New Exhibition - Estuary Arts

Kim from Orewa

"Boats and Birds" Sculpture by Michael Irwin
24 September to 20 October 2019
Michael has always had a love of boats and birds from his earliest memories. He loves the form and shape of both and how they can dip and soar through their respective environments. He has spent many hours from an early age tramping, climbing, sailing and swimming where he learnt to love and enjoy the unique coastal and mountain environments. Nothing is more enjoyable than cutting through the sea, with all sails set, with the birds soaring in the wind; or sitting on a mountain peak or surrounded by huge trees of our bush. Both the bush and the sea have been places of adventure and quietness that have inspired his sculpture. The stone used in the sculptures are Taranaki andesite (hard and grey) and Oamaru stone (white).
Michael has been a teacher and educator of art for over 50 years. He has organised whole school art events and assisted children and teachers to create their own special art works. He specialised in art at Hamilton Teachers’ College where he first began sculpturing.

The last 20 years of his employment was as a Senior Lecturer at Massey University, where he was a programme coordinator for teacher training and lectured in the Arts and how to teach and develop Creativity with children. He is a member of the Te Kupenga Stone Sculpture Society in New Plymouth, where he regular travels to carve stone. He has taught night classes in pottery and painting, and is a tutor at Estuary Arts Centre.