JOHN EDGAR

JOHN EDGAR In Transit

25 August - 19 September 2012

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9A Earl Street (03) 442 6896 qtown@milfordgalleries.co.nz

Assorted Works (2012) (Cubes, M

Multiply, Green Lens, Lightstones)

1. Cube (Marble / Red Cross) (2012), Carrara marble (Italy), glass, size: 187 x 186 x 187 mm

2. Cube (Serpentine / Red Cross) (2012), Rajasthan serpentine (India), glass, size: 144 x 143 x 148 mm

3. Equality (2012) Bangalore granite (India), glass, size: 96 x 315 x 298 mm

4. Spindle (2012) Rajasthan sandstone (India), size: 120 x 681 x 120 mm

5. Capsule (2012) Takaka Marble (New Zealand), glass, size: 167 x 672 x 167 mm

6. Gold Lens (2012) Rajasthan limestone & sandstone (India) size (v x ø): 56 x 246 mm

7. Red Lens (2012) Bangalore granite (India), Coromandel granite (New Zealand) size (v x ø): 67 x 294 mm

8. White Lens (2012) Carrara marble (Italy), Negro Marquina marble (Spain) size (v x ø): 50 x 247 mm

9. Green Lens (2012) Rajasthan serpentine & granite (India) size (v x ø): 53 x 248 mm

10. Black Lens (2012) Bangalore granite (India), Carrara marble (Italy) size (v x ø): 67 x 294 mm

11. Multiply (2012) Bangalore granite (India), Rajasthan serpentine (India) size (v x ø): 65 x 157 mm

12. Function (2012) Coromandel granite (New Zealand), Corrennie granite (Scotland) size (v x ø): 70 x 186 mm

13. Saltire (2012) Bangalore granite (India) size (v x ø): 75 x 250 mm

14. Lightstone (White / Blue Cross) (2012)

Carrara marble (Italy), glass size (v x ø): 26 x 79 mm

15. Lightstone (White / Red Cross) (2012)

Carrara marble (Italy), glass size (v x ø): 23 x 77 mm

16. Lightstone (White / Green Cross) (2012)

Carrara marble (Italy), glass size (v x ø): 26 x 79 mm

17. Operator [16390] (2012) Negro Marquina marble (Spain), Carrara marble (Italy) size (v x ø): 27 x 80 mm

20. Exchange [16387] (2012) silestone (Spain), Rajasthan granite (India) size (v x ø): 27 x 85 mm

18. Operator [16391] (2012) Carrara marble (Italy), Negro Marquina marble (Spain) size (v x ø): 27 x 84 mm

21. Exchange [16388] (2012) silestone (Spain), Rajasthan granite (India) size (v x ø): 27 x 79 mm

19. Operator [16392] (2012) Rajasthan granite (India), glass size (v x ø): 27 x 80 mm

22. Exchange [16389] (2012) silestone (Spain), Rajasthan granite (India) size (v x ø): 27 x 85 mm

John Edgar has produced a suite of elegant and subtle forms for his latest exhibition In Transit. From small stones that can be held and caressed in the hand, to weighty sculptural works, all possess an exceptional finish and a fine balance of materials.

The translucent glass inserts in Capsule reinforce the opacity of the crystalline Takaka marble used in the work. The five lines seem illuminated from within as light is diffused through the glass, and the glow softens the studied symmetry of the piece. The same effect can be seen in the Cube works, where the bifurcated crosses of glass add an element of contradiction; the eye attempts to understand the internal structure of the sculpture where quadrants of stone appear to ‘float’ and glass cores are at once clear and dark.

Of a similar profile to Capsule, the more elongated form of Spindle features three deep grooves carved into the reddish-brown Rajasthani sandstone.

Simplicity of form, the fine, dense grain and rich hue of the material combine to create a work of understated beauty. The polished stone is tactile and rewards handling with an impeccably smooth, unbroken surface.

Disc-shaped, the lenses are new forms for Edgar and after viewing the Transit of Venus in June, he speaks of them as “expressions of transit.” For Edgar, seeing “the transit of Venus as a small black dot slowly crossing the radiant disc of the sun” (1) visually reinforced the concept of ‘place’ in the solar system. Balanced on their central cores, the lenses illustrate a singular point in time and place, as well as referencing three-dimensional planes of orbit.

Viewed from the side they appear to hover in space, defying their mass and volume; placed in natural light, the orbit of the Earth is revealed in real time as shadows wax and wane about each lens.

