The Sitting Exhibition - Stephen Marty Welch

17 April 2012

The Sitting Exhibition - Stephen Marty Welch

The Sitting, an exhibition of portraits by artist Stephen Martyn Welch from Series 2 of TVNZ 7’s revealing series, opens at the Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre.

The Sitting will be exhibited in the Master Bedroom and Boardroom from the 17th April to the 27th of May 2012. Stephen Marty Welch will give an Artist’s Talk on Sunday 29 April at 1:30pm.

In TVNZ 7’s series The Sitting, well-known New Zealanders share their stories, while seated for an intimate portrait painted by Stephen Martyn Welch. The Sitting celebrates New Zealanders from the world of the arts, theatre, film and television, food, politics, business, music and the media who are invited to sit for Marty at the Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre.

Welch chats with his guests while capturing the essence of each subject on canvas. During the conversation, exploring each guest’s past and interests, Welch often discovers information about the person that until now has never been revealed.

Back in his studio, Welch completes the portrait and when finished, the work is revealed to the sitter for his or her reaction. These work works now form the exhibition, The Sitting.

Portraits exhibited in The Sitting feature actors Peter Elliott, George Henare, Siobhan Marshall and Geradine Brophy; chefs Al Brown and Jo Seagar; politicians Nikki Kaye and Jacinda Ardern; performer Richard O’Brien; TV ONE’s Mark Sainsbury and Petra Bagust; musician Greg Johnson; All Black Keven Mealamu and coach Graham Henry; Sir Michael Hill; Sir Peter Leitch; Dame Catherine Tizard and Len Brown. The series starts with artists Dick Frizzell and Otis Frizzell.

In February 2012 Welch was awarded the prestigious Adam Portraiture Award for his self-portrait 3 Nights, A Mirror & Loads of Coffee. Born in Dargaville, Welch is now Auckland-based but still calls the Kaipara home. With no formal artistic training, his ability to cut through the veneer and find a hidden gem inside his sitter is a fascinating and often moving experience.

The twenty portraits in this exhibition will be auctioned with proceeds going to the Starship Foundation. For information regarding the auction, please contact thesitting@tvnz.co.nz or 09 916 7653.

The Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Art Centre’s opening hours are Tuesday - Friday 10am till 3pm, Saturday - Sunday 10am till 5pm. Entry is by donation.

For more information please visit www.tsbbankwallaceartscentre.org.nz

ENDS

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