Previous Exhibition
april - june 2010
Thu, 11/03/2010 - 11:43 — kmitchell |
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april-june 2010To view exhibition archives click HERE |
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| Pacific Curls Friday 26th March 8pmTickets $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.
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 | Film Society Evening
Wednesday 31st March 5.30pmk
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 |
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 | 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
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 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." |
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 | Dished Up
An Ashburton Art Gallery Fundraising Exhibition/Event 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 |
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 | 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. | |
february - april 2010
Mon, 18/01/2010 - 11:52 — kmitchell |
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february - april 2010To view exhibition archives click HERE |
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| 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.
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 | 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! |
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 | 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). | |
November 09 - February 2010
Thu, 17/12/2009 - 14:47 — kmitchell |
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november 09 - february 2010To view exhibition archives click HERE |
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| 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. |
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| 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 |
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| 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 | |
Programme July - November 2009
Tue, 28/07/2009 - 08:46 — kmitchell |
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july - november 09To view exhibition archives click HERE |
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| Art At Work
11th July - 16th August 2009 Mark Lander is a paper maker painter and ceramicist working with materials from his immediate environment in North Canterbury. Art at Work is comprised of large floor to ceiling paintings and smaller wood cut prints on Lander’s stunning signature handmade paper. The concept of Art at Work is that on each print there is a ‘1’ and an ‘S’ embedded into the image somewhere symbolizing the ownership of 1 share. Each share (sale of work) contributes to a special project which supplies paper making machines to worthy recipients. Through this exhibition Mark aims to raise funds towards a large paper making machine for a deaf group in Tanzania. They already have a paper making machine that makes pulp from elephant dung and maize but are looking to expand their production! Supporting this project by purchasing a Mark Lander print will enhance the way of life for others. |
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 | Lecture Series
18th July - 16th August 2009
Born in 1952 in Queenstown, a self taught artist for the last three and a half decades, John is still in the process of discovery - searching through portraiture to chronicle moments of behavior and the processes of life.
John’s professional career stretches back three decades with its roots firmly planted in a childhood spent watching his father, renowned landscape artist Douglas Badcock, on numerous painting expeditions in and around Queenstown. Based in Geraldine for the last 29 years in a house he built himself on a hilltop to capture views, on a clear day, of Mt Peel, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, John has carved out a niche as one of New Zealand’s most uncompromising, yet popular artists. He hasn’t managed that feat, he says, by following trends.1
1. Symmetry - Subaru House Magazine March 2008 Pg 34 |
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 | Ey! Iran 22nd August - 4th October 2009
Opening Saturday 22nd August 1.30pm Toured by Exhibition Services Ltd & Gold Coast City Art Gallery For many in Australia and New Zealand, our understanding of contemporary Iran is immediately connected to images of conflict and tension. The perception that it is a culture closed to the west and culturally isolated is however dramatically changing, and artists and filmmakers have been at the cutting edge of this shift. ey! iran will be the first exhibition of its kind to present recent contemporary photography from Iran in a major exhibition in New Zealand. The exhibition presents the work of 17 artists working in photo media based both in Iran or as expatriates who have left the country and continue to make work that is informed by their Persian heritage. Artists Hossein Valamanesh, who lives in Adelaide, Australia and Sadegh Tirafkan who now lives in Toronto, Canada are just two examples of acclaimed artists who deal with major issues of identity, gender, urban life, popular culture and social restrictions within and outside Iran. Through their subtle yet powerful work, with its richly layered visual languages, it is possible to see past the stereotypical images and into the lives and experiences of ordinary people – their street lives as well as their private lives – contemporary identities intimately tied to an ancient culture and its traditions. The art of photography has developed