The Living Arts

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 20

The Living Arts

Back to earth The Christchurch artist, G. T. Moffitt, has gone back to the land for his next exhibition. He has produced 12 landscapes, painted during the winter, featuring the mouth of the Rakaia River and the surrounding beach. They are his first landscapes since 1969, and were painted after he made a number of visits to the beach at the rivermouth in May. June, and July. The exhibition, which will open in the Brooke Gifford Gallery next Monday will also feature 10 figure paintings. These are described as “factual renderings of nudes.” and are ot three models. They were painted this year, and are a continuation of the “Human Condition” and "Nude Portrait” series, which Mr Moffitt painted between 1974 and 1976. Yugoslav art Christchurch gallerygoers will have their first full-scale opportunity next week to see contemporary art from Yugoslavia, when an exhibition of painting, sculpture, photography, and printmakmg opens at the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. The collection, which is touring, was brought to New Zealand through the efforts of the Yugoslavian Ambassador, Dr Branko Karapandza. It will open on Thursday of next week, and will remain in the McDougall gallery until December 15. Yugoslavia has closer ties than most Central and Eastern European countries with New Zealand, especially with the north of New Zealand, because of the Dalmation settlers who came in the last century, many of them attracted to' the kauri-gum diggings. They stayed to establish a wine industry In a note about the exhibition. the gallery says that Yugoslavia is at cultural crossroads of East and West, and that this is reflected in the country's art, which blends old and new. The aim of the exhibition is to show a broad spectrum of present Yugoslavian art through the work of its leading artists, which ranges from modern realism to conceptual works. It will be the second time Yugoslav artists have been featured at the gallery this year Nine Yugoslavs were represented in the international drawing exhibition shown during the Christchurch Arts Festival. Pots and paint lour Wellington potters will join the Studio 393 group for an exhibition that will open at the group’s studios at 393 Montreal Street on Saturday. They are Jean Hasted, Jo Wiseberg, Muriel Moody, and Flora Christella. Muriel Moody is known for her sculpture as well as for her notterv and for trinket boxes, which she designs and Jo Wiseberg e.-.ii .ms. Both Jo Wiseberg and Jean Hasted have worked w.th Muriel Moody for several years at her studio in Eastbourne. .Flora Christella, who his been interested in pottery since the 19505, has worked with two of New Zealand's leading potters, Mfrek Smeisk and Helen Mason, and studied in Europe in 1972. Local potters who will join the exhibition include Rex Valentine, who will show a selection of pots that he made in Japan, and some recent work made in Christchurch. Margaret Higgs will show some of her sculptured. hand-built pots, and Fredrika Ernsten and Denise Welsford will show domestic ware. Another exhibitor will be the artist. Graeme Barton, formerly of Christchurch. He recently returned to New Zealand after a vear’s study overseas. and now lives in Auckland. Liant puppets Graduate students of the Christchurch Teachers’ College this week will p-psnnt the first Christchurch production, and

probably the first New Zealand one, of a collective play about the French Revolution, “1789, the French Revolution, Year One.” The play is unusual in that it features streettheatre techniques, giant puppets, and a “fairground” in which, at one stage, the audience will be invited to wander about while several scenes are presented simultaneously. Essentially, it is a documentary about the way in which the middle class prevented the Revolution from achieving its aim of complete change. According to the director. Don McAra, the play argues that the middle classes, having got their hands on power, refused to share it with the poorer classes. "The play seems particularly appropriate as a comment on the nineteen seventies," he said. "We, too. have lived through a period of liberalisation during the sixties, but now, with economic depression, and each class trying to save what it can through strikes and industrial conflict, we are in a rather similar position to France in the early sev-enteen-nineties.” Devised by the Theatre du Soleil, a collective group directed by Ariane Mnouchkine, the play has overtones of Joan Littlewood’s “O What A Lovely War” and Peter Weiss,’s "Marat-Sade." The story of the fall of the Bastille, the Declaration of the Rights of Man, and the flight of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, is told from the point of view of the man in the street. Neither the guillotine nor Robespierre will be in attendance, but Mirabeau will spar in a boxing ring with Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette will prepare magic potions, and Marat will harangue the social conscience of the people. “Much political hot air will inflate a large balloon, and the audience will be able to have their photographs taken posing as members of the Three Estates,” Mr McAra said. "The music department of the college will be augmented by a brass band. Over-aH it is hoped that the audience will emerge with the feeling of having been involved in a political cartoon for theatre, eniovable hut also thought provoking.”

“Certainly, the original production, performed in an old aircraft hanger outside Paris in 1971, was immensely popular, and drew in many people who would not normally have been seen anywhere near a conventional dramatic performance. Anyone interested in the relevance of The French Revolution, or in the nature of revolution in general, should be interested in this play,” he said.

McCahon niton When the Australian National Art Gallery opens its doors in 1981, one of its first exhibitions will feature the New Zealand painter, Colin McCahon. The Queen Elizabeth If Arts Council has been asked to co-operate in organising the exhibition, which w’ill show between 50 and 60 paintings. The recent gift by the New Zealand Government to the gallery — “Victory Over Death II” — will be one of ’he centrepieces of the exhibition. This is further recognition by the National Gallery of Aus-

tralia of McCalion’s importance as a twentiethcentury painter. The exhibition will add to the impact New Zealand art has already made in Australia through its participation in the Mildura Sculpture Triennials. (•ear change The famous New Zealand singer, Donald Mclntyre, will change gear when he returns to New Zealand in December to sing with the New Zealnd Symphony Orchestra. Mclntyre will take the title role in the orchestra’s concert performance of Verdi’s “Macbeth.”

While he has a versatile repertoire, Mclntyre has risen to prominence as a singer of Wagner — particularly through his performances al the Bayreuth festivals. He is perhaps the greatest Wotan in opera todav. Lady Macbeth will. be sung oy Elizabeth Fretweil from the Australian Opera C o m p any. Supporting singers will include the

New Zealanders, Bruce Carson and Anthony Benfell. The Orpheus Choir will sing the choruses, and the N.Z.S.O. will be conducted by Vanco Cavdarski.