Westland Arts Incorporated and Westland District Library are collaborating to make a free exhibition space available.
Art @ the Library is a small, nimble and flexible project that aims to provide exhibition space for artistic and innovative proposals.
Sarah Godfrey (b.1981-)
Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Painting
Born and raised on the West Coast of the South Island, Sarah moved to Dunedin in early 2000. It was here that she completed a B.F.A. at Dunedin School of Art, graduating in 2003. Inspired by her lecturers Lyn Plummer and Peter Cleverley, Sarah discovered that painting was her calling and this became her major in years 3 and 4 of the degree. She received the ‘Derivan Art Award’ while studying in her last year.
After completing her degree, Sarah concentrated her efforts on working in the Interior Design industry. While this is still an interest for her, a holiday with her parents reignited her passion for landscape painting and on returning to the West Coast in 2013 she set up her current studio on her parents’ farm in Kowhitirangi.
Sarah’s work is largely inspired by New Zealand’s vast landscapes. She is particularly interested in colour and emotion rather than trying to create a realistic scene.
Sarah’s work can be found in several galleries throughout NZ and on her website www.sarahgodfrey.com. Sarah will also be exhibiting at the NZ Art Show in June 2024
Recently, a German tourist stayed with my family and she enquired as to why I don’t paint the landscape around me. My reply was that it is was too familiar. Leading up to exhibiting at the Westland District Library, I decided to investigate this feeling of familiarity more. My paintings are usually about myself within the landscape. When I look at the mountains surrounding Kowhitirangi, I associate them with many people. My family has lived in the area for many generations. Inter-generational stories about family and community and the feelings attached are passed along to me. The mountains of this area hold stories about many people. I’m reminded of their stories when I consider painting the mountains here and it can be overwhelming to think of their feelings associated with this place - love, grief, determination, conflict, sorrow, greed, happiness etc. It is challenging to consider Kowhitirangi without associating it with people who have shaped this place.
Initially, I planned to paint the Diedrich’s ranges and Mt O’Connor, which backs onto my family’s farm at the Hokitika Gorge. I wanted to share a story about this place. I started drawing out the image and it felt right to stop at the end of the drawing process. By taking away the layers I get back to the skeleton or bones of the image. Kind of like taking all the layers of emotional baggage out and thinking of a simpler time. Keeping it simple seemed appropriate and the right thing to do. I feel that the mountains around Kowhitirangi hold too much emotional energy for me to paint. It is not the right time to tell the story that I wanted to share and perhaps I’m not the right person.
I’ve called this image ‘It was once quiet here’.
If you would like to contact the artist, please ask for the contact details at the library desk.
If you are interested in being a part of the Art @ the Library project and exhibiting your creative works we encourage you to read through the guidelines and submit an application (linked below). Paper applications may be collected from and returned to Westland District Library.
Membership: If you are interested in becoming a member of Westland Arts Incorporated please download and complete the membership form