1. John Edgar, Artist’s Statement, July 2012

EXHIBITION PRICELIST 1

Cube (Marble / Red Cross) (2012)

8,600

2

Cube (Serpentine / Red Cross) (2012)

4,800

3

Equality (2012)

6,400

4

Spindle (2012)

5,800

5

Capsule (2012)

13,500

6

Gold Lens (2012)

2,200

7

Red Lens (2012)

2,800

8

White Lens (2012)

2,200

9

Green Lens (2012)

2,600

10

Black Lens (2012)

3,200

11

Multiply (2012)

2,800

12

Function (2012)

3,600

13

Saltire (2012)

4,200

14

Lightstone (White / Blue Cross) (2012)

650

15

Lightstone (White / Red Cross) (2012)

650

16

Lightstone (White / Green Cross) (2012)

650

17

Operator [16390] (2012)

650

18

Operator [16391] (2012)

650

19

Operator [16392] (2012)

650

20

Exchange [16387] (2012)

950

21

Exchange [16388] (2012)

900

22

Exchange [16389] (2012)

850

All prices are NZD and include GST; Prices are current at the time of the exhibition

JOHN EDGAR b. 1950, lives Auckland

Acclaimed sculptor John Edgar has been exhibiting since 1979 including three New Zealand public touring exhibitions “Calculus” 2002-2004, “Lie Of The Land” 1998-1999, and “Making Amends” 1993-1995. In 2004, Edgar installed a major commission at the Auckland Domain titled ‘Transformer’.

"Edgar has been slicing, altering and reassembling banded stones since the early 1980s; it is perhaps his signature mark as a stone sculptor. They range from pebblesized stones that can be held in the palm of your hand... to the towering red and grey granite-banded 'Transformer' in the Auckland Domain that reaches to more than three-and-a-half metres and with a giant banded boulder nearby, one of the hand sized pebbles writ very large indeed." (1) Edgar sculpts natural stone into abstract compositions with a strong reference to visual texture, “ the oneness of duality” (2), the passing of time and the process of dissecting and transforming natural formations into artefacts, so that they become part of the human environment.

John Edgar is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to art, in particular sculpture.

1. Peter Simpson, 'Array, Arc & Ballast', Art New Zealand, Summer 2009, pg 32.

2. John Edgar, Artist Statement, November, 2001.

John Edgar 2012 CV P a g e |1

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JOHN EDGAR b. 1950, lives Auckland EDUCATION 1972

B.Sc. (Hons). University of N.S.W. Sydney

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2012 2009 2008 2006 2004 2003 2002

2001 2000 1999 1998/99

1996

1995 1994 1993/95

1993 1992 1989 1988

1986 1984 1983 1981 1979

In Transit, milford galleries queenstown Arc, Artis Gallery, Auckland Array, Milford Galleries Dunedin Core, Artis Gallery, Auckland Phases, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington Flags, Artis Gallery, Auckland Calculus, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt; Millennium Gallery, Blenheim; Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin; Canterbury Museum, Christchurch; Rotorua Museum, Rotorua; Ashburton Art Gallery, Ashburton; Manawatu Museum, Palmerston North; Auckland Museum, Auckland Sum, Artis Gallery, Auckland Range, Avid, Wellington Digit, Artis Gallery, Auckland Lie of the Land, Auckland Museum; Auckland; Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt; McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch; Southland Art Gallery, Invercargill; Suter Art Gallery, Nelson; Sarjeant Art Gallery, Whanganui; Hawke’s Bay Museum, Napier; Waikato Museum, Hamilton Cross Country, Lopdell House Gallery, Waitakere; Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, Hastings; Gisborne Museum & Arts Centre, Gisborne; Whakatane Museum & Gallery, Whakatane Insignia, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt Fisher Art Gallery, Auckland Badge, Fluxus, Dunedin Light Relief, Fingers, Auckland Making Amends, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt; Southland Museum & Art Gallery, Invercargill; Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch; Left Bank Gallery, Greymouth; Bishop Suter Art Gallery, Nelson; Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North; Rotorua Art & History Museum, Rotorua; Auckland Museum, Auckland Panacea, Fluxus, Dunedin; Crawford Gallery, Sydney.

Making Ends Meet, Fingers, Auckland.

Stone Lines, Survey Exhibition 1977-1989, National Museum, Wellington; Auckland Museum Land Tokens, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt Stones in Glass Houses, Villas Gallery, Wellington Rock Erosion, Fingers, Auckland In China, Villas Gallery, Wellington Cardinal Points, Janne Land Gallery, Wellington Signs of the Comet, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt Detachments, Auckland Museum, Auckland.