in parallel with the highly regarded art of film making in Iran. In the same vein that contemporary Iranian filmmakers portray their vision of Iran with a compelling quiet reserve, the work of artists selected for this exhibition communicates to international audiences with the same subtle boldness. The photographic medium arrived in Iran in the early 1840s as diplomats from Russia, England and Germany brought the technology to the reigning Shah - who had a strong personal fascination with the medium. Historical collections of plates and photographs in Iran are today a valuable source of documentation of the lives of Persians in the mid to late 1800s. Throughout the early 1900s Iranian photography evolved much in the same way that European and American artists and collectors approached the medium. The exhibition has been curated by Iranian born Australian artist Mandana Mapar. Bridging social and geographical boundaries in the development of this exhibition she travelled to Tehran to select work and seeks to link artists in Iran with audiences in Australia and New Zealand in a spirit of cultural exchange. | |
 | A Season of Iranian Cinema
26th August - 30th September 2009
In a special partnership between the Embassy of The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Ashburton Art Gallery, we are pleased to present a selection of outstanding films produced in Iran in recent years. We are screening one Iranian feature film weekly on Wednesdays at 4pm and repeated at 6pm until 30th September. Free admission. (With thanks to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery for their assistance). Opening Wednesday 26th August 5.30pm Refreshments will be provided for the opening, a representative from the Iranian Embassy in Wellington, will officially open this mid-winter Season of Iranian Cinema: at the Ashburton Art Gallery prior to the screening of Iran, Seven Faces Of A Civilization at 6.30pm. All films are in Farsi with English subtitles. A full programme will be available on this website in the coming week. Wednesday 26th August 6.30pm: Iran, Seven Faces Of A Civilization. Wednesday 2nd September 4pm & 6pm: Marriage, Iranian Style. Wednesday 9th September 4pm & 6pm: Transit Cafe. Wednesday 16th September 4pm & 6pm: So Far, So Close. Wednesday 23rd September 4pm & 6pm: Children of Heaven. Wednesday 30th September 4pm & 6pm: The Wind Carpet. | |
 | Arts on Tour Saturday 29th August 4.30pm 2009 Tickets $20 or $18 for Friends of the Gallery Charged with intensity and passion, Skin Tight is a story that will stay with you for a long time to come.Tom and Elizabeth share the tale of their lives together through triumph and loss, joy and pain. In the rustic setting of rural South Canterbury post war, they delight in the trivial things and mourn the greatest losses of all. The audience is gripped from the outset by a relationship that is at once tempestuous, touching, amusing and utterly engaging.Inspired by Dennis Glover’s classic poem, The Magpies, Gary Henderson’s stirring opus of yearning and memory won a Fringe First Award at Edinburgh. This masterpiece of New Zealand theatre is humorous, poignant and moving, an experience rich with sensuality and emotion. Share in a timelessly passionate and powerful love story. Of the recent Court theatre season in Christchurch the reviewer said: “The actors inhabit their roles as if they knew no other life. Sia Trokenheim is lithe and spontaneous as Elizabeth. Her total conviction is matched by a beautifully judged performance from Matt Hudson as Tom. Both have the ability and control to refine their roles with telling detail.” Lindsay Clark, theatreview.org.nz | |
 | MUKA Youth Print Exhibition
Young People Buy Art - No Adults Allowed Wednesday 16th September 2009 12 noon - 6pm A display of original contemporary art exclusively for young people aged 5-18. This event gives young people the opportunity to purchase original lithographs for a fraction of the normal price. It is the intention of the artists that the works will become the exclusive property of the purchaser. A number of well-known artists from all over the world have been invited to produce small original lithographs. The works reflect the normal concerns of the artists; there is no patronising or “talking down” to children. Visitors to the show can buy a maximum of three lithographs for themselves, not for adults. All works are sold at a uniform low price to enable accessibility to their intended audience — children. | |
 | Ashburton District Schools Exhibition 10th October - 25th October 2009 An annual favourite in the Gallery’s programme, this exhibition displays the creative work of the Ashburton’s youth. Painting, drawing, photography, pottery, sculpture and an array of mixed media work all feature in this exciting and colourful exhibition. | |
 | Aoraki Polytechnic Art Studies Exhibition 7th - 29th November 2009 Award Ceremony Saturday 7th November 1.30pm “Aoraki Polytechnic Art Studies Exhibition 2009 showcases the best of two years work from the students in the part-time Art Studies programme at the Aoraki Polytechnic in Ashburton. This is the first time Level 4, Certificate in Art has been run and I am sure you will be interested in seeing the wonderful development of these year 3 and year 4 students. Also showing are works from the first and second year Level 3 Introductory Art Studies. This innovative programme encourages the students to express their own individual style while developing a thorough understanding of the principles and techniques of quality art.” Heather Sarin | |
| Champions: New Zealand Winners
