‘On the Road’ at city art gallery

Press, 31 December 1982, Page 25

‘On the Road’ at city art gallery

During the holidays there is something for everyone on display at Christchurch’s Robert McDougall Art Gallerv.

Of special interest is an exhibition of photography by Robin Morrison, called "On the Road."

Robin Morrison, a professional photographer from Auckland, spent six months travelling with his family around the South Island photographing ’’the quaint and unusual." Rather than the usual shots of rivers and mountains, his photographs are of the particular, manmade elements of the island.

An educational exhibition of early Maori and European paintings, sketches and publications of the moko is also well worth seeing. The recordings of this Maori art of facial tattooing were made while it was still widely practise'd, and they give a fascinating and invaluable glimpse into the past. Included in the exhibition are paintings by Lindauer and Goldie, along with early watercolours by Robley and plates from the 1847 "New Zealanders Illustrated" publication by Angas.

For ultimate variety, the art gallery is also displaying abstract paintings by seven contemporary New Zealand artists. The theme is the ’Bos. and the artists are Gretchen Albrecht, Stephen Banbury, Max Gimblett. Richard Killeen, James Ross, lan Scott, and Mervyn Williams. With the exception of the display of Australian prints, the emphasis of the holiday

exhibitions is on New Zealand. and it is pleasing to see that the gallery’s central court is hung with a major weaving work by Christchurch's own Margaret Finnerty. The work is made up of large canvas archways with tassels and fringes handmade by the artist. Margaret Finnerty is one of the most imaginative and innovative

weavers working in NewZealand at present, and her display, called “Revelations," will give some idea of the scope of her work. The exhibits by Bea Maddock. one of Australia’s leading printmakers, include woodcuts, silk screen prints, and photo-etchings of great versatility and skill. The Robert McDougall Art Gallery is a good place to go

to no matter what the weather, and except where there is an expensive exhibition from overseas on show, it is a cheap place to go — admission is free. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. during the week and I p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on week-ends. For those unfamiliar with Christchurch, the gallery is in the Botanic Gardens behind the museum in Rolleston Avenue.