With growing membership and plans to expand classes, Ōpōtiki Arts is on a roll as it prepares for the Cut it, Carve it exhibition later this month.

Having seen membership soar in the previous 12 months, Ōpōtiki Arts is taking registrations for the exhibition that will feature work in the mediums of wood, shell, bone, tiles, clay and textiles.

Cut it, Carve it will run from Saturday,April 12 to April 26 –10am till 3pm daily – at the group’s Salvation Army Barracks building in King Street.

Spokesperson Dorothy-Anne (Dot) Wilson said the forthcoming exhibition followed hard on the heels of a popular children’s pottery class funded by Creative New Zealand.

The arts group previously known as the Ōpōtiki Arts Society was in good heart having seen membership rise from 35 to 84 and was planning art classes to harness the depth of talent within the club.

What would Dot say to somebody who would like to have a go at pottery or painting, but who felt they had no talent?

“Just come along on a Tuesday to decide whether you would like to belong. If you have the desire to be an artist or a potter, then all you need is a teacher. We’re just looking for people who say, ‘I’d love to be able to do that.”

“I don’t doubt you could Google to learn how to paint pictures or throw pots, but it’s a lot more fun to learn off others. There’s nothing like the friendships one makes working alongside folk with the same passion as yours.

“Paying a $40 subscription here puts you in line to participate and learn in a whole range of activities. You can come to any of the members’ days, and it will be less expensive to exhibit.

While drawing classes taken recently by Jo Chester had been popular, Mrs Wilson noted that about half of those who had signed up in recent months wanted to learn the art of pottery.

“This is the place to learn –one of our members has been a potter in Canada and he gives lessons.

“On the committee we have four or five art teachers who can give a range of classes in various disciplines. We have carvers, painters, potters, textile, graphic design artists and a photography tutor. The well-known mouth artist Kerrin Tilley is an active member.”

Mrs Wilson has been involved in art for about 40 years. She previously taught art classes at what is now known as the RMIT University School of Fashion and Textiles, in Melbourne. Her time with the university included teaching aboriginal people in the Outback, who wanted to learn how to transfer cultural painting designs to textiles.

She has seen the fortunes of the Arts Ōpōtiki, formerly known as the Ōpōtiki Arts Society wax and wane over the years.

“The real strength of this group, aside from the formidable talent of members, is that we own our building – this gem of an historic building dates from 1898. Membership has been up and down since our group was formed in 1975, and at one stage the council offered to buy our building for $1.

“We did not accept their offer, and just as well we didn’t. There is currently a surge in people wanting to learn in art classes and we’re looking forward to meeting the demand.”

Mrs Wilson said there were four or five art teachers on the organisation’s committee, including, Harold Deely, art teacher and potter; Marie Cass, art teacher; Jo Chester, graphic designer and artist; Raewyn Hustler, woodcraft; Kerrin Tilley, artist; Zena Warren, pottery.