Beachlands Art Classes

Kia Ora everyone,  heads up, this is a long read.  It's about the Whanau on the East Cape and how I'm hoping to help them, along with some of my Art Students, to raise funds to go towards the "Manaaki Matakaoa Flood Relief Appeal".

There will be a 50% Off Sale on all Prints and Artwork, and two special workshops on 15 February and 1 March.

As you may know, I have strong ties to the badly damaged area on the East Cape.  My husband's Whanau are from there, and I lived 11 kms out of the Te Araroa township in the Awatere Valley on the whanau land block "Pariwhero" for two years.

It's a beautiful place, and I have a deep love for it there.

I received a lot of aroha from everybody whilst there and still do.  The lovely Sue Pahuru from The East Cape Manuka Cafe supported me so much when I lost my husband, Peter.  She supported my art venture and believed in me.  She bought my first piece of Te Araroa, which I named "We're Here", which is what we exclaimed every time we drove back there from Auckland and came over the top of the Hill from Wharekahika (Hicks Bay) into Te Araroa.

Sue encouraged me to do prints of it; they were Limited Edition, so unfortunately, I cannot reprint them (otherwise I would, to help fundraise for the Relief Fund!).

The other paintings, Sue commissioned me to do for her Moko as they were born (they were to be a pictorial whakapapa for them), and we both had prints made to sell out of the Cafe and for me to sell as well (sharing the love of the place they call "Home").  One of the paintings is of Wharekahika (Hicks Bay) and the other is of Onepoto (Horseshoe Bay).  Prints were also made of these, but they are no longer. (Just a couple left).

The hardships I'm seeing on reels and videos from down there are heartbreaking.

The Whanau are resilient and proud; you would never hear requests for help.

But it's different this time; it's enough to make most people despair.  They have received a lot of help from the Tairawhiti/Gisborne region as well as many other regions, with helicopters flying in and out with food, medical, etc.  Returning whanau, who were away at the time, came back home to help with the clear up.  Some settlements can get through to certain points, but many are still cut off.  The roadwork guys have been amazing, clearing slash from the roads and repairing some bridges.  People have come with diggers from all over the country to help people clear land.

So much has still to be done; this is going to take a long time.

I have been trying very hard to think of ways to help.  They have a relief appeal, "Manaaki Matakaoa Flood Relief Appeal", where you can make a donation directly.

 In the meantime, I'll be doing a 50% Off Sale on all my prints and artwork I have for sale at Howick Village Market, this Saturday 31 January.  This sale will run for one week as I have very limited stock.  I'll be taking orders and getting more prints made, so nobody will miss out, and we can raise as much as possible.

I am also holding two workshops in Beachlands on Sunday 15 February and Sunday 1 March - details above.

There is be a $50 charge for the workshops, and all profits will also go to the relief fund.

If any other Artists would like to join us to help raise funds, you would be most welcome!

For enquiries, please email me at helenehenare@gmail.com