Below: Michael Illingworth, Man and woman fi gures with still life and fl owers, 1971, oil on canvas, Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki MARITIME MUSEUM FERRY TERMINAL QUAY ST

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Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Discount parking - $4 all day, weekends and PO Box 5449, Auckland 1141 public holidays, Victoria St carpark, cnr Kitchener New Gallery: Cnr Wellesley and Lorne Sts and Victoria Sts. After parking, collect a discount voucher from the gallery Open daily 10am to 5pm except Christmas Day and Easter Friday. Free guided tours 2pm daily For bus, train and ferry info phone MAXX Free entry. Admission charges apply for on (09) 366 6400 or go to www.maxx.co.nz special exhibitions The Link bus makes a central city loop Ph 09 307 7700 Infoline 09 379 1349 www.stagecoach.co.nz/thelink

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Auckland Art Gallery’s main gallery will be closing for development on Friday 29 February. Exhibitions and events will continue at the New Gallery across the road, cnr Wellesley & Lorne sts. On Show Edited by Isabel Haarhaus Designed by Inhouse ISSN 1177-4614

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki relies on From the Chris Saines, the good will and generosity of corporate Gallery Floor Plans partners. We are delighted to acknowledge Director, their ongoing support. Auckland Art Gallery Director Toi o Tāmaki New Gallery

While it has been a long time the gallery and its programmes; coming, the gallery’s and for current and former staff development plan can now move who will witness the end of an toward its next major phase era. While I encourage you to – construction – following a visit the main gallery building second interim decision handed before the 29th to see it for the down by the Environment Court last time in its current form, LEVEL 2 in late December. The decision I am hugely relieved that our supported the Auckland City development vision can now Council’s revised design proposal begin to be realised. Indeed, for the level 2 daylit gallery roof, it returns the gallery to the which significantly reduced the world-class standard that it roof’s height and bulk while still had hitherto attained through enabling the gallery to retain a successive developments high quality exhibition space at undertaken right throughout the top of the building, leaving the 20th century, fully re- the balance of the plan equipped to meet the undisturbed. challenges and the new art and Entrance LEVEL 1 Proudly printed by audience demands of the 21st. Given the decision, I can confirm that the main gallery building will I am deeply indebted to our close from 5.00 p.m. on Friday 29 architectural design team and to February 2008. The building will the consultant teams supporting close for approximately 2½ years them, together with the gallery’s and throughout this period highly committed staff and other exhibitions and events will experts from across council who KHARTOUM continue at the gallery’s existing have worked as tirelessly to help PLACE New Gallery building, just across us reach this milestone. Together OLD the road. With the required with those who have already GALLERY resource consents affecting been both generous and NEW Closing 29 February GALLERY for development construction in place, we propose far-sighted in their contributions to commence building in late to the Auckland Art Gallery Our guides are located through out the gallery. They are qualified and LORNE March, subject to the letting Foundation’s capital campaign, STREET trained to assist with any questions of tenders. I am confident we are restoring you may have. Please feel free to and expanding the country’s ask our guides any questions. This will be a moment gripped pre-eminent gallery in a way that Lighting: The lighting levels are low for the with emotion for many people: will make Aucklanders’ proud. protection of the works of art not least for our regular visitors Front Cover Image: Laurence Aberhart Old bridge structure and for the many artists who KITCHENER from new bridge, Clutha River, have exhibited in or otherwise Chris Saines STREET Alexandria (detail), WELLESLEY December 1980 been inspired or challenged by Director STREET Welcome to Auckland Art Gallery

It’s your gallery. It’s free and it’s in the heart of Auckland City

EXPLORE Our collection is the finest in the AMUSE Children are welcome and there’s country with 14,000 works spanning seven plenty to keep small hands busy in our Kids centuries. Free guided tours are held daily Club and holiday art programmes. at 2pm. DISCOVER Like to know more about art? RELAX Catch up with friends at Reuben café We hold a mix of interesting events throughout overlooking Khartoum Place. the year. Come along and learn something new.

