Reviews

The art renewal project

Charlotte Davy, Head of Art, gave us a taster of what the much-expanded exhibition space may look. The main entrance to the new galleries will be on level four and a new staircase …

Read more |March 2, 2017

Stitches in time

Whilst little is known about Elizabeth, wife of Captain James Cook, Alison Larkin’s sense of curiosity and investigative skills (she is a retired Biology Lecturer!) gave us intriguing glimpses of Elizabeth, an amateur embroiderer of her time.

Read more |March 1, 2017

Enlightening talks in the gallery

It was an enthralling morning in the galleries. Rebecca Rice, introduced ‘Framing the View’, featuring European photographers and artists who capitalised on the fashionable tourist trade to New Zealand in the 1880s, and Chelsea Nichols, spoke on the stunning but relatively unknown mural ‘Palm Sunday’ (circa 1935) by A Lois White.

Read more |January 10, 2017

Dunedin tour highlights

So many highlights. Amongst them – sampling the vast Hocken collections, the fun of printing a poem, hundreds of exotic butterflies, the only Monet in a NZ collection, a magnificent night sky, and learning how to behave as a gentleman …

Read more |December 13, 2016

Oamaru’s historic splendour

In central Oamaru, the old harbour warehouse area is being revitalised with many of the beautiful whitestone buildings in the Victorian Precinct undergoing careful restoration. Local guides from Quirky Tours, dressed in period costume, took us on walking tours around its streets, telling us about Oamaru’s colourful past, until it was time to visit the Forrester Gallery and the Oamaru Opera House.

Read more |December 13, 2016

Colour on Cuba Street

Glorious colour awaited us in Cuba Street for this year’s final local gallery tour

Read more |December 13, 2016

Art and history in Petone

Alan Collins is regarded as one of the country’s foremost watercolour artists, whose work depicts sunlight sparkling on the water, soft billowing clouds and jewel-like colours. His work gives a fresh perspective on views you are already familiar with.

Read more |December 13, 2016

Wellington’s geological highlights

A recent half-day tour led by Dr Hamish Campbell, provided fascinating insight into the land in which we daily live without noticing it’s hidden messages.
Thirty Friends equipped in wet weather gear and stout footwear departed for the first stop, Wright’s Hill

Read more |October 10, 2016

Rita Angus and the natural world

“Rita Angus could have made a career as a botanical artist. The natural world of plants and flowers was fundamental to her comprehension of life, and the attributes of the botanical artist were the basics of her style….”

Read more |September 2, 2016