A New Gallery

I walked right by this new art gallery in small-town Oxford in North Canterbury last weekend. I'm seldom lured into brand-new psuedo-colonial style buildings in little country towns; they usually house some awful retail atrocity that I'd rather not subject myself to. But my friend went in on our second passing, so I followed her in. It actually turned out to be rather a nice exhibition space - though I could happily have worn blinders against most of the art on display. Turns out that this is stage one in a large development - Arts in Oxford - which will grow to include a large area of workshops at the rear in stage two. It's supported by the Canterbry Community Trust, The Keith Laugesen Charitable Trust, the Waimakariri District Council and the Waimakariri Community Arts Council; and in the rapidly growing and propserous little town of Oxford, it's bound to serve a useful purpose. www.oxfordnewzealand.co.nz

Where's the Art?

It seems almost unbelievable that people would walk into a major art gallery and ask ‘where’s the art?’ But that’s what was happening at Christchurch Art Gallery. Hence this new signage – bold and colourful on either side of the central stairwell. I like it but then I’m a sucker for a good sign anyway - I have whole series of photographs dedicated solely to signs of assorted themes. (Click on Signs in the label line below this post if you're interested in seeing some). I never personally had any trouble ‘finding the art’ but I think this injection of pictorial information at the bottom of the stairs is a very good addition to the gallery’s foyer…..a foyer I love but some do find cavernous and slightly daunting. www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

SOFA in Soft Focus

This has been a week of photographic posts - as opposed to anything wordy and more interesting. I blame the sore leg. I can't walk for long periods and I can't sit for long periods; hence I have resorted to the 'quick-fix' approach to blogging. Nonetheless, I hope some of you will find my photos a little pleasing. This one was taken at Christchurch Arts Centre - SOFA Art Gallery - last weekend and continues my preoccupation with architectural forms and art gallery signs.

A Gallery Re-Named

And on the subject of art galleries, signs and photography, I like the wit who altered this sign at Joanathan Smart Gallery, here in Christchurch, removing the 'm' and adding an apostrophe to allow Jonathan to 'take possession' of his own gallery. Very smart.

Another ART Sign

Same Day

Same Jet Stream

(as Below)

Different Art Gallery

COCA www.coca.org.nz

Art Signs

Love the way someone has removed the 'M' from Smart and placed an apostrophe to make it Jonathan's Art Gallery rather than the original Jonathan Smart Gallery. (Maybe it was Jonathan himself?)

Art and Architecture

Christchurch Art Gallery

Late Night Wednesday

Before the Crowds

July 2009 Ajr

Museum and Art Gallery Redevelopment Announced

Image Courtesy Hawke's Bay Museum & Art Gallery Great news announced last night! The Napier City Council has launched a $17-million plan to redevelop the Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery and this is what it will look like - I think anyone who knows the existing building will agree this is a HUGE improvement. The redevelopment will kick off in mid-2010 and director of the museum and gallery, Douglas Lloyd Jenkins says he is committed to retaining the history and character of the current building while introducing light and space, and making better use of existing areas. "Our exhibitions are innovative and extremely well-received and we have some of the best collections in New Zealand but a lack of space means we aren't always able to fulfil our potential," he says. "This project aims to re-package the outside to match the wealth of objects and projects outside." The redevelopment will make full use of the existing architectural features and it will add more storage, work space and archive rooms. A work by one of my favourite New Zealand artist, Sara Hughes will also run the length and height of the facade of the new building, creating a striking first impression for visitors. Sara's work at Christchurch Art Gallery last year had a real WOW factor and you can see that if you put her name into my blog's search box, above left. It goes without saying that the redeveloped building will be equally enlivened by her bright, bold expression. The Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery has a rich history of cutting edge architecture. The first wing was designed by acclaimed Art Deco architect Louis Hay in the 1930s. The Century Theatre, which has become the cornerstone of culture and performance in Hawke's Bay, was designed in the 1970s by leading modernist architect, Guy Natusch; and the architect for the 2010 redevelopment is Richard Daniels of Opus International Consulting. Daniels was the lead architect on the Staples Rodway Building in Hastings and the new Hawke's Bay Regional Council offices in Napier. A project website has been set up and you can view redevelopment progress from today - August 8th - at http://www.forus.org.nz/. More information on Sara Hughes, who works with bold colour and repetitive pattern on a grand scale, can be found at http://www.sarahughes.co.nz/

