Reviews

Friends visit to Solander Gallery

Friends had a very enjoyable visit, with Danielle giving a demonstration of a print making technique called mokulito and Donna-Marie talking about her exhibition works.

Read more |July 11, 2019

Up Late at Our Place

Over 480 Friends of Te Papa were treated to a special evening on Thursday 27 June. For the very first time Te Papa extended its opening hours to allow Friends exclusive access to all areas of the museum with special talks, peeks behind the scenes and talks by curators and museum staff.

Read more |July 6, 2019

Parliament’s Surprises

The Friends tour of Parliament’s Art Collection had many dimensions. The beautiful art works were to be expected but the tour was also interesting in other ways, not the least being the venue.

Read more |July 1, 2019

Review: Gordon Walters- New Vision

Living in New Zealand, most of us are familiar with the distinctive koru motif. Born 100 years ago in the capital, Gordon Walters (1919-1995), is one of New Zealand’s most significant modernist artists. His painted abstractions and refinement of the koru became a key element in his painting.

Read more |June 18, 2019

Review: Queen Victoria Revealed: a 200 Birthday Celebration

It was a full house at the Te Huinga Centre for Mark Stocker’s lecture. Mark’s role at Te Papa is as Curator Art. His aim, he said, was to provide insights into Queen Victoria’s personality, life and role during her 63 year reign.

Read more |June 7, 2019

Review: Visit to Millers O’Brien Gallery

The exhibition at Millers O’Brien gallery, 85 Victoria Street showed the work of three young New Zealand artists – Will Bennett (oil paintings), Harry Culy (photography) and Jaime Jenkins (ceramics). The new gallery is a beautiful light-filled space on the first floor (close to Lido café), thoughtfully arranged to make best use of the wall of windows looking out upon trees and city.

Read more |June 4, 2019

Review: Old meets new in behind the scenes talks

It’s a revelation climbing the stairs to the mezzanine Reading Room above the Treaty of Waitangi exhibition at Te Papa. Past caged rare and fragile books, the room suddenly opens out to a fabulous view over the lights of Mt Victoria and Oriental Bay. An inquisitive group of Friends was there recently to find out […]

Read more |May 27, 2019

Review: Romans and Romantics- The Guildhall and Art Gallery

Delightful Londoner and Guide, Ian Swankie, gave the Friends an insight into the history of these two grand old buildings. The magnificent Guildhall with its fascinating history included many famous trials. Still today the Lord Mayors remain separate from Sovereignty, with their decision making. Our eyes were drawn to the gracious Gothic stained glass windows […]

Read more |May 27, 2019

Review: Using fossils to understand how life sustains life

Mention fossils and you’re sure to grab public interest. This was evident in the age range of the crowd in the theatre for Professor James Crampton’s lecture on “The give and take of biodiversity.” Families, students of all ages, and people interested in science, geology and fossils – like me (and probably you) were eager to get started.

Read more |May 24, 2019

Review: Te Taiao Nature Exhibition Zone 

With great anticipation, I arrived outside the new Te Taiao Nature Exhibition Zone for the Friends of Te Papa Preview. First we were treated to an entrancing performance by the TuRongo Collective. Beautiful melodies culminated in a dramatic combination of song, piercing bird calls, and physical interpretations of these creatures’ distinctive movements.

Read more |May 16, 2019