First Thursdays - K Road Art Show

Something new has hit the K Road art scene stimulating its creative energy and alternative culture.  First Thursdays is a monthly art walk held at historic St Kevins Arcade connecting artists, photographers, dancers, DJs, and art enthusiasts. The first event in December drew a diverse crowd of over 900 Aucklanders, curators and artists.

A broad range of artists were featured including pop surrealist Sister Darling, who painted goddess-like characters from her imaginative, alternate world.  Used Bandaid from Wellington offered some deviant, Lolita-inspired watercoulour drawings.

Selene Simcox contributed bold, abstract expressionist designs cleverly using an ironing board as a medium whilst Sylvia Marsters depicted bright, warm hues in her paintings of tropical fruit bowls and flowers.

Glass blower Uri Davillier set up his installation "Raining Sunshine" consisting of hundreds of yellow glass drips hanging from the ceiling which intrigued guests as they walked in.

Jordan Barnes shared a bit of realism with his K Road studies, a self portrait, and observations about life including a giant, mouth-watering hamburger (its caption was “I’m always so f--ng hungry).

Philip Rosieur presented 40 sketches of strangely amusing, sometimes partly clad characters - think Batman missing his superhero pants.

A key figure in the street art scene, Peap contributed one of his signature black and white paintings. Digital artists PJ Paterson and Stephanie O'Connor merged photography and graphic art into urban and theatrical expressions.

Visitors browsed through environmental artist Martin Adlington’s booth of recycled trash turned to art. GeorgeFM sponsored the event with a live DJ set. A surprise Brazilian dance performance by Latin Fever and an electrifying Michael Jackson medley performed by hip hop dance group Triple8Funk caused an enthusiastic uproar.

Inspired by an art walk in her hometown of Seattle, USA event manager Cleo Barnett wanted to provide a new type of social arts gathering in Auckland. What started as an idea has turned into a community conscious, arts collaborative supported by the K Road Business Association, St Kevins shops, Third Eye and Verona Cafe. 

The next First Thursdays on 4 Feb is surely not to be missed so check out www.firstthursdays.co.nz.

Pictures from events associated with this article: