Growing Things

by Martin Corke

Date: May 30 – Jun 12Space: Small Gallery

Martin Corke began drawing and painting over two decades ago as a means to counteract the stress of office work. Over the years, he has attended numerous workshops and part-time classes in Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. In 2018, Martin retired to the Wairarapa region with his wife before moving to sunny Hawkes’ Bay. He now dedicates most of his time to pursuing his passion for art.

Martin’s artistic interests lie primarily in painting landscapes and portraits, with oil on canvas, sometimes board, as his preferred medium. He often draws inspiration from the local scenery. The pieces in this exhibition, however, were inspired by photographs taken of the kitchen gardens at Government House in Hobart during a group art tour in early 2024. These photographs, along with other found images, served as the foundation for the compositions of the paintings. Martin was particularly captivated by the patterns in the foliage as well as the flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Opening night Friday May 30th 5-7pm.