This fine photograph by Wellington photographer Andrew Ross is currently hanging behind my desk in Photospace Gallery and attracting quite a lot of attention. It is one of a suite of photographs of the Peter McLeavey Gallery, 147 Cuba St, Wellington, taken just prior to the building's earthquake strengthening. The photo also features in Jill Trevelyan's biography 'Peter McLeavey: the life and times of a New Zealand art dealer' (Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2013).
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Note: there will be a gallery discussion around John Fields' work, with Peter F. Ireland & David Langman, Photospace Gallery at 1pm on Saturday 20th August . The exhibition of John Fields' work at Photospace Gallery, 1st floor 37 Courtenay Place, Wellington, from 6th August till 3rd September, 2016, is curated by David Langman and comprises the only entire set of his 'Signature Series' (presented in gallery rooms 1 and 2) as well as a suite of 14 other vintage prints presented in gallery room 3. There is a large format book of the Signature Series works, including essays, which will be available when the exhibition opens. This is the second exhibition of John Fields' photographs at Photospace Gallery, the first being 'Forty Years Ago Today' in November-December 2008, when John was still with us. The many friends that John made throughout the world in his 50 year career as a photographer are very saddened that John lost a brief battle with cancer in early 2013. Photography has lost a gentleman, a consummate professional and an exemplary advocate of the medium.
I went to the opening of this exhibition, which is based on Gregory O'Brien's recent book, 'See What I can See', mainly because it features works from a number of photographers who are represented by Photospace Gallery. These include Peter Black, Mary Macpherson, Andrew Ross, Gabrielle McKone and Lucien Rizos.
It was interesting to see the Taupo Quay space, which is functional but nothing like as good as the old Sarjeant Gallery on the hill. Having seen major exhibitions of Andrew Ross and Mary Macpherson's work in the old gallery, this space really does not compare. I hope they don't ruin the original gallery in the process of modernising and expanding to it. The hang of the show is jaunty and attractive; and I hope it will engage younger viewers and so match the intention of Greg O'Brien's book. Sometimes I get the feeling that framed pictures on a wall are to today's children and teenagers as glass cases of stuffed birds in museums were to me when I was a kid; that is, something belonging to the previous century. I surreptitiously snapped a few pics with the cellphone, so please pardon the poor quality. Most museums and public galleries in NZ have a 'no photography' policy. In contrast, during a recent trip to Sydney I saw people photographing merrily in the Art Gallery NSW (including the Aboriginal artworks) as well as in several private galleries. As long as flash was not used, it was fine. |
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