Artisitc talent on display

Emerging artists from around Central Otago are showcasing their creative flair at a public showing in Queenstown tomorrow (Wednesday 3 June).

The open day, to be held at Queenstown Arts Society studio off Ballarat Street from 10am to 3pm, is the culmination of an advanced 10-week course run by Otago Polytechnic.

Seven students have completed the ‘Creative Studies Painting 3’ course led by Shaun Burdon.  Mr Burdon is the former Senior Lecturer in Painting at the Otago Polytechnic School of Art in Dunedin and is now based at the Cromwell campus.

He believes the open day is a great chance for students to share the fruits of their labour with the community and celebrate the successful completion of their course.

“My aim is to extend the students and encourage them to go beyond traditional methods of expression, to see and interpret their ideas in new ways.

“They’ve all done really well and I’m very impressed with the pieces we’ll be showing to the public.  The works are highly adventurous and contemporary, ranging from imaginative interpretations of place through to complete abstraction,” he says.

Further courses in painting, digital photography and life drawing are planned for September.  Courses include tuition in materials, techniques and ways of looking at the world and are accompanied by lectures on aspects of painting and art history.  Course fees start at just $200.

For more course information please contact Otago Polytechnic Cromwell campus on 0800 765 9276.