february - april 2010
 |
||
february - april 2010To view exhibition archives click HERE |
||
| Italian Journey Baroque Music ConcertThursday 4th February 7.30pm Tickets $25, Friends of the Gallery $23, Students $10 Available from the Ashburton Art Gallery Take a tour through the world of Early Music, featuring works from the 17th and the 18th centuries by Legrenzi, Caldara, Durante, Carissimi, Sammartini, Vivaldi and Mancini. In association with the School of Music at the University of Canterbury. Lois Johnston - voice, Wolfgang Kraemer - recorders, Kees Hilhorst -violin, Stephen Larsen - violin, Edith Salzmann - cello, Cheuky Chann - harpsichord, Jonathan Le Cocq - baroque guitar, lute.
|
|
 | Waitangi Weekend at the Ashburton Art Gallery
Presented by the Ashburton Safer Community Council & the Mid Canterbury New Comers Network
Come on down and try fabulous bite sized portions of cultural cuisine while listening to a variety of musical talent! Baring Square East, Ashburton (in front of the Ashburton Art Gallery). Contact Raewyn Barclay Ph 308 1395 or community@saferashburton.org.nz Then join us for scones and tea at the Gallery at 2.30pm! |
|
 | Floor Talk: Picturing Poetry The Word Witch Sponsored by Te Tai Tamariki Sunday 7th February 2.30pm Dr Doreen Darnell & John McKenzie consider David Elliot’s unique visual interpretation of Margaret Mahy’s inimitable world. John McKenzie is Principal Lecturer in Children’s Literature at the University of Canterbury and Dr Doreen Darnell is a lecturer who has edited Talespinner, New Zealand’s only journal of research in children’s literature, for the past 15 years. | |
 | 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 Gifts for loved ones
$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
Screenings of Documentary Wednesday 28th January 4pm (45 minutes, free admission) Wednesday 3rd February 4pm (45 minutes, free admission) 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 | |
 | Jo Robertson
13th February - 14th March 2010 Artist's Talk Valentine's Day Sunday 14th February 1.30pm In Association with BullRush Chocolates and Petrie's Blanc de Blanc “Giant nudes loom, their sinuous bodies writhing from the coils of confused darkness, the large dynamic oils of Jo Robertson. The figures, with their violent energies and semi-repressed emotions and self-interpretations of the inner thoughts and turmoils of this southern artist. Coming originally from the small town and rural hinterlands of Southland and Central Otago, Robertson found her niche on moving to Dunedin at the beginning of the new century. Largely self taught, her artistic skills were sharpened through close contact with her contemporaries in that city’s thriving and communal arts scene. Using mainly oil for her more sizable canvases, Robertson also works in acrylic, and produces many smaller works in pencil, charcoal, and pastel. Many of the artist’s earlier works used text within the picture area as a textural element alongside jagged fields of colour, the figures becoming simply a major feature of busy works rather than a focus on them. As time has progressed and the artist’s skills have been honed, the text has dropped away, leaving the strong, harshly-lit nudes alone as the centre of attention. This has also focussed the energy of the works, imbuing them with a significant charge which sets them apart from many other portraits. Robertson’s art is linked firmly with some of the modern masters from whom she acknowledges a debt of inspiration. The raw emotion of many of the figures is reminiscent of the anguished portraiture of Egon Schiele and Francis Bacon, artists that Robertson freely admits are favourites. The focus on the forms of the body reflect the artist’s interest in Klimt, and the swirls and contours of the deep backgrounds at times convey the same psychological turmoil as those of Munch. There are strands and themes in the work which lie far deeper than this, however. The compositional style brings to mind Renaissance fresco work, and a thread can be drawn from these early images to Robertson’s compositions and poses.” | |
 | Iain Henderson
20th March - 25th April 2010 Opening & Artist's Talk Saturday 20th March 1.30pm Iain Henderson has run a successful jewellery manufacturing business since the early 1980s. His jewellery designs have been purchased by clients in New Zealand and overseas. His work has appeared on the covers of magazines and he has received a number of awards nationally and internationally. In Welcome to my nightmare Henderson uses his jewellery making skills to create larger sculptural works made in sterling silver, gold and set with precious and semi precious gems. These works allow the artist to tell a more complete and personal story which expresses conflict within himself and the world he sees around him through the merging of his love of machines and organic forms. Henderson constructs works which appear alive, his statements are his own, he questions issues surrounding war, religion and the resultant tragic outcomes we are now used to seeing on a daily basis. To view more of Henderson’s work visit www.hendersonjewellery.com | |
 | Zonta Youth Art Awards 2010 19th March - 11th April 2010 The Zonta Youth Art Award promotes excellence in youth art in Mid and South Canterbury. The award is open to all 16-19 year olds normally resident in Mid or South Canterbury. Each entrant may submit up to two works in any medium. All entries should be delivered to the Ashburton Art Gallery, Baring Square East, Ashburton accompanied by a copy of the completed and signed entry form. Entry forms are available from the Ashburton Art Gallery. (Image: Hamish Coleman). | |
 | DRAW YOUR OWN WORD WITCH COMPETITION Entries due 2nd march 2010 Terms: Margaret Mahy is the Word Witch — come and see the exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery for inspiration! Invent and draw your own Word Witch. Eight winners will be selected by illustrator David Elliot who will have their works displayed at the Gallery and win a copy of The Word Witch book. Young people aged between 5 and 13 are eligible to enter. All drawings should have your name, address, phone number and age on the reverse in pencil. All drawings should be completed on A3 paper or card. Any medium may be used to complete your drawing. All drawings should be submitted to the Gallery’s reception no later than Monday 2nd March 2010. Happy drawing! (With many thanks to Harper Collins). | |
Newsletter
Subscribe To The Gallery's latest news!
Jub Jub Club
