SUPPORTING THE DOWSE FOR OVER 40 YEARS ISSUE 43 / DECEMBER 2013

IN THIS ISSUE ECC NZ STUDENT CRAFT / DESIGN AWARDS 2013 Celebrating the winners of the 2013 awards.

ARCHITECTURE CREATIVE WHAT’S ON AT TOUR 2013 / ASIA NEW ZEALAND THE DOWSE Bruce Sedcole reflects on the CURATOR TOUR All the information you need about wonderful homes that were Senior Curator Emma Bugden tells us the exhibitions and events taking showcased as part of this about her recent trip to Japan, Korea place at The Dowse in the year’s Architecture Tour. 6 and China. 7 coming months. 8 PLUS ALL THE LATEST INFO ABOUT UPCOMING FRIENDS EVENTS • DEC 13 •

ON THE COVER FRIENDS COMMITTEE 2013 Bill Culbert, Light Plain, 1997. President SPECIALOFFERS Bruce Sedcole P 569 8680 Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery ARCHIBALD ART SUPPLIES, Toi o Tāmaki, 2000. Vice president 95 MAIN STREET, UPPER HUTT Heather Crichton P 021 937 750 10% discount – except easels, pottery, magazines IN THIS ISSUE Treasurer or commissioned work from an exhibition Jonathan Tomkins Pg 2 CACI LOWER HUTT, Greetings from Courtney General committee 119 QUEENS DRIVE, LOWER HUTT Rebecca Holden, Colin Kelly, Ann Montague 15% off – excludes Appearance Medicine and Pg 3 Patron current promotions Greetings from Bruce Gillian Deane GORDON HARRIS – THE ART & GRAPHIC STORE, Profile: Jonathan Tomkins The Dowse Art Museum Friends liaison 170 VICTORIA STREET, WELLINGTON Emma Bugden 10% Discount – except books and magazines Pg 4-5 Open 7 days with parking – Wheelchair friendly ECC NZ FRIENDS NEWSLETTER www.gordonharris.co.nz Student Craft / Design Awards 2013 HORIZON PAPER PLUS, Editor Kimberley Stephenson 228 HIGH STREET, LOWER HUTT Celebrating the winners of the 2013 awards. Designer Nicky Dyer 10% off books, stationery and greeting cards Pg 6 KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH NEWS LA BELLA ITALIA, 10 NEVIS STREET, PETONE Architecture Tour 2013 10% discount on divella products Bruce Sedcole reflects on the wonderful homes Please take a moment to send us your email or change of postal address so we can keep in LIGHTHOUSE CINEMA, BEACH STREET, PETONE that were showcased as part of this year’s touch: [email protected] Free coffee when purchasing a movie ticket Architecture Tour. MINE: THE DOWSE SHOP Pg 7 MEETINGS 10% discount to Friends Creative New Zealand / The Friends committee normally meets REKA CAFÉ, 45 LAINGS ROAD, THE DOWSE ART Asia New Zealand Curator Tour on the first Thursday of the month, MUSEUM, LOWER HUTT Senior Curator Emma Bugden tells us about her 6pm at The Dowse Art Museum. 10% discount on food and drink until 5pm recent trip to Japan, Korea and China. RONA (GALLERY AND BOOKS), Find us online 151 MURITAI ROAD, EASTBOURNE Pg 8 Find the latest events and Friends news at 10% discount on art books and art supplies What’s on at The Dowse www.dowse.org.nz/friends VICTORIANA FLORIST, QUEENSGATE SHOPPING MALL & 496 FERGUSSON DRIVE, UPPER HUTT 10% discount on all flowers and Join Us! loyalty card membership For information about how to join the Friends of WITH WARM THANKS TO OUR BUSINESSES The Dowse visit www.dowse.org.nz/friends These discounts are exclusive to Friends email [email protected] members. Friends must show or phone 021 937 750 membership card to receive discounts.

