North Canterbury News: November 23, 2023

Artist’swork featured
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, November 23, 2023
25
Openstudio event
The spirit of Christmas was the inspiration
for Oxford, artist Grant Philip, who paints
by holding abrush in his mouth.
The painting entitled Christmas Wreath
is featured on agift card and wrapping
paper which is included among the
Christmas products being sold throughout
Australia and New Zealand by the Mouth
and Foot Paintings Artists (MFPA), an
international art group, which has 850
members in 84 countries throughout the
world.
‘‘The Christmas wreath epitomises the
celebration of Christmas. Christmas is a
time of the year that Ienjoy with my wife
and family, Grant says.
‘‘Many people hang these on the front
door during Christmas, and Ithought
having it as acard, gift tag or wrapping
paper would be agood idea.’’
The selection of the pictures for the
products for the Christmas range is made
by apanel of European experts.
This year’s range includes paintings by
six New Zealand artists.
Grant has been confined to awheelchair
since he had adiving accident in the
summer of 1989 which left him as a
tetraplegic.
Before his accident, Grant was an
apprentice Sheet Metal Engineer as well
as aTerritorial Soldier with the Royal
New Zealand Corps of Engineers, 1st Field
Squadron.
After the accident, he retrained as a
computer­aided designer and held fulltime
employment for eight years designing
playgrounds for McDonald’s Restaurants.
Twenty­two years ago, he was
introduced to mouth painting by MFPA
member Grant Sharman, and after
submitting aseries of paintings was
awarded aStudent Scholarship with
MFPA.
Grant is also akeen sportsman and
competed in Archery in the 2018 Invictus
Games in Sydney.
He’s also competed in the paralympic
sport of target shooting representing New
Zealand at two World Championships,
numerous World Cups, and various
International competitions, as well as
regional and national championships.
The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists
gain their income through the sale of
products illustrated with their paintings,
and although this started with Christmas
cards, today it includes awide list of
products ranging from special occasion
cards, jigsaws, tea sets, address books,
calendars, Christmas serviettes and
placemats, gift tags and wrapping paper.
Founded in 1956 by agroup of European
artists, the MFPA is aself­help
organisation that gives people with
disabilities the opportunity to fulfill their
creative ambitions while still maintaining
financial independence by selectively
selling their artworks.
The MFPA was established in New
Zealand in 1961 and has 25 members.To
become astudent member, an artist must
qualify by painting using abrush held in
either their mouth or foot, having lost the
use of their hands through an illness or
accident. Student members receive
scholarships for art supplies and tuition.
By SHELLEY TOPP
Arts Canterbury, agroup of artists
supporting artists, is holding an open
studio event this weekend, and next,
across 57 locations.
The inaugural Arts Canterbury Open
Studios event will see more than 80
artists, including 17 from Waimakariri
and two in Hurunui, opening their doors
to the public.
The event will provide an opportunity
to visit artists in their studios to see
where they work and experience a
unique insight into their day­to day
creative processes, says the Arts
Canterbury exhibitions co­ordinator
Mandy Palmer.
There will also be opportunities to
speak with the artists about their work
and watch them giving art
demonstrations.
``It is an opportunity to discover
artists living in your own neighbourhood
or plan atrip further afield to explore
the creative community that is thriving
throughout Canterbury,’’ Mandy says.
‘‘As well as artists in studios we also
have galleries and art societies opening
their doors for this event.''
For more information about the Arts
Canterbury Open Studios event visit
artscanterbury.org.nz/open­studios/ to
view the interactive trail map for details
about all of the artists taking part and
their locations.
Help for whitebait
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Fish in aKaikōura waterway are receiving
ahelping hand.
Environment Canterbury staff hope to
create afish ladder for Middle Creek / Te
Wai o Pātiki at the Mount Fyffe Road
bridge, north of Kaikōura, this summer.
The project has been planned for
sometime, but was delayed by the weather.
Afish ladder allows migrating fish to
swim over or around an obstacle on ariver.
Environment Canterbury Hurunui and
Kaikōura zone delivery lead Marco
Cataloni says īnanga (whitebait), are ‘‘poor
climbers’’,
‘‘A fish ladder will allow them and
torrentfish to swim into an upper
catchment.
‘‘There is huge value to the catchment in
creating this passage as it will provide
more adult habitat for fish, some of which
are at risk or threatened.’’
Arecent survey of Middle Creek found
healthy populations of native fish species
in the lower reaches of the stream, Mr
Cataloni says.
He said re­establishing fish passage
would allow species such as redfin bully,
bluegill bully, torrentfish, īnanga, kōaro
(whitebait) and shortfin and longfin tuna
(eels) to thrive.
The survey also found kanakana
(pouched lamprey) in Middle Creek.
‘‘There have been numerous sightings of
kanakana in recent years, with one even
being caught in awhitebait net (and
released) by locals.
‘‘We will continue working with our
rivers and surface water science teams to
determine what species are present and
where,’’ Mr Cataloni says.
He says the council is keen to confirm
giant kōkopu (whitebait), are alive in the
creek.
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