ENJOY Don’t miss our gallery shop, stocked JOIN Become a Friend of the Gallery and open with unique giftware and art related products. the door to a stimulating world of art and artists.

Admission charges apply for special exhibitions.

1 Gallery Development News Main gallery building closing date announced

The Environment Court has granted resource consent for the landmark restoration and Right: Tony Fomison expansion of the Auckland The Ponsonby Madonna, 1982–1983 Below: Natasha Conland Art Gallery’s historic 1887 main building, adjoining Kitchener and Wellesley Streets, together with the planned restoration and re-commissioning of the daylit East gallery, built in 1916, which sits against Albert Park. The gallery’s major development plan can now move forward to its next exciting phase – construction!

In September, the court issued an interim decision Image: Courtesy of fjmt+archimedia ARIS_ART_fair_/_off_the_wall_/_the_ponsonby_madonna_/_reading_room_Pa effectively approving resource reading_room_/_Paris_art_fair_/_off_the_wall_/_the_Ponsonby_MADONNA_/_ consent for the project subject to the Auckland City Council, PARIS ART FAIR THE PONSONBY MADONNA READING ROOM the project’s owner, re- The expansion and towards the $96.4 million Based on the success of her Tony Fomison painted the The second issue of Reading examining a component modernisation will increase revamp – a key part of its recent curatorial work, including stunning Ponsonby Madonna Room: A Journal of Art and of the roof design. Council display and exhibition space strategy to revitalise the CBD the development of the Mystic for St Paul’s College 25 years Culture (March 2008) has the subsequently submitted by more than 50% – over – with the balance being Truths exhibition, Contemporary ago, as part of the PEP artists in thematic title ‘Transcendental a revised roofline design to and above the space fundraised by the Auckland Curator Natasha Conland was residence scheme. The mural, Pop’ and focuses on a paradox the court, which then issued currently available in the Art Gallery Foundation or one of ‘10 Young International which the gallery acquired by within contemporary art and a further interim decision gallery’s existing two sites otherwise supported through Curators’ invited to attend the private treaty last year, is a culture’s absorption of Pop Art. in December, approving the – allowing visitors more a major central government prestigious French International profound expression of the Essays in the current issue revised design and giving room to enjoy the country’s grant under its Regional Art Fair in Paris last October. artist’s engagement with explore some of the shifts in certainty that the building finest art collection. Museums Policy. An outstanding, professional Pacific culture and Christianity. artistic appropriation of Pop’s component of the project The publicly accessible opportunity, the invitation The painting is now exhibited methods and examine new can now proceed. space in the building will The main gallery building enabled Natasha to meet and for the first time to the public, forms of our ever-popular more than double over that will close on Friday 29 engage in dialogue with her as the centrepiece of the fascination with the everyday. The next phase of the currently available, with a February and the new international peers, make current portrait show Likeness Reading Room is a refereed development project is to larger café, shop, research building is due for completion, studio visits and meet artists’ & Character. journal published annually by confirm a tender for the library and auditorium plus commissioning and re- representatives, participate in the E.H. McCormick Research construction contract. In the more space for education opening in mid to late 2010. exciting cultural and social events Library. Copies are available at next month a recommendation and events activities. In the meantime, exhibition and generate awareness around the gallery shop or email will be made to council on a and events will continue as the programme and activity of library@aucklandartgallery. preferred bid so that building Auckland City Council is usual at the New Gallery the Auckland Art Gallery. govt.nz for an order form. works can begin. contributing $33 million building across the road.

2 3 Far Left: Laurence Aberhart Warehouse façade, 1975

Below left: Laurence Aberhart Kamala and Magdalena, Mornington, Dunedin 1978

Left: Laurence Aberhart Moreporks (Bird Skins Room #2), Taranaki St, 3 October 1995

