Impressionist, quirky, cartoon-like painter and sculptor Cindy Alger was born and raised in Coromandel.
She graduated from the Elam School of Fine Arts – Auckland University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She has continued to paint and sculpt for the past 38 years while raising three children.
Her work celebrates rural life but often has an underlying conservation or social message with a particular passion against gold mining on the Coromandel Peninsula. On average, Cindy paints around 20 paintings per year, but has aimed at ensuring her paintings are priced to be accessible to collectors who may not have big budgets as she believes that art is for everybody.
She has illustrated children’s books and did a 19-year stint illustrating a Moon Gardening Calendar. Her earthy values and passion for sustainable living and herbal medicine have greatly influenced her style and chosen subjects. Her works appeal to gardeners and people who enjoy the outdoors in particular.
“I have recently been revisiting another series on dreamscapes.
People find these paintings very relaxing and conducive to a restful sleep when hung in bedrooms.
I’ve also been making authentic replicas of indigenous American dreamcatcher mobiles. These offer a culturally sensitive spiritual cleansing in a bedroom.
I avoid toxic pigments and mediums wherever possible”.
Cindy has continued to make caravan murals and is open to more commissions for producing large bespoke in situ works and manages to complete these works on a tight budget and within a reasonable time. In addition, she creates clay garden sculptures using locally sourced Coromandel clay and firing in potter and sculptor Kay Ogilvie’s kiln.
Cindy’s work will be available to see on the upcoming Open Studios Arts Tour, where she will be exhibiting with fellow artists Genevieve Morley and Natasha Armstrong Hunter. Her latest works will be available to view at Ashley Thor’s new art gallery which will be opening soon in Coromandel Town.
Over the last 35 years, she has shown her art in various art galleries New Zealand wide, including Lopdell House, Christchurch City Art Gallery and the Auckland Museum. If you are interested in knowing more, you can contact Cindy on 0210772595.
Words by Genevieve Morley
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