Greetings from Courtney

December has blown in with its usual mixture of tantalising sun and blustery storms, and The Dowse team is hoping for more of the former and less of the latter as we move towards the summer break. Before we start thinking about our beach reading lists, we’ve got Peter Robinson’s new site-specific sculpture Tribe Subtribe opening on 14 December; we hope we’ll see many of you in the first weeks of the show, as the work needs a lot of audience participation! I want to take the opportunity to thank quality of entries was very gratifying, and His Own Steam: The Work of Barry Brickell The Friends for making one of our most shows how much the prize has grown (Auckland University Press) has been important events this year, Bill Culbert’s talk in awareness among tertiary students. picked by the New Zealand Listener as one with his majestic Light Plain installation, a Congratulations to Heather Crichton for her of their Books of the Year. possibility. Bill was an absolute joy to host, exemplary organisation and promotion of Emma Bugden and I are already looking and it was wonderful to hear him talk about this event. forward to sitting down with the Friends his teenage years here in the Hutt, studying The Friends have had a close association committee at the start of 2014 and under James Coe and figuring out at that throughout the year with our Barry Brickell planning out a programme of events and early age that art was all he wanted to do. exhibition and with Barry himself. I’m partnerships. Until then, the whole team Another highlight of working with The pleased to say that the touring version of wishes you a safe and happy summer and Friends has been the 2013 New Zealand His Own Steam has successfully opened a successful start to the new year. Student Craft/Design Awards, this year at Waikato Museum, and even happier to - sponsored by ECC. The number and report that the accompanying publication NGA MIHI NUI COURTNEY JOHNSTON, DIRECTOR

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Greetings from Bruce

Greetings to all of our longstanding Friends, and also to the new members who have joined us over the last few months. It finally feels like winter is over and, as the weather warms up, we begin the hectic countdown to the end of year festivities, and hopefully (for most of you) a well earned summer holiday.

PROFILE I recently read a fascinating report written such a taonga, with a dedicated team of for the Museums Association regarding professionals maintaining the high standards NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER JONATHAN TOMKINS public perceptions of museums in our which we have come to expect. hectic modern society. According to this The oldest of four boys, I was born, The role of The Friends is in part to support report, attitudes surrounding museums have raised and educated in . I am this process and we strive to help the become more favourable over the last few married to Megan and have a 7 month team at The Dowse however we can. The years as these public institutions shed their old son called Oliver. Friends recently brought New Zealand image of stuffiness and sterility and become A charted accountant of 13 years, I artist Bill Culbert (whose work Light Plain more accessible, entertaining and interactive. initially worked for one of the big 4 before is currently being exhibited) to The Dowse joining Crowe Horwath in the Hutt Valley. One element of the report that caught my for a fascinating floor talk led by Director In my spare time I enjoy skiing and attention was the premise that museums Courtney Johnston. As the mesmerising mountain biking. have become one of the last bastions and meandering conversation unfolded I have always had an interest in art - of trustworthiness among our traditional we learnt of Bill’s history and philosophies, especially landscape painting. Instead of societal institutions. People in general no and the experiences and beliefs that have the normal wedding register, my wife and longer trust the government, the media, or shaped his work and his career. Bill’s I asked people to contribute to buying a big business - all are perceived as being piece of art. We selected an oil painting historical connections with the Hutt, his biased, and each operating with their representing Glendu Bay, Wanaka, attendance at Hutt Valley High School, his own agenda. Yet museums maintain a and this cherished artwork is proudly fond recollections of James Coe, and other positive role in our community - promoting displayed in our lounge. “Hutt” tales were a surprise for many, and happiness and wellbeing, strengthening I first became aware of the Friends of the capacity audience was captivated. and fostering a sense of community, The Dowse through an association with promoting economic growth (eg via tourism), These are the events that really give back a former committee member. One of the highlights of my time on the committee and facilitating individual development to our members and supporters, and your so far has been the exhibition His Own via education and stimulation. They are participation is greatly appreciated and Steam: A Barry Brickell Survey. In the trusted to provide balanced, accurate and welcomed. Thank you all again for your months ahead, I look forward to assisting objective interactions, leaving the visitor continued support of The Friends. I hope to The Friends to further grow its influence. free to interpret material as they see fit. meet up with as many of you as possible at This resonated with me as I thought of the our upcoming events. role that The Dowse has come to play in BELOW LEFT: Bill Culbert and Courtney Johnston. WITH BEST WISHES BELOW RIGHT: Bill Culbert, Light Plain, 1997. Chartwell our community. We are very lucky to have BRUCE SEDCOLE, PRESIDENT Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki,- 2000.

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READ INTERVIEWS between Blumhardt Curatorial Intern Emma Ng and the Supreme Award and Runner Up Award winners on The Dowse Blog https://thedowse.wordpress.com PHOTOS TOP: Hayden Maunsell, Nicole Wesseling, and Simon Ellison with their winning entries. CENTRE: Hayden Maunsell, Dark Lamp, 2013. BOTTOM LEFT: Nicole Wesseling, Vincent, 2013. BOTTOM RIGHT: Simon Ellison, Leveilla, 2013. ECC NZ STUDENT CRAFT/ DESIGN AWARDS 2013

2013 WINNER On Friday 23rd August, the Friends of The Dowse held the annual ECC New Zealand Student / Craft Design Awards with one of the biggest crowds attending.