16 FEBRUARY – 11 MAY NEW GALLERY FIRST FLOOR Adult $7 Concession $5, Families $18, Under 5s free. Free on Mondays.

Strangely familiar and familiarly Gallery Wellington’s Gregory things and spaces that remain strange, the works of Laurence O’Brien, on this major survey in the wake of time, express Aberhart resonate with a show, writes: ‘Since the 1970s his interest in the history of distinct poetics of place that Aberhart has been the essential his subjects through the choice make them an essential part poet of ’s past’. as well as process of a distinct of New Zealand’s visual history. photographic medium. Aberhart’s quiet yet potent Laurence Aberhart brings As such, writes O’Brien, photographs of church interiors, together over 200 key ‘the images are bathed in the marae, landscapes, graveyards photographs from the last four light of photographic history, as and lodges are recognisable decades in fourteen thematic well as that of the world around’. sites—both literally, in terms of clusters and testifies to the Indeed, many of Aberhart’s location and architecture, and highly esteemed New Zealand subjects appear illuminated metaphorically, in terms of the artist’s extensive and faithful from within, as if the artist were interior landscapes they mediation on culture and time. capturing a metamorphosis of provoke. Justin Paton, who Aberhart’s continued use of a the monumental objects that worked with the artist and the 100 year-old view camera and characterise his works. curator of the exhibition, City the way he trains its lens on the

A CITY GALLERY PRINCIPALL EXHIBITION DEVELOPED WELLINGTON SPONSORR IN ASSOCIATION TOURING WITH DUNEDIN EXHIBITION PUBLIC ART GALLERY 4 5 UNTIL 20 APRIL Below far left: Marti Friedlander Tony Fomison 1978 Likeness & NEW GALLERY Below left: Peter Black GROUND FLOOR Dr Diana Mason OBE SPUC 1979 Free Admission Below: Yvonne Todd Alice Bayke 2002 Character from the series: The sea of tranquillity

In history, the gallery’s collection. The ‘delivered a town’) captures portraiture is frequently often exhibition explores the fact that a powerful and independent overlooked although it is one while traditionally the artist’s political figure; and Yvonne of our more substantial art aim in creating a portrait has Todd’s striking photographs traditions, alongside the better been to capture the ‘inner make explicit the artifice documented landscape work. essence’ of the sitter, of portraiture by exploiting Both genres convey an portraiture has always been the genre’s propensity for existential fascination with an art of construction with fictionalising the self. Winner fundamental questions of being; the potential for driving strong of the inaugural Walters with how we see and are seen religious, political, personal Art Prize, Todd’s work is within the world and by others. and cultural narratives. recognised for its enigmatic The art of portraiture dates back and often unsettling tens of thousands of years Marti Friedlander’s portrait qualities. Her portraits are and has enjoyed surges of of Tony Fomison playing mostly of women and girls, proliferation during different dead was a collaboration trussed and heavily made-up, historical periods, most notably between two artists and may yet deeply suppressed and perhaps the Italian Renaissance. be compared to another often pathetic. Todd is portrait Friedlander made of inspired by ‘the unnatural In Likeness & Character, Senior the painter on the same day; qualities of commercial Curator of New Zealand and Peter Black’s famous portrait studio portrait photography’, Pacific Art, Ron Brownson, has of one of New Zealand’s most creating works that exhibit brought together a broad and pre-imminent obstetricians both its ‘sentimental and diverse range of portraits from (she once claimed to have industrial applications’.

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Likeness & Character Laurence Aberhart

