Big boost for N.Z. art collection

Press, 18 February 1988, Page 36

Big boost for N.Z. art collection

PA Wellington New Zealand contemporary art will receive a big boost with the announcement by the United Building Society of a $500,000 collection which will tour public art galleries.

Funds will be spent over five years to establish the United New Zealand Modern Masters Collection, which will focus on the disciplines of painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking, said the sponsorship manager for United, Mr Donald Trott. Seven works have already been purchased and will form the basis for the launch of the collection at a function at the Auckland City Art Gallery on February 24. After a short exhibition there, the seven works will travel to the Invercargill Public Art Gallery to begin a tour of New Zealand.

They will include paintings by Don Peebles, Maria Olsen, Ralph Hotere, Denys Watkins,

Richard Killeen and James Ross and a cibachrome photograph by Boyd Webb. Mr Trott said his company was keen to move beyond the “usual office-bound corporate investment in art” to promote contemporary New Zealand art to the general public. The works are being selected by a purchasing committee comprising Dr Rodney Wilson, director of the Auckland City Art Gallery; Dr Robin Woodward, a lecturer in art history at the University of Auckland; and Mr Trott. Dr Wilson will remain on the committee after his departure for Australia next month to take up his new appointment as director of the National Gallery of Victoria. United intends to add to the touring collection over a five-year period. At the same time, the company will cover all costs of crating, freighting and insuring the works to enable them to travel to all parts of New Zealand.