The Tawharanui Regional Park woolshed will be transformed into a gallery space for the biennial Art in the Woolshed exhibition from March 8-16.

Visitors will be able to view and buy the works of well-known New Zealand artists with proceeds going towards the environmental project at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary.

"Tawharanui is a magical piece of New Zealand," says painter and sculptor Gretchen Albrecht, who has taken part in all previous exhibitions. "I believe very strongly in what TOSSI is doing out there - it seems a really good thing to support with my art."The Tawharanui Regional Park woolshed will be transformed into a gallery space for the biennial Art in the Woolshed exhibition from March 8-16.

Visitors will be able to view and buy the works of well-known New Zealand artists with proceeds going towards the environmental project at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary.

"Tawharanui is a magical piece of New Zealand," says painter and sculptor Gretchen Albrecht, who has taken part in all previous exhibitions. "I believe very strongly in what TOSSI is doing out there - it seems a really good thing to support with my art."It will feature works of top New Zealand painters, sculptors, ceramicists, and glass artists. Many, including Gretchen Albretch, Paul Dibble, Fatu Feu'u, Barry Lett, and Jeff Thomson have exhibited at the Art in the Woolshed exhibition before. Works of members of the highly regarded Mahurangi Group will also be presented this year, and some established and emerging artists will be taking part for the first time.

For the duration of the exhibition Tawharanui's working woolshed will be transformed into a gallery space, and larger sculptures will be displayed in the area of the park adjacent to Kawau Bay. An exhibition shop will provide high-quality art and craft pieces for sale, and information about the open sanctuary project will be available.

The exhibition was first held in 2003 to raise funds for the predator-proof fence that straddles Tawharanui Peninsula. Proceeds from the 2008 exhibition will support Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society's (TOSSI's) on-going work of habitat restoration, predator control, plant propogation and species releases.

Re-introduction of endangered species to date include North Island kiwi, robin, whitehead and geckos, with the rare pateke or brown teal introduced in early February.

As well as the serious side of viewing and buying art, the exhibition is a chance for a really relaxing day out. Tawharanui is one of the premier beach and farm park areas around Auckland, with lots of picnic spots, spectacular beaches, excellent swimming and surfing, and great walks.

The exhibition, organised by TOSSI with the support of the Auckland Regional Council, is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily, with a 3pm closing time on Sunday 16th March.

Directions: To get to Tawharanui Regional Park: turn off SH1 at Warkworth and take the Matakana Road. Two kilometres past Matakana, turn right and follow the signs along Takatu Rd to the park. The woolshed is on the right just inside the park entrance.

The Mahurangi Group: Len Castle - potter; Barry Lett - sculptor and painter; Valerie Pendred - painter and printmaker; Robin Pendred - fine furniture maker; Mike Petre - painter; Florian Primbs - jeweller; Robyn Stewart - potter and sculptor; Terry Stringer - sculptor (unable to take part in this exhibition).

Image: Sailing Dinghy by Jeff Thomson, with Stuart and Virginia Angus's Standing Herons behind

23/02/08