On the Tail of a Dragon, Denis Cohn Gallery, Auckland.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012 Small Works, milford galleries queenstown 2011 Traverse, Milford Galleries Dunedin 2009 Masterworks, milford galleries queenstown 2008-2010 Glass Invitational New Zealand, Touring Nationwide 2008 Masterworks, milford galleries queenstown Selected Works, milford galleries queenstown 2007 Summer Show, milford galleries queenstown 2006 Object, Milford Galleries Dunedin 2005 Form Fire Art, Artis Gallery, Auckland Spirit of Sculpture, St Matthews, Auckland Homework, Avid, Wellington

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2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998 1997 1996

Group Show, Fingers, Auckland Annual Exhibition, Ron Sang, Auckland Group, Studio 66, Gisborne Art in the Woolshed, Tawharanui Regional Park, Coming of Age, Masterworks, Auckland Generation 50, Te Wa Gallery, Whanganui South, Fingers, Auckland Group, Fingers, Auckland Sculpture OnShore, Takapuna Treasures, Masterworks, Auckland Ranges of Inspiration II, Corban Estate Arts Centre, Waitakere Sculpture on a Plinth, Waiheke Community Art Gallery Man, Fingers, Auckland Group, Fingers, Auckland Small & Precious, Masterworks, Auckland Formakers, Sang Architects, Auckland Fringe of Heaven, Lopdell House Gallery, Waitakere Cut & Polished, Avid, Wellington Suite, Fingers, Auckland Blind Art, Paremata School, Auckland NZ Sculpture, Becroft Garden, Auckland Group, Fingers, Auckland The Changing Landscape, Mahara Gallery, Waikanae Black Red White, Anna Bibby Gallery, Auckland Tane Whakapiripiri, Awataha Marae, Auckland Showcase, Avid, Wellington Jade, Masterworks, Auckland 4th Biennial Jewellery, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt; Govett Brewster Gallery, New Plymouth; Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland; Hawke's Bay Museum, Napier; Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin To Die For, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt Group, Fingers, Auckland Wearable Catalogue, Manukau Polytechnic, Manukau Crossing the Divide, Royal Gallery, Auckland Mana Pounamu, Left Bank Gallery, Greymouth Karekare Art Auction, Lopdell Gallery, Waitakere Nothing Comes From Nothing, Aotea Centre Gallery, Auckland Hot Offerings, Uxbridge Gallery, Manukau Group, Artis Gallery, Auckland Millennium Medallions, City Gallery, Wellington Group Show, Fingers, Auckland Outdoor Sculpture, North Shore Women’s Refuge My 2K, Marsden Gallery, Featherston Stop, Artis, Auckland Group, Fingers, Auckland Sex Object, Object Gallery, Auckland Head & Heart, COCA, Christchurch Silver, Fingers, Auckland Ponamu, Left Bank Gallery, Greymouth Sculpture 2001 Maquettes, Auckland Museum Medallions, McPherson Gallery, Auckland 7th National Jade Exhibition, Left Bank Gallery, Greymouth Contrasts, Fluxus, Dunedin On Form, Lopdell House Gallery, Waitakere Autumn, FHE Gallery, Auckland The Same But Different, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt; Auckland Museum, Auckland; Otago Museum, Dunedin

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1995

1994 1993

1992

1991 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982

Panoply, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt Contemporary Jewellery, Fingers, Auckland Primetime, Masterworks Gallery, Auckland Spring, FHE Gallery, Auckland Celebration, Lopdell House Gallery, Waitakere Jade Bone Stone, Cave Rock Gallery, Christchurch Small Worlds, N.Z. Medallions Group, Auckland Museum Solstice, Fingers, Auckland Made in Waitakere, Lopdell House Gallery, Waitakere Pacific Traces, 33 1/3 Gallery, Wellington.

New Zealand Jewellery, International Gallery, San Diego Sense of Presence, Masterworks Gallery, Auckland Schmuckszene, International Jewellery, Munich &Dublin Cain, Fingers, Auckland Bone Stone Shell, Crafts Council Gallery, Wellington; Australian & Asian Tour (1988-1991) Museum of New Zealand, Wellington (1995) Jade in the Pacific, New Zealand Tour Winstones Craft Exhibition, Auckland Museum Auckland New Zealand Jewellery, Details Group, Auckland Museum Treasures from the Land, New Zealand Crafts, U.S.A. Tour Pakohe, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt & N.Z. Tour Souvenirs, Fingers, Auckland.

Kahurangi, New Zealand Crafts, U.S.A. Tour Details, Fingers, Auckland Small Treasures for Japan, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt

SELECTED COMMISSIONS & AWARDS 2012 2008 2005 2004 2003 1997 1986 1987 1988

Commissioned sculpture for the Savill Garden, Great Windsor Park, United Kingdom Awarded ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to art.

