Kahurangi Employment Trust
The Kahurangi Employment Trust was established in 1997 to provide an environment that supports people, who are disadvantaged in the labour market, to move into quality full time work. They have a strong focus on social and environmental responsibility. Coupled with its employment endeavours the trust is placed at the Refinery Artspace to support community artists.
Hamish Fletcher has served on the Board of Trustees for the Kahurangi Employment Trust and the firms carries out pro bono work as our commitment to community services.
The Hamish Fletcher Lawyers Artists in Residency program is also another initiative that lends its support to a valuable cultural pathway. Below are the 2011 recipients of the award.
Pushing Boundaries at Gallery
NELSON EVENING MAIL 27.4.2011
Two Nelson artists talked to Alice Cowdrey about plans for their first venture outside art school.
Fresh out of art school, Kirsty Keen and Claire Ellery, of Nelson, will this year merge their creative talents, while stationed at the Refinery Artspace. The pair are the latest Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology graduates who have been selected for the Hamish Fletcher Lawyers Ltd Artists in Residency Programme at Refinery Artspace.
They were awarded space at the gallery for one year after putting forward a joint proposal to work collaboratively. It's the first time such a proposal has been accepted. At the start of their first artistic venture, they are full of enthusiasm for the year ahead. Having both graduated from the NMIT three-year Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design, the pair intend to develop works that "create unique situations, whereby the public become accomplice to the work", they say.
"We possess an interest in the local Nelson environment and intend to work in response to the community. We are curious to explore the methods citizens employ to interpret and express their relationship to the places in which they live."
The pair, who describe themselves as multidisciplinary artist's, intend to make the most of the residency by pushing their boundaries. They also want to develop their knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of art and see the residency as a chance to get a step closer to achieving postgraduate study in the future. The use of the space will come between work and other commitments, with both working full time - Ellery at Nelson's Unichem Pharmacy and doing fashion styling for Wild Tomato magazine and Keen at Lush Fresh Cosmetics.
Keen is originally from Southland and moved to Nelson to study. Before that, she worked in Fiordland for seven years in tourism. Ellery, from Scotland originally came to New Zealand in 2004 and was living in Nelson when she decided she wanted to do the course. Although they worked individually at art school, they often brainstorm and get along well. "We could see similarities between our works," says Ellery. "It seemed like a natural progression to do this."
In a recommendation for the residency programme, the pair's tutor, Catharine Hodson, wrote that successful collaborations generate strong work.
"As multidisciplinary artists, Kirsty and Claire have much to offer and they are vibrant, insightful communicators who connect well with others and delight with their energy, enthusiasm and humour."
The pair plan to get a Facebook page up and running so that people are able to follow their progress. "We are not going to be quiet about what we are doing," smiles Keen.
UPDATE AT CHRISTMAS 2011
Claire & Kirsty have had a busy year creating in the inspiring dimensions of the Refinery Art Space. They held an exhibition along with other graduates of NMIT at the Refinery called 'Love for Sale' in July 2011 selling as '2 birds 1 stone'. Their facebook page can be accessed on www.facebook.com/2birds1stone.nz
In the New Year the girls are producing new works which will be on exhibition at our offices. An exhibition will be held thereafter.