Exciting line-up of speakers at McCahon events

Exciting line-up of speakers at McCahon events series

Well known New Zealand actor Sam Neill, leading choreographer Michael Parmenter, and controversial theologian Lloyd Geering head a diverse list of high profile guest speakers in a series of outstanding free summer events at City Gallery Wellington. These events celebrate the landmark exhibition Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith at City Gallery Wellington, which looks at the life and work of Colin McCahon and his personal exploration of spirituality. Also included in the line-up of speakers are Dr. Marja Bloem from the prestigious Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and curator of Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith, and senior New Zealand artist Richard Killeen.

The events, including artist floortalks, lectures and a poetry reading are timed to coincide with the final month of the exhibition, which runs until 9 March. Highlights include actor Sam Neill’s talk about McCahon’s Victory over Death 2, a painting he believes to be “the greatest single work of art ever produced in Australasia,” along with a discussion of “rugby, pies and other pressing issues of the day.”

Also speaking is leading choreographer Michael Parmenter, who in 1999 premiered his epic dance theatre work Jerusalem to sell-out audiences across New Zealand. In a floortalk on 22 February Parmenter will discuss McCahon’s influence on his choreography and thinking.

On 1 March Wellington filmmaker, critic and art collector Stuart McKenzie will chair a discussion between Lloyd Geering, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University, and Jonathan Mane-Wheoki, Senior Lecturer in Art History and Dean of Music and Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury, on the relationship of art and spirituality in McCahon’s work. The seminar is presented in partnership with Continuing Education, Victoria University of Wellington. Seats are strictly limited, for bookings for this special event please phone: 04 801 3017.

An exciting literary event not to be missed will be a reading of poems hand-picked by Colin McCahon for his 1972 retrospective exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery, presented by well loved Wellington poets and actors Jenny Bornholdt, Jo Randerson and Waimihi Hotere. The programme will feature biblical and Chinese verse as well as the work of New Zealand writers Peter Hooper, John Caselberg, Matire Kareama, and Frank Sargeson.

Highlights of the closing weekend of the exhibition include curator Dr. Marja Bloem’s lecture which places McCahon in the development of international 20th century art, and curator and art historian Christina Barton, who will consider debates about the impact McCahon has had on artists of succeeding generations.

Admission to all events is free.

CALENDER OF EVENTS SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 6PM THE SECOND COMMANDMENT Richard Killeen

SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY, 2PM DANCING IN MCCAHON’S LANDSCAPE Michael Parmenter

SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 2PM THE GREAT VICTORY OF COLIN MCCAHON Sam Neill

SATURDAY 1 MARCH, 1-4PM COLIN MCCAHON: A QUESTION OF FAITH Jonathan Mane-Wheoki & Lloyd Geering, chaired by Stuart McKenzie

SUNDAY 2 MARCH, 2PM WORDS FOR PAINTING: POETRY AND WRITING INFLUENTIAL IN THE WORK OF COLIN MCCAHON Selected poems read by Jenny Bornholdt, Jo Randerson & Waimihi Hotere

SATURDAY 8 MARCH, 12 NOON CURATOR’S TOUR OF COLIN MCCAHON: A QUESTION OF FAITH Marja Bloem

SATURDAY 8 MARCH, 2PM ‘AFTER MCCAHON’ AGAIN Christina Barton

SUNDAY 9 MARCH, 2PM COLIN MCCAHON AND INTERNATIONAL 20TH CENTURY ART Marja Bloem

Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith is curated and organised by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (SMA) with the organisational support of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, New Zealand (AAG). The principal sponsor in New Zealand is Ernst & Young. The exhibition is generously supported by Creative New Zealand and private patrons in New Zealand and Australia. Indemnified by the New Zealand Government. Its presentation in Wellington is generously supported by Totally Wellington.

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