Reviews

Review: Gentlemen Art Thieves and their Art

Art stolen to order. Paintings ripped out of frames in broad daylight. Ransom notes. The myth of reclusive billionaire art collector thief.

Read more |May 26, 2022

Review: Visit to {Suite} Gallery

Autumn has taken hold and winter is on the way but at the end of the school holidays this informal talk by David Alsop at his gallery in upper Cuba Street was a really special chance to listen, look and ask questions about both Ans Westra and Jeffrey Harris – well known names and personalities in the history and development of the art of Aotearoa

Read more |May 2, 2022

Review: Revealing the Layers of ‘Central Otago’

Despite Covid numbers up in the thousands nationally, Rita Angus obviously has a strong following with over 60 people fronting up for this informative illustrated presentation. What an interesting journey of discovery we were treated to, delving into the film which greets visitors on a giant screen as they enter Rita Angus’ immersive exhibition.

Read more |April 27, 2022

Review: A visit to Webb’s Auction House

The Friends of Te Papa were made to feel very welcome on their visit to Webb’s new Wellington auction house.

Read more |April 20, 2022

Review: Wellington’s motor industry – a history of place and space

Drawing on everything from census data to old photos, Richard immersed us in Wellington’s journey as Te Aro’s streets, buildings and people changed through time.

Read more |April 14, 2022

Review: Rita Angus’ Eyes

The Eyes Have It.

Read more |April 1, 2022

Review: Emerging Ethnic Artists

Travelling overseas and meeting the local artists is a crucial part of Shani Pillai and Joji Jacob’s working lives.  Covid-19 put a sharp halt to that but enabled this energetic and enterprising couple to undertake ‘spurts of travel’, to parts of NZ they had never visited. 

Read more |March 11, 2022

Review: Hilma af Klint

Members were treated to a very special evening in February for an exclusive floortalk and viewing of ‘Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings’ at the City Gallery.  Caleb Gordon, Public Programme Specialist, provided an informative insight into the Hilma af Klint’s work. We came away with a sense of inspiration and awe at such an amazing woman who was well ahead of her time

Read more |February 24, 2022

Review: Managing the Ans Westra archive

David Alsop admits he has “lived and breathed” Ans Westra and her work for the last fifteen years. In his talk to the Friends he gave a fascinating account of this close personal and professional relationship

Read more |February 14, 2022

Review: The Forgotten Coast

Richard Shaw tells us he loves his day job; research and writing in general and footnotes in particular -there are nearly 30 pages of them in his family memoir, The Forgotten Coast.

Read more |February 9, 2022