Friends of the Gallery newsletter - February 2008 - Auckland Art ...

OFF THE WALLThe Off the Wall end of year party was an outstanding successwith over 60 meters of wall space sold to an eclectic range ofartists. This imaginative project raised around $7000.00 for theFriends of the Gallery Acquisition Fund.Mother.Indian ink & Acrylics, Sin-Mae Chung1 Hot Mama.Acrylics, Dot DalziellJourney.Acrylics & Plastic Pipes, Harpreet Singh & Varisha KaulUntitled(Planes).Mixed Media, Carole WestFEBRUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER// EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTSMEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES // RECIPROCAL CONCESSIONS // FRIENDS’ DISCOUNTS• Reduced admission to pay exhibitions.• On Show with advanced information on exhibitions, galleryactivities, and Friends news.• Participation in social events, studio visits, curatorial toursof current exhibitions, lecture programmes and guided toursof dealer galleries and public art works.• Opportunity to have a more personal involvement in theGallery through access to its highly professional staff.• The Black Crow Café in Kitchener Street will give a 10%discount for a spend of spend over $6.00 and onpresentation of your Friends Membership Card.• Concession entry to Te Papa, Wellington and WaikatoMuseum of Art & History in Hamilton.• 10% discount applies to the Art Gallery Shop, ParsonsBookshop and Pathfinders Bookshop in the New Galleryprecinct.Join in the fun and become a Volunteer for the Friends of the Gallery.We have many exciting events planned during the next 12months and we would love to share these with you. This is anopportunity to become more actively involved in the Friends andenjoy the company of like-minded people.As a volunteer you would:• Have the opportunity to become more involved with theFriends.• Assist in any or all of the following; newsletter folding,catering, promotional table, assisting during events.• Nothing too onerous – at the most about 1 -2 hours every twoor three months.• To have fun working with others who enjoy the arts.• Contribute to the on-going life of the Friends.• A discounted rate is available to Friends members who hirethe Auckland Art Gallery facilities for functions.For more information, please call 09 307 7705, or emailgalleryfriends@aucklandcity.govt.nzA Gift of Friendship:Becoming a Friend of the Auckland Art Gallery opens the doorto a stimulating new world of art and artists.The Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery is a voluntary organisationwith the mission to support the Gallery and promote enthusiasmfor the visual arts and culture or our city. Membership of theFriends of the Auckland Art Gallery is an ideal gift to anyone livingin Auckland.For more details on a Gift of Friendship call us on09 307 7705, or email galleryfriends@aucklandcity.govt.nzWe would love to hear from you if you would like to join us asa volunteer. Please contact the Friends Secretary, Leigh Ogier,phone 307 7705, email galleryfriends@aucklandcity.govt.nzby 28 February.T +64 9 307 7705 F +64 9 302 1096E galleryfriends@aucklandcity.govt.nzwww.aucklandartgallery.co.nz12th Walter Auburn Memorial LectureDr Walter Auburn was an outstanding manwho freely gave his time and expertise as anhonorary adviser to the print collection at theAuckland Art Gallery for many years. Dr Auburnserved on the Friends Committee and held theoffices of President and Patron. He donatedworks to the Gallery and before his death in1979, both the Mackelvie Trust and theGallery received many valuable works from hiscollection. The Friends recognize Dr Auburn’srole in the development of the Gallery with abiennial event, when a distinguished speakeris invited to give the Walter Auburn Lecture.This year, the lecture will be given by DrJoanne Drayton, senior lecturer in the UnitecSchool of Design and winner of the NationalLibrary of New Zealand 2007 ResearchFellowship. Dr Drayton has made a significantcontribution to our understanding andappreciation of women artists in New Zealand,especially Edith Collier, Rhona Haszard andFrances Hodgkins. Her work on Edith Collierinspired one of the most interesting filmsshown at the Academy during the documentaryfilm festival in Auckland in 2007.During her Fellowship year at the AlexanderTurnbull Library, Dr Drayton researched for abiography of Ngaio Marsh who achieveddistinction and commercial success with herbooks and in the theatre, and was no meanpainter either.