Denys Trussell, essayist, Acclaimed photographer poet, environmentalist and Laurence Aberhart pianist discusses what it is discusses his work with like posing for a portrait by the exhibition’s curator the artist Alan Pearson. Greg O’Brien from New gallery – free . Sunday 3 February 3pm New gallery – exhibition entry charge Sunday 17 February 1pm John Perry, antique dealer, museum consultant and Sarah Treadwell, Senior Lecturer, long-time friend of Tony School of Architecture and Fomison, offers a unique Planning, University of Auckland, Lecturer and gallery director From 1958 to 1964, curator, ‘Patrick Reynolds (above) is insight to the artist and his discusses the architecture that Anna Miles joins Principal writer and arts commentator probably best known for his work. New gallery – free features in much of Laurence Conservator, Sarah Hillary, (above) worked exceptional architectural and Sunday 10 February 3pm Aberhart’s work. in a conversation about the at Auckland Art Gallery with interior photographs that appear in New gallery – portrait of Colin McCahon, who was then a range of publications. Join Patrick PUBLIC EVENTS exhibition entry charge (above) painted in 1942 the gallery’s Keeper. Join Hamish in the exhibition as he gives his Sunday 13 April 1pm by . as he discusses the selection of response to the photography of New gallery – free McCahon’s figurative work from Laurence Aberhart. Sunday 9 March 1pm the late 1940s to the mid 1950s New gallery – that feature in the exhibition. exhibition entry charge Tina Shaw is the acclaimed New gallery – free Sunday 30 March 3pm author of five novels including Sunday 30 March 1pm The Black Madonna and her short fiction has been published Senior Curator, New Zealand Shardul Dillicar (above) has played Two of New Zealand’s most in many anthologies, literary and Pacific Art, Ron the simple system wooden flute respected photographers, journals and magazines. Join Brownson (left), presents a since 2001 and specialises in Mark Adams and Haru Tina in the exhibition for her final tour of the exhibition performing the ambient reflective Sameshima, discuss the response the photographs of Australian-based artist Alan and discusses portraits and music of the meditation teacher work of Laurence Aberhart. Laurence Aberhart. Pearson (above) discusses his anonymity, faces and and spiritual musician Sri Chinmoy. New gallery – New gallery – work in relation to his portrait physiognomy. New gallery – exhibition entry charge exhibition entry charge of the poet Denys Trussell that New gallery – free exhibition entry charge Sunday 6 April 1pm Sunday 27 April 1pm features in the exhibition Sunday 20 April 1pm Sunday 24 February 3pm and Likeness & Character. Sunday 9 March 3pm New gallery – free Sunday 24 February 1pm This major survey exhibition of New Zealand’s most eminent photographer brings together over 200 key works from the last four Dr Erin Griffey (right), Senior Film decades, among them Laurence Lecturer in Art History at A screening of the Aberhart’s signature photographs University of Auckland is a documentary made about of landscapes, facades, specialist in early modern the artist Alan Pearson’s monuments, and interiors from portraiture and is currently 1999 retrospective at the New Zealand, and working on a book on New Robert McDougall Art further afield. Laurence Aberhart Zealanders’ social relationship Gallery. New gallery discusses his work in the with post-war portraiture. Join studio – free exhibition. New gallery – Erin as she gives her response Saturday 16 February and exhibition entry charge to the portraits in the exhibition. Saturday 23 February Sunday 16 March 1pm New gallery – 1pm & 3pm Exhibition entry charge Sunday 2 March 1pm

Events may be subject to change. For up-to-date listings visit www.aucklandartgallery.com 8 9 Acquisitions Friends of the Gallery

