3 friends have an exhibition

Three Wellington artists: Ange Lee, Chris Bramwell and Richard Graham, joined together for their exhibition, “three: Good Things Come In…”, a collaboration between the three friends which opened Tuesday 18 November at ROAR! Gallery. Their art works are diverse but all have a slight introspective feeling.
ROAR! gallery is New Zealand’s first gallery to promote Outsider Art. The gallery promotes work which does not fit into the traditional art category, such as craft, and is supportive of emerging and outside artists and also those not formally trained. The space in ROAR! is a fabulous area to showcase art and the exhibition launch for “three: Good Things Come In…” was styled artfully with plants and retro chairs which added to the ambience.
All three artists have all been focusing on the meditative and more introspective aspects of busy day-to-day lives. In their works they embrace the concept of separateness and being separate yet connected. Their paintings, carvings and photographs explore the idea that all things are simultaneously a whole and a part. They are looking at our world on a symbolic level, the small and the smaller, exploring the idea of things appearing distinct from each other because all exist on a unified field of consciousness.
Ange Lee’s Twilight collection is one of a series of paintings featuring a beautiful blue colour palette which provokes thoughtfulness and harmony. “My work is influenced by a deep interest in Eastern philosophy, quantum mechanics and the expansive and ever-changing view of the Orongorongos and Cook Strait from my window” says Lee.
Rich Graham’s collection, The Atom Smashers, incorporates carving and acrylic on board. Graham says that there is an “underlying geometric abstraction carved into the board – resembling a constructionist style that has been influenced by early modernists such as Mondrian and Ben Nicholson.” Some of the works feature Japanese throwing stars, shuriken, to resemble his new role of fatherhood. He says that “quantum mechanics are a recurring theme in my works representing a harmony of mind, body and spirit that few have achieved.”
Bramwell, photographer, says that she is drawn to patterns incorporating balance and the feeling of bleakness. Themes include home and history but essentially about ‘home’. Fabulous photos of Montréal Canada shot in a bleak moment are a part of her collection. Her photography is of a spontaneous nature.“I just capture moments, and tend to take photos as I feel like it”. Nice.
“three: Good Things Come In…” runs for two weeks at ROAR! Gallery. ROAR! Supports the annual Art Auction coming up 25th November for Pablos. Artists works that will auctioned at this event include works by Dick Frizzell, MISERY and others.
To visit the exhibition or for further information including tickets to the Art Auction contact roargallery@paradise.net.nz or visit the gallery situated on the 1st floor, 55 Abel Smith Street, Wellington.
Cyndi Greep, 19th November 2008
Photo by Ange Wadsworth of artists Chris Bramwell, Richard Graham and Ange Lee.