“Ngaio Marsh is a fascinating and complexwoman who remains an elusive figure,” saidDr Drayton. “It seems that the woman whowas larger than life during her life, has beensomewhat lost, and will be lost in perpetuityif she is not re-examined. A lively andinformative book for a broader audience isbegging to be researched and written.”The audience can expect to be intrigued,amused and fascinated by the results ofDr Drayton’s research into this extraordinaryNew Zealander.The lecture is open to everyone:Walter Auburn Memorial Lecture, April 29,2008 6pm, Second Floor, Auckland PublicLibrary, Lorne Street. Friends of the GalleryMembers $20. Non Members $25. StudentMembers $10.RHONDA HASZARD - The Road to Little Sark 1930Oil on canvasAuckland Art Gallery Toi o TāmakiGift of the Auckland Society of Arts, 1931Dear FriendsThe Off the Wall party at the end oflast year testified to the truth that artis a participatory experience! Hugelyenjoyable, an unrepeatable celebratoryromp certainly, but also a serious indicatorof the wealth of creative talent inour community. There was certainlynothing elitist or arcane in that artexperience, but there was plenty of skilland vision wrapped up in unpretentiousspontaneity. Hamish Keith in his newand stimulating The Big Picture remindsus that “there is nothing mysterious orcomplicated about art, but the more weknow of where it came from, who madeit and why it was made, the richer ourexperience of it will be.” That statementjustifies the Friends’ aim to becomeinformed participants in the communityof artists and lovers of art.The Gallery ground floor will remain openuntil the end of February. The Friendssecretarial office has already relocated tothe 9th floor of the Bledisloe building offAotea Square with our postal address andphone numbers remaining the same.Friends’ events will continue in a varietyof locations. There are many ways toenhance your membership in 2008!Become a volunteer. Spread the news ofour programme. Give a subscription tomake a friend into a Friend. Above allelse, join, attend, participate!With warmest good wishes,Warren LimbrickPresidentGraphic Design:Jenny Reid

FEBRUARY 2008 NEWSLETTEReventsCALENDARFEBRUARY // MARCH // APRIL 2008With the closing of the Auckland Art Gallery for renovationsat the end of February, our events will be held in manydifferent venues. For paid events the venue will be on thetickets, for free events please refer to the events calendar.501 - Wednesday 13 February // 10.30amBath Street Gallery, 42 Bath Street, ParnellA visit to two dealer galleries, Bath Street and WarwickHenderson Gallery in Parnell. The directors will speakto us about the exhibitions on show.Members no charge. Non-members $10.RSVP by Monday 11 February.502 – Tuesday 26 February // 1.00pmArt Lounge in Lorne Street, below the New GalleryChris Saines, Director of the Auckland Art Gallery, willbring us up to date with developments on the alterationsand additions to the Gallery.Members no charge. Non-members $10.RSVP by Monday, 25 February.503 – Thursday 6 March // 10.30amAwataha Marae 58 Akoranga Drive, NorthcoteWe visit Awataha Marae to explore how various art formshave an important place in Maori culture. Meet in thestreet outside the Marae.Members $10. Non-members $12.RSVP by Monday, 25 February.504 – Tuesday 18 March // Noon – 2.00pmArt Lounge in Lorne Street, below the New GalleryCelebrity Lunch with John Coley, artist and long timeDirector of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery inChristchurch. Numbers are limited so please book earlyto avoid disappointment.Members $30. Non-members $35.RSVP by Thursday, 13 March.505 – Saturday 5 April // 10.30 amWhitespace Gallery, 10 Crummer Road, PonsonbyHave a cup of coffee with us at Whitespace Gallery andsee – and hear about – the “Sargeant P” show createdby South Island ceramic artist Jim Cooper who beganworking in clay in the early 1980s. He won the NorsewearArt Award in 2006. He has a Master of Fine Arts andteaches at the Otago Art School.Members no charge. Non-members $10.RSVP by Wednesday, 2 April506 – Wednesday, 9 April // 7.00pmAuckland Museum AuditoriumAuckland Museum has arranged for a series of lecturesin association with the Centre for Continuing Educationwhich will discuss the influence of the Vatican on politics,art and architecture. Recognising her expertise in this area,the Auckland Museum Institute has invited Mary Kislerto contribute to the series with a lecture about artists whoestablished their careers when they worked in Rome.Touching on the careers of Caravaggio and AnnibaleCarracci, particular attention will be