New director promises some changes

Press, 26 November 1986, Page 22

New director promises some changes

One hundred years of tradition played a part in Chris Taylor’s decision to apply for the job as director of the C.S.A. Gallery. “The C.S.A. has been influential in visual arts in Christchurch for more than. 100 years and is ideally placed to play just as influential a role in the future,” the Shirley Boys’ High School art teacher says.

“I couldn’t think of a more exciting position to be in to do with visual arts.”

He has been directly involved in visual arts as a painter and photographer in the city for eight years. He became directly involved in the day-to-day running of the gallery six months ago when he took up a part-

time position as exhibitions officer. For the last six months he has split his time between teaching at Shirley Boys' and the gallery.

He takes over as director full-time from retiring director Nola Barron just before Christmas.

He says there will not be too many immediate changes, but he does promise some. “Nola has left the place running smoothly and, until she goes, we will be working closely together to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.

"There will be changes. The C.S.A. has to compete with the dealer galleries and also offer a commun-ity-related range of exhibitions. I want to see

more emerging artists exhibiting as well as our established artists, and some established artists from further afield, perhaps overseas.” Mr Taylor, who had an exhibition of his paintings at the gallery last year with two Americans and a fellow Christchurch painter Maurie Angelo, wants to continue his own art. “I know the demands this job will put on me, but I believe it is important to have a project of my own in work. I think it will help me in talking to artists and understanding their problems to still be a practising artist myself. It is important to me personally as well.” He sees the gallery as a forum for artists.

“It is a venue, a context in which to show works. The C.S.A. is the best placed of all galleries to do that,” he says. Recent ramblings through the back issues of the society’s newsletter have convinced him that there is ample material there for a book. “Someone should write it. Those newsletters are historical documents, they are a record of the cultural life of Canterbury.” He is well aware of the responsibilities of the job as director, especially to fostering that cultural life. In part that means encouraging young artists and there is nothing that would please Chris Taylor more than to have one of his former art students exhibit in the gallery.