Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Resene Half Carefree Tony’s art fusion Artist Tony Harrington gets creative with recycled timber and Resene testpots. H awke’s Bay artist Tony Harrington combines repurposed demolition timber, Resene testpots and talent to create stunning artworks. He also combines Maori and Pakeha cultures to depict a nostalgic and truly local perspective. Tony’s passion for working with his hands – building and creating as well as painting – led him to work primarily with wood rather than paper. Repurposing demolition timbers means his ‘canvas’ doesn’t always start out blank. Remnants of paint left behind inspire him about what has been before, and provide added depth and layers to his art. “These works carry with them literal and conceptual stories of the past combined with current day references to living in bi- cultural Aotearoa,” says Tony. Atop his wooden canvas Tony adds layers of beautiful and intricate patterns and images. “I always use Resene paints because of the very broad spectrum of colours that are readily available,” he explains. “Over the years I have experimented with various paints, mixing and trying new colourways. These days I prefer to go straight down to my local Resene store and pick out the exact colour I need, no fuss, and get straight into creating.” Harrington draws inspiration from many sources, and with a keen interest in typography, he often includes words from pop culture and songs into his art. “I am inspired on a daily basis by what I am experiencing in my environment, what I am reading, listening to, and just being,” says Tony. He’s also inspired by fellow New Zealand artists such as Shane Cotton, Colin McCahon and Dick Frizzell. Urban and graffiti art have always intrigued him and they too have a major influence on his work. Tony’s love of art began young, and although a high school teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in art, it wasn’t until after some years of travelling and working that he enrolled at the Eastern Institute of Technology to study for a Bachelor of Visual Art and Design majoring in 3D design and furniture design. He graduated in 2004. A number of galleries throughout New Zealand carry Tony’s work, including The Poi Room, Moko Artspace, Kura Gallery, and A+E Gallery. His own studio, The View Room at 186 Kennedy Road, Napier, is available to visit by appointment. Once a small sleep-out at the back of his house, Tony has transformed the space with the help of a builder friend. The studio allows him to showcase and circulate a variety of pieces, while also giving visitors a glimpse into his own Kiwi lifestyle. For more of Tony’s work, see www.tonyharringtonartist.co.nz. colourful person Above left: Artist Tony Harrington with his tiki creation. Above right and below: More of Tony’s artwork where he uses recycled timber and Resene paint. words Vic Bibby pictures Tim Whittaker 39