However, that changed when Nat Tozer, founder of the artists-run mothermother collective she’d formerly belonged to, suggested she host its first exhibition outside Auckland.
Using a principle of the collective, the Maori concept of manaakitanga (kindness, generosity, etc), Beeche in turn invited Arrowtown sculptor and contemporary basket maker Jasmine Clark to join in on the exhibition.
The result is ‘Unifying Threads’, at Queenstown’s Te Atamira, which runs till June 8.
The exhibition also includes works by Tozer herself, fellow Auckland artist Michelle Mayn and Hamilton’s Rachel Hope Peary.
Beeche says the exhibition’s given her a bit of purpose.
"I’ve spent the past eight months thinking about what the exhibition is going to look like and doing my work for it, and catching up regularly with Jasmine for coffees and chats and having someone to go to the other art scenes in the area."
Clark says it’s refreshing having her work shown with "such a high calibre of artists ... and in that beautiful space".
"I’ve always just loved that gallery, and that’s why I tried to make something really big, because I thought, when will I ever get a chance to make something big again?"
Meanwhile, Beeche is hosting a charcoal drawing workshop at Te Atamira next Thursday from 10am till 1pm.
