Robyn Hays’ portrait of her mother, Diane is one of 18 artists’ photographs in Let me Count the Ways at Art on the Quay in Kaiapoi. Curated by artist Christine Watton, she asked for subject of significant to each artist’s work, exploring the relationship between artist and sitter.
Hays’ commented on her mother: “I know how hard it was for you when you lost your home in the Christchurch earthquakes. The home in which you raised your family, the street on which you lived for 40 years. The neighbours you partied with, celebrated with, grieved with. You forged a new life in Rural North Canterbury. Not an easy thing to do - to start again in your 70s. But you did it - In your own unique way.”
September 2020 Edition SEE IT HERE.
Colin McCahon’s Gate III, 1970 returns to Ōtautahi Christchurch 49 years after it featured in the Auckland City Art Gallery’s touring exhibition Ten Big Paintings, a commissioned exhibition of large-scale paintings by leading artists in Aotearoa. Gate III represents the ambitions of contemporary art at that time in its scale and themes... Keep Reading
While the permanent collection displays are being refreshed at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, there is still an opportunity to view some of the Gallery’s best-loved paintings in the ongoing exhibition Persistent Encounters. The exhibition explores some of the recurring subjects and themes within the Gallery’s historical... Keep Reading
relationship status is a stunning new solo show by Miranda Parkes at Jonathan Smart Gallery. It is a visual delight: Vibrant pinks and greens, glistening golds, shimmering silvers, rich textures and playful materials invigorate and energise the white walls of the space. With the rise of social media, something happened somewhere around 2013 where. Keep Reading
Tony Scanlan, Rage #0 “The average human has been my life’s work, but I don’t think I've ever actually seen one.” A black and white sketch selection with a cover in the style of the esteemed Mad magazine, Rage collects a handful of veteran local artist Tony Scanlan’s skilful pen and ink studies and comic-strip musings, placing... Keep Reading
The Paris-born artist Louise Henderson was pivotal to the development of mid-century Modernism in New Zealand and is one of the country’s most prolific and innovative women painters, yet her work has received limited exposure. Louise Henderson: From Life is the artist’s first ever survey exhibition and was developed by Auckland Art Gallery Toi... Keep Reading
For a long time, retaining young creatives has been a problem for Christchurch, the attractive lights of more cosmopolitan destinations luring artists from all fields (looking at you Melbourne, London, and even Auckland). The desire to leave is of course a complex one, inspired by the allure of renowned artistic capitals and our relative... Keep Reading
It is important to note the removal of Freedom of the Migrant 2019 from the Toi Moroki CoCA program in consideration of its content with relation to the recent Mosque attacks here in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Presented months later, instead, at The Physics Room, Freedom of the Migrant re-presents newspaper articles with connection to John... Keep Reading
It may have received 650,000 visitors in 2019 and also be home to 23 category-one 19th century historical Gothic Revival buildings but The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora in Christchurch is financial challenged to remain open. Its executive director Philip Aldridge estimates that unless it can secure public funding for the delivery of its. Keep Reading
Light isolates objects. Geography isolates towns. As a country, we addressed isolation through different levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Routine Isolation photographer Heather Milne addresses the idea of isolation as an everyday occurrence in rural New Zealand. The exhibition includes photography from collections: Rapaki 2019, Rakaia.. Keep Reading
The invitation to the Christchurch Art Gallery te Puna o Waiwhetū’s new take on its collection, Te Wheke Pathways Across Oceania is celebrated on the east wall of its building and the wall above the foyer with two new works by Kelcy Taratoa, (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Raukawa). On the east wall on Worcester Boulevard is Te... Keep Reading
Polynesia and the Pacific region, and migration and belonging are allocated centre-stage in Te Wheke Pathways Across Oceania, an exhibition that draws from works in the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū collection. It is exciting and enlightening experience developed by the Gallery’s curators in consultation with curator of Cook... Keep Reading
A rehanging of the bread and butter display of the permanent collection is always going to be an event. It’s fascinating to see how the old (and new) favourites will be reinterpreted for the Zeitgeist, what gets retired and what’s brought out again. Te Wheke Pathways Across Oceania is unusual for such a hang in that it has opted for a... Keep Reading
An encounter with Anthony Davies’ prints, whether in a publication or the space of an art gallery, is always a wakeup call. The imagery of his work could not be further removed from popular sentiment or the misnomer that the visual arts are somehow removed from the reality of life. The English-born printmaker resident in Aotearo New Zealand.. Keep Reading
Art Beat
New works from Kara Burrowes at Chambers Gallery in July touch upon the visible influence of time, place and circumstances in Lockdown Series 25320201159, a title that needs no explanation. Yet, although a shift in terms of materials and the working of surfaces, in Burrowes’attention to the surfaces she manipulates and refines, there remains. Keep Reading
As protests have spread across the United States and the globe in response to the death of George Floyd and the long history of police brutality against black lives, there has been a notable visual aspect alongside the crowds of people: the art of protest. While there have been a number of legally produced projects, such as the memorial mural... Keep Reading