Northart opened two outstanding exhibitions of photography last month: ‘Same Space’ by Kumeu based, Korean born photographer Charlie Yang, the other by internationally renowned Auckland photographer Harvey Benge.
“Magic”, “mysterious” “colourful” and “filled with nostalgia” are but some of the comments we have had to date. So make time to spend an leisurely hour in the gallery before they close: Charlie Tang’s “Same Space” closes at 4pm Sunday 17 June and Harvey Benge’s “Aide Memoire and other Stores” closes Wednesday 20 June. Do come along to listen to Ron Brownson, Senior Curator, New Zealand and Pacific Art, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, in conversation with camera artist Harvey Benge in the gallery Sunday 17 June at 2pm.
The gallery will be closed to the public until the new round of exhibitions open at 10am on Monday 25 June. Five solo shows by Siobhan Crowley, Trevor Newman, Ian Moore, Ray Wilkinson and Frances Atkins all open that day.
Ray Wilkinson and Ian Moore both use geometric imagery. Ray’s works in ‘Exploring Colour’ seek to indicate how colour, texture and space can affect the emotional climate of a work. Several of his paintings compress stripes close together, with bolder colour combinations suggestive of vigour and energy; in others less stripes wider apart convey a calmer and quieter atmosphere. Ian’s works in <connections> explore not dissimilar territory, they too are concerned with colour and form. His works are based on chevrons, two lines that meet at one point. His central interest is in how they can indicate movement, protection, direction, containment and connection, to a greater or lesser extent “Colour speaks to our eyes, words to our ears. A soft tone can evoke a warm conversation.” Both exhibitions demand that we think, we explore and we enjoy.
So too, the two other exhibitions in the gallery. Siobhan Crowley, is who is currently undertaking post graduate work at Elam, is exhibiting two series of works in her show, Cut Up Rough and some Minor Disruptions. They have both been created over the past eighteen months. Her focus is on drawing and how much or how little information the viewer needs in order to participate, to make their own meaning in the drawing. “What will the eye see or not see as it seeks to draw together it’s own drawing?” and “Will the feet dance along with the eye, drawing seeing into a whole body experience” she posits.
Trevor Newman’s works in Eyes Down, Straight Ahead, are an attempt to answer the question “Can painting really show us something else, take us on a journey that is not available elsewhere?” Towards that end he “activate[s] space, pushes the ‘how’ of painting.” The support (backs) of his art works and or the surface of the gallery wall are intended to interact and “have a dialogue” with the viewer who is thus “encouraged to see the world through both a vertical and horizontal perspective that reflects the distraction of contemporary life”.
Northart celebrates Matariki with a show of works by Northcote based painter, (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Porou) which will be in the gallery windows so viewable 24/7. The July Gallery Time for Kids will also be based on our Matariki show.
See www.northart.co.nz for further information and other arts events during the month of July.
