Taranaki Report September - november 2025
Dimphy de Vaan
It has been quiet in Taranaki recently and we try to arrange a meet now and then. As a number of us join the Whanganui get togethers regularly that is possibly sufficient feed-back, feed-forward and social interaction for each month.
There was great feedback received from the Director, Catherine of the Percy Thomson Gallery for the PCANZ Taranaki exhibition. This gave us all some perspective on the exhibition and workshops,
INKED: Original Handprinted Artworks by PCANZ Taranaki Printmakers:
Saturday 19 April - Sunday 18 May 2025. Open to the public: 28 days
Total visitor numbers: 1802.
Feedback: overwhelmingly positive! For many visitors, it was their first proper introduction to printmaking: what it is, the techniques involved and how these techniques were reflected in the finished product. This understanding was helped by the support material and ephemera/objects that accompanied the show, particularly the press, tools, wood block, and reading material. The 'cash and carry' station was also very popular; giving visitors an opportunity to purchase lower priced works and take them home to enjoy immediately.
I am grateful for the efforts and energy put into the public programmes, and the beautiful way Dimphy and Michaela engaged with attendees (workshops), all of whom left smiling and with fabulous prints they'd produced in only a few hours. The forum too was a success, dampened only by the weather outside that no doubt kept numbers down. There were some generous and heartfelt conversations shared, and it closed the exhibition in a positive and thoughtful way that set the tone for future shows and collaborations.
Photos from IMPRINT exhibition