Blueberry Art
Joe and Maggie Kieninger
W: www.blueberryart.co.nz
A: 1-7 Heatherlea East Rd (cnr SH1), Levin
P: 06 3673648
E: info@blueberryart.co.nz

Joe and Maggie Kieninger have created Blueberry Art from the inside out. Everything they do stems from wanting to be creative, to be themselves. And it's this creativity that really inspires visitors.  Soon they'll be offering art workshops. It'll be worth the wait.

And the Kieningers make it look easy. Actually, they make it look like endless hard work, but that's okay when you're finally doing something you're passionate about, and your life become doubtless. "You can't really separate things," says Joe. "Blueberries, our art. We are here."

Some artists exhibit once a year and confirmation comes from selling.  Joe and Maggie are exhibiting their art every day and they don't need verification for what they produce. "Art is communication," says Joe. "Having people see them all the time is motivating. Most artists are up and down all the time."

They produce some amazing things; Joe's recently printed a limited edition calendar of his art work. And Maggie's got some new hats that are exquisite; they're almost alive.

Neighbours have watched the place progress. They think Joe and Maggie have carved their dream with what's here, fuelled by an appreciation for a new way of life. The Kieningers' old life in Germany was stressful and without space. Both established artists in their own rights, they left Europe and stumbled across a worn-out blueberry farm on the Nature Coast. Maggie's father has just visited. "He said now that he's been here, he can understand me," says Maggie.

They don't spend huge amounts on advertising. They don't have to. The world is likely to come to them.  Maggie is the hat maker and chief garden grower, Joe is the painter and fires when he shows visitors his historic printing press. But before anything, their artists first, in every sense of that world. And they're both in love with the alpacas. She's gentle, he's like a grinning kid with a new bike - they're both strong and sure.  They're not interested in scouting New Zealand for outlets for their products. "I want to be found," says Maggie.

Their blueberry products can't be found in supermarkets or gourmet delis. You'll need to get real to purchase their products - like visiting the new Creative Market in Wellington's Frank Kitts Park, or coming to the Nature Coast.

The farm tour is a must, especially for mystery tours. It includes hat making and printing demonstrations, a tour of the farm, and a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin.

"It's fun," says Joe. "Sometimes I ask him if we can have less fun," says Maggie. This is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Just go. You'll be greeted by an old blueberry rusting away, the size of an extra large Swiss ball. It's taken a year for Joe to put it up. But it's what's on the inside that counts.

There's a whole array of artists with working studios here. Nature, art, it all fits rather nicely.