The Art of What Comes Next

As the last signs come down and studio doors close, a quiet settles in after the buzz of the trail. The steady stream of visitors slows, conversations fade, and artists return to their own spaces. It’s a moment to reflect on the energy, the connections, and the shared celebration of creativity.

But for many, this isn’t an ending—it’s a beginning.

During the trail, something shifts. What is often a solitary practice opens outward. Conversations between artists—sometimes brief, sometimes ongoing—spark ideas that linger well beyond the event itself. A passing comment becomes a plan, a shared laugh turns into a future collaboration. The momentum built over those days doesn’t disappear; it evolves.

For artist Noila Souza, collaboration is at the heart of her creative journey. “Collaboration is something I really value in my creative journey. I believe that when artists come together, we can create more dynamic and meaningful experiences. For this exhibition, I invited James Fleming to be part of it because his photography connects beautifully with my vision and the story I wanted to share. The exhibition will also include musicians and artists running workshops, so it becomes a shared creative space where different art forms come together and the audience can experience creativity in multiple ways.” Her approach reflects a growing desire among artists to expand beyond individual disciplines and create immersive, shared experiences.

That same spirit of connection led to new opportunities for Sandra Mather and Noila Souza, who began exploring ways to work together beyond the trail. “Noila and I had talked about having stalls at Puhoi Village Market as a different venue to sell our Art. So at Easter we had side by side stalls. I like making a variety of different things and a market stall is a great place to see what is popular—although I’m sure it will be something different every week!! Then we got together and talked about collaborating on a workshop. We decided on 9th May at Noila’s home studio in Puhoi—we are having a 3 hour workshop with drinks and nibbles. I will be guiding everyone to make the pottery and Noila will be guiding them with the painting of underglazes. I am really looking forward to it, I think we will make a great team and it will be a fun day out for everyone. Noila and I have different skills—she hosts lots of workshops and I do lots of classes so that’s something we have in common and I think the pottery and painting skills are very complementary to each other.” What began as a simple idea for a shared market presence quickly grew into something richer—an experience combining skills, audiences, and creative approaches.

Left: Andrea & Derek Ventling with Jude Nye.

Right: Derek & Jude in the process of hanging the exhibition.

Other collaborations take shape in exhibition spaces. Derek Ventling reflects on a post-trail show that brought together three distinct artistic voices. “Many months ago, I reserved the exhibition space at Charlies Gelato in Matakana for an art show over Easter 2026. Because it was after the Art Trail I felt that the format needed to change, so I asked a third painter with a lively personality, Jude Nye, if she would join Andrea and me… We quickly established an honest, respectful relationship… Our differing techniques and focus made it challenging to hang work in balanced clusters, but in the process we had lively discussions, and we all learned so much from each other’s distinct viewpoints.” The exhibition became more than a display of work—it was a process of exchange and growth. “For me, it was a great opportunity to not only experience my work alongside others, but also to share insights on practices, techniques, and art philosophy… I certainly had to step up and out of my comfort zone—but I believe collaborations like this really enable us to further develop our creative confidence.”

Local tactile artist Sheelagh O'Dowd collaborated with Photographer Fiona McGeough, artists with different art practices that compliment each other in a show of contrasts and synergies.

Photographer Fiona McGeough also found value in working alongside another artist, exhibiting with tactile artist Sheelagh O’Dowd. “I can say that Charlie’s is an excellent exhibition space and the process went so well, a high volume of visitors over summer months ensures a wide variety of visitors see the works. Highly recommend.” Shared exhibitions like these not only broaden audiences but also create opportunities to learn from one another in new contexts.

Collaboration also extends beyond exhibitions into community-led creative experiences that bring together different disciplines and ways of working. Vivienne Raney recently took part in one such initiative: “I recently participated in a community event run by the Rodney Inclusive Communities Initiative (RICI). I had not done en plein air painting in the past so when I saw the call for local artists to join together one afternoon for two hours I was keen to give it a try. We met by the Warkworth Library and the organiser Ursula Christel encouraged us to head down to the river and find a spot each and get painting. It was a fun but rushed painting experience and the results reflected that. Ursula collected the art and curated a small exhibition at the Creative Convergence 2025 in the Town Hall. There was also a group writing poetry and prose inspired by the river at the same time. Ursula has now organised the results to create a book. This is being presented at an event at Tahi Bar this week along with poetry readings by the participants. An interesting collaboration.” Experiences like this highlight how creative connection can extend into the wider community, bringing together visual art, writing, and shared local stories.

Left: Point Wells Community Hall became was shared by artists for the first time as Venue 31 during MAST2026.

The artists are excited about the promise of sharing again at Matakana Hall and making it a much better

experience for artists and visitors alike.

The ripple effect of the trail is perhaps most visible in the formation of artist hubs and shared spaces. Pamela Harland reflects on the spontaneous collaboration that emerged at Point Wells Hall. “The 2026 art studio trail saw the beginnings of a new artist hub collaboration. Point Wells Hall became the home of 7 artists for 11 days—a wonderful (not pre-planned) mix of so many mediums… Seeing artists describing other artist’s work to the public is such a wonderful benefit of a collaborative approach.” These shared environments offer more than visibility—they foster understanding, support, and a sense of collective purpose. With plans already underway for another hub at Matakana Hall, the momentum continues to build.

For many artists, these experiences are deeply personal as well as professional. Ann Cook captures this quiet transformation: “Although I have been drawing and painting for some time, I have never quite seen myself as an artist. It has been the generous encouragement of others that has helped me to rethink what being an artist really means, and to begin to accept that we are all creative in our own way. I truly value the opportunity to work alongside other artists, to learn from them, and to share what I can in return.” It’s a reminder that collaboration isn’t only about projects or exhibitions—it’s about confidence, identity, and belonging.

At the centre of all this is the Mahurangi Artist Network, acting as a connector between artists, ideas, and opportunities. Through shared experiences like the trail, relationships form naturally, creating a foundation for future collaborations. The network continues to support these connections, offering a space where artists can reach out, experiment, and grow together.

The trail may be over, but the conversations it started are still unfolding. New partnerships are forming, ideas are being tested, and creative paths are expanding in unexpected directions. Whether it’s a joint exhibition, a shared workshop, or simply the confidence to try something new, the journey continues—shaped by connection, collaboration, and a community that keeps creating together.