This is a version of an article published in the Whangarei Leader of 3 July 2012. The photo was taken by Richard Cranenburgh, artist and designer.
Shari Pickering is full of bubbles when it comes to people who have managed to make life work for themselves. She and her partner, Richard Cranenburgh, quietly opened their art gallery in November 2011. The success of On the Edge Gallery & Design has delighted them both.
“We knew opening a gallery in this market would be challenging” Shari says. “But we’ve enjoyed the challenge and now exhibit the work of over 50 artists.”
On the Edge Gallery is tucked upstairs at 69 Walton Street opposite the ASB. The light, well designed gallery space holds an eclectic array of quality affordable art from pottery and glass to jewellery and paintings. The gallery has grown a loyal customer-base amongst locals who have discovered this almost secret artistic haven.
Their success has a lot to do with Richard and Shari’s other occupations which they run alongside the gallery. Richard is a well-known design guru in Whangarei for whom managing an art gallery and being around art is probably as natural as water is to a fish. Shari is a trained life coach and a real estate agent.
She says, “What a real estate agent does, in essence, is coach people through change.
“After 14 years as an agent when the agency I worked for closed down and I took a year off to consider my life, I realised that what I really loved about real estate was helping people through the massive change they go through when buying and selling a home.
“I trained with the International Coach Academy but also continued with real estate. When I met Richard and we set up the gallery, it made perfect sense for me. All agents get their listings through networking, and the gallery provides an ideal environment for that. As a Life Coach working through the gallery, which is a gorgeous space to work from because of all the art around, I’ve found that people feel they can talk to me and know that they’re actually being heard.”
Shari runs workshops designed for people who feel there must surely be more in their lives than they’re experiencing. “Coaching looks forwards,” she says. “It looks at where you are now, and taking into account your strengths and true values, looks at how you can best advance.”
“Today, most people are looking for acknowledgement in their lives – they need to know they’re worthwhile and matter. The workshops show you how good you already are, then help you to choose steps to make the best of who you are, personally or in your career.”
“Richard believes art is a part of everyone’s life right down to the design of your toaster,” says Shari.”Art arrests time. It slows you down to look at it and to reflect. We don’t take the time anymore to stand still and reflect. Our workshops offer that opportunity.”
On the Edge Gallery has a new exhibition in July with Kathryn Millard, a painter, and Justin Murfitt, a wood artist.
https://whangareileader.realviewdigital.com/#folio=6
Friday, 6 July 2012 2:31 p.m.
Thank you for the lovely article you wrote for the Leader. It has resulted in a steady flow of new faces over the last day or so, all saying they saw the article in the Leader!!!
Shari P
On the Edge Gallery & Design
Richard Cranenburgh & Shari Pickering
P 09 438 1213
M 021 749 022 (Richard)
M 027 278 3794 (Shari)
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