A record 100 entries were received for this year’s awards, with the Supreme Award going to Hayden Maunsell’s Dark Lamp. Hayden, a third year student at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke’s Bay, took 2013 home $3000 in prize money. His prize RUNNER UP will cover travel and accommodation expenses for his current work experience with Tim Webber, an up- and-coming young furniture designer in Auckland. Upon completing his studies, Hayden hopes to establish himself as a freelance furniture designer based in Hawke’s Bay with 2013 the long term goal of developing a RUNNER UP business creating designs for the international market.

“Yes, doing this on my own will be very scary but, with a website, I don’t see that I can’t do this here. I want to create designs with a Modernist feel, to design furniture that is material and process-driven, simple designs made to a high standard.” [Hayden Maunsell]

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2013 TOP 10 HIGHLY COMMENDED

The First Runner Up prize of $1000 went to Nicole Wesseling from Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design with the clothing range, Vincent. The Second Runner Up, also collecting $1000, was Simon Ellison from Victoria University with his Leveilla table.

The ten Highly Commended Awards went to: Avara Moody - Plantonic, 3D printed LED grow light (Massey

University); Caroline Thomas - Hang Earl Steward, Bits Shoe. Tori Gibbs, Four Chairs. It All brooch (Whitireia Community College); Earl Steward – Bits Shoe (Victoria University); Ian Fergusson - Film Real video (Victoria University); Joe Levy - Spoolstool (Victoria University); Jyoti Kalyanji - Machine Crafted, three dimensional machine knitted forms (Auckland University of Technology); Moniek Schrijer - The Navigator Necklace (Whitireia Community College); Soyun Park - Edge Ring (Victoria University); Tori Gibbs (group) Avara Moody, Plantonic 3D printed LED grow light. Yvette Kortright, Modsmock textile design. - Four Chairs (Massey University); and Yvette Kortright - Modsmock textile design (Massey University).

The 2013 judges were jeweller, Karl Fritsch, Vice President of the Friends of The Dowse, Heather Crichton, Director of The Dowse, Courtney Johnston, and artist Rebecca Holden.

“The standard of entries this year was Jyoti Kalyanji, Machine Crafted. Ian Fergusson, Film Real video. incredibly high and we were also very impressed by the wide range of entries, from jewellery to architecture to film. We were seduced by Hayden’s exquisitely crafted lamp, which breaks this everyday item down into its component parts and creates in that way a beautiful, sculptural, yet functional object.” [Courtney Johnson]

This year The Friends sought sponsorship from ECC Lighting and Design. ECC

is a nationally recognised lighting and Caroline Thomas, Hang It All brooch. Soyun Park, Edge Ring. furniture design company, bringing exceptional designs from all over the world into our homes and commercial environments. The Friends of The Dowse would like to thank Mike Thorburn and ECC for their generous support. Awards like these are not possible without the kindness of our sponsors.

We look forward to the 2014 Awards and showing you New Zealand’s next great student design talent. Moniek Schrijer, The Navigator Necklace. Joe Levy, Spoolstool. HEATHER CRICHTON 5 • DEC 13 •

Friends 2013 Annual Architecture Tour Our sincere thanks go to all of the kind owners who allowed us to visit their homes as part of this year’s Architecture Tour. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. The Friends Committee would also like to thank Bruce Sedcole for putting together this enjoyable event. Thank you to Diane Cummings from The Professionals for her help with this tour. The tour has received a lot of positive feedback from those who attended and we look forward to the next tour in 2014!

