• Malcolm Harrison, Ballad of the Sailor
  • Malcolm Harrison, Kissing Death, 1990
  • Malcolm Harrison, Untitled Evening Shadows
  • Malcolm Harrison, Cry Baby series
  • Malcolm Harrison, A quiet meal at The Chez, 1989.

Tribute to Textile Artist's Talent

Northart is starting the year with a stunning exhibition of artworks from the estate of nationally acclaimed textile artist Malcolm Harrison (1941 – 2007).

Curated by Cerys Dallaway Davidson, the 60 or so works on display will clearly illustrate Malcolm’s outstanding achievements as an artist, as well as his extraordinary ability to work across a wide variety of media. Included in the collection are large quilts (some measuring up to four metres wide) as well as smaller ones, wool tapestries, linen embroideries, small sculptural pieces and assemblages, drawings and working drawings, and sketches and illustrations as well as poetry and children’s books. 

Malcolm first made his name as a fashion designer – and opened his own boutique, Jasper Johnson's Jamboree, in Takapuna - before moving into textile art in the early 1970s. At that time, textile art was generally classified as craft, and not taken so seriously in the art world. Malcolm, however, established himself as an artist relatively quickly, being invited to hold his first exhibition at the prestigious Denis Cohn Gallery, in Auckland in 1979, and a couple of years later having a solo show in the equally respected Janne Land Gallery in Wellington. 

‘Malcolm Harrison. A Celebration’ opens over Anniversary Weekend and will continue until 21st February. Cerys Dallaway Davidson will give a floor talk on the works in the show on Saturday 17 February at 2pm. 

If you would like to create your own piece of hand-stitched art, come along to the ‘Malcolm Harrison Tribute Workshop’ on Sunday 11 February, 10am – 3pm. Facilitated by Joan Hamilton, it is suitable for absolute beginners through to more experienced makers. The class will be limited to 10 participants.  For further information and to book a place, please contact Northart. February’s ‘Gallery Time for Kids’ will also focus on the Malcolm Harrison exhibition with children creating artworks based on those in the show, using fabric, wool, paper, coloured pencil and thread. 

Later in February, we celebrate the achievements of Northart members in the summer members’ show, which opens at 5pm on Sunday 25 February (and runs until 14 March). A group exhibition by Cath Williams, Suzanne Vesty and Karenna Mollard will open the same evening.

 


Issue 84 February 2018