New general manager at The Ivy Box gallery
The Ivy Box on the Queenstown lakefront has a new general manager and is launching a new exhibition shortly. Sian Gillanders will take the helm at the contemporary art gallery, which is home to works that stimulate the senses. Owner Lynda Hensman is excited for the future under Sian’s guidance.
Lynda opened the Ivy Box in 2015 as a space for artists with unique perspectives and passion to share their work without inhibitions. The building was originally a butcher’s shop and had a special look to it with walls covered in climbing ivy. Despite the distinctiveness of the building, it was old and cold, so it was transformed and reopened in spring of 2021.
Lynda will be shifting her attention on a different project and believes Sian is the perfect person to be managing the gallery. Sian has a diverse background, working originally as a top-notch kitchen designer before buying a campervan and a surfboard – she taught herself to surf whilst travelling up and down the North Island. She also headed to Europe where she did part of the Camino de Santiago. During her travels she took some time to reset and is back in Queenstown, refreshed and ready.
“Sian’s presence will create and inject more energy,” says Lynda. “I’m not saying I’m jaded, but I’ve been in this business for a long time – plus I produce my art, so it’s time for me to actually sit back and just produce the art and let someone else run the gallery, which I think is a really good idea. She will create a different vibe – it’ll still be an amazing gallery but there will be an edge to it, I believe, with Sian. She’s very approachable, she’s great with people, she’s vivacious and she’s so enthusiastic.”
First on Sian’s list will be organising the upcoming exhibition at Ivy Box. The display will feature Christchurch artist Mandy Joass, a fulltime sustainable sculptor whose work has been shown in more than 30 exhibitions. She graduated from Ilam in 2015 with a BFA in Sculpture. Her work uses recycled aluminium Venetian blinds, which serve as an industrial placeholder for harakeke. Her latest work is a contemporary conversation with ancestral knowledge, referencing early kete and tukutuku patterns and meanings.
“At one point Mandy was marketing venetian blinds. There happened to be a surplus of them and she started playing around with the slats – then she evolved into this incredible sculptor that weaves these beautiful woven venetian blind sculptures. I’m really excited to have her work with Sian – I think the two will marry in really beautifully.”
The Ivy Box art gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday and by appointment. You can give them a call to find a suitable time for an appointment on 027 305 5826, or just pop in – it’s located along the beautiful lakefront at 134 Park Street.
