This month at South Library we are fortunate to have two stunning exhibitions on show which highlight lost heritage treasures in Christchurch. Artist Rudolf Boelee is showing portraits of artists and photographs of their houses from the Eastside of Christchurch and quiltmaker Kathleen Burford is displaying three magnificent heritage themed quilts.
Rudolf had a showing last year for his portraits and the exhibition is due to tour public galleries around the South Island from late 2014 onwards. As always we are keen to support local artists with our display wall and give their works additional exposure. There is also a link to his e-book Eastside about the original exhibition at the Linwood Community Arts Centre. This show had 24 portraits, of which 12 are on display at South Library.
Rudolf says ” The idea for this project came after reading of former Christchurch Art Gallery curator Neil Roberts’ predicament of living in a perfectly good but red zoned house. The house is significant from a New Zealand art historical perspective; it was designed by sculptor designer Tom Taylor for renowned painter Bill Sutton, who lived there from 1963 until his death in 2000. It seems insane that this great place might just be demolished for no good reason. The new plan for the rebuild will change Christchurch even further, so my work is a type of mapping of what we still have here now.”
“Most of the artists approached, I had known for a very long time and the majority of them have been living and working in this neighborhood as long as I have. Some are still in their houses/studios but others have not been that fortunate, everyone carrying on though in their new circumstances in one way or another. The eastside of Christchurch has always had a proportionately larger population of artists, including: Colin McCahon, Bill Sutton, Rudolf Gopas, Doris Lusk, Tony Fomison, Rita Angus, Leo Benseman. The geographical area for “EASTSIDE” is roughly between Montreal Street / Bealey Avenue / Linwood Avenue / Ferry Road, The project, as an exhibition, is of 24 artist portraits, each a same size painting, 60 x 60 cm: acrylic on hessian on board.”
The exhibition EASTSIDE@ South Library runs until 8 November.
We also have a series of 3 quilts from Kathleen Burford titled: Lost Heritage recreated in Fabric. The quilts are based on the encaustic tiles on the front and side walls of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings. Kathleen worked from photographs to try and replicate the colour of the tiles. Nelson quilter Bev Dyke helped with the machining. This exhibition is listed in the Reconnect experience heritage event programme and runs until 31 October.
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 