Artist's statement - Ashburton Arts
My partner and I (along with many others) are involved in a project - Ashburton Arts. This is creating a new centre for the arts in Ashburton. The building used to be a Methodist church and was purchased by the community at an auction. The centre is slowly being converted for a multitude of uses; dance, music, cinema, the arts and much, much more. I have been recording the changes to the building and some of the activities that are developing in the centre.
The Church
The building is an early 19th century Methodist church which is a listed building with a grand entrance or porch way. It has a curved balcony with tiered pews with additional rooms on both the ground and first floors. It will need large sums spending on it to preserve it. To this end there is a group working on raising and researching development grants and funding.
Andy Williamson - with saxophone. Andy is also one of the main board directors of Ashburton Arts; the main driving force behind the Centre.
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Keith Clements - in between numbers
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Tim Powell-Jones playing the banjo. Tim has also been recently featured by Froots as having one of the best Folk albums of the year, along with the band the Dark Lanterns.
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The main hall with pews and organ
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Looking towards the eastern side of the main hall
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The room between the main hall and café
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The glass and timber divider
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Pitch-pine pews detail
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Pitch-pine pews detail
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The listed curved pews on the first floor
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The brass plaque on the church clocks
×The Gathering
involves musicians getting together and playing in the main hall (which has wonderful acoustics). Most are using traditional instruments like guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, squeeze boxes and banjos. Others use wind instruments like saxophones etc.
Ian Pickvance - playing guitar, one of the regular artists, but also one of the key people driving The Gathering
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Em Marshall playing the mandolin
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Chris Thomas and guitar, between numbers
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Mary and friend - an interlude with a squeeze box
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Simon Scott on guitar
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David Bailey playing guitar
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Jonathan Croose and his daughter playing ukuleles
×Yoga and sound baths
Traditional Yoga followed by sound baths and meditation in the upstairs room.
Chris Willis leading a Yoga class
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Cinema
A pop-up cinema featuring shows that are inspiring for both individuals and the community.
The Arts
Everything from photography, life-drawing, exhibitions, paintings, illustrations and contemporary installations.