feel the fallout of Covid on our independent arts sector for a long time to come. And although the narrative of the struggling artist is a worn-out one, the New Zealand independent arts industry is a fragile one, and in the time of Covid, the arts is one of the first industries to disappear, and one of the last to get back on its feet.” Comfrey has suggested that people who feel they are in a financial position to do so, might like to donate their ticket money back to the artists, the institutions, or local arts practitioners to show their support. “If you consider the music you listen to, the content you consume, the stories you read, and the pleasure you get from culture significant, please spare a thought for the people who create and bring those experiences to you, now and in the future.”

join us in our Heaphy Wonderland

Book your corporate Christmas Party with us this November / December and for just $85 per person, you and your team can enjoy our 3 course Deluxe Christmas Platters, Room Hire of our beautifully decorated Heaphy Room including Christmas Crackers and a glass of Mulled Wine or Bubbles on arrival.

Contact us now to enquire about making your next Christmas Function one to remember.

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Belinda Wilson

Studio and gallery in central Nelson Open by appointment 021 731 007

belindawilson.co.nz

Hawk’s Valley Sculpture Gallery

190 Williams Road, Tasman Open most days. A call is appreciated. 021 267 1127 laurenkitts.co.nz

The Artist Goldsmith

Christine Hafermalz-Wheeler Central Nelson. By appointment 021 817 209

TheArtistGoldsmith.com

ATELIER Studio | Gallery

329 Trafalgar Square 021 166 8327 Tues - Fri 10am - 5pm, Sat 10am - 1pm

atelier.org.nz

The Suter Art Gallery

208 Bridge Street, Nelson Open 7 days 9.30am -4.30pm 03-548 4699 thesuter.org.nz

Lynette Graham Fabric Design + Artist

125 Mapua Drive, Mapua. 021 731 737 or see online shop. Lynettegraham.co.nz

Chocolate Dog Studio

Book illustration and commissioned art

027 695 4433 chocolatedogillustration.co.nz

Purpose Gallery

5 Iwa St, Mapua Fri - Sun, 10am - 4pm open to public. Tues - Thurs, 10am - 4pm for private appointments. Closed Mon. purpose.gallery

Nelson Classic Car Museum Museum Store

1 Cadillac Way, Annesbrook 03 547 4570 nelsonclassiccarmuseum.nz

Höglund Art Glass Studio & Gallery Michael MacMillan Sculptor & Country Homeware

252 Neudorf Rd, Upper Moutere Open October - Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon 10am – 4pm. 021 069 1401 michaelmacmillan.co.nz

Cathy Jones 4 Art

027 546 9499 1/47A Washington Rd. Open Wednesdays 12-5pm, and by appointment.

CHOCOLATE DOG STUDIO

Jane Smith has published a children’s book called Mr Otter and the River.

Illustrating an otter’s life

Mapua’s Jane Smith has spent her life as an artist and creator. Her latest project is one that will attract a whole new audience – a children’s book titled Mr Otter and the River.

At some point during and even towards the end of a beloved pet’s life, many of us contemplate the idea of creating some kind of permanent record to have and to honour once that precious animal is no longer with us.

Creating that permanent record in the form of a unique illustration is something that artist Jane Smith has been specialising in over recent years. Prior to her move from the UK with her photographer husband Neil in 2002, Jane worked in graphic design. However, on her arrival in New Zealand, she started to work for herself.

During her early years here she painted landscapes and seascapes, which she sold through a local gallery, but then after their move from Diamond Harbour near Christchurch to Mapua, she and Neil established Chocolate Dog Studio from which to sell their work. Then two years ago, Jane made the big decision to focus solely on illustration work, which unsurprisingly mostly features animals. “I really am now just doing what I like,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like work at all – it’s just something I love doing.” Their Chocolate Dog Studio operates online, it doesn’t have a physical presence and now that Jane’s work has become pretty well known, the majority of her work comes via word of mouth. In between commissions, and starting back in the first lockdown in 2020, Jane has found time to write and illustrate a book, Mr Otter and the River, which she will publish this month. Although otters don’t feature in the New Zealand landscape, the idea for the book came from her Londonbased brother who provided a skeleton outline for Jane to work with. His inspiration came from being surrounded by people whose first language was not English. Thus some of the characters in the book speak with different accents and is, in Jane’s own words, “a little fable about not making assumptions before you know someone”. It’s not a typical illustrated children’s book in that Jane is keen for it to be enjoyed by a wide age range; in other words, it could be read aloud to younger children, while those aged eight or older could read it for themselves. Mr Otter and the River will be launched at Nelson’s Wall2Wall Gallery in Bridge Street at 5.30pm on 6 October. Jane would love to see you there but would appreciate knowing numbers in advance so please RSVP to info@chocolatedog.co.nz

Ph: 027 695 4433 chocolatedogillustration.co.nz

Roisin King in front of one of Robin Slow’s art works. He will be exhibiting at the gallery from 23 October.

Gallery promotes artists with purpose

Purpose Gallery co-owner Roisin King radiates excitement when talking about artists the gallery promotes and its upcoming exhibitions. It is clear that to her and partner Stu Fleming, running the gallery is much more than a job, it is a calling to encourage and promote New Zealand artists to the world.

With a background in international sales and PR, Roisin is well versed in marketing offshore and is eager to benefit New Zealand artists with her considerable experience. “Our values are strongly based in doing the best we can for each artist we represent,” she says. “We love to explore markets that we think will give our artists the greatest benefits and long-term success. Trust and relationships matter more to us than anything else and we want the artists we promote to know that we will always put their best interests at heart.” The gallery holds a mixture of curated mixed shows along with solo shows. On 23 October a new exhibition by Golden Bay artist Robin Slow opens. Robin has been quietly selling his art throughout New Zealand and overseas for a number of years, combining his art practice with that of being an art educator while contributing time and talents relentlessly to his local community. “It’s the Robins of this world we want to promote,” says Roisin. “His work has such wonderful integrity and depth and comes from a place of great love for New Zealand and the natural environment. They tell stories too of Māori heritage, the land and our place in it, the physical and the spiritual.” As with all pieces sold by the gallery, each of Robin’s works will come complete with their own written story. Due to the phenomenal popularity of Robin’s last exhibition, bookings for both the preview and official opening are essential and can be made by phoning, emailing or booking online. Another solo show takes place in December by highly regarded sculptor Paul Olson. The centrepiece of this exhibition will be an intricately carved piece of 45,000-year-old swamp kauri entitled “I U....”. “It depicts a story about seeing your loved ones, witnessing the beauty of this world - love, family, friends and the strength of those communities. Watching those networks expand into this world and the joy that this invokes.” says Roisin. At 2.1m long and with outstanding craftsmanship and attention to detail, it has an almost otherworldly presence.” Purpose Gallery is already taking the fortune of artists to new heights while enriching the lives of all those who see and buy works. “We are focused on nurturing and promoting art that tells a story and that will enrich the lives of those who purchase it on many levels”, concludes Roisin. Purpose Gallery Ph: 021 198 9291 5 Iwa Street, Māpua www.purpose.gallery