Channel Magazine April 2017 by Benefitz

ARTS NEWS: NORTHART

Freda Brierley Jesus Carries his Cross, 2017.

Oksoon Won, 2017.

An Obsessive Pursuit This month Northart highlights the very impressive and extensive North Shore ceramic tradition with an exhibition entitled ‘An Obsessive Pursuit’. This survey exhibition will explore the beginnings of the studio pottery movement on the Shore (in the late 1940s, early 1950s) through the very productive, fecund 1970s and 1980s when potters could barely meet the demand for domestic ware, such was its popularity, to present days. While there are potters making a full time wage from their art form, Ian Firth, there are indications that pottery is making Celtic Warrior. a ‘comeback’. Certainly learning to work with clay has become popular and classes for children as well as adults across Auckland sought after. The North Shore Potters Society was founded in 1951, and was possibly the first such society to be formed in New Zealand; it was to eventually amalgamate with other groups to become what is now the very influential Auckland Studio Potters.

While there are potters making a full time wage from their art form, there are indications that pottery is making a ‘comeback’. The exhibition will focus on some of the more prominent potters, such as Barry Brickell and Ian Firth who were both founding members of the North Shore society, Graeme Storm who retired as a full time potter earlier this year, Merilyn Wiseman, Peter Collis, Campbell Hegan, and Ande BarrettHegan, as well as those who are perhaps lesser known. It opens to the public on Monday 10 April and continues until 3 April.

There will be a floor talk/ meet the artists event Sunday 23 April at 3pm. The exhibition is supported by a grant from Creative Communities, Auckland. In galleries 4/5 there will be a group painting show, also opening 10 Frank van Schaik 2 Station VII, 2017. April and until 19 April, when it will be replaced by the annual exhibition by the Korean Fine Arts Association. Currently in the window galleries, and so viewable 24 hours per day, seven days per week, is the a series of very moving and evocative works relating to XIV the Stations of the Cross. It will remain in situ until after Easter. A day or two later, ‘Earth Pigments’, an exhibition curated by John Perry from works in his own collection, will looks at the ways in which various cultures (Australia, Africa, Pacific) have used natural materials from the earth to decorate domestic and ceremonial and express their spiritual and philosophical beliefs. Northart’s very popular Gallery Time for Kids continues on the first weekend of each month, and Gallery Time for Little Kids (pre-schoolers) the first and third Wednesday of each month. Visit northart.co.nz for further information. Northart will be closed on Easter Friday and Easter Monday as well as Anzac Day. Northart, Norman King Square, Northcote Shopping Centre 09 480 9633 022 102 2422 gallery@northart.co.nz Northart is supported by Auckland Council, Kaipatiki Local Board, the Birkenhead Licensing Trust and Lion Foundation.

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Northart, Norman King Square, Ernie Mays Street, Northcote Shopping Centre Phone 09 480 9633 northart@ihug.co.nz www.northart.co.nz Northart is supported by Kaipatiki Local Board, the Lion Foundation and Birkenhead Licensing Trust and is open 10am – 4pm daily, evening viewings by arrangement. Admission is free.