The 2013 Friends of The Dowse the property remains a calm oasis within the Annual Architecture Tour saw a centre of the city. With a swimming pool, a group of over 40 Friends enjoy a separate guest house, and a serene private broad cross-section of some of the bush walk, the bustle of the city is left behind - a lovely place to escape to. wonderful homes located in Lower Hutt and the Bays. When Fritz Eisenhofer was commissioned to create a new home for Virginia and David This year’s tour not only showcased great Fox in the mid-1980s, the perfect site was local architecture but also a stunning private available - the horse paddock behind the collection of New Zealand art and a selection original 1905 villa where she had grown of ‘boys toys’ that had everyone drooling - up. Nestled against the bushline, and with immaculate examples of vintage ‘Century’ panoramic views out over Lowry Bay to speedboats (beautiful mahogany boats the city, the setting is perfect - and the built in the 1950s and 1960s in Michigan) beautifully proportioned and detailed design alongside a selection of classic cars. makes the most of every feature the site As always, the homes were the stars has to offer. The perfectly framed views of of the show. First up was a gorgeous a majestic Norfolk pine and the harbour, contemporary house designed by Auckland sweeping lawns and luxuriant gardens, and architect Ron Sang. Arriving at the two- the original stables all combine to create a storey front door, we knew that this was pleasant haven, a sanctuary of private calm. no ordinary design, and stepping inside The last house on the tour was a 1930s nobody was disappointed. The hallmarks classic designed by C T Natusch. The of Sang’s touch were there in the treatment gorgeous original two-storey house of space and light, and the detailing. A (subtlety and sensitively extended), seamless transition through to a beautiful has been impeccably maintained, with garden designed by Rebecca Wilson exquisitely developed grounds that include completed the superb composition. a gatehouse, porte cochere, pool and The next home that we visited was an poolside dining pavilion. This home really exemplar of luxury and privacy. Originally takes your breath away. One of the original built for a local businessman in 1946, the grand homes of Lowry Bay, its status as home has been altered and extended over an architectural treasure remains intact - a the years, yet the grounds, which occupy fitting finale to our 2013 tour. almost an acre of land, have ensured that BRUCE SEDCOLE

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Asia New Zealand Creative New Zealand Curator Tour Recently I was awarded an Asia New Zealand / Creative New Zealand curator’s research trip to travel to Korea, Japan and China. I had been to Korea and China twice before, but it was my first time to Japan. I was there to research a couple of very specific exhibition possibilities, but also to continue to build connections in the area.

I travelled first to Seoul, where I met up of guided visits around galleries and might remember from our show Crystal with Cam McCracken, known to you all of museums. While there I went on a road City – he gave us a tour of the Shanghai course as former Director at The Dowse trip with the Tokyo-based AIT Art School University Academy of Fine Arts, where he and now at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. to visit Arts Maebashi, a new museum for is a professor. While in China I had studio We were in Seoul to explore Nam June the city of Maebashi, about 3 hours’ drive visits with various artists and designers, Paik’s work, but while we were there we from Tokyo. An innovative art museum marvelling all the time at the amount of also visited the Children’s Museum, a seeking to work directly in the community, space each practitioner has (studios the purpose-built institution that is part of the I discovered many similarities and size of whole galleries here!) and the scale National Museum of Korea. The museum connections to The Dowse. this allows them to work at. I saw many was humming with activity and it was magical and thoughtful works, and am Rather regretfully (and with a suitcase full interesting to see how historic artefacts still pondering and processing the many of books) I left Tokyo to head to China, were presented for younger audiences. My conversations and ideas that the trip has beginning in Beijing and then to Shanghai favourite part was the library, which was sparked for me. and Guangzhou. China was as exotic, packed full of books with plenty of brightly fascinating and bewildering as it was the EMMA BUGDEN, SENIOR CURATOR coloured cushions to snuggle into. first time I set foot there, but I had a very From Korea I flew to Tokyo, for a brief capable guide, Megan, who navigated and introduction to that glittering and translated. In Shanghai we visited artist Thanks to fantastical city. I was there to visit Tokyo and designer Jin Jiangbo, whose work you Designers Week and also had a day

LEFT: Cam McCracken at Kukje Gallery, Seoul. CENTRE: Ceramics Department, Academy of Fine Art, Shanghai. RIGHT: Jin Jiangbo, Emma Bugden and Wang Dawei at the Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai. 7 WHAT’S ON AT

