Works by more than 100 different artists have been brought together for this year’s Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition, which features art from a range of disciplines, selected by the Wānaka Arts team.

Each year artists and patrons flock to the Lake Wānaka Centre to view the Wānaka Arts cornerstone event, but this year’s event and its theme, ‘Arts Alive’, is a special one.

It’s “an idea that encapsulates the vibrant creative scene in Wānaka, the working artists who will be on site, and the live music that kicks everything off on opening night,” Wānaka Arts coordinator Whitney Oliver told the Wānaka App. 

Organisers were lucky to be able to proceed with the exhibition, which runs through to Sunday (October 24), and they deliberated over various scenarios with changing alert levels, Whitney said. 

Making the most of the ability to hold a live exhibition and in keeping with the theme, the Wānaka Arts team has this year brought live music, artworks from around the country, and featured six artists who will be working on site throughout the exhibition: Kym Beaton, Kate Boswell, Robin Brisker, Kate Costello, Jenny Hill, and Julia Sternkopf.

The exhibition features work from a range of disciplines, including woodwork, fibre art, jewellery and ceramics, including those pictured here by Shannon Courtenay. PHOTO: Wanaka Arts

Among the 100-or-so artists featured are works in the disciplines of painting, photography, sculpture, woodwork, fibre art, ceramics, and jewellery, displaying a “great diversity of work,” Whitney said.

Most of the “fantastic turnout” of artists being featured come from Wānaka but there is also work from artists based in Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, and Auckland.

“The range of artists includes those who are established and well-known as well as exciting up and comers,” Whitney said.

After kicking off with its opening night last night (Thursday October 21), the exhibition continues from today (Friday October 22) until Sunday, open from 9am-5pm each day.

Whitney said the Labour Weekend exhibition was the most important event of the year for Wānaka Arts, a local non-profit which exists to promote and support local arts and artists.

“We are active throughout the year with a revolving exhibit at the Wānaka Community Hub, involvement in the Toi festival, promoting our artist community, and presenting opportunities for artists - but Labour Weekend is the big event where we all come together,” Whitney said.

“It's when we can shine a spotlight on many artists at once and show just how talented our creative community in Wānaka, and beyond, is. 

“It's a great celebration and coming together of artists and art lovers.”

Visit the Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition between today and Sunday at the Lake Wānaka Centre. Entry is $5.