given to Guido Reni’s,“Saint Sebastian”, part of the Mackelvie Trust Collectionat Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. An invitation to thelecture has been extended to The Friends of the Galleryby the Auckland Museum Institute.The Friends of the Gallery & Museum Members $5.Non-members $10.NB: Friends of the Gallery discounted member tickets are limited507 – Tuesday 29 April // 6.00pm for 6.15pm lecture.Second floor of the Auckland Public Library,Lorne Street.The 12th Walter Auburn Memorial Lecture. “The Art ofEscape: Art in New Zealand as a vehicle of escape fromcolonial reality 1850-1950”. The lecture will be givenby Dr Joanne Drayton, senior lecturer in the Unitec Schoolof Design and the winner of the National Library of NewZealand’s 2007 Research Fellowship. Wine and savourieswill be served following the lecture.Members $20. Student members $10. Non-members $25.RSVP by Thursday 24 April.508 – Wednesday 7 May // 1.00pmFoyer of the New GallerySenior Curator Ron Brownson will take us through theLawrence Aberhart exhibition. This is a very large showand Ron suggests a fortifying lunch beforehand!Members no charge. Non-members $10.RSVP by Tuesday 6 May.• Please bring your membership card to all events• Tickets are only issued for paid events• Telephone credit card bookings are available• For more details and booking information pleasecontact the Friends’ secretary on 307 7705 oremail galleryfriends@aucklandcity.govt.nzeventsThe programme of events for the next three months is diverseand full of interest.Art Adventure – Awataha MaraeThursday 6 March // 10.30amArnold Wilson, noted sculptor and kaumatua of the Auckland ArtGallery, and a New Zealand Arts Foundation 2007 Icon, is closelyconnected to the Awataha Marae in Northcote.A visit has been arranged to this marae, where we will be shownhow various art forms have their place in Maori culture.As New Zealand art develops its own voice, we see an increasingreference to our Pacific heritage, and this visit will enable us tomore fully appreciate from where those references emanate.Ngahiraka Mason, curator of Indigenous Culture, says this is achance to see a traditional marae, designed for the 21st centuryby one of New Zealand’s icon artists.Not to be missed!Celebrity Lunch with John ColeyTuesday 18 March // Noon to 2pmOur first celebrity speaker for the year was one of theArmarghians, a group of students living in a 19th century villa,divided into 14 flats, in Armargh Street, Christchurch. All werestudying Fine Arts at Canterbury, and this group is creditedwith introducing modernist ideas into the post World War NewZealand art practise. Many of them would become householdnames - Patrick Hanly, Gil Tavener, Bill Culbert, Hamish Keith,Tony Fomison among them.John Coley held his first one man show in 1959, and continuedto paint throughout a career that saw him teaching teachers,running art galleries, judging prestigious art awards, and servingon the boards of visual arts, theatre, opera and museum organisations,not to mention writing for newspapers and magazinesas columnist and critic. Oh, and he has written two biographies.Whew!Journey through the Laurence Aberhart ExhibitionWednesday 7 May // 1.00pmOver 200 photographs providing a comprehensive overview ofAberhart’s work will be on show at the New Gallery, AucklandArt Gallery Toi o Tamaki from Saturday 16 February to Sunday11 May 2008.Gregory O’Brien, senior curator at the City Gallery Wellington,who with Laurence Aberhart and Justin Paton of Dunedin, hasbrought together the 14 thematic clusters of photographs inLaurence Aberhart - Old bridge structure fromnew bridge, Clutha River, Alexandria December 1980.Courtesy of the artistLaurence Aberhart - Two memorials, Porangahau,Hawke’s Bay 17 May 2003.Courtesy of the artistNow retired, John continues to paint, and to travel widely, with hiswife Fay and painting companion Sir Miles Warren, the architect.The illustrated journals John has kept of these travels, will formthe basis of his talk to us.With the acute observationof the artist anda gift for storytelling,this is sure to be aspecial lunch.JOHN COLEYArmargh Street,Christchurchthe exhibition, said Aberhart’s works were an essential part of thenation’s visual art. “They offer a journey through the heart and soulof New Zealand,” he said, “reclaiming a magic often lost in thedigital age.”Don’t miss this opportunity to see the exhibition in the companyof Ron Brownson, Senior Curator NZ & Pacific Art.Laurence Aberhart - Caravan, Cromwell 1977.Courtesy of the artist