Kia ora
From a focus on science in the winter, in spring our focus was about art. One of the first art collections to enter the National Museum was a gift of 600 etchings and drawings from Bishop Monrad, a former prime minister of Denmark then living in New Zealand. So it was very appropriate that in November the Friends visited the Adam Art Gallery to view an exhibition on the etching revival between 1850 and 1930. Many of the exquisitely rendered etchings on display had been loaned by Te Papa. Our host, David Maskill, Victoria University Senior Lecturer in Art History, drew our attention to the relationship between etching and photography, mentioning the outstanding images in New Zealand Photography Collected, currently on view in Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa.
As 2015 draws to a close it has been a time to celebrate. On the very last day of November a large group of Friends had a memorable afternoon listening to Te Papa Research Fellow Dr Pat Brownsey and Curator Historical International Art Dr Mark Stocker tell us about the fascinating story behind Te Papa’s extensive stamp collection and our Christmas stamps. Our thanks to Executive Chef Bernd Lippmann and his team for another fabulous High Tea.
December 8 marked the 150th birthday of our National Museum and there will be on-going celebrations in 2016 to look out for. Meantime, the exclusive exhibition DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition opens on 12 December, showcasing 20 years of DreamWorks animation which is sure to enchant the child in us all. And in mid-February we are looking forward to another very exciting Friends tour, this time to Hamilton during the Hamilton Gardens Festival.
With the Friends Committee, thank you for your support during 2015 and our best wishes for a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Nga mihi nui
Elizabeth Kay