Love Birds by Linda Gilbert

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Press Release

Love Birds by Linda Gilbert

Love Birds is an exhibition of oil paintings by emerging artist Linda Gilbert. The show opens on Valentine’s Day (Tuesday 14 February 2006) at the Wellington Art Centre Gallery, 61 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro and runs until Tuesday February 28 2006.

New Zealand birds from the past, present, and possibly the future are set amongst mythical cloudscapes. Sub-titled Extinct, Endangered and Engineered, Gilbert considers ideas of evolution, preservation, genetic engineering and time.

Evolution is gradual and based on naturally occurring events or mutations. Human manipulation uses genetic engineering to accelerate the process. Both create hybrids. Pick and mix, or wait and see?

The single, common denominator of evolution and genetic engineering is that change is inevitable.

Fear about Avian flu is sweeping the world and many birds, both sick and healthy, are being slaughtered to prevent a possible pandemic. Love Birds references the unique and fragile status of New Zealand’s endangered birds and wonders if our geographic isolation may ultimately protect birds as well as humans.

This exhibition is a Fringe Festival event, run in conjunction with the Wellington Arts Festival 2006. It is kindly supported by the Wellington Creative Communities Scheme and Margrain Vineyard, Martinborough.

ENDS

Exhibition Contact details

Opening: Tuesday 14 February 2006 at 5.30pm

Duration: 14 February – 28 February 2006

Opening Hours: Weekdays 10am – 7pm
Weekends 10am – 4pm

Venue: Wellington Art Centre Gallery
61-63 Abel Smith Street
Te Aro
Wellington

Phone: (04) 385 1929

Fax: (04) 385 3987

Email: artscentre@wcc.govt.nz

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