The Painter and the Glassmaker - Visit

6th – 19th October 2017
Gallery De Novo, Dunedin 

Jennie De Groot and Di Tocker exhibit together for the first time at Gallery De Novo as the The Painter and the Glassmaker. Both artists are regular visitors to Dunedin and Otago.

Annual trips to paint en plein air in Otago are the initial inspiration for Jennie De Groot's paintings. The final works are painted in her Waikato studio after her visit, blending the reality with memory and imagination. Jennie employs a range of diverse mark making techniques to create tension between realism and abstraction. The balance between place and non-place is a deliberate strategy to explore the notion of familiarity and belonging. Her status as immigrant informs her work. She explains, “I want to paint an unfamiliar landscape that is also recognizable”.

The seeds of the idea for Di Tocker's 'Navigator' series were sown in Dunedin in 2015. Di spent 6 weeks as Artist in Residence at Dunedin School of Art, savouring the opportunity to explore local areas, especially Observation Point, Port Chalmers, and Aromoana. Small figures sit or stand, looking from simplistic forms of boats, bridges, and worlds. They speak of mindful travel, exploration, curiosity, and being in the moment. Jewel-coloured seductive glass, luscious texture, and technically advanced skills from an established glassmaker, ensure the works from Di take the viewer somewhere new.

The Waikato based artists have exhibited paintings and cast glass together as 'The Painter and the Glassmaker' for the past 3 years. As full-time practicing artists, Jennie and Di support each on a personal and professional level, sharing ideas and goals for their respective practice.