On 22nd February, at the invitation of New Zealand Artists Mr Errol and Mrs Leonore Ashby, New Zealand Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Curator Venerable Abbess Manshin, FGY Christchurch Manager Venerable Jue Xi, Liaison Officer Craig Dee and Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island staff members Tracy Chen and Kok-Wei Low paid a visit to Errol and Leonore. Apart from visiting their garden, the visitors had discussions with the hosts on their proposed exhibition at FGY Christchurch.
At the artists’ place, the visitors first toured the one-acre garden which boasted of more than 100 varieties of plants. Leonore told the visitors that gardening freshens her up and brings her blissfulness. Under the tender care of Leonore, the garden was a scene of blooming flowers with bees buzzing with activities everywhere; a reflection of a rich healthy eco-system.
Going back to history, the artist couple Errol and Leonore came to be friends of FGY because of a chanced visit to the ‘Wonders of Embroidery Art Exhibition’ by Yao Hong Yin at FGY Christchurch in 2009. Following this, they have become frequent supporters of activities organised by FGY Christchurch. All these years, the couple has extended their concern and hospitality to the Temple, and would often share the harvests from their farm with them. Leonore is an amateur wire-craft artist creating wire-craft art pieces in her unique style. Her creations include hand bags, clothing, earrings, and other objects such as spiders and leaves and she has won numerous acclaims for her fine art works and has been guests of many interviews.
After the garden tour, the visitors and the hosts went down to detailed discussions on the coming exhibition by Errol and Leonore. From their standpoint, it is the wish of FGY Christchurch to expose the fine wire-craft art pieces to a broader audience in the coming exhibition. Leonore commented that, due to her deteriorating eyesight, she now finds it difficult to maintain the same high standard for her artistic creations. Whatever she has produced so far would become collectors’ items as they will never be duplicated again; even she feels deeply for them. This time around, Leonore feels very happy and is very honoured to exhibit her art works at FGY Christchurch. At the end of the visit, Abbess presented Errol and Leonore with Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s New Year calligraphy: ‘Always Well-rounded and Auspicious’ and a copy of ‘FGS New Zealand 2018 Annual Report’ as parting gifts.