Friday, June 19, 2009

CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY SETS HIGH STANDARD WITH THEIR BULLETIN


Christchurch Art Gallery's Bulletin is a fine piece of publishing by any standard.


Bulletin was first published in 1999 (although previous to this it existed as a Gallery newsletter) and B157, just published, is the third issue since a major redesign and rebrand. The majority of the print run is distributed free to the Gallery mailing list and members of the Friends of Christchurch Art Gallery, but it is also sold to the public through the Gallery shop (rrp $9.99 - a bargain).

One imagines the primary purpose of Bulletin is to promote present and forthcoming exhibitions at the Gallery and it does that superbly but after the exhibitions have moved on or been disassembled, the magazine, printed on high quality art paper with impressive high resolution images thoughout, remains as a valuable resource for all interested in New Zealand art.
My copies live on my art books shelves.


One of the features in B156 published in March 2009 was an eight page feature on the Rita Angus: Life and Vision Exhibition complete with seven stunning images of her work from the exhibition which finishes 5 July after a highly successful season.

This latest issue, B157 out this week, includes features on Seraphine Pick, Fiona Jack, El Al, Ronnie Van Hout, the restoration of a classic painting by Petrus van der Velden, the infleuential Christchurch collector, the late Ron O'Reilly, recent gifts to the Gallery's collection, and a whole host more, all enclosed in a bright red cover.


Footnote:
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu opened on 10 May, 2003 in the heart of the city's cultural precinct, bounded by Worcester Boulevard, Gloucester and Montreal Streets. The new $47.5 million facility features two floors of exhibition space, two educational activity areas, an auditorium, a café and wine bar, two retail outlets, a Sculpture Garden and underground parking.
The name ‘Te Puna’ honours waipuna, the well spring (the actual artesian spring on the site) and ‘Waiwhetu’ refers to one of the tributaries in the immediate vicinity, which flows into the Avon River. ‘Waiwhetu’ may also be translated as ‘water in which stars are reflected’.
The largest art institution in the South Island, the Gallery replaces the Robert McDougall Art Gallery (est. 1932) as the home of one of New Zealand’s most important public art collections.
Through purchases, bequests and donations, the Gallery’s Collection now totals over 5,500 items, including paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, glass, metalwork and photography.
Founded with the Jamieson and Canterbury Society of Arts Collections of British and European paintings, the Gallery’s collection and acquisition policy is now focused on the art of Canterbury, placed within a New Zealand and international context. Find out more about the Collection.
In 1998 the international design competition for this important civic building was won by The Buchan Group, one of the largest architectural practices in Australasia.

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