What's On at the Dowse - Man Made Knit-In

WHAT’S ON at THE DOWSE

13 November 2013

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Gavin Hurley, Boy With Rohan Weallean's Beard, 2013. Courtesy of the artist and Melanie Roger Gallery

Events…

Man Made Knit-In Sun 24 November, 1–3pm |Free

Knit up a storm and challenge some stereotypes in our communal knit-in. Open to everyone, whether experienced or learning, but male knitters are particularly welcome. Mike Dickinson, of Man Made workshop fame, who ran knitting classes for men and was featured on Campbell Live, will be there to help anyone who would like to pick up some knitting skills. Please bring your own wool, some needles will be available. Snacks provided to reward your stamina at the end of the session. Man Made is supported by Holland Road Yarn Company.

Muka Youth Prints Tues 26 & Wed 27 November, 12–5pm | For children 5-18 year

A special adult-free opportunity for children to look at and buy art.  Small, original lithographs will be sold exclusively to young people aged 5-18 years. All unframed prints are $67 and the 20 artists names are covered during the show. Bring your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends!

Mine! Christmas Shopping Thurs 28 November, 6–8pm | Koha as a donation for our education programme

An evening of Christmas shopping at Mine: The Dowse Shop with spot prizes and special discounts. Enjoy festive nibbles, a drink from the cash bar, and meet some of the makers of our designer gifts.

Opening Exhibitions…

Menagerie: Exotic Animals in Aotearoa 23 November 2013 – 23 February 2014 | FRE

A light-hearted look at how and why exotic animals, usually found in zoos, are represented in New Zealand art. What do these animals mean to us, what do they make us think of? Menagerie is an exhibition for the whole family that features works by artists Dick Frizzell, Lisa Walker, Chris Heaphy, Reuben Paterson, Séraphine Pick, Jane Dodd, The Crystal Chain Gang, Bronwynne Cornish, Gina Matchitt, Janet Green and Diane Quin. Image Attached Reuben Paterson, Estrous (detail), 2009/10. Courtesy of Gow Langsford Gallery

Ongoing Exhibitions…

The Cabinets: Peeking Into The Collection 21 September 2013 – 19 January 2014 | FRE

Here's a chance to see behind the scenes of The Dowse – without going back of house. We are currently renovating in the collection store, and needed to temporarily relocate some of the cabinets and the precious artworks they so carefully house. So we thought we'd share them by exhibiting some in the gallery. The Cabinets features some of The Dowse's most iconic ceramics, from Len Castle and Barry Brickell to more recent artists Jim Cooper, Ann Verdcourt and Madeleine Child. There are also significant works from The Blumhardt Foundation's Collection, on long term loan to The Dowse, including works by Japanese master craftsmen Shoji Hamada and Takeichi Kawai.

As Many Structures As I Can: Works from the Chartwell Collection 12 October 2013 – 26 January 2014 | FRE

As Many Structures As I Can celebrates the remarkable collection of the Chartwell Trust in an exhibition exploring the systems and structures utlised by artists to generate their work.

From painting, sculpture, performance and photography, the artworks are built on their own internal logic. The title of this show is taken from a video by Richard Maloy which begins with a perfect set of building blocks made of butter that are reworked endlessly until the material collapses into a formless abstraction of texture and colour. Other artists in the exhibition: Fiona Amundsen, Steve Carr, Bill Culbert, Selina Foote, Gavin Hipkins, Sara Hughes, Simon Ingram, Emily Kame Jngwarreye, Richard Killeen, Laresa Kosloff, Gabriella Mangano, Silvana Mangano, Michael Parekowhai and Justene Williams

The Chartwell Collection is a collection of contemporary art from New Zealand and Australia that has been held on long term loan at the Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand, since 1997.

Man Made 19 October 2013 – 16 February 2014 | FREE | Media Releas

Man Made features the work of twelve contemporary male artists who work with textiles. The twelve Man Made artists are: Gavin Hurley, Richard Orjis, Jay Hutchinson, Ronnie van Hout, Hemi Macgregor, Rohan Wealleans, Elliot Collins, Zac Langdon-Pole, Finn Ferrier, Andrew Barber, Warwick Freeman and David Brown. Man Made investigates the breaking of gender stereotypes and considers the range of subject matter male artists employ with a medium that is more often associated with women. While textiles are also more traditionally associated with craft, the majority of these artists do not necessarily only use textiles and are considered 'fine artists'.

Closing Exhibitions…

Come As You Are 7 September – 17 November 2013 | FRE

You are invited to a party upstairs at The Dowse – there'll be music, popcorn and costumes. Come As You Are celebrates works from The Dowse Collection that feature parties or party themes. There's painting, jewellery, sculpture, costumes and more. Artists include: Terry Stringer, Val Sutherland, Jim Cooper, Kristian Fredrikson and Amelia Pascoe. There's even a jukebox belting out our favourite party tunes. So don't be shy – come as you are and enjoy the party that is our new family exhibition.

Eve Armstrong: Rise 10 August – 24 November 2013 | FRE

An artist project by Wellington's Eve Armstrong that draws on everyday materials and environments around Lower Hutt to create a series of intriguing sculