Emelie is a series of nine oil paintings by artist Jennifer Mason, installed within the historic St John’s Anglican Church in Wakefield. As the oldest surviving church in the South Island and the first known piece of New Zealand architecture designed by a woman, this location is rich in architectural and historical significance.

The exhibition runs from Friday 21 February to Sunday 23 February 2025 between 10am and 4pm. St John’s Anglican Church is a 30-minute drive from Nelson. An opening reception featuring an afternoon tea with scones will be held on Saturday 22 February at 2 PM. Admission is open to all.

Each painting in the Emelie series is oil on linen canvas, measuring 1000x750mm. The works depict a single horizontal figure set within a minimalist seascape, shown in various poses along a horizon line. The figure is portrayed in a state of deep reverie—calm, serene, at peace. According to the artist, the series seeks to reinterpret a familiar form from art history, presenting it as independent and authentically true to itself. Stripped of external signifiers, the figure transcends predefined labels or associations, existing as a universal and unbounded presence.
Mason’s technique involves the application of thin, translucent, and seemingly endless layers of paint, creating an ethereal quality reminiscent of watercolours or drawings. With a narrow tonal range and a delicacy in rendering, the paintings exude tenderness, inviting quiet introspection and a sense of peaceful beauty.
The combination of the tranquil stillness in Mason’s work and the sacred atmosphere of St John’s Anglican Church offers visitors a rare opportunity for reflection. This harmonious blend of art and location invites people to pause, engage deeply with the paintings, and embrace a profound sense of serenity within a uniquely historic and sacred space.
Jennifer Mason holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts with First Class Honours from Elam School of Fine Arts. She has also studied art at Stony Brook University New York and at Glasgow School of Art. She completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland in 2004 and is currently working towards a Graduate Diploma in Theology from the University of Notre Dame.