Earlier this year Thelma Karaitiana, Pou Tikanga in Residence at Te Papa for the Rongowhakaata iwi, welcomed a group of Friends to historic Te Hau ki Tūranga, the oldest surviving carved meeting house in the world. Thelma had us enthralled by the story of this historic whare whakairo, which is a physical record of the […]
Read more |September 27, 2018
’Women Can Do Anything’ proclaims a greatly enlarged 1970’s badge in Te Papa’s “modest but powerful exhibition commemorating 125 years since New Zealand women secured the right to vote. Curator Katie Cooper guided a large group of Friends through the exhibition and explained how the objects symbolised women’s ongoing quest for equality. Some of the […]
Read more |September 27, 2018
Dame Robin gave fascinating insights into the creation of three large tapa or bark cloth artworks, known as masi in Fiji; Something is happening here; Hear the voice; and Living in a material world, all dated 2017.
Read more |August 28, 2018
There was a sense of suppressed excitement and anticipation as guests from as far afield as Whangarei, fellow tattooists, the tattooed and those with an interest in the art, history and culture of Samoan tattooing waited for Sean Mallon to launch Tatau: A History of Samoan Tattooing.
Read more |August 14, 2018
In July a group of Friends spent a morning exploring four fascinating exhibitions in Pātaka Art + Museum’s newly refurbished galleries, guided by Mark Hutchins-Pond, Contemporary Art Curator and Alice Masters, Social History Curator.
Read more |August 2, 2018
On July 13th with bubbles flowing and glasses clinking David Maskill introduced us to Dr Peter McNeil, currently Distinguished Professor of Design History at University of Technology Sydney, for his first lecture in the series ‘Fashion Matters: Fashion, Art & Society’, and coincidentally his first visit to Wellington. Dr McNeil poses questions to us such […]
Read more |July 18, 2018
Van Gogh and Gauguin are two of the most colourful artists of the 19th century who still remain firm favourites today. On 1 July, Jacqueline Coburn, visiting UK art historian, gave an illuminating insight into the complexities of their lives, and how for a few short months, their lives interacted. She used slides of paintings […]
Read more |July 13, 2018
Judy Turner’s textile collection is especially significant as Judy has always sought out pieces made in and for the community, rather than for commercial sale. Such pieces offer insights into the lives of people, reflecting local cultural history and carrying its own special human story and message. Te Papa has recently acquired some beautiful textiles from her collection.
Read more |May 16, 2018
In the architectural space of the Cathedral the ‘Stabat Mater’ works appear naturally at home, their abstract style and intense blues, greens and browns, the colours of the New Zealand landscape, harmonising perfectly with Beverley Shore Bennett’s modern stained-glass windows and altar dossal, and John Hutton’s etched-glass heraldic angels.
Read more |May 13, 2018
Friends were privileged to be invited into Jack’s studio as he prepares for a big opening as Whitespace Gallery’s featured artist at the Auckland Art Fair.
Read more |May 2, 2018
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