Solo Exhibition at Cottleston Gallery in Tauranga

The month of November has seen my work on show at the Cottleston Gallery in Tauranga. This exhibition is a mixture of tapestries and other fibre works. Most of the included pieces have been blogged on this blog site already but here is some of the support material that has accompanied the installation.
Firstly, the write up posted on The Big Idea, our art online newspaper.

'Daily Voices'. Viv Davy
Opening Night from 6pm Monday 7th November 2016
Come and meet Opunake artist Viv Davy, preview her intriguing textile art, and try Cottleston's world-famous cheese ball and punch.
Event type:
Art, Exhibition, Preview
Price:
Free - all welcome.
Venue:
Cottleston Gallery Tauranga.
Address:
128 Oropi Rd, Greerton, Tauranga. 0204783337
Region:
National, Bay of Plenty
Post date:
Thursday, November 3, 2016 - 12:26


Viv Davy - Intense Researcher
Cottleston Gallery is proud to present 'Daily Voices', 8 - 21 November 2016.
Viv Davy has woven, both literally and metaphorically, her (and, by extension, our), mundane tasks, everyday words and thoughts into tangible art objects.  In her studio using weaving, stitching and other fibre techniques Viv has been creating diaristic works that range from miniature tapestries to large installation pieces.
In recognition of her extraordinary art preparation, she has recently received the AUT University Dean's Award for Excellence in Research.
The materials she uses include silk, cotton, handmade papers, bandages, wax, and recycled fabrics, often dyed with natural sources like fennel and pohutakawa.
The results are intellectually and texturally complex, and reflect not only the diverse materials and methods but also her personal and historically-based narratives. The
viewer is drawn into the works to engage with the careful attention to detail that informs the pieces. Davy has been creating fibre art for over 40 years.  Based in Opunake, she has a Master of Art and Design and her most recent exhibition was as part of the 2016 Taranaki Arts Trail.  She also has work concurrently showing in the prestigious event
'World of Threads Festival' in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
You are cordially invited to view Viv's textile art at her solo exhibition “Daily Voices”, Cottleston Gallery Tauranga (128 Oropi Road, Greerton). Opening preview is from 6pm Monday 7th November.

Written by
Cottleston Gallery Tauranga
3 Nov 2016
Cottleston is a boutique art gallery in Greerton, on the outskirts of Tauranga. Open during exhibitions 11 - 4.30 Tuesday - Sunday, and at other times by appointment.  Visitors are very welcome! Please sign up to our newsletter for information about exhibitions.


Here is the link to a local newspaper with two interview videos on the bottom of the article.
http://www.theweekendsun.co.nz/news/1528-intimate-messages-thread.html.

Over view of Solo Exhibition at Cottleston Gallery.

The curator at The Cottleston Gallery made a very comprehensive review of my solo exhibition in her gallery space which you can visit at: Tauranga exhibition


This installation has been very interesting to me as it was an opportunity to install in a space very different from the more conventional gallery white cube. Much of my making explores aspects of the everyday and the domestic mundane so this resonated well in the re-purposed villa space. The more intimate gallery context enabled the viewers to engage with the work in a very relaxed and secure space, which encouraged extended consideration of the pieces.

My behind the scenes paperwork was a bit of an underprepared shambles and I felt that this actually let the gallery down. So that lesson is one I also take away with me.

Many of the pieces in this exhibition are works I have wanted to exhibit more extensively so I am now re-evaluating the spaces that I approach to try and see if perhaps I can find a more "domestic" environment so the viewer experience can be enhanced.

The main drawback for me regarding this opportunity was the shortness of the hanging period. Because of the travel involved the time seemed extra short and I would probably negotiate for longer next time. However as the gallery curator said the numbers tend to drop off dramatically after the first fortnight.

All in all a great experience from which I learned a lot.