Annette Messager Walter Auburn Dr Joanne Drayton, senior painter and Dame, and subject lecturer in the Unitec School of this season’s lecture. Secret (2006) Memorial Lecture of Design and winner of the The audience can expect Renowned French installation 29 April, 2008, 6pm National Library of New Zealand to be intrigued, amused and artist Annette Messager’s 2007 Research Fellowship. fascinated by the results of Secret was included in last Dr Walter Auburn served on the Dr Drayton has made a Dr Drayton’s research into the year’s Mystic Truths (2007), Friends committee for many significant contribution to our life and work of an extraordinary an exhibition that explored the years and held offices of understanding and appreciation and prolific New Zealander. tension between belief and President and Patron. With his of women artists in New This lecture is open to everyone: mystic values in today’s culture. death in 1979, the gallery Zealand, including , Friends of the Gallery Members Its acquisition by the gallery received numerous valuable Rhona Haszard and Frances $20; Non-Members $25; Student is an exciting addition to the works from his collection and Hodgkins. Her work on Edith Members $10. international collection, as Dr Auburn’s contributions to Collier inspired a documentary To join the Friends Secret is a significant work of epigraph; a secret shared and confinement that and role in the development of the artist and she is currently pick up a brochure by a contemporary artist of between the individual and simultaneously exposes and of the gallery is recognized by a working on a biography of or contact the secretary. Ph: 307 7705 international repute. the collective. Her chosen releases. Born of a belief that biennial Memorial Lecture. This : celebrated crime Email: galleryfriends@ materials – nets, veils, the less one reveals, the more year the lecture will be given by writer, actress, theatre producer, aucklandcity.govt.nz Secret has a direct reference stockings – are bits and pieces the other desires, Messager’s to some key works by usually associated with the art entices but rarely divulges. Messager, who has long feminine that work to express Off the Wall considered art as a kind the artist’s desire for an opacity The Friends of the Gallery space. The event produced a marked the closure of the main broad range of work and raised gallery at the end of last year by $7,000. Winner of the popular Gavin Hipkins painting on the wall. As a vote was Culture Vulture, a 2.5 Empire (Beach) 2007 fundraiser for the Gallery’s metre floor to ceiling painting acquisition fund, the Friends created by three artists. Friends Empire Day (24 May) was In Empire (Beach), gifted by the sold over 60 lots of wall space and participants celebrated with widely celebrated throughout Patrons of the Gallery, British for $100 per metre and artists an end-of-year party. New Zealand every year in illustrator Anton Lock’s classic had one week to paint their between the two world wars. woodcut of Captain Cook’s Gavin Hipkins mined sources murder in 1779 (circa 1930s) has Left: Cr Toni Millar and such as the Empire for Boys been turned into a negative and Friends secretary Leigh Ogier with one of the winning artists Christmas albums to create his overlaid with a woven decal of a Cinzah Merkin (middle) Empire series, made up of wry Medusa-like image of Yama, the and sardonic photomontages Buddhist god of the Dead. The that display how our perceived juxtaposition is startling, not notions of empire are challenged least in its obscuration and by other and contemporary unsettling of historical cultural forms. narratives.

10 11 Sign up for our fortnightly Kids Club e-newsletter at Kids Club www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz

The gallery has appointed Whitecliff College of Art. Ph 307 4540 or email: Prue Cunningham as our All children’s programmes [email protected] new art-tutor to run the will continue to take Children’s Holiday place in the Auckland From 3 February 2008 the Programmes and weekly Art Gallery’s New Gallery, cost for Kids Club and Kids Club. Prue has where participants will have Holiday programmes will designed and taught art access to exhibitions and increase for the first time in programmes at Artstation the education studio. 3 years. Kids Club will cost $6 and Corbans Estate as well Contact the gallery for and holiday programmes will as lecturing part time at the latest Programme. cost $10 per child.

Left: New art-tutor Prue Cunningham Above: Gallery Guide Pete Worasan helping with the Kids Club

Image Credits

Pg 2 Pg 6 & 7 Pg 10 Tony Fomison The Ponsonby Madonna Peter Black Annette Messager, Secret, 2006, 1982-83, oil and alkyd on Dr Diana Mason OBE SPUC 1979 net wire, Auckland Art Gallery hessian laid on medium density Toi o Tāmaki, Gift of the Patrons board, Auckland Art Gallery Marti Friedlander of the Gallery 2007 Toi o Tāmaki, purchased with Tony Fomison 1978 funds from the Charles Lyndsey Gavin Hipkins, Empire (Beach), Yvonne Todd Garland Bequest 2007, C-type print, Auckland Art Alice Bayke 2002 Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Gift of the Pgs 4 & 5 Patrons of the Gallery 2007 Pg 8 & 9 Laurence Aberhart Warehouse Rita Angus, Portrait of Betty Curnow, façade, Dunedin 1975 Courtesy 1942, oil on canvas, Auckland Art of the artist Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Courtesy of Laurence Aberhart Lodge Clinton the estate of Rita Angus #183, Clinton, Southland May 1979 Laurence Aberhart Two memorials, Courtesy of the artist Porangahau, Hawke’s Bay 17 May 2003 Laurence Aberhart Moreporks Courtesy of the artist (Bird Skins Room #2), Taranaki Laurence Aberhart St, Wellington 3 October 1995 Caravan, Cromwell 1977 Courtesy of the artist Courtesy of the artist

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