june - august 2010

To view exhibition archives click HERE

Dished Up

22nd May - 11th June 2010

Ticketed Auction Evening Friday 11th June 6.30pm

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.

Up for grabs artworks by: Peter Cleverley, David Elliot, Michael Armstrong, Sue Simpson, Jo Robetson, Janet de Wagt, Shona Clarkson, Olav Nielsen, Polly Rowe, Pam Burdett, Gaye Morton and more...

Thank you to all the artists and businesses who have contributed. Funds raised from Dished Up assist in supporting the Ashburton Art Gallery’s public programmes enabling us to bring new and exciting exhibitions and associated education and outreach activities to the Ashburton district community. Upcoming exhibitions such as Durer: 16th Century German Etchings and The Labours of Herakles by Marian Maquire, fall outside the Gallery’s current operational budget so thank you for your support in bringing these shows to the Ashburton people.

Film Society Evening

Wednesday 26th May 6pm
Tickets $10 from Regent Cinema

Join us for coffee and discussion at the Ashburton Art Gallery following Mao's Last Dancer (Regent Cinema)

MAO’s LAST DANCER - A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.

Ashburton Society of Arts 46th Annual Exhibition

22nd June - 9th July 2010

Opening Monday 21st June 7pm

Tickets available from the Ashburton Art Gallery & Bryce Gallery (Christchurch)

Guest Artists Include: Jules Clarke, Jane Zusters, Brian Strong, Colin McLaren, Pam Burdett, Hans Bauer & more...

"I take my inspiration from the many social events that Hawkes Bay boasts – the people who come to enjoy our art deco, our wine culture, beaches and fabulous weather. I always enjoy a bit of fun – a poke at human nature, a visual pun." Jules Clarke

Film Society Evening

Wednesday 30th June 6pm
Tickets $10 from Regent Cinema

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

THE LAST STATION - In 1910, acclaimed Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, in the later stage of his life, works rather than a writer but as the leader of the Tolstoyan Movement, whose basic tenets are brotherly love and world peace through pacifism, and a denouncement of material wealth and physical love. His chief follower is Vladimir Chertkov, who does whatever he requires to advance the cause. Chertkov hires a young man named Valentin Bulgakov to be Tolstoy's personal secretary in carrying out this work. Once ensconced in the life on the estate where much of the work is taking place, Bulgakov quickly learns that many there take from the movement only what he/she wants/believes.

Also chief amongst the movement's wants is the deeding of all Tolstoy's writings to the people so that after his death it will become public domain. Tolstoy's wife, the Countess Sofya Andreevna Tolstoy, believes that her husband's writings are rightfully hers after he passes, as she wants and believes she deserves the monetary benefits derived from such. This places a strain between those in the movement, especially Chertov and the Tolstoy's daughter Sasha, and the Countess. Bulgatov acts as the mediator between the parties, he who feels he needs to do what is truly in Tolstoy's heart regardless of what Tolstoy may say or do. . . starring Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, James McAvoy and Paul Giamatti.

Crescent Moon

The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand

Photographs Ans Westra

Toured by Exhibition Services Ltd

24th July— 29th August 2010

Opening Saturday 24th July 2010

Artist Ans Westra & Adrienne Jansen Talk: Authors Afternoon Saturday 7th August

The Crescent Moon: the Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand gives a face and a voice to New Zealand’s Muslims of Asian descent, who form the majority of Muslims both in this country and in the world as a whole. In the making of this exhibition renowned photographer Ans Westra and writer Adrienne Jansen travelled through the country, catching up with people in their everyday lives. They met a very diverse group, ethnically, culturally, and theologically. There are lawyers and farmers, computer trainers and butchers, fourth generation New Zealanders and new migrants. They talk with disarming honesty about the media, about 9/11, about identity, about their faith—but mostly they just talk about their lives.

“People ask me a lot of questions. Mostly there’re curious and just want to know. But they do ask questions that give the impression they think I must have some strange beliefs. If you outwardly look like everyone else, people don’t see you as being very strange. Because I dress as a Muslim, people make assumptions. They see me and suddenly everything I do represents Islam. But Muslims don’t always represent Islam, because Muslims aren’t always practising Islam. Islam is one of the simplest faiths to understand, because essentially it is based on believing in one God.” Shaystah Dean

Community Gallery

Coming of Age:New Zealand Film

Robin Arnst

24th July— 23rd August 2010 Opening & Artist Talk Saturday 24th July 2010

“Art making is about making choices. You have to choose one colour over another, one subject over another, one line over another and so on.....it’s all decision making and each time you’re sharpening the way you make decisions. That’s it! Without making choices you don’t have art.” Robin Arnst “Robin Arnst’s painting achieved prominence in the exhibition because it was a memorable work, a work that would move people; it had power beyond the sum of its parts and had a suppressed energy. The composition of limited colour palette, using cold colours sent an environmental message in a very subtle way with words working well and not overriding the liner composition — segments of the painting beautifully represented and well thought out. The work transcends the parts there in — an image I can remember in my mind still which is a sign of a great painting. You impinged on my consciousness with this work.”Quote from judges Robert McDowell and Clark Esplin

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

Honour Award Winner at the New Zealand Post Book Awards 2010!

$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.