Woodcraft Gallery

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 40

Woodcraft Gallery

Woodcraft Gallery, Art Centre, first annual exhibition. October 1-18. Reviewed by Noeline Brokenshire. This gallery, the only wood-ware gallery in New Zealand, celebrates its first anniversary with a fine exhibition. Furniture, carving, toys and wood-turning display a good range of timbers and wood-ware. There are some very fine pieces, but there is also some work of variable quality. Perhaps it is a pity that the wood-turners had not been limited to just five pieces each. The best of the wood-turning can be seen in Soren Berger’s tall vases and his enormous cedar platter, two oak pieces of Mary Bartos, nicely porportioned boxes of Mark Plercey, and Charles Boyle’s simple domestic ware. Steve Anderson’s use of jade and wood are an excellent idea, but are out of balance and stabil-

ity. The jade is overpowering and needs a more sensitive and restrained use. The lids are far too heavy for the bases. Hans Muller’s "The Tyrolean” was delightful and full of character. Both he and Tony Shatford are accomplished carvers and I was impressed with the constraint shown in the latter’s “Night Hawk” and “Predator.” Often carvers do not know when to stop but these are excellent. The furniture, because of its size, is always noticeable in any exhibition. This is even more so in a small gallery. Chris Thompson’s small wall cabinet in walnut and cedar reads well, but Marc Zuckerman’s narrow hall table in rimu, an excellent piece if you like his "organic” design, and a good solution for a piece for a confined

space, is out of context in the environs of this gallery. I felt extremely uncomfortable with Dave Putland’s designed octagonal “appendages” above the desk legs and with James Dowle’s choice of strong, straight-grained timber for his display cabinet, which he then attempted to soften by deliberate shaping of the top of his side front panels. lain Wilkinson’s tables were perhaps a bit stolid, a little too heavy visually, but very functional and reasonably priced. From Colin Slade, again, his well crafted chairs which we have come to expect and respect. For a discerning buyer this exhibition is worth a visit. We are fortunate to have in the centre of Christchurch, such a grand gallery which is very selective in what it presents.