PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE OF DATE – NOW THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER, NOT FRIDAY 21ST
Join us for an exclusive Friend’s talk by Curator Sian van Dyk of an exhibition that reveals contemporary jewellers’ impressions of how a shell infiltrated our national psyche, exploring everything from its use in Māori whakairo rākau (carving) to its appearance in kiwiana and souvenir shops. You will see items from Te Papa’s collections in the exhibition, and hear about how the Friends gift to the museum of the Bone, Stone, Shell items fits into this narrative.
Dazzling and contemplative, Pāua: A Contemporary Jewellery Story includes over seventy works from The Dowse, Auckland Museum, Te Papa and private collections. It also features pieces belonging to Hutt Valley local Wendy Judgeford, who commissions leading jewellers to explore what pāua means to them.
We will be visiting just in time to also view te whitinga o te pō (the shining lady of the night). In 2021, to mark The Dowse’s 50th Anniversary, The Dowse Foundation unveiled a major commission by Te Waipounamu (South Island) based Fiona Pardington.
This unique installation-based project includes the artists signature photography alongside one of her first sculptural explorations in hues of shining gold. Inspired by the skull of an extinct huia from Pardington’s personal collection, this suite of works act as both a homage and a moment of contemplation for the loss of this significant taonga (treasure).
Sian van Dyk has been a curator at The Dowse Art Museum since 2013. Her recent curatorial projects include Guy Ngan Habitation, The Language of Things: Meaning and Value in Contemporary Jewellery; Maureen Lander: Flat Pack Whakapapa; Richard Stratton: Living History; Seraphine Pick: White Noise; Peter Peryer: A Careful Eye and Cut and Paste: The Practice of Collage. She has written for The Journal of Modern Craft (UK), Arnoldsche (DE), Art New Zealand and Art News New Zealand. In 2015 van Dyk was the recipient of the Creative New Zealand Craft/Object Art Curator to Munich award.
Ticket includes talk and koha. Non members welcome.
Please gather in the Dowse foyer by 10.15am. We can reserve a table at Bellbird for coffee or lunch afterwards. (at own cost).