A rare exhibition featuring the work of two Cambridge-based artists – one a painter and the other a potter – will be open across two days later this month.
‘Just the Two of Us’ will bring together the work of expressionist artist Carole Hughes and ceramic artist Jo Beckett over the weekend of November 28 and 29.
The two live a stone’s throw from one another, Carole in Queen St and Jo in Alpha St. They are joining forces for the first time to offer people an opportunity to view and purchase their work, to ‘talk art’ in a working studio environment, and to go into the draw for one of Carole’s paintings and one of Jo’s pottery pieces.
Carole said she made the decision to organise the exhibition because of the number of events cancelled during the year due to Covid-19.
“This is something that we hope will give everyone a bit of a lift as we move towards the end of the year,” she added. “Jo and I have never exhibited before … we bring very different genres to this event.”
Jo’s clay compulsion came as she was completing a diploma in craft and design after leaving school. She has perfected her craft over the past few decades, moving seamlessly from creating domestic items such as mugs, bowls and the like, to more fanciful work, much of it leaning towards garden art. She makes little birds, ceramic flowers, seedheads and other wall and garden items, but also does exquisite kete (bags) and other decorative pieces with a uniquely New Zealand flavour.
Carole is a self-taught artist whose passion lies in brilliant colour and the Fauve style of painting; the inspirations of her travels through Italy, France, Serbia, Bosnia and Spain find expression in bold creations invoking street and market scenes, bobbing boats and groups of musicians. She has exhibited extensively over the years, and many of her works have headed overseas or hang in prominent New Zealand buildings, including the Beehive in Wellington.
The exhibition will extend from Carole’s home at 19 Queen St, to Jo’s home at 12 Alpha St. It will be open to the public from 10am to 3.30pm on both days.
Signage will be placed at the top of each driveway, and most of the items will be for sale.
