Mangaweka Fakes & Forgeries 2019/20

‘Fabulous Fakes’ on show at Mangaweka ‘Yellow Church’ Gallery, SH1.

On the lookout for some additional ‘Creative Culture’ this summer, then a scenic trip along State Highway One to the Rangitikei township of Mangaweka is a must! As well as the newly refurbished Café, local River Rafting, Horse-Treks, Fishing and Cycle routes, with many accommodation options on offer around town, you’ll find the current ‘Fakes & Forgeries’ Art Exhibition, with over 50+ World famous replica artworks on display, at the “Yellow Church” Art Gallery on SH1.

The Gallery is home to resident artist/musician and former local politician Richard Aslett, a much published Photographer and Visual-designer and winner of several awards, including his Whanganui Phone Book cover image of Mangaweka’s DC-3 Aeroplane and more recently his winning design for the 2019/20 Police Pride T-shirts.

A singer/Drummer he appearing on the most recent X-Factor and New Zealand’s Got Talent, performing at the grand-final as a “Crowd Favourite”. Privileged to visit Antarctica in 2011 much of his visual work features polar icebergs and frozen wastelands, plus more local Rangitkei River and Ruapehu mountain scenery.

The two yearly “Fakes & Forgeries” Art Exhibition currently showing features 50+ artworks by Artists for all over New Zealand, and one from America. Past entries from Australia, London and another from the USA makes the event truly international. Of special note is Wanganui artist Ahu Te Ua’s impressive (and massive!) ‘Colin McCahon’ Tuhoe Triptych which 5 meters in length and 2.3 meters in height fills the back wall at!

This work was created in 1998 when the location of the actual Triptych was still unknown and was mistaken by Police as the original until proven otherwise, so has an interesting back story. Other works feature a bust of Sir Edmund Hillary, entitled “We Knocked the Bastard Off!” (Winner adult section) there are reproduction ‘portraits’ of Winston Peters, Duchess Cammilla and even Donald Trump! Famous Artists replicated (most usually with a twist!) include Bill Hammond, Picasso, Van-Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Rembrandt, Jackson Pollock amongst many other World Famous Artworks; All on display until Sunday the 9th of February 2020.

The event is inspired by Mangaweka born, world famous Art Forger, Karl Sim (aka Goldie). His works became major collectors & investment pieces after some of them were (allegedly!) signed with other artist’s signatures and sold on the NZ art market, sparking one of the longest criminal trials in NZ history! Karl received a substantial fine and was ordered to do community work, yet he also craftily changed his name by deed pole to C.F. Goldie immediately after the trail.

Well-known for his cheeky pokes at the ‘established’ art world he was often a guest speaker and presenter at Mangaweka and other big art events. The subject of TV1’s ‘Close-up’, he also appeared on the Good Morning show featuring in books, and many other newspaper, magazine and radio interviews, before his untimely departure to the big Art Studio in the Sky in October 2013.

A good portion of the current F&F artworks have already sold, yet on the last week-end of the exhibition (beginning on Friday the 7th of February) the Gallery will be offering a hearty 10% off the retail price of any remaining unsold works! Plus on the very last day we will be holding a “Closing Event” from Mid-day onwards, on Sunday the 9th of Feb, with Complimentary Drinks and Nibbles, for folks to get one last chance to see the full Exhibition.

Participating Artists are then invited to take home any unsold works from 3pm at the official close of the 2019/20 ‘Fakes & Forgeries’ Exhibition. All and everyone welcome, even if just curious, so hope to see you there!

Open 10-5pm most days & by appointment. Phone/Text 027 52 666 12 or visit the official website.