april-june 2010

To view exhibition archives click HERE

Pacific Curls

Tickets $20, Friends of the Gallery $18, Students/Seniors $15

Available from the Regent Cinema & Ashburton Art Gallery

“We explore the places where we cross over,” says Halliday.

Acclaimed Pacifika group, Pacific Curls tours the country combining fiddle, ukulele, taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) and vocals with a range of other instruments including cajons, stomp peddles, kalimba, djembe and percussion. Fresh from an appearance at the Winter Olympics in Canada, the group’s special blend of Celtic, Maori, Pacific and other influences has wowed audiences in Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and South Korea, as well as New Zealand. The group, featuring world class fiddle player, Sarah Beattie, virtuoso ukulele player Kim Halliday, and stunning vocalist Ora Barlow, say that their unconventional collaboration comes out of a reverence for each other’s cultures.

Film Society Evening

Wednesday 31st March 5.30pmk
Tickets $10 from Regent Cinema

Join us for coffee and discussion at the Ashburton Art Gallery following This Way of Life (Regent Cinema)

A moving and inspiring documentary about one extraordinary family and their life beyond the Ruahine ranges. The head of the family, Peter Karena, is a horse-whisperer, philosopher, hunter and builder, husband and father. Despite seemingly overwhelming challenges, Peter refuses to compromise, and the family turns hardship into a meaningful and satisfying way of life. “What do I do for a living? I live for a living.” Peter Karena

Fair Game

Ana Terry & Don Hunter

17th April - 16th May 2010

Opening & Artists Talk Saturday 17th April 1.30pm

Don Hunter and Ana Terry present a humorous take on New Zealand’s wetland hunting culture. This includes an extraordinary chandelier comprised of over 2000 glittering acrylic white bait which, under gallery lighting, projects a shadow resembling a whitebait net onto the gallery wall. Limp bodies of long necked game birds which seem to transform into floppy guns; push along toy ducks with shotgun handles, wall shield hunting trophies and a grid map of large floor tiles inscribed with cartographic signs inspired from the view of an aeroplane window.

“Duck shooting and whitebait harvesting are fiercely territorial and even tribal activities. If you doubt this assessment, you could test this out by trying to set up a new baiting stand on the river or ‘peg down’ an apparently abandoned blind on pegging day. Chances are you’ll discover that spot has been used by the same family for years and they may not appreciate any intrusion.”

“There is an etiquette involved, and a system that works. You can be sure there is a complex hierarchy of status at work and competitive rivalry ranging from affectionate to bitter. But there is also the simple dynamic of people who enjoy doing the same thing getting together and doing it.”

“Their investigations have taken a playful approach rather than a scientific one, not looking for social documentary but taking something on of the irreverent and adventurous spirit of recreational hunting.” Extracts from catalogue by Ali Bramwell

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Sunday 25th April 1.30pm

Followed by screening of Alice in Wonderland at 3pm at the Regent Cinema

Don’t be late for a very important date! Meet us in Wonderland on Sunday 25th April at 1.30pm for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Featuring Bernard Egan as the Mad Hatter.

Tickets $17 or $15 for Friends of the Gallery

Appropriate attire for Wonderland

Prizes for best costumes

Film Society Evening

Wednesday 28th April 5.30pm
Tickets $10 from Regent Cinema

Join us for coffee and discussion at the Ashburton Art Gallery following Boy (Regent Cinema)

The year is 1984, and on the rural East Coast of New Zealand “Thriller” is changing kids’ lives.  Inspired by the Oscar nominated Two Cars, One Night, BOY is the hilarious and heartfelt coming-of-age tale about heroes, magic and Michael Jackson. Eketone-Whitu (8), plays Rocky who spends his days being weird, hanging out with his dead mother at the cemetery and working on controlling his magic powers, the ones that he believes put Mum there. Boy’s other hero, his father, Alamein (Waititi) is the subject of Boy’s fantasies, and he imagines him a deep sea diver, war hero and a close relation of Michael Jackson (he can even dance like him).  In reality he’s ‘in the can for robbery’.

Sweet As

Madeleine Child
1st May - 11th June 2010

Opening & Artist's Talk Saturday 1st May 1.30pm

In Sweet As, an installation featuring intensely coloured giant pieces of popcorn, Madeleine Child gained inspiration while buying her children coloured popcorn. Madeleine was “...fascinated by its fleshy gorgeousness, organic fecundity and forbidden fruitiness”. The exhibition is designed to be a sensory experience offering multiple readings from childish delight to the more sickly consideration of calorie counting, globalization, food miles and corn wars – comfort food causing discomfort. Madeleine Child specialises in contemporary ceramic techniques.

Since receiving a ceramics certificate from Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin in 1978, Madeleine has pursued the study of ceramic and glass in New York, Lisbon, and London where she received a Masters from the Royal College of Art and an Advanced Studies 3D degree from Central St Martins College of Art. She has since returned to where she began and has lectured at Otago Polytechnic School of Design since 1997. "Madeleine’s extensive training and travel can be seen technically and conceptually in her work whether reflecting the distinctive colour and vibrancy of Mexican pottery or the playfulness in faux chocolate Easter bunnies. Her work evokes a sense of sentimentality that is, at times, countered with darker intonations."

Dished Up

An Ashburton Art Gallery Fundraising Exhibition/Event
22nd May - 11th June 2010

Ticketed Auction Evening Friday 11th June 6.30pm

Tickets: $25, Friends of the Gallery $20, table of eight special $120.

Come and support your local public art gallery by attending one of the Gallery’s renowned auction evenings. Bring a group of friends - tables of eight are available at a discounted price.

Many thanks to the artists who have contributed artworks including: Peter Cleverley, David Elliot, Michael Armstrong, Sue Simpson, Jo Robetson, Janet de Wagt, Shona Clarkson, Olav Nielsen, Liz Abbott, Pam Burdett, Margaret Digby, Rachel Ratten, Gaye Morton and more...

As the Ashburton Public Art Gallery is only partially funded the Gallery Committee works to raise additional funds for its public programmes. The Gallery is grateful for your support which allows us to bring exciting new exhibitions and associated education and outreach activities to the Ashburton community. The Dished Up exhibition will be open for public viewing from the 22nd May - Friday 11th June 2010. Silent bids will be accepted throughout this period. Image: Plate by Olav Nielsen

Need Gifts for loved ones
The Word Witch: The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy

$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.