LIFE IN COLOUR - JAN NIGRO
12 - 29 March 2010

Preview: Friday 12th at 6pm.

Adrienne Vaughan and Linda Cook have curated Life In Colour a survey exhibition by renowned New Zealand painter Jan Nigro for Waiheke Art Gallery.

"Nigro lived and worked on Waiheke Island between 1969 and 1995. While here she produced some of her most significant figurative works and was a regular attendee at the Catherine Mitchell Life Drawing studio."

In 1986 she was commissioned by NZ Post to paint three murals for the then new post office building in Oneroa. One of the murals now takes pride and place at the entrance to the Waiheke Art Gallery.

Bringing together work from the 1960s to the present the curators have focused on Nigro's passion for colour. Thourghout her career she has studied and drawn the life model fascinated by both the human form and human nature.

Waiheke Art Gallery
2 Korora Road, Oneroa.
Open daily - 10-4

www.waihekeartgallery.org.nz

The exhibition is described as telling "the enthralling story that began in March 1860 when the first shots were fired in a series of wars that raged through the region on and off for 21 years. At stake was the ownership of the land which would determine the destinies of both Maori and Pakeha. Today — 150 years later — the struggle rumbles on."

Michael Shepherd's "The Exact Point Von Tempsky Fell (The day spent with Kelvin Day)" is featured in the exhibition.

A comprehensive programme of associated events, including discussions and talks by Taranaki and national speakers will run in conjunction with the exhibition. For details visit Puke Ariki’s web site www.pukeariki.com throughout the exhibition.

Puke Ariki
1 Ariki Street
New Plymouth

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 9.00am – 6.00pm
Wednesday - 9.00am – 9.00pm
Saturday and Sunday - 9.00am - 5.00pm

Sunday 14th March Lynn Freeman will interview
Michael Shepherd on National Radio.

Jan Nigro - Aspects of Alice - Revisited
17 March - 3 April 2010

Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” with its illustrations by John Tenniel has charmed readers of all ages since its publication in 1865. The book and its author Charles Dodgson have been reviewed, critiqued, and researched in every way. His story first told to entertain friends’ children on a picnic has been inspiring to fellow writers, artists, and filmmakers.

Tim Burton directs the latest film rendition of “Alice in Wonderland”; a 3D version starring Johnny Depp. Burton’s Alice is older than the book’s at 19 years of age. Ken Ralston, Senior Visual Affects Supervisor says of the film “we are just trying to put you right in the middle of this strange world and take you on this journey”.

An apt time then to revisit Jan Nigro’s Alice, a young New Zealander in her 30s travelling overseas.

Art Historian, Dr Robin Woodward wrote “Through the intermingling of the two Alices, Jan Nigro presents a visual narrative of the human condition…its hopes, dreams and the reality of it all.”

For Nigro’s Alice New Zealand is Wonderland, and in her painting Alice leaving Wonderland, the foreshortening of Alice suggests Alice’s vulnerability as she moves from the known to the unknown. Alice moves from contemplating her journey to the journey and facing choices that awaken her to new thoughts and ideas. As in Carroll’s Alice Nigro’s Alice is accompanied by various animals, some passive and watching others threatening.

A lot has been said of the place of painting and narrative in art today; it has been in practice for thousands of years and as in film the strength of the story is in the narrative and the innovation is found in the presentation. Nigro shows painting allows for both as she borrows from Carroll and creates a strong suite of works that are topical and challenging. Confirming as Dr Robin Woodward says, her “place as one New Zealand’s foremost figurative painters.”

Next Vinnies Art Box Dinner Thursday, March 25 at 7pm.

Joe Sheehan has installed Everybody's Keys, a collection of 15 greenstone keys in the Vinnies Art Box.

Recognised by The Arts Foundation of New Zealand in 2008 Sheehan was one of 5 artists to receive their inaugural New Generation Award, presented by the Freemasons. The $25.000 award recognizes and supports artists early in their careers. It was a big year for Sheehan as he also moved to Auckland and was the only New Zealander to participate in 28th Bienal de São Paulo; an international art exhibition held every two years in Brazil.

The Vinnies Art Box Dinner gives dinners the opportunity to meet with Joe Sheehan and hear him talk about his work.
Geoff Scott, owner/chef of Vinnies is devising a sumptuous 3-course meal with matched wines especially to the event.

Seating is limited so do book early.

Vinnies Art Box Dinner -7pm - 25 March, 2010.
Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland.
Ph 376 5597

Further details click here

Joe Sheehan, Everybody's Keys. 2010

For those heading south visit the Waikato Museum of Art and History to see


Paul Cullen - A Table

Waikato Museum
1 Grantham Street
Hamilton
http://www.waikatomuseum.org.nz

Open daily 10:00am - 4:30pm

Until 20 June 2010.

To know more about these events or if you would like information on a particular artist and would like to arrange to view artwork, please don’t hesitate to contact me.




Jane