Karangahake artist finds joy in creating

Jenni Baines’ reason for creating was “I get so much joy” out of it.
Mackaytown-based artist Jenni Baines works with copper foil, pottery, and stained and fused glass to create her art pieces, which people can see on display this month.
For all of October, Jenni’s art will be exhibited in the Crosby Gallery of the Paeroa Arts Centre daily from 10am to 3pm when the flags are out.
Jenni, who creates and works out of her studio at home, said she had her own glass kilns and pottery kilns.
But her studio had a unique history of its own.
When Jenni and her husband moved to the area from Hamilton, their place in Mackaytown had an indoor swimming pool, which was previously used to teach scuba diving, she said.
“We filled it up eventually and it’s turned into my studio.”
Not only does she create there, she also teaches.
Jenni had workbenches and tools set up to teach up to 12 people at a time, she said.
“I love it… [I] love making. And I get so much joy out of teaching people.”
One thing that drew Jenni to the area was the amount of creative people in the Coromandel, she said.
“And I’ve found too, there’s a lot of people that don’t mind sharing.”
Jenni said creatives in the area were open and shared their techniques with others. But her passion for making was evident.
“It’s like I just keep going and keep going and keep going because I get so much joy out of creating,” she said.
DETAILS: To view Jenni’s art, visit the Paeroa Arts Centre at 109 Normanby Road, Paeroa or check out the Paeroa Society of Arts on Facebook.