Gallery extends its interests

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 34

Gallery extends its interests

The Suter Art Gallery, in Queen’s Gardens, has developed into one of the brightest and busiest of its kind in the country since its present director, Mr Austin Davies, took over nine years ago. Besides its own valuable art collection, if features ever-changing exhibitions, a cinema for quality films, and a restaurant where weight-watchers are warned to beware. With the recent gifting of one third of the estate of Marjorie Naylor, a local artist, valued at about $60,000 the gallery soon hopes to expand again with the building of a modern lecture theatre.

The gallery reserved a handful of Marjorie Naylor’s painting and sold the others at exhibition. “On the first evening, we sold about $15,000 worth,” Mr Davies said. “Fifteen years ago, this gallery was opened each day by the gardener from the parks. It was then left unattended all day, and closed again in the evening. “Five years ago, we still had about 60 volunteer custodians who looked after the gallery for two hours each, one session a month. “When the job of director was first advertised nine years ago, it was only nominally for full-time, for the trustees could not see what I would do all day. “It was a tremendously challenging job. I had fights with the council and trustees to get them to realise how important the gallery’s Bishop Suter collection was. We had inherited about 300 paintings of high value. “My battles with the community continued, and I was nearly sacked once when a newspaper quoted me as accusing the trustees of long-term neglect. “This caused a meeting of the the trust board to consider what to do about me, and at the next meeting, I

had to promise to be more discreet. Since then, however, they have been tremendously supportive. “The first major step forward was about six years ago, when the council decided to come to the party and fund the gallery. We were allocated $lOO,OOO for its modernisation and engaged the architect, Miles Warren, of Christchurch. “The balance was gained by very successful fund raising and a grant from the Art Galleries and Museums Scheme. “Since then, Mr Bob Gunn, a local stockbroker and company director, has been appointed chairman of the trust board. “What we needed at the top was a businessman to provide financial expertise, so this was an important step because it gave the trust board credibility. “Traditionally, galleries were the sort of places where people tiptoed in and out again, but I wanted to make this a place where people could have fun and enjoy visiting. “Another big step was the restaurant. In the first place, this was designated the members’ lounge, and in the following drawings it became a coffee bar.

“But I wanted a restaurant right from the beginning and had to find someone who could cook well. Now, it is contracted out but is still the responsibility of the gallery. “We offer mainly a smorgasboard, cold meats, warm meals in winter, and a wide range of cakes — all good, healthy food,” Mr Davies said. The gallery is continuing with its successful Cinema 3 screenings and exhibitions, including the controversial motor car show, and has also been awarded a $30,000 grant to run a national contemporary art exhibition.