Designed New Zealand War Memorial for Korea (with Fred Graham) Established Wairau Sculpture Workshop in Glendene, Waitakere City Completed granite sculpture Transformer for Auckland Domain Design & make Icon awards for Arts Foundation of New Zealand Design & make Medallions for Auckland Museum Honours (annual awards) Attended First Stone Sculpture Symposium, Auckland Attended Second Stone Sculpture Symposium, Auckland Attended Third Stone Sculpture Symposium, Auckland

BIBLIOGRAPHY 2010 2001 2001 2001 2001 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1998 1998

Simpson, Peter, “Array, Arc & Ballast’, Art New Zealand, No 132, Summer 2009, Pp 32-34 Simpson, Peter, "Sum - John Edgar At Artis Gallery", Sunday Star Times, October 21, 2001 Mcnamara, T.J., "Infrared To Ultraviolet", NZ Herald, October 15, 2001 Smythe, Micheal, "Only Way Up", NZ Herald, February 23, 2001 "Sum" Set of Six Postcards, October, 2001 Schamroth, Helen, "Cross-Over Art", Object, No. 3, 2000, Pp20-22 "Sticks & Stones", Capital Times, November, 2000 "Top Investment Artists", NBR, October 13, 2000 Diaz, Deborah, "Artists Take On The West", NZ Herald, September 25, 2000 "A Bridge Much Travelled" Art News NZ, Winter, 2000 Thompson, Wayne, "Sculptor Bridges The Artistic Gap", NZ Herald, May 23, 2000 Digit Exhibition Catalogue, “Words For Stone” Essay By Peter Simpson, ISBN 0-473-06198-8, 1999 Wilson, David, "Grim Analysis", June 16, 1999 Brown, Angela, “The Science of Sculpture", Hawke's Bay Today, June 16, 1999 "News", Whanganui Chronicle, March 18, 1999 Neal, Tracy, “Sculptor Investigates Landforms”, Nelson Mail, January 29, 1999 Baskett, Pat, “The Art of Craft", NZ Herald, October 31, 1998 "Land Metaphor" Christchurch Star, September 2, 1998

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1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1997 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1994 1993 1993 1993 1992 1992 1991 1989 1989 1989

