8 minute read
Lois Templeton
from South September 2020
by Times Media
No painter, Lois, but a true artist
Lois Templeton’s textile work Technically a Quilt –Listen recently won top prize in the Pollok Arts & Craft Co-operative’s August competition but this busy artisan has no time to reflect on the win as her every spare minute is presently devoted to the Franklin Arts Festival Society’s September pop up art show as HELEN PERRY discovered.
Call Lois Templeton an artist and, despite many successes, she is likely to do a double take.
“I’ve never considered myselfan ‘artist’ I’m a creator. I grew up thinkingofartists as people who painted pictures and went to art school. That image has [to some degree] stuckin my head, but now, I see all creativity as art –poetry, woodturning, singing, they’re all art.”
But to deny that this BigBay creative is anythingbut an artist would be entirely wrong. Her ceramics and textile works are evidence ofher talent and her ingenuity. Furthermore, the fact that they are seldom left sitting at an exhibition or in a gallery for long, attests to their desirability.
Now, Lois has works in the Franklin Arts Festival Society’s Pop Up Art Show which, as festival president, she has been instrumental in organising. In progress at The NZ Steel Gallery and Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe, her entries include ceramic and wire sculptures, Multi Flora and Pink Blush Floral.
Yet, still she shakes offthe mantle of‘artist’ declaringshe only began delvinginto her creativity some 12 years ago and every workis still part oflearningand exploring. Although Lois didn’t start ‘creating’ until well into adulthood it could be said her artistic journey began in school when she won a colouring contest and tookhome a camera.
However, any childhood idea ofbecomingan artist was soon forgotten. Rather, like others ofthe era, Lois was soon embroiled in sewing, knittingand gardeningall ofwhich called for some creativity.
“And, I still love gardening; many of my ceramic works are made for the garden which is definitely a place where one can find plenty ofoutlet for creativity,” she says.
But it was visits to her grandmother at Manakau-Otaki, near Wellington, which were, perhaps, the catalyst for Lois’ later interest in ceramics.
“Well-known potter ofthe time, MirekSmisek, was my grandma’s lodger; watchinghim work, I thought, ‘I’d like to be a potter’.”
But that thought was also fleeting –Lois went on to train as a primary school teacher and then, while on holiday in Australia, she met her husband to be, Graeme.
‘We married youngand lived in Oz for 11 years before returningto New Zealand so Graeme could take up a job at the NZ Steel Mill. It made sense to settle locally but we didn’t want to lookat the mill every day so when we found a property at Big
Not to be missed
Franklin Arts Festival Society Pop Up Art Show September 4 – October 8, 2020 NZ Steel Gallery and Franklin Arts Centre, 12 Massey Ave, Pukekohe.
Bay lookingout to sea, it was ideal.”
With the arrival ofher second son, Lois soon fell into a busy routine ofparenting, teaching, sports and community activities until work tookthe family to Taharoa near Kawhia for three years.
“There wasn’t a lot to do in Taharoa and I had to do somethingso I did pottery [shades ofher Wellington visits]. I soon realised you couldn’t learn to pot in a day but the experience sparked a real interest in ceramics although I still didn’t connect ‘pottery’ with ‘art’.
Duringthat time Lois joined a rural women’s group pickingup quiltingand makingher first bargello quilt [a stunningand creative freeform quiltingstyle].
“It was quite good; really it turned out okay and that sparked the thought that you can do anythingwith the right attitude.”
Three years later and backon the Awhitu Peninsula, the real turningpoint in Lois’ creative drive came when she was invited by another local artist, Kerry Collins, to help set up the PollokArts & Crafts Co-operative.
“That’s when I became really interested in exploringmy own creativity. I’d come backto a bit ofa vacuum; three years is a fair time to be away from a community. The Co-op gave me focus.”
Averse to usingpatterns for“prescribed ideas” or copyinganyone else’s style, this reluctant ‘artist’ says her worklargely comes from life experience. that special ‘found’ item, are the inspiration for most ofmy work. Makinga piece and then seeingits potential excites me and I enjoy solvingthe problem ofmakingan art piece work.”
While these days it’s easy to pop to a shop for materials or search the computer for ideas, Lois says she doesn’t understand wanting to reproduce something from Instagram or similar –“ I didn’t have these things handy but made do with what was on hand.”
An example ofthis is one ofher favourite pieces, a quilt she made for her son, Malachi’s 21st birthday.
“It’s created entirely from men’s ties which were embroidered or signed with messages from friends and family. It’s special.”
It’s also unique, a reflection ofLois’ desire to “own my work”.
“I can’t do mass produced and ifasked to do a specific commission I’m not sure I could. I like my workto express somethingofmyself; somethingdifferent; somethingspontaneous; I need to put my own markon it.”
Recently Lois discovered Wabi sabi, the Japanese aesthetic focused on the acceptance oftransience and imperfection. “The concept ofbeauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete appeals to me. I like to thinkmy art embraces a little ofthis.”
That said, and despite her deep admiration of‘artists’ who are, indeed painters, Lois confirms “I’m much too impatient to ever be a painter. That’s why I’m so pleased to have found my own niche.”
POP UP SHOW AN ART
Pullingtogether a pop up art show through Covid-19, Alert Level 3 has been no mean feat for the Franklin Arts Festival Society.
President, Lois Templeton, secretary, Caroline Burton and treasurer, Pamela Woods, together with a dedicated committee and volunteers, have worked tirelessly to ensure they bringto the district some extraordinary works from local and other artists.
“We couldn’t have done this without the mammoth efforts ofNansi Thomson from Franklin Arts Centre and support ofFranklin Local Board; they have been amazing,” Lois confirms.
“Usually the festival is held in February at the Pukekohe Town Hall and in the adjacent gallery/arts centre with some 1000 creatives enteringtheir workand competingfor considerable prize money,” Lois says.
“But this year with Covid-19 startingto emerge we decided to cancel. However, the committee felt we couldn’t let the year go by without hostingsome sort ofshow; hence this event. What’s more we are thrilled to have some 140 artists participatingeven though there is no prize money on the table. Hopefully, they will see some eager buyers!”
Among the many acclaimed artists contributing to the exhibition are:
JanMaree Vodanovich known for working with various media –pencil, ink, paint, words, mark-making, sculpture, body art, wearable art, ceramics and photography. Her impactful entry, Be Have and Do More in the style of Deb Weiers was inspired by the David Whyte poem, The Well of Grief.
Robin Ranga a multi-media artist who has won recognition in both ceramics and painting. She strives to create an awareness and notions ofempathy to provoke responses ofcompassion, tolerance and hope for better understandingbetween differences in ideology and perceptions.
Anna Molineauxwho works in a variety of mediums with a particular interest in printing, paint, resin, body art and sculpture, mainly inspired by body form, movement, the essence and energy ofour beingand always with a passion for colour, perspective and depth.
Caroline Burton a textile artist who uses felted wool and silkfibres often with threedimensional sculptural elements inspired by natural forms.
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