Late Night Art

Parnell record for Goldie painting. Parnell galleries are at the heart of what’s happening in the art world, just one reason that Parnell lays claim to being Auckland’s “Creative Quarter.”

Last month Jonathan Gooderham of Jonathan Grant Galleries and ARTIS Gallery set a new record when he purchased “Forty Winks,” by Charles Frederick Goldie for $573,000 from neighbouring gallery, International Art Centre. Formerly owned by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the 1939 oil painting depicts a Taupo warrior in the Kingi Movement, Rutene Te Uamairangi. Forty Winks, has already found its new home with one of Gooderham’s clients.

Visit the Creative Quarter this Thursday night as Parnell galleries open late serving up a tempting smorgasbord of New Zealand art through to 7.30pm - the perfect entrée to a memorable evening at one of Parnell’s great restaurants.

This sociable event centres on the cluster of galleries located in the middle of Parnell Road: ARTIS Gallery, Jonathan Grant Galleries, Pankhurst Studio Gallery, Parnell Gallery, Pierre Peeters Gallery and Sanderson Contemporary Art; and at 32 Bath Street, Warwick Henderson Gallery.

Also open til late this month is Essenze at 285 Parnell Road. With pianist Jono Heaps warming the evening with Christmas carols.

On the menu…

ARTIS Gallery:
Mervyn Williams is as much the magician as the abstruse abstractionist. While some abstract paintings seem aloof, impervious to anything beyond the realm of “pure” aesthetic experience, Williams' paintings are full of pleasure and surprise.

Jonathan Grant Galleries:
French artist, Philippe Jacques Linder, born in 1835 at Sarrelouis, first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1857 and over the next 30 years continued to exhibit many watercolours of the French style “a la mode” - the portraiture of fashionable Parisian society ladies of the turn of the century.

Parnell Gallery:
Michelle Bellamy has worked in all mediums but has a great love for the special qualities that acrylic paint offers. Over the past few years Michelle has enjoyed working abroad in such inspiring places as Switzerland, Italy and Canada. However the beauty of New Zealand draws her back and she has a deep personal bias for New Zealand vistas.

Pierre Peeters Gallery, Habitat Courtyard:
Pierre Peeters Gallery’s “Christmas group show” previews this Thursday at 5.30pm. The exhibition features work from Alan Taylor, Anya Whitlock, Andrew Hall, Carl Foster, Gareth Price, Ian Kingstone, Harry Wong, Kristin Herman, Mike Morgan, Ralph Hotere, Richard Boyd-Dunlop, Richard Page, Sean Kerrigan, Shannon Novak and more...

Sanderson Contemporary Art:
Sculptor Martin Selman works exclusively in Cararra marble. In combination with his meticulous
handling of the medium, conceptually Selman's works reference the human environment from "soft" domestic objects to the classical traditions of the human form.

Warwick Henderson Gallery:
The Summer Catalogue 2010/2011 exhibition opened this week, presenting a superb range of fine art representing three centuries of New Zealand Art. Includes work by E. A. Aldis, Maud Sherwood, Austen Deans, Douglas Badcock, Don Binney, Trevor Moffitt, Philippa Blair, Fatu Feu’u, Viky Garden, Alexander Bartleet, Nick Wall and Mark Wooller.

Good Wreath!
While you’re in Parnell take a walk from St Stephens Avenue down Parnell Road to enjoy an exhibition of uniquely unseasonal wreaths by artists on display in 20 Parnell stores and galleries. Most wreaths are being auctioned on TradeMe with 20% of proceeds donated to the New Zealand Gynaecological Foundation. Pick up a brochure from participating stores and Parnell cafés and go for a Christmas walk! More information on the wreaths and artists, plus links to TradeMe auction pages at www.parnell.net.nz/auction

There’s a wealth of exciting work this month in Parnell. Be sure to visit our website www.parnell.net.nz for further gallery details or better still; take a stroll down Parnell Road this Thursday!