‘Glimpse’ exhibition: Barbara Cope & Diane Halstead

Images by: (above) Barbara Cope, (right) Di Halstead

13th April – 1st May 2010 Satellite Gallery, cnr St Benedicts St & Newton Rd, Newton, Auckland

‘Glimpse’ is an exhibition exploring personal notions of the transience of life and the ephemera of forgotten histories.

Barbara Cope has, in her art practice examined concepts relating to fragility, ageing, mortality and personal histories, often presenting these ideas in sensual photographic imagery. Cope’s work is influenced by early twentieth century New Zealand colonial photography and incorporates elements of dance, movement and theatre.

Di Halstead is intrigued with the ephemera of daily life in the first half of twentieth century New Zealand. This project explores history and nostalgia and seeks to capture a sense of where Pakeha New Zealanders as a people have come from. Her work is in part about understanding how it was for those who came before, and also what kind of people their descendants are. Halstead uses the often forgotten fabrics, patterns and everyday objects of the era, with the intention of showing that these embody a part of New Zealand’s cultural heritage and sense of self.

I go where the party takes me

Beachgoers enjoy the sun, ignoring a burned-out car in their midst. Six teenage girls on a street corner huddle under one umbrella. A portly Santa sits astride a scantily-costumed reindeer. These are a few images from the ‘I go where the party takes me’ photographic exhibition, named after lyrics by those great This diverse multi-cultural show features nine Whanganui-based documentary photographers: Leigh Mitchell-Anyon, Rosalie Gwilliam, Mark Brimblecombe and Raewyn Cliffe, Jes-ci Singh Nagra, Rab G.P. Lewin, Spencer Hall, Camillia Afele and J.K. Russ. In addition, a Whanganui School of Design crew have created a video work based on photographs taken at student parties.

With support from ‘Creative Communities: Wanganui District’ and the James Wallace Trust, this exhibition will open in Auckland on Tuesday 20 October 5.30-7.30pm at the Wallace Trust Gallery, 305 Queen St. Featured guest artists are D.A.N.C.E. and DeeZaStar. All welcome. The exhibition runs through to Saturday 31 October.

PhotoForum Fundraising Auction

PhotoForum is holding a fundraising print auction at Webb’s, 18 Manukau Rd, Newmarket, Auckland at 7pm on 21 April 2009. The auction features both contemporary and historical works, you can view the online catalogue here.

This auction was instigated specifically to raise money for our ongoing programme of publishing, exhibitions and other activities. Conceived on a more modest scale originally, it has grown through the generous support of all contributors into something much more exciting and intriguing.

With such a wealth of exciting contributions on offer (from over 50 photographers), this auction promises to be a lively social event for photographers and their audience to meet in person. Contemporary works include offerings by Marti Friedlander, Ans Westra, Joyce Campbell, Mark Adams, Harvey Benge, Darren Glass and many more. These are supplemented by a selection of unmounted vintage 19th & 20th century photographs and a few exhibition quality reprints of major New Zealand pioneer images by photographers such as Burton Bros, and Tyree.

We are particularly grateful to Webb’s for hosting this auction and the pre-auction display because it was Peter Webb, always the visionary, who was the auctioneer for PhotoForum’s first professional auction, held 30 years ago, on 28 April 1978

Auctions, with their distinct air of unpredictability, are always fascinating. So please take this opportunity to hunt for potential bargains, support your favourite photographer, and help PhotoForum’s promotion of fine New Zealand photography all at the same time.

image:
Child by Abby Storey 2006/2008. Archival inkjet print on Hahnemuhle Cotton Rag.