Christchurch artist Wisse paid tribute to the 29 Pike River coal miners with a painting given to the Coast last week.  Wisse gave the painting to Grey district mayor Tony Kokshoorn as a homage to the miners and those affected by the tragedy.  Grey District Council will hang publicly as a visual memorial to the tragedy so visitors to Greymouth could pay their respects.

Wisse said today she had been overwhelmed with the public response to her painting and had received a flood of requests for a copy or print of the painting.  “I’ve had people from Asia, Australia, Europe and all over New Zealand asking for a limited print copy and all have been happy to make a significant contribution to the Pike River fund,” Wisse said today.

“I got a request from a woman in the Loire Valley in France who was related to a West Coast mining family asking for a print as a further way of raising money for the bereaved families.”

In a note to the miner’s families, Wisse recorded 29 words mentioned by the Pike River chief executive and the mayor to remember, giving strength and solace to not only the families but to the entire nation.

The 29 words were: miners, confusion, terror, pain, bravery, families, sons, brothers, fathers, husbands, anger, frustration, fighters, strength, tears, heartbreak, grief, vigil, sorrow, prayers, stoic, friends, tragedy, solidarity, heart-warming, future, love, resilience, memories.

Wisse is renowned for her modern depiction of New Zealand landscape including pohutukawa and emotive landscapes.

She has been one of New Zealand’s most prolific artists of the last 10 years. She has exhibited her work throughout New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the UK and also has her paintings among private collections in New York, Australia and the UK.

For further information, comment, interview or photos contact Lisa Wisse on 027 3899011 or Kip Brook at Word of Mouth Media NZ on 0275033855

The exhibition is titled ‘Veiled Beauty’. I have tried to infuse emotive value into my work through my imagery of landscape figure colour and verse, capturing the beauty in our life. 10 art works will be exhibited.

www.thearthousehotel.com.au

Titled ‘Toward Tranquil Waters’ the painting represents peaceful relations ahead between New Zealand and the United States of America.

Hillary particularly enjoyed viewing my work on one of her previous visits to New Zealand while at a gallery in Queenstown. I was delighted for her to take a piece of New Zealand on canvas home with her.

View press releases:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1011/S00088/artist-gifts-a-nz-painting-to-hillary-clinton.htm

http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=51&t=48&id=60313

The site will be updated from time to time with new art and announcements of exhibitions and other news.

Date: 1 September 2009
Time: 6pm

Location: 263 Parnell Road
Parnell
Auckland

Great evening, thanks to all who attended! Some new work in now to view so please feel free to drop by again.