It all began with a small group of artists: painters and a sculptor, who used to meet at people’s homes. The big flood on March 20th 1981 caused Cherry Park House to be half under water and lots of damage to the house. It was no longer suitable after this as a home, but it was put to another purpose: a Centre of the Arts. The owners gifted the property to the Council, who then leased it out to this group of artists. But at a price! The artists worked long, hard hours to scoop out the mud in the building and replaced windows that had been torn off. It was all volunteer work and craft people donated time. restoring the building. It was no longer a living room or bedrooms, but large rooms that could be used for teaching and working the arts. The basement was transformed into a pottery studio, and the kiln was later moved downstairs from the garage. Pottery was in its children’s shoes; people were still learning. A couple of experienced painters taught newcomers.
So after starting to meet at Cherry Park House, the group grew and there was in fact more craft then art (art being painting). Exhibitions were held in the summer close to Mill Lane in Kerikeri and it was huge. Artists and craft artists came from all over the North Island to bring their works. As a result, the bank account became very healthy. In 1984 it was time to formalize the group to manage its finance and regulate procedures, and it became ArtCraft.
Other groups were starting to use this location too and in recent times Cherry Park House has become more of a community centre. There are now groups using the venue for other interests than arts, but of course ArtCraft has remained the core of this wonderful location.
ArtCraft at CPH now
We have Art Painters, and we have Potters. No other arts or crafts are currently represented by our Society.
The Painters are meeting every Monday between 10 am and 2pm.
Then we have Pottery, Ceramics. Our pottery studio is still in the base of the building where the kiln fires our work and where potters can use the wheel, hand build and glaze their pieces. It is a dedicated area that can only be used by ArtCraft potters. The pottery studio is available to all members the whole week. Over time small groups have formed who work their own hours, but some potters choose to come in whenever they have time to do some work or finish a project.
ArtCraft is not a teaching facility and new members must have a basic knowledge of painting or pottery. We guide, coach and instruct and have workshops for pottery to get a better knowledge of different techniques, i.e. glazing, making glaze and how to load the kiln. Those are quite specific skills that can only be acquired by practice.
The Events Sub-Committee organises two Events every year: An Exhibition and a Sale. This is for members only, who pay an entry fee as well as commission over their work’s sales.