Alexandra photographer Annemarie Hope-Cross will be celebrated next week during a talk about a new art book, which she collaborated on.

Art and garden enthusiasts will be among those who will celebrate the late Annemarie, whose images of flowers from her garden are interwoven with Jenny Bornholdt's prose in the book, 'A garden is a long time'.

Jenny, an award winning poet, will host the talk on Thursday, November 2.

Annemarie lost her battle with cancer in December 2022, and a few days before she died she got to see the final proof of the book’s cover. 

Her husband Eric Schusser said when she got sick her photography was “a light in the dark”.

A garden is a long time has 90 of Annemarie’s photos in it. PHOTO: Te Herenga Waka Press

He said the book had become a project of love for everyone who became involved with it.

“We were working on it until 48 hours before she died.”

When asked what he thought she would think of the book he said she would love it.

“She would be very, very proud of her work, perplexed it’s happened and she’s the centre of attention. But, she’d be pleased it managed to be finished with so many people she values and loves being involved.”

Eric said it has been very moving to have so many people organising a three pronged approach to celebrating the book and both his and Annemarie’s work, in their hometown.

Poet Jenny is speaking at the Cover to Cover conversation event at The Packing Shed in Earnscleugh on Thursday, November 2 at 6pm.

There is a small exhibition of both Eric and Annemaries’ work that will open at the Eade Gallery in Clyde the following night, November 3. Central Stories Art Gallery and Museum is also hosting a commemorative exhibition from November 15, until the end of January. 

Eric thanked Jenny, her husband Gregory O’Brien (Greg), Jan Bean, Rex and Melanie Eade, Paula Stephenson and Helena Heydelgar from Central Stories and the community in general for their support.

Jenny and her husband spent 12 months in Alexandra in 2018 for the Henderson Arts Trust residency. During that time Annemarie, Eric, Jenny and Greg became friends.

Te Herenga Waka University Press described the book as a “meditation on time, light and the spaces we all inhabit.”

The book can be bought from independent bookstores, or from Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery, or at the Cover to Cover event. 

Read about Central Otago District Arts Trust and the literary event: Arts trust ‘in good heart’.