5th December 2009 - 7th February 2010 Opening Saturday 5th December 1.30pm 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 | |
Programme February-April 2009
Mon, 19/01/2009 - 10:20 — kmitchell |
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February - April 09To view exhibition archives click HERE |
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| Fiona Pears Sunday 1st February 4.30pm New Zealand virtuoso violinist and composer Fiona Pears started performing as a soloist with orchestras at the age of 12. Now based in London, she has forged a career as an international soloist and recording artist. Fiona is also becoming well known as a composer. Her compositions are taken from her life’s experiences of travelling and meeting people as well as her love of many different musical styles. She performs a mix of Celtic, Gypsy, Latin and Classical music. 2008 has also seen Fiona going back into the studio to record her forth CD, “Fire and Light,” which features the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra as well as her phenomenal New Zealand band. This CD showcases Fiona’s most beautiful, energetic and captivating compositions to date alongside her own interpretations of well-known pieces such as Khachaturian's, “Sabre Dance.” |
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 | Tohu
6th February - 8th March 2009
Even in New Zealand, a supposed natural paradise and land of opportunity and equality there are people who do not have a voice. In a land where formerly birds existed in hundreds of thousands, many species are extinct or have been brought to the edge of extinction. Profligate use of power has meant rivers have been harnessed and damned to provide hydro- electricity at the expense of river ecology. Waitaha, one of the ancient tribes of Aotearoa, view the loss of their rich hunting and fishing grounds and bird life with sadness but are unable to stop this degradation. Their philosophy is peaceful and different from the more recent warrior tribes. They believe birds carry messages from their ancestors. Because they look upon the land as a parent, they didn’t engage with Europeans in the transfer of land by treaty, consequently they have been subsumed, and are not recognised as a separate and independent people. The film Tohu allows Waitaha elders to voice their concerns and depicts many of the endangered birds in Aotearoa as it journeys up the Waitaki River from the sea to the mountains. Tohu is a documentary about the ancient culture of the Waitaha people, their river and the endangered bird life of Aotearoa. Tohu travels the mountains and Valleys of the South Island encountering rare and remarkable birds, whio, kea and fantail among others. In Waitaha mythology the appearance of an extraordinary bird presaging an unexpected or momentous event and the Tohu is believed to be a sign or Tohu may be the spirit of an ancestor. Waitaha, in an effort to be recognised have turned to the Arts to help and Gillian Whitehead’s Waitaha Aria with lyrics by the late Tungia Baker eloquently announces the renaissance of these people largely unknown and ignored until now. |
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 | Love Me Tender 14th February –15th March 2009
Opening & Collector’s Talk Saturday 14th February 1.30pm “My Elvis Presley collection has been a labour of love for over 50 years, but it was only after his death in 1977 that I dusted it all out from boxes and decided that I did indeed have quite a bit of “stuff”. It took a lot of organising but I finally managed to persuade my family to let me divide the farm garage in half to allow the “stuff” to be put into some sort of orderly display. My main interest in Elvis is his musical legacy, hence the collection centres around vinyl records, compact discs and the like. The Elvis collecting world has grown so much over the years and his music and memorabilia are selling more now than during his life time. I hope this display does some justice to the man and that visitors to the Ashburton Gallery will enjoy it.” John Lobb | |
 | Waka Huia
14th March - 12th April 2009
Waka Huia is a treasure trove of precious jewellery objects and narrative. The personal adornments and stories are anchored in extraordinary everyday life: ka taoka o te ao kohatu (treasures from the ancient world of the Maori) and the enchantments of a modern existence. Some stories told are by Wilkinson’s great great grandfather and respected rangatira Teone Taare Tikao, to South Canterbury historian Herries Beattie. Waka Huia is accompanied by selected works from Takapau will Travel (Turbulence: 3rd Auckland Triennial 2006) and Wahine Kino (City Gallery, Wellington 2007). Waka Huia is a collection of magic moments filled with love. | |
 | Zonta Youth Art Awards 2009 21st March –12th April 2009 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. The winner of the Premier Award receives $500, the runner up $250 and third place $150. Each entrant may submit two works in any medium. 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 Gallery – get yours now. | |
 | Towards the Precipice Propaganda Posters Collected by WB Sutch 18th April– 17th May 2009 Opening Saturday 18th April 1.30pm
