Morrinsville Gallery is celebrating our incredible volunteers with a captivating exhibition by artist Adrian Cook.

Unsung Heroes: In Plain Sight Exhibition by Adrian Cook

May 27 to June 22, 2025

Awatea Gallery 

Opening event,  5 PM on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

·         For the first time, Morrinsville Gallery is celebrating the incredible volunteers in our Matamata-Piako District with a captivating photography exhibition by artist Adrian Cook.

·         The nomination process was highly successful, resulting in the selection of 23 volunteers from Te Aroha, Matamata, and Morrinsville to be featured in the exhibition.

·         Join our free opening event: 5 PM on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

The Morrinsville Gallery is thrilled to announce an upcoming photography exhibition that showcases the invisible heroes in our Matamata Piako District with an art show never before seen in Waikato: Unsung Heroes: In Plain Sight. Join us for the exciting opening event at 5 PM on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

From May 27 to June 22, 2025, artist Adrian Cook will showcase unique wet plate collodion images honouring the everyday heroes who make a difference in the communities of Te Aroha, Matamata, and Morrinsville.

With the support of Volunteering Waikato and under Adrian Cook’s leadership, the Matamata Piako District community has actively nominated 23 volunteers to be featured in the exhibition.

With the nominees’ consent, their images will be displayed alongside descriptions of their journeys and the organizations they support. This exhibition aims to celebrate the remarkable contributions of everyday heroes in our communities.

As a volunteer-based organization, Morrinsville Gallery proudly recognizes the invaluable contributions of our volunteers in the Matamata-Piako District. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous supporters who have made this exhibition possible: Adrian Cook, Volunteering Waikato, the Harcourts Foundation, MPD Creative Communities, MPDC, Visa Legal, Power Farming, CWG Law, Imagine If Creative Studios, and Rural Urban Surveyors. Thank you for your support!

Image Courtesy of Adrian Cook Photography.

Adrian Cook  Statement: IN PLAIN SIGHT – A Portrait of Volunteerism

Volunteers are all around us—working tirelessly, shaping our communities, and making an impact in ways that often go unnoticed. Their dedication is woven into the fabric of our daily lives, yet they remain almost invisible unless we take the time to look closely.

This series of portraits was created using the wet plate collodion process, a 19th-century photographic technique that produces images on glass.  As ambrotypes, these portraits exist in a unique state – when held to the light, they appear as negatives, ghostly and translucent, much like the quiet, unrecognized efforts of volunteers. But with the simple addition of a dark background, the image transforms into a positive – fully formed, vivid and alive.

This shift from invisible to visible is at the heart of this exhibition. Volunteers are always in plain sight, yet their work often blends into the background. Only when we pause and focus do we see the full picture—the dedication, the sacrifice, and the quiet impact they have on our lives. By presenting these portraits on glass, I invite viewers to look closer –  to see beyond the surface and truly recognize the individuals who dedicate themselves to the service of others.

These are the faces of our community’s unseen force. They have always been here. This is their moment to be seen.

Adrian Cook  is an award-winning portrait and documentary photographer and has worked for major advertising agencies and magazines worldwide. Uninspired by the predictability and monotony of digital photography, Adrian began taking photographs using the wet plate collodion process in an effort to recreate the aesthetic qualities and characteristics lost with the demise of film. He now works on personal projects and advertising campaigns using wet plate techniques, both in the studio and on-the-road from his mobile darkroom. For an overview of Adrian’s work and contact details, please visit www.adriancookphotography.com

About Volunteering Waikato

Volunteering Waikato connects people with meaningful volunteering opportunities, from Hamilton to towns across the wider Waikato. They support community organisations by promoting roles, sharing resources, and strengthening the impact of volunteering. Whether individuals wish to give back by contributing their time and skills, or community organisations needing support to grow – Volunteering Waikato helps make it happen.

About the Morrinsville Gallery  
The Morrinsville Art Gallery Charitable Trust proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025 as the heart of community art in the Matamata-Piako District. We are passionate about creating a welcoming and vibrant space for both locals and visitors in Morrinsville and throughout the beautiful Waikato region.

As a non-profit organization, we rely entirely on community support. Our efforts would not be possible without the help of donors, volunteers, and community members like you. Thank you for being an integral part of our community and our story.