Artist Transforms Painting into Jigsaw Puzzle for Charity

A Wairarapa artist has transformed her passion for painting into a charitable endeavor through the creation of a jigsaw puzzle. Mandy Emerson, based in Riversdale, has launched “Flutter,” a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle inspired by one of her large-scale artworks. This initiative serves to honour her late mother-in-law, Jan Emerson, who passed away in April 2024 after a lengthy battle with cancer. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will benefit the Wairarapa Cancer Society, which provided support during Jan’s illness.

Emerson, a self-taught artist with decades of experience, is known for her whimsical, multi-media paintings that often incorporate botanical themes. Her works have been featured in galleries across New Zealand and internationally, including the United States, France, China, and Japan. While she has experimented with various canvases, including globes and coffee cups, this marks her first venture into creating a jigsaw puzzle—one of her family’s cherished pastimes.

A Tribute to Family Memories

The inspiration for the puzzle stems from her fond memories with Jan, who frequently engaged the family in jigsaw puzzles during holidays at their beach house. “I had no interest in jigsaws before meeting my husband’s family,” Emerson recalled. “After spending time at the bach in Riversdale, I became hooked. Every holiday, Jan would have a new jigsaw in progress on the side table. Everyone would contribute, and we’d spend hours working together.”

Emerson describes the experience as a comforting activity that fostered connections within the family. Following Jan’s passing, she felt compelled to create the puzzle as a tribute. The artwork chosen for the puzzle features butterflies emerging from a cocoon, symbolizing hope and new beginnings, as well as the journey of the soul after death.

The process took about a year, during which Emerson collaborated with local graphic designer Marguerite Vierstraete to adapt her painting into a puzzle format. Once completed, Emerson partnered with Paper Plus Masterton, where local owners Selina Griggs and Richard Hamilton agreed to serve as exclusive retailers for the puzzle in Wairarapa.

Supporting Local Cancer Services

The Wairarapa Cancer Society expressed enthusiasm about receiving proceeds from the sales of Flutter, which will contribute to its local support services, including counselling, hardship grants, and transport for patients. Emerson noted, “The Cancer Society were brilliant when Jan was sick— their support made such a difference. As long as I’m producing the jigsaws, we’ll keep donating to them, in her memory.”

Feedback on the puzzle has been overwhelmingly positive. Emerson cautioned that Flutter is designed to be a challenging project, ideal for those who enjoy taking their time with jigsaws. “I deliberately made it pretty difficult, the kind you keep on the table and come back to over time,” she explained.

Reflecting on her creation, Emerson believes Jan would have appreciated the challenge. “I can see her looking at me, saying, ‘this is far too hard, Amanda.’ But she’d definitely give it a good go.” Through this heartfelt project, Emerson not only keeps her mother-in-law’s memory alive but also engages the community in a meaningful way, blending art with philanthropy.