Dunbar, Anna, "Edgar Sees Lie of The Land”, The Christchurch Press, September 2, 1998 Amery, Mark, "Artist Leaves His Mark", Evening Post, June 20, 1998 "Critics Choice" NZ Herald, March 14, 1998 Williams, Howard, "Stone Guardians", NZ Herald, Feb 28, 1998 "John Edgar" Western Leader, Feb 24, 1998 Simpson, Peter, “John Edgar & Ilse Von Row", Opening Speech, Auckland Museum, Feb 20, 1999 Schamroth, Helen, "Lie of The Land", Object, No. 4, 1998, Pp24-25 Schamroth, Helen, One Hundred Craft Artists, Batemans, 1998, Pp24 Person, Patricia, Contemporary Jewellery, Craftsman House, 1998, Pp76 Lie of The Land, 20-Minute Video, Director Tony Burrows, 1998 Simpson, Peter, Thinking In Stone, Art New Zealand, No. 88, 1998, Pp64-67 Hall, Laurence, Same But Different, Object, 1997 Curnow, Sue, "Little Gems Bring Rewards", NZ Herald, October 24, 1996 (Review of Same But Different) Garner, Theresa, “Artist Focuses On Transformation”, The Daily Telegraph, July 31, 1996 "A Research Chemist's Geographical Sculpture", Herald Tribune, July 30, 1996 Curnow, Sue, "Sculptor Aims To Write With Stone", NZ Herald, July 10, 1996 "Artist Fuses Opposites", Western Leader, June 11, 1996 Cross Country, 10-Minute Video, Director Tony Burrows, 1996 Cross Country Exhibition Catalogue, Essay By Brian Opie, 1996 Williams, Howard, "Beyond Craft", NZ Herald, February 21, 1996 Schamroth, Helen, "On Form", Artists Alliance Newsletter, March, 1996 On Form, Exhibition Catalogue, Lopdell Gallery, 1996 Williams, Howard, "Fresh Creativity", NZ Herald, July 26, 1995, Sec 3: P11 Smith, Charmian, "Sculptor Turns His Hand To Metal", Otago Daily Times, May 18, 1995 (Review of Badge) Phare, Jane, "Karekare Inspirations", NZ Herald, March 15, 1995, Sec 2: P8 Williams, Howard, "Stones That Sing Forever", NZ Herald, March, 1995 (Review of Making Amends) Mack, James,"Beautiful Objects", The Evening Post, February 1, 1995 (Review of BSS At Monz) "Contemplative Exhibition" Ann Somerville Curnow, Sue, "Alchemy In Sculpture", NZ Herald, October 6, 1994 (Review of Light Relief) "Light Relief", NZ Listener, September 24, 1994, P47 (Critics Choice) "Focus" The Tribune, August 14, 1994 (Review & Photo of Making Amends) Bayly, Janet, "Environment At Heart of Work", Evening Startard, July 22, 1994 (Review & Photo of Making Amends) Curnow, Sue, Review of Waitakere City Festival Exhibition, NZ Herald, June 23, 1994, Sec 2: P8 "Young Fan Makes Copy", Nelson Evening Mail, May 25, 1994 (Re Making Amends) "Sculptor Aims To Give The Stone Dignity", Nelson Evening Mail, May 11, 1994 (Review of Making Amends) Aldridge, R., "Engineering of The Imagination", Greymouth Evening Star, April 16, 1994, P3 (Review of Making Amends) Ussher, Robyn, "Tactile Reconstructions", The Press, March 2, 1994, P16 (Review of Making Amends) Schamroth, Helen, "Stone By Stone", NZ Listener, February 26, 1994, P44-45 (Review of Making Amends) Making Amends, Exhibition Catalogue/Poster. October Essay By Helen Schamroth, 1993 Making Amends, 8-Minute Video, Director Stuart Page, 1993 Schamroth, Helen, "John Edgar - Making Amends", NZ Crafts, Issue 43, 1993, Pp32-34 Schamroth, Helen, "John Edgar: Restorer & Healer", NZ Herald, September 17, 1992, Sec 3: P4 (Review of "Making Ends Meet") Bone Stone Jade, Ed. Donn Salt, Batemans, 1992, Pp37-40 (Biography Written By John Edgar) Keverne, Roger, Jade, Anness, 1991, P236/257 Renwick, Anne, "Mystical Stone", NZ Listener, November 13, 1989, Pp136-137 Baskett, Pat, "Stone Forms Embrace Past & Future Arts", NZ Herald, November 13, 1989 Price, Graham, "John Edgar's Stonelines", NZ Crafts, Issue 29, 1989, Pp17-20

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1989 1989 1989 1988 1988 1988 1988 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1986 1985 1985 1985 1984 1984 1984 1984 1981

Gilchrist, Michael, "Time To Romance The Stone", NBR Weekend Review, August 18, 1989 (Review of Stonelines) QEII National Trust Newsletter Pp3-5 (Presentation To Queen Elizabeth) Owens, Susa, "Pacific Treasures", Sydney Morning Herald, January 13, 1989 (Review of BSS) (Photograph Only) Schamroth, Helen, "Exquisite Stone Carving", NZ Herald, 1988 (Review of Rock Erosion) Gibbs, Peter, "Bone People Now", NZ Listener, July 9, 1988, P74 (Review of BSS) "Compass", NZ Listener, March 5, 1988, P69 (Photography Only) Gifford, Adam, "Jewellery", Sunday Star, February 28, 1988, Pb4 (Review of BSS) Kightley, Oscar, "Treasure of The South Pacific", Auckland Star, November 16, 1987, Pb4 (Review of South Jade At Auckland Museum) Ward, Fred, "Jade", National Geographic, 1987, P309 Edgar, John, "Stone, Bone, Shell", Craft International, Vol 6, No. 4, P30 (Copy of Essay From BSS Catalogue) Schamroth, Helen, "Bone Stone Shell", NZ Herald Bone Stone Shell, Exhibition Catalogue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Australia & Asia Tour NZ Listener, November 15, 1986 (Review of Details Group At Auckland Museum) Beck, Russell, "Tenacious Stone" Review of NZ Jade, John Edgar, NZ Listener, November 2, 1985 Treasures From The Land, Exhibition Catalogue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, USA Tour Kahurangi, Exhibition Catalogue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, USA Tour Amoamo, Jacqueline, "Cooperative Fingers", NZ Listener, November 17, 1984 (Review of Souvenirs) Bassent, Bob, "Amulets & Alchemy", NZ Crafts, Issue 12, 1984, Pp20-22 Edgar, John, "Going Stoning, NZ Crafts, Issue 12, 1984, Pp17-19 Guerin, Louise, "The Spirit In Stones", NZ Listener, May 19, 1984 Gribben, Trish, "The Greenstone Sings", More, 1981

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