Taputeranga: Above and Below
- Toi Pōneke Arts Centre 61 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro, Wellington Wellington New Zealand (map)
Katy Cottrell and Rick Allender
16 August - 12 September
Detail of Rock Pool by Rick Allender
Taputeranga: Above and Below is an exhibition celebrating the vibrant life of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve on Wellington’s south coast on at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre from Saturday 16 August to Friday 12 September 2025. Artists Katy Cottrell and Rick Allender explore the connection between land and sea through intricate works crafted from natural wood veneers. Katy delves beneath the waves, illustrating native marine flora and fauna with a Victorian-era scientific flair. In contrast, Rick maps the reserve’s surface with bold, modernist marquetry inspired by its geography, human structures, and natural landmarks. Using a palette of earthy tones, burnt umber, mahogany, russet accented with vivid highlights, the artists merge traditional hand-cut techniques with laser-cut precision. Together, their work offers a rich, layered tribute to Aotearoa’s maritime heritage, te taiao, and the enduring relationship between rākau (wood) and te moana (the ocean).
Facilitated by Katy Cottrell and Rick Allender
12 - 3pm, Sat 16 August
Artistic Potential: Marine Reserves
A presentation/talk with Katy Cottrell, Matteo Collina and Alice Rogers
1 -2pm, Sat 30 Aug
other exhibitions
see other past exhibitions in the gallery archive
- Posted in exhibition
- Tagged next, 2025