A Life to Notice
An artistic exploration of the Avatar Moth –
(Arctesthes avatar)
Venue: Thistle Hall, Cuba St, Wellington
Dates: 17 – 23 May 2027
Opening: Tuesday 18 May from 5.00-7.00pm
Organisers: Gretchen Buwalda (gretchen@buwalda.co.nz) and Sian Cass siancass@inspire.net.nz
BRIEF:
We are promoting an exhibition hosted by one of our members, aiming at using a visual narrative to raise public awareness of, and engagement with the beauty and fragility of the Avatar Moth, awarded Bug of the Year 2026, endemic to the Denniston Plateau (West Coast).
PCANZ members are invited to submit works for display and sale at this exhibition, which will be held at Thistle Hall, 283 Cuba St, Wellington, from 17 May to 23 May 2026. An exhibition opening will take place on Monday 17 May from 5.00-7.00pm. This exhibition is part of a project, led by PCANZ member Gretchen Buwalda and her sister Sian Cass, supported by the Bug of the Year Committee of the Entomological Society of New Zealand. Politicians, conservationists and other dignitaries will also be invited to the exhibition opening to raise awareness of this conservation project and the value of art as a visual narrative.
The printmaking techniques used is up to you, but the subject matter must reference the Avatar moth. Both 2D or 3D works, framed and unframed works are acceptable for this exhibition and are ready to hang.
A contribution of $10 per submitted artwork is required to cover return postage for any unsold artworks and the cost of hiring the gallery.
Payment should be made to Gretchen Buwalda, 12 Taruna Place, Havelock North 4130, by 10 April 2027.
Bank account details: Mr J G Buwalda and Mrs G Buwalda 12-3645-0022649-00
Payment reference: ‘Avatar’
Artworks may be offered for sale. However, please note that Thistle Hall Gallery will deduct a 10% commission from the retail price you set.
Selection will be based on artworks meeting the brief criteria.
Early images of work or progress of work are welcomed to help promote our “Avatar Moth NZ “ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61596112380425 and Instagram pages https://www.instagram.com/avatarmothnz/.
We look forward to seeing what you create for this exhibition. If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact Gretchen or Sian.
Further Informtaion
A Life on the Edge - Arctesthes Avatar - Denniston Triangle Moth
We’d like to invite you to summit prints for display and sale at an exhibition at Thistle Hall in Wellington on 17 May 2027.
My sister, Sian and I were successful in obtaining a small grant to produce outreachmaterial to celebrate and draw attention to the ‘Avatar Moth’, a recently discovered species, awarded Bug of the Year 2026. Endemic to the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast. Our project includes an exhibition at Thistle Hall, Wellington, 17-23 May 2027. There will be invitations to politicians, conservationists and other dignitaries to use a visual narrative to raise public awareness of and engagement with the beauty and fragility of the Avatar Moth.
We believe your support would add to the quality and scope of works to be exhibited, enhancing the exposure to this at-risk species. This project offers an opportunity to contribute to a conservation project while also raising awareness of print making for creating visual narrative.
This new species of moth has been named after one of the world’s most popular movie blockbusters: Avatar. Discovered on New Zealand’s Denniston Plateau during a biodiversity survey by local NGO Forest & Bird this March, the new moth species is imperilled by plans for a coal mine on the plateau. The name—Avatar moth (Arctesthes avatar)—was chosen by its discoverers from a list of almost 100 entries by the public.
“It was by far the best one. It’s a novel name and the movie is about a mining company that threatens to devastate a human-like species that’s living in harmony with nature,” explains entomologist Brian Patrick, whose son, Hamish, caught the moth. “It’s just a really good analogy,”
We look forward to your support.
Gretchen Buwalda and Sian Cass