Showcasing Franklin’s vibrant art

The Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe is showcasing two exhibits demonstrating both creativity and thought.

The first is titled Making Marks, celebrating the different drawings of Donna McKelvey, Ruthie Child, Brooklyn Mur, Stacy Lee Moretta, and Leonie Richardson.

The second is Thinking about Breathing by Auckland artist Judith Lawson, inspired by the delicate balance of the natural world, and focusing on our symbiotic relationship with trees and what they mean to us.

Auckland Council venue lead (arts) Caroline Burton described the arts scene in Pukekohe as vibrant.

“We’ve just had our local arts festival, which has been running for 35 years. It’s a well-established community-led festival that traditionally celebrates the visual arts in the Franklin area, and it’s widely known across New Zealand, to the point where they now get submissions from across New Zealand,” she said.

“Art is hugely important for so many reasons, for our community, our sense of connection, and our wellbeing. We also have a creative workshop where people can engage with us throughout the week.”

As well as exhibitions at the centre, there are art trails, the dramatic arts, and regular theatre groups meeting in the rural areas.

“We also support the arts in the wider community. Different parts of the community have different expressions of creativity, and it’s great to see different things going on. Like over in Clevedon, they have their Clevedon Creatives Collective, and then there’s the Pohutukawa Crafts Art Club, so there are different pockets of creative groups that are providing opportunities for their communities. It’s great to be able to support them and see what they’re sowing in their communities,” Burton said.

“We’ve got so much going on.”