Arts Signs

Christchurch Arts Centre. July 2009. Ajr Another in my series of art gallery signs. This is a view I keep revisiting at different times of the day and year. I love the heft of the Victorian Gothic architecture, the strident shadows and the simplicity of the SOFA (School of Fine Arts) Gallery sign.

Art After Dark

Late Night Art Thursdays Christchurch Art Gallery www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Beyond the Art Work

Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr

For me, there is often as much to see in an art gallery's architecture and fittings as there is on its walls. So happy happy me when I spotted this gorgeous spiral staircase that curls up the entrance mezzanine space at Dunedin Public Art Gallery - and yes, I did have permission to photograph it. [You see how sensitive I have become after my encounter with the Dunedin casino bouncer :-)] All I really needed to make this a much better photograph, was someone glamourous leaning over the stair banisters. I must see if that can be organised for another time. www.dunedin.art.museum

In the Pink

TheNewDowse, Lower Hutt. April 2009. Ajr

Here's another of the very excellent signs at TheNewDowse in Lower Hutt. I liked many of their signs almost as much as some of the gallery exhibits. You can see others by clicking on TheNewDowse in the label line below this post. www.newdowse.org.nz

Art Signage

Auckland, April 2009. Ajr

More from my growing files of art sign images.

Signposting Art

Auckland. April 2009. Ajr

Here's another of my art gallery signs. I love all the angles and shadows and tonal variations on what, at first glance, appears to be a very plain building wall.

The Art of the Sign

Auckland Art gallery. April 2009 Ajr

There's plenty happening at the Auckland Art Gallery but whether or not you call it art is another matter. The original gallery building is getting a huge makeover - it's currently wrapped in orange like a giant surprise package - and a new extension is being built. I loved the way the hoarding sign, the image of the finished gallery and the shapely tree all came together to make an interesting visual image. I also love gallery signs fullstop - hence the top photograph. I often photograph gallery signs. To me, they can be works of art in their own right.Sometimes it's about colour and shape; other times it's about the signs in situ - how they are juxtaposed with architecture and their surroundings. www. aucklandartgallery.govt.nz

Gallery Graphics

Hot Pink

@

TheNewDowse, Lower Hutt

www.newdowse.org.nz

April 2009. Ajr

When the Coast Shifts

South Coast Gallery, Wellington. April 2009 Ajr

I loved this little slither of a gallery - just a few feet wide and tucked between two scruffy Cuba Street businesses. It's the new premises of South Coast Gallery, who have shifted into the centre of town from Island Bay. Their Island Bay gallery is now open by appointment only. www.southcoastgallery.co.nz

Design Simplicity

Ng Gallery, Christchurch. Jan 2009. Ajr

Sometimes

The Simplest Design Solution

Is the Best

Window Art

Ng Gallery, Christchurch. Jan. 2009. Ajr

Someone has been painting on the windows of Ng Gallery - intentionally and with permission obviously - and it looks great. I'm not sure who the artist is and as the gallery was closed for the holidays when I walked by, I'll have to wait a few more days to find out.

When the Body Won't Respond

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Nov. 2008. Ajr

I'd been walking for six hours by the time I got to the National Gallery of Victoria the other day and the thought of unloading my bag into the security cubicles and wandering through the exhibitions was all too much for me. So I took this leafy shot of the entrance and walked to the nearest tram, which took me to the nearest railway station, which took me home to a cool drink and a solid footrest! Perhaps another day I said to myself.