November 09 - February 2010
 |
||
november 09 - february 2010To view exhibition archives click HERE |
||
| NZTRIO
Sunday 15th November 2009 4.30pm Tickets $20, Friends of the Gallery $18 Available from Ashburton Art Gallery Innovative repertoire, dynamic interpretations of both traditional and contemporary classical music, and sheer musical chops set this threesome apart. Violinist Justine Cormack, cellist Ashley Brown and pianist Sarah Watkins first joined forces in 2002 and were Ensemble in residence at The University of Auckland from 2004-2009. During this time they have continued to impress music lovers throughout New Zealand, Brazil, the US and UK, China, Korea and Indonesia.
The trio actively commissions works by leading New Zealand composers, and collaborates with musicians of diverse musical styles. In the past 12 months their commitment to commissioning and performing new music has expanded to include emerging and established composers from China, and their 2009 concert season will feature works by Chen Yi, Musheng Chen and Mike Yuen. |
|
 | The Making of
The Word Witch
An Ashburton Art Gallery Touring Exhibition Curated by Kathryn Mitchell
When publisher Harper Collins agreed with me in 2007, the year after Margaret Mahy won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Medal, that there should be a book bringing together her many achievements as a writer of verse, there was no question that first, it should be lavishly illustrated and second, that Dunedin’s David Elliot was absolutely the right artist for the task. We were delighted when David, normally booked up by both New Zealand and international publishers for years ahead, accepted the challenge. The completed book, published in October 2009, is testament to our faith in his talent and professional skill but especially his imagination, perfectly complementing Margaret’s in its lightness of touch, originality, whimsicality, poignancy and humour. Each of the book’s sixty-six poems is illustrated, sometimes by a single telling image, other times by the storyboard approach matching the narrative of the poem. As with Margaret’s verse, the range of styles and emotions is impressive, from tender and teasing, to quirky and sometimes, quite dark.
An additional challenge was provided by the fact that many of Margaret’s verse texts, particularly the longer ones like Dashing Dog, Down the Back of the Chair and Bubble Trouble were already familiar to Mahy fans as classic children’s picture books. How would the artist find his own, different visual language for these familiar verses? How do you approach the text of award-winning picture books like A Summery Saturday Morning or 17 Kings and 42 Elephants and come up with something completely new and fresh?
This exhibition is a remarkably honest, ‘warts and all’ look at David’s path to the finished book, complete with its trials, tribulations, false starts and wrong turnings. Above all it is intended as a window into the magical world of imagination, a celebration of the creativity that, along with a good deal of hard work, lies behind a handsome book that will undoubtedly become a children’s classic. In this spirit Margaret has allowed the display of some of her earliest writings, in which the acclaimed Mahy magic is already clearly evident. The warmest thanks are due to her for this generous support. This exhibition will not only delight visitors, child and adult alike, but equally, encourage all of us to explore our own potential in images or words - or both. Tessa Duder, Auckland, September 2009 |
|
 | David Elliot The Ashburton Art Gallery supports the promotion of children’s literature in New Zealand as an integral part of educating and inspiring our youth. The core of the Ashburton Art Gallery’s collection is the work of award winning children’s book author and illustrator David Elliot. David Elliot was born and raised in Ashburton before moving to Christchurch to study a Diploma in Visual Arts at the University of Canterbury. After he graduated, David worked as a designer for a couple of years before travelling to Antarctica, through Asia and Europe, and onto Scotland where he became gatekeeper at Edinburgh Zoo. It was during this time that David became increasingly interested in writing and illustrating books for children. David has provided illustrations for numerous New Zealand children's books, including Janet Frame's only book for children, Mona Minim and the Smell of the Sun. He has also written and illustrated five picture books of his own. David’s work is increasingly in demand overseas and he has illustrated books by UK author, Brian Jacques (Redwall series) and US author TA Barron (Great Tree of Avalon series). David currently teaches drawing part-time, as part of a visual arts course in Dunedin. The rest of his week is spent on his own work, in his Port Chalmers studio. | |
 | Margaret Mahy Margaret Mahy is a former Children's Librarian at Christchurch City Libraries and is one of the world's best and most famous children's authors. Margaret Mahy was born in Whakatane in 1936, and wrote her first story at the age of seven. After graduating from Auckland University College and Canterbury University College, in 1955, with a BA, Margaret Mahy then attended the New Zealand Library School in Wellington, received her Librarian's diploma, and then went to work for the Petone Public Library. In 1967 she worked for the School Library Service in Christchurch. During this time she had stories published in the New Zealand School Journal. Margaret Mahy's first book to be published was A Lion in the Meadow in 1969. In 1976 Margaret Mahy was appointed Children's Librarian at Canterbury Public Library. In 1980 she became a fulltime writer and has gone on to win numerous awards for her books including The Carnegie Medal, the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Prime Minister’s Literacy Award. “I am seventy three years old, and I wrote my first story when I was seven, so I have been writing for a long time. Every story begins with some sort of an idea — perhaps you have an idea buzzing around in your head already. Good! Ideas are the beginning of every story in the world. A lot of people don’t realize this, but there are lots of happenings in the world around you that you can turn into good stories. Little things! Everyday things!” Margaret Mahy | |
 | Need Christmas Gifts?.....
$44.95
Finally, Margaret Mahy’s much-loved poems and stories in rhyme have been collected together by her biographer, Tessa Duder, for the first time ever in the wonderful new book, "The Word Witch: The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy". With each of the 66 pieces accompanied by poignant illustrations by one of New Zealand’s best, David Elliot, and packaged as a beautiful hardcover addition, The Word Witch is set to delight generations of readers who have grown up with Mahy and enchant newcomers to her work for many years to come. Included in The Word Witch are such classics as "Bubble Trouble", "Down the Back of the Chair", and "Dashing Dog", as well as other gems from Mahy’s School Journal days and her own childhood, and some previously unpublished works. | |
 | Champions: New Zealand Winners
12th December 2009 - 7th February 2010 In Champions Jessie Casson celebrates many of New Zealand’s winners and local heroes with marvellous photographs. From an award-winning jam-maker to a rodeo cowboy and a ‘universe’-straddling drag queen, more than 40 individuals from the length and breadth of the country are brought together in a loving tribute to the unsung New Zealand achiever. Although rarely publicised outside of their home towns, each winner is testament to the passion and determination of the people of New Zealand. The portraits are the fruit of Jessie Casson’s desire to capture the dedication, self-belief and good old kiwi ‘can-do’ attitude that make New Zealanders who they are. “When I look at the portraits I feel a warm kinship with every one of them. And from doing the interviews I discovered that everybody has a story, it just needs to be searched for. I have a greater understanding of why people pour so much time and energy into something when the gain is not about money or wealth. I have realised it is about dedication and passion. It is about belief in oneself and a drive to do better and better that becomes integral to who you are as a person. In a world where consumerism and monetary success have a huge role, I now know that there is a lot to be learnt from the individual champion. I hope that my portraits and text do justice to the subjects”. Jessie Casson | |
Newsletter
Subscribe To The Gallery's latest news!
Jub Jub Club
