Arty inception
WELLINGTON artists are going all potty.
Ceramics and handmade crafts are featuring strongly at the Christmas cash and carry show at The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.
“Appreciation for craft-based works has emerged over the past year. People are starting to appreciate a person’s personal touch,” says new director Justin Morgan. “Digital photography in New Zealand is popular too.”
The “all out show” will include some 300 to 500 works, with all Academy Galleries members invited to take part. Art will incorporate the whole spectrum: handcrafts, jewellery, ceramics, paintings – actually all of the mediums that you can imagine. Prices range from $100 to $5000 – there aren’t too many in that high range though, the bulk of it is less than $500.
Morgan, meanwhile, is carving his own way in an environment that contrasts with his own focus on emerging and contemporary art. He set up his own gallery in Kilbirnie a year ago for this aim, and operates a funky art blog at JJMorgan.blogspot.com. So that he is employed by Academy Galleries, an organisation steeped in tradition, seems to be somewhat of a misnomer. Morgan agrees that it is an about-face.
“Obviously the Academy is quite different because it has a [long] history of supporting the arts. I think it’s probably that it’s become quite stuck in its methods.”
But it’s part of his goal – and he says that of the Academy Galleries - to realign the gallery with its core ideals to train and support emerging artists.
To effect this change, or “freshen it up a bit”, three new and vibrant faces were brought in, who are, along with Morgan, gallery co-ordinator Johnathon Titheridge and office co-ordinator Julie Meek.
Morgan is careful to say that he won’t be stamping on tradition that’s been built up for so long – after all, he says, Academy Galleries - established in 1882 - was the first training ground for artists in the country.
“The Academy’s history is extremely important to New Zealand art. It’s important to get a good solid grasp and then move forward...by setting up themes or shows that look at the history of New Zealand art.”
Art to go, Academy Galleries.
Ceramics and handmade crafts are featuring strongly at the Christmas cash and carry show at The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.
“Appreciation for craft-based works has emerged over the past year. People are starting to appreciate a person’s personal touch,” says new director Justin Morgan. “Digital photography in New Zealand is popular too.”
The “all out show” will include some 300 to 500 works, with all Academy Galleries members invited to take part. Art will incorporate the whole spectrum: handcrafts, jewellery, ceramics, paintings – actually all of the mediums that you can imagine. Prices range from $100 to $5000 – there aren’t too many in that high range though, the bulk of it is less than $500.
Morgan, meanwhile, is carving his own way in an environment that contrasts with his own focus on emerging and contemporary art. He set up his own gallery in Kilbirnie a year ago for this aim, and operates a funky art blog at JJMorgan.blogspot.com. So that he is employed by Academy Galleries, an organisation steeped in tradition, seems to be somewhat of a misnomer. Morgan agrees that it is an about-face.
“Obviously the Academy is quite different because it has a [long] history of supporting the arts. I think it’s probably that it’s become quite stuck in its methods.”
But it’s part of his goal – and he says that of the Academy Galleries - to realign the gallery with its core ideals to train and support emerging artists.
To effect this change, or “freshen it up a bit”, three new and vibrant faces were brought in, who are, along with Morgan, gallery co-ordinator Johnathon Titheridge and office co-ordinator Julie Meek.
Morgan is careful to say that he won’t be stamping on tradition that’s been built up for so long – after all, he says, Academy Galleries - established in 1882 - was the first training ground for artists in the country.
“The Academy’s history is extremely important to New Zealand art. It’s important to get a good solid grasp and then move forward...by setting up themes or shows that look at the history of New Zealand art.”
Art to go, Academy Galleries.
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