Thank you Helen

This is a drawing (these are prints of) done by great aunt Helen Brown when she was aged 14. She was a celebrated Auckland artist in the 1950's and 1960's and was represented by the John Leech gallery. Her more famous works were more minimal/simplified seascapes in oils, they are quite breath taking. But the above work has been with me since I was a child- it was beside my bed at night- I used to imagine being in the night scene with the witches and creatures. It is my most precious possession.

Having Helen in our family has alway 'pre-laid' a path for myself, as she was successful in her pursuit, therefore my career has appeared more tangible- if that makes sense. Although I never knew her as an adult, she passed when I was six, I feel i have some sort of connection to her. I often think and wonder what she would do in situations that I find myself in.

So thank you Helen

I hope to organise a exhibition to honor her next year.

R

Brendan van den Bosch

Welcome to Brendan van den Bosch's covetable three colour silkscreen prints. They really capture your eye as well as playing with words, messages and social commentary- these works operate on many levels- as good work dose. They are 549 x 840 mm making the colour bold and dynamic (images don't give them justice). They are beautifully executed- thanks Brendan can't wait for some more work from you!

R

Gen's Jewels continued...

Hi,

I just needed to add this post to reiterate how beautiful Genevieve Packers Jewellery is. I am particularly fond of the rings that are individual but can be built up as a cross section.

In sterling silver these pieces are that extra bit special.

R

DS stool revisited

We have just completed this stool in the lighter toned timber. Dad and I have always made this stacking stool, right from when we first started our practice- and I cannot take the full credit on design. This was Dads Idea and we have refined it over time.

They are made from 100% recycled timber and the dark toned stools are primarily mahogany and the light toned are a combination of Tawa and Vitex- farmed sustainably in the Solomon islands.

Very pleased that we had some off cuts of timber to recreate this covetable design.

R

Genevieve Packer

Well I am very excited to announce that as of the end of this week, we are welcoming Genevieve Packer to our store. We will have a selection of her cushions and jewelry.

Thank you Genevieve for joining us and thank you to fancy blog for pointing me in her direction.

R

Our New Table Design- Saw horse Table

Hello, sorry that there hasn't been any posts in a while. This one should make up for it. This is our NEW design- I am so thrilled with it (I didn't have my camera with me today so these shots are taken from my phone so they are not the best) I couldn't wait to share.

This piece is made from 100% recycled timber and there is a blend of Kauri and Rimu. The design is something that we have wanted to do for a while as the 'trestle' table has been voguish of late- This is more of a saw horse interpretation- I feel that this marries in with our over all ideas and feel.

I can't stop staring at it... She's a beauty!

R

Ecological Outdoor Furniture

This is a design that we have been working on and off for the last three months. We wanted to do an outdoor table, purely because we like this timber called Vitex. Vitex is directly marketed against other hardwood timbers such as Kwila as is comes from a sustainable source. 

I like it as it ages gracefully in the elements and ends up a beautiful silver tone and refrains from giving you splinters. The design itself uses stainless steel hinges allowing the pieces to be folded down compacted for storage. The Vitex dose have a wonderful hard quality to it and has a life expectancy of approximately 40 years, mainly used in decking we look forward to using this ecological product more and more.

R

Our New Butcher Blocks

After moving into our new house we were really struggling for bench space, we have always made butcher blocks in the past, but this one is a slightly different design. We had one like it when we grew up on the farm and  I have always wanted one. The castors give it a semi- industrial spin and the handle harks to 'high school science block'. I am just thrilled with it so I thought I would share. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

R 

Workroom at Aroha lamour in Napier!

Wow I just had to show you these images taken of our lamps in Aroha lamour-House of Aroha in Napier (which recieved the 'best' design store from Urbis magazine '09). The shots are just beautiful. Thank you house of Aroha we a v. pleased to make your acquaintance.

Happy new year all 

R

http://www.houseofaroha.co.nz/2009/12/20/workroom-design-made-in-clevdon/

Who's a pretty little shop then

Just a few snaps of the shop from today... 

R

Insite Magazine Australia

We have just been published in an article about New Zealand design in a Australian magazine called Insite. This is very exciting news for us. Also featured in the same article is Renee Boyd and Zekiah Heath, whose work we stock at the WORKROOM store. Thought I would just share this as I am bursting to tell someone and my mum won't answer the phone!

R

Melina Martin

Melina Martin is our latest edition to the stable with a selection of her work... She lives and works out of Wellington with a background in fashion she has decided to sway towards designing her own ranges of home adornments including these covetable cushions and tea-towels. With my collection of bird studies and sketches I just couldn't resist. 

R

Clevedon Christmas Parade

In the weekend WORKROOM went in the Clevedon Christmas Parade! It was so fun giving out little presents and of course the classic Macintoshes (my favourite has always been mint) to the children and families. It was a hot blistering day with a huge crowd we danced and sung along side the WORKROOM Christmas tree (all high on sugar from the over consumption of Macintoshes) . So a successful day giving to local community and we all retired exhausted with sore jaws from chewing and throats from "we wish you a merry christmas"

Merry christmas from WORKROOM!

R

Game- GRADUATING EXHIBITION (part one)

Hi there,

It has been a busy time and I haven't had a chance to write of late. I have just graduated from Whitecliffe college with a bachelor of fine arts. These images are from my graduating exhibition. Held on the 26th of November. It was a wonderful occasion celebrating 4 years of work and learning- I was a bundle of nerves, excitement, sadness and  happiness. Thank you to all of my friends and family that came along to support me. And I would like to especially thank the fine arts faculty at Whitecliffe who have guided me through- Thank you Noel, Jill, Steve, Erich, Matt. 

R

Here is the artist statement that accompanied this work:

Seeded from anecdotes and everyday interactions, Snelling gathers, studies and observes these experiences to respond and comment. She exercises her role as an artist operating with no fixed premise and oscillating from a heavy-handed rigour to a hands-off director. Snelling believes that her idea will tell her how best to execute it and how this decision of methodology will support or take the idea further. Themes of nostalgia and human critique are examined in this exhibition and are presented both metaphorically and literally through games, sports and animals. We are asked to think about aspiration for success and fear of failure as well as how we can be misinterpreted and misunderstood by others as a fact of human nature.

 

“My art is autobiographical and I cannot be separated from it, although at the same time, I hide behind its many layers and guises”.

 

Rat 2009 Pencil on hot pressed paper 1500 mm x 1400 mm

Pig 2009 Pencil on hot pressed paper 1500 mm x 1400 mm

Chicken 2009 Pencil on hot pressed paper 1500 mm x 1400 mm

Dartboard 2009 Acrylic on linen 1400 mm diameter

Cork and feathers 2009 Hand turned cork pheasant turkey and dyed chicken and goose feathers

Twenty-three passport photos 2009 Passport photos (all taken at ‘Photogenics’ Parnell road taken  over the period of six months) Fuji prints 120 mm x 100 mm

 

Rebecca Snelling

November 2009