The term propaganda derives from the name given to a 17th-century Committee of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, Congregatio de Prpaganda de Fide, which was charged with directing ecclesiastical affairs in non-Catholic countries. The Oxford English Dictionary defines propaganda as the “systematic propagation of information or ideas to encourage or instill a particular attitude or response”. The use of posters as propaganda tools had come of age during the First World War. Their aim was essentially two-fold: in Britain, to encourage male recruitment—a famous and frequently adapted example being Lord Kitchener’s “Your country needs you” - and in all major participating countries to inspire home front support for the war. Posters were cheap to produce, easy to distribute, and could immediately respond to wartime events. They continued to be employed by governments of the 1930s and 1940s who believed in their effectiveness. Towards the Precipice presents Spanish, German, British and Soviet posters from the period 1935 to 1942. They represent the voice of the Republican opposition to the right-wing Nationalist forces of General Franco in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. The Nazi regime used posters to win ordinary Germans over to their world view by showing them, and the world the promised material advantages of belonging to Hitler’s Germany. The British posters cover the early years of the Second World War and build upon the generally accepted idea that the war was both just and necessary to defend traditional British values. The Soviet posters were designed following Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. They were later adapted by the British to reinforce the resulting Anglo-Soviet alliance against Hitler. These posters present their views in a way that is both overtly manipulative and stunningly simple when compared to the methods and media that are used to influence public opinion today. Bill Sutch (WB Sutch) William Ball Sutch was born in England in 1907 and arrived in New Zealand with his family when eight months old. Both his parents were staunch Methodists, independently minded and widely read in the social fields. Sutch trained as a teacher and graduated MA and B.Com from Victoria University. A fellowship took him to Columbia University in 1932 where he undertook a Ph.D on the topic of ‘Price fixing in New Zealand’. He returned to New Zealand after travelling widely in North America and Europe, to a country in the depths of the depression. This experience was fundamental to his subsequent thinking on economics and social policy. Over the next 40 years he held a wide variety of influential government and diplomatic positions, including groundbreaking work with Unicef and other UN agencies. He published widely and maintained an active role in the cultural life of New Zealand, culminating in his appointment to the Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council in 1973. Bill Sutch is also remembered for being tried and acquitted under the Official Secrets Act. | |
 | Jub Jub Club Lyndal Lane is the latest addition to the Ashburton Art Gallery team. Lyndal’s role at the Gallery, much like any small regional Gallery requires flexibility, adaptability and an innovative approach. Lyndal fulfils the role of both Technician and Publicity Officer which is challenging to say the least. One of Lyndal’s core goals is to coordinate relevant activities/events which run in conjunction with the Gallery’s exhibition programme and which target varying sectors of the community.Lyndal’s latest initiative is the “Jub Jub Club” a free membership programme for young people. The Gallery plans to launch the programme on 1st March 2009 to coincide with National Children’s Day celebrations, at which time information about the programme will become available from the Gallery’s reception and website. As part of the programme the Gallery will be hosting activities every second Sunday afternoon from 2-4pm during term time and every Sunday afternoon in the school holidays. Membership will be free; however, some activities may incur a gold coin donation. The “Jub Jub Club” seeks to provide a series of art/culture based experiences for young people. This will include hands on activities such as painting, sculpture, photography and craft based activities as well as opportunities to engage with and respond to artists and exhibitions.The “Jub Jub Club” has taken its name from a work held in the Gallery’s Collection. “The Jub Jub Bird” is an illustration by David Elliot taken from a set of characters familiar to us all from the popular story “The Hunting of the Snark” by Lewis Carroll. The Gallery felt that this humble bird represents the Club well with its clear sense of fun, adventure and humour. We are grateful for the support of David Elliot who will be contributing to activities during the year and whose sense of fun and adventure has in many ways inspired the creation of this club for young Asburtonians. | |
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Programme October 2008 - January 2009
Thu, 27/11/2008 - 07:39 — kmitchell
Current ExhibitionTo view exhibition archives click HERE |
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October 2008 - January 2009 |
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Ashburton District Schools Exhibition
5th October—26th October 2008 An exhibition of works by the children and young people of the Ashburton District. Come and view the creative work taking place in schools around your community. |
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Janet de Wagt
Painting down a Shingle Road