DECEMBER 2013 – FEBRUARY 2014

Exhibitions MAN MADE: MALE TEXTILE ARTISTS SHAPESHIFTER 2014 NUKU TEWHATEWHA UNTIL 16 FEBRUARY 2014 22 FEBRUARY – 16 MARCH 2014 Textile works by twelve male artists that challenge Lower Hutt Civic Gardens | Entry charges apply ONGOING traditional stereotypes. The Banks Shoes Shapeshifter returns as part of the - Commissioned by Te Atiawa chief W Tako Ngatata- in programme for the 2014 New Zealand International the 1850s as a sign of support for the K ngitanga (Maori- Arts Festival. Explore over 50 works of contemporary King) movement, Nuku Tewhatewha is one of seven sculpture in the beautiful Civic Gardens. Guaranteed to pataka- built around the North Island as ‘Pillars of the delight visitors of any age. For more information go to: Kingdom’. www.shapeshifter.org.nz FALLEN ROBOT EVERYDAY FICTION ONGOING 22 FEBRUARY – 25 MAY 2014 Commissioned by the E Tu Awakairangi Hutt Public Art With a touch of fiction and a little speculation, Everyday Trust, ’s giant metal robot reclines in Fiction brings together artists whose work imagines the front of The Dowse. Gavin Hurley, Boy With Elliot Collin’s Beard (detail), 2013. detail of everyday life in times and places beyond here Courtesy of Melanie Roger Gallery. and now. THE CABINETS: PEEKING INTO THE COLLECTION PETER ROBINSON: TRIBE SUBTRIBE UNTIL 20 JANUARY 2014 14 DECEMBER 2013 – 30 MARCH 2014 We are currently renovating in the collection store, and needed to temporarily relocate some of the cabinets Acclaimed New Zealand sculptor Peter Robinson and the precious artworks they carefully house. So presents a major new installation for The Dowse. we thought we’d share them by exhibiting some Audiences are invited to take part to create a series in the gallery. The Cabinets features some of The of colourful felt sticks in the gallery, bringing together Dowse’s most iconic ceramics, from Len Castle and conceptual minimalism with craft traditions. Barry Brickell to more recent artists Jim Cooper, Ann Verdcourt and Madeleine Child.

Kirsten Haydon, Ice Dome, 2011. Courtesy of the artist.

SEE LIKE YOUR HERO 22 FEBRUARY – 4 MAY 2013 Come and spend time with some of the superstars of Peter Robinson, Tribe Subtribe (studio test), 2013. The Dowse Collection. See Like Your Hero includes Photo: Sam Hartnett. work by Gordon Walters, Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere, Don Driver and Saskia Leek. Explore their styles and MALCOLM HARRISON: THE FAMILY techniques, consider what they were thinking and De-installed detail of Bronwynne Cornish’s Home Is Where The Heart Is, date unknown. Collection of The Dowse Art Museum. 25 JANUARY – 4 MAY 2014 seeing. Give it a go, can you see like your hero? Textile artist and self-confessed magpie Malcolm AS MANY STRUCTURES AS I CAN Harrison created this family of colourful characters. WORKS FROM THE CHARTWELL COLLECTION From travellers to circus buskers, these fathers, UNTIL 26 JANUARY 2014 mothers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters march to the beat of their own drum. The Dowse warmly Celebrate the remarkable collection of the Chartwell invites you to come to know The Family this summer. Trust in an exhibition exploring the systems and structures utilised by artists to generate their work. SLIP CAST MENAGERIE: EXOTIC ANIMALS IN AOTEAROA 15 FEBRUARY – 2 JUNE 2014 UNTIL 16 FEBRUARY 2014 Ceramics are back, but not the classic brown pot. New generations of artists are using ceramics with a new An exhibition for the whole family, Menagerie takes a freedom, incorporating other materials, and heedless light-hearted look at how and why exotic animals are of the traditional art/craft divide. Slip Cast highlights represented in New Zealand art. current ceramics in New Zealand, including works by Francis Upritchard, Kate Newby and Paul Maseyk. Laurence Aberhart, House, Westport, date unknown. Collection of The Dowse Art Museum. Events THE UNDERGROUND MARKET AT THE DOWSE 12 JANUARY, 9 FEBRUARY 2014 11AM–3PM The weekly Underground Market on Wellington’s waterfront has expanded to bring a “best of the best” art and craft market to The Dowse on the second Sunday of every month. TALK & TOUR – PETER ROBINSON SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER 2013 2PM | FREE Meet artist Peter Robinson and join him to help create his installation. TALK & TOUR – SLIP CAST CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT THE DOWSE SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2014 1PM | FREE Join Senior Curator Emma Bugden and some of the MINE: The Dowse Shop is a mine of great Christmas gift ideas and artists from Slip Cast to gain insight into fantastically unusual ceramics in this exhibition. is bursting with new stock and stationery for the festive season. TALK & TOUR – EVERYDAY FICTION Friends of The Dowse receive a 10% discount on all purchases. SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2014 2PM | FREE Meet our Blumhardt intern Emma Ng and some of the artists in Everyday Fiction to hear stories of the alternate realities created in this exhibition.

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