Kathy Barber^[16]

Kathy is a painter and a dedicated abstractionist represented by galleries in Auckland and Christchurch.

She has always aspired to express an inner tension a thought process rather than an impetuous action. As a painter, her mark making is gestural in broad and fine brushstrokes receptive cursive ramblings wearing through layers of paint.

Artist statement:

I tend to walk a different path. I have no formal training but have been successful in my careers in advertising, as a painter and also in sculpture. I am comfortable in my own skin to learn and develop through hard work and motivation.

This self teaching was the path into developing my wire craft Te-ami.

My initial project was taking a humble rock and weaving around it to make the ordinary un-ordinary. These pieces embody the untiy of an organic object coupled with a personal

connection to a place, person or time of significance.

I continue to develop and push the boundaries of working with wire. It is a pliable material but with a short memory to breaking point. Delicate yet strong it demands respect.

The basis of my hand netting is simple. The simple twist of two strands of copper wire. What develops next is a complex conversation between the object and craft united to embrace the imperfect, taking pleasure in the understated.