1st-23rd November 2008 Artist Talk Saturday 8th November 1.30pm “I have been a working artist for 20 years - combining my painting with living and travelling in different parts of the world. Whilst living in the Northern hemisphere, my subject focus was people and their immediate environments. For example, markets were a wonderful place to paint, whether in the United Kingdom or North Africa. It was the interaction between people whilst buying, selling, bargaining, etc - that I tried to instil into my paintings - with all the colours of the stalls and the variety of food found there. Since my arrival back in New Zealand in 1996, landscapes have been the focus of my work, painting on location. Because of the overpowering nature of the land, with all the changing colours and forms - people have tended to become irrelevant.” Janet de Wagt |
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David Elliot
New Zealand Stories
1st-23rd November 2008 “I was born in Ashburton and lived here for the first seventeen years of my life. I then went to Christchurch, where I studied for the Diploma in Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury, graduating in 1976. I then worked as a designer for a couple of years, before travelling to Antarctica, then onto Asia and Europe, before settling in Scotland, where I was gatekeeper at Edinburgh Zoo for two years. During this period I became increasingly interested in writing and illustrating books for children. Since 1998, however, with the support of my wife, I have been working fulltime on my own writing and illustrating and, as a result, I have been able to take on an increasing amount of illustration work. When I was a little boy, my grandfather told me there was a wolf in the plantation, opposite his farm in Mayfield. I have been trying to draw it ever since.” David Elliot Between 1999 and 2002, David Elliot illustrated four New Zealand anthologies of poetry and short stories (two of each) for Random House, New Zealand. The Gallery has recently purchased the four cover illustrations for its permanent collection. |
| Joanna Margaret Paul
Subjects to Hand
29th November 2008 - 8th February 2009
Opening 29th November 1.30pm When Joanna Margaret Paul died in 2003, she left behind an extraordinary collection of work. Stored in her Wanganui home and studio were hundreds of artworks, many of which had never been exhibited, including oil paintings, watercolours, drawings, photographs and films. She also left a body of work as a poet and prose writer, including a wealth of unpublished material. By concentrating on Joanna Margaret Paul’s drawing practice, the exhibition examines in-depth an essential aspect of her output. For an artist who had limited exposure during her lifetime the effect of this treatment will be revelatory. The daily practice of drawing was the sieve through which Paul passes sensation and thought. Wherever she was she drew. This quality of dedication and alertness to the visual world is palpable in the exhibition: there are drawings of sick children, discarded toys, rabbits, bowling greens, swimming pools, bonfires and lighthouses, views from aircraft and buses… nothing was beneath her notice. The emphasis on drawing is timely too because in contemporary art there is renewed interest in the exactitude and sensuousness of drawing as a method of visual ‘inquiry and invention’. In this context Joanna Paul’s art is ripe for re-evaluation, but it is also ready for a much broader audience. Highly sophisticated on the one hand, her art is also extremely accessible — a rare combination. The exhibition encompasses a wide range of approaches to drawing and a number of media including pencil, pastel, watercolour and collage. |
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Summer Pottery Show
29th November - 1st February 2008
Opening 29th November 1.30pm Need Christmas presents for friends and loved ones? The Ashburton Art Gallery can help you support New Zealand Made. What better gift than an original piece of pottery by a New Zealand artist (gift wrapping service available). The Summer Pottery Show (Cash & Carry) features works by more than 15 New Zealand potters including David Walker, Susan Sky, Shona Clarkson, Mary Bartos, Christine Davey, Hugh Ricard, Neil Hey, Gaye Morton, Marie Rusbatch-Dawson, Anne Pullar, Frederika Ernsten, Averil Cave, Lizbeth Hansen, Dianne Register-Stout, Chris Lewis, and Susan Blackburn. “My training as a potter involved intensive learning in all facets of producing domestic stoneware and selling to a New Zealand market through studio and galleries. This met a need (or dream) of being allowed to live a creative, self-sustaining lifestyle and my children able to grow up happily in two beautiful rural areas of New Zealand: Nelson and Banks Peninsula. Although I have had no formal art training beyond secondary school, my initial interest has always been towards painting and drawing. A need to draw has been a wonderful tool in my development of skills and the formation of ideas in using clay as a creative medium." "Currently a lot of my clay work explores a slightly more sculptural aspect which has grown from the making and appreciation of objects for functional day to day use. Clay being a tactile piece of earth and ancient in its geological formation easily inspires a sense of the archaic and collective ethnicity through its use. In this respect I love to create the illusion of objects made in other times and places, the act of making provides a point of fascination and curiosity for the imagination to travel from.” David Walker |
Programme February - April 2008
Sun, 31/08/2008 - 19:22 — kmitchellFebruary - April 2008 | |
I was here | |
Programme December 2007 - February 2008
Sun, 31/08/2008 - 19:13 — kmitchellDecember 2007 - February 2008 | |
 | Fiona Pears |
Programme September - November 2007
Sun, 31/08/2008 - 19:08 — kmitchellSeptember - November 2007 | |
 | Samantha Wallace |
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