Are you after art? This week is packed with artful options!

The fabulous Forrester Gallery is hosting a series of new exhibitions, beginning Saturday 4th October.

I love any opportunity to roam this historic space and browse the beautifully curated collections.

Expect to see:

Small Gestures - a series of small-scale works interrogate the ‘impact of scale’, as our perception of it shifts throughout childhood and adulthood, with the human body playing a pivotal role.

Landscapes of Desire - celebrating stitch and textile art, the work of local embroiderers’ guilds across Aotearoa New Zealand.

J.M. Lofley: Ocean Oracles and Odysseys - Rimurapa (bull kelp) and rimu kakauroa (giant kelp) position themselves as message and medium, telling stories of possibility and opportunity. - You might even be inspired to create something of your own!

Offerings: The Influence of European Modernism on the Local Landscape - The late 1800s-early 1900s introduced contemporary artistic developments that offered new ways of encapsulating local landscapes.

Image: John Charles Veitch, The Old Oamaru Windmill, date unknown. Collection of the Forrester Gallery (FG2001.22.1)

In the mood for something racey?

Giddy-up and support Ardgowan School with “A Night at the Races”.

Tickets are $40 and include $300 worth of ‘funny money’ and a full supper.

There will be Fashion on the Field prizes, plenty of laughs, and the bar will be open late.

Don’t be the last horse out of the gate!

Saturday 4 October at Weston Hall.

You might know him as Mr. Buggyrobot, but Martin Horspool has many more strings to his bow…

Martin Horspool ventures into public spaces, eagerly observing and waiting for the right opportunity to photograph people as they congregate and go about their day, his subjects unaware of his quiet presence.

A talented, urban street photographer, he’s consistently on the lookout to capture unique and colourful characters, those that stand out from the crowd.

This Sunday, head along for an informative, ‘meet the artist’ session, hosted by Forrester Gallery.

This artist talk will be held in the Main Gallery.

Kōrero Toi | Artist talk | Sunday 5 October 1pm

You’ll find me in the crowd, possibly decked out in my finest punk attire!

Stick around after Martin Horspool’s Artist talk, bring back your best punk fashion (and piercings, optional) for the afternoon, and enjoy a live band performance amongst Martin’s punk imagery – how fitting!

GY-RO is a two-piece rock band consisting of Martin and Gee. They have influences from ‘70s Glam Rock, Punk, Rockabilly, and Garage Rock. This will be their first public appearance since getting together a few months back – let’s get amongst it!

GY-RO live music performance | Sunday 5 October 3pm

If you’re anything like me, finding a mindful moment to meditate can be a challenge.

While distractions abound and our lives seem busier than ever, ‘switching off’ can feel like an unaffordable luxury.

Monday Breath, Mindset & Meditation is just the ticket, a 45min guided class, to practice the tools & discover what you take home with you & add youtube your tool kit of self support.

This is an offering to the community for connection through co-regulation, for anyone, at any level, no previous experience required.

And the best part…? This is a pay/trade what you can event, which means you exchange what you can in value for what you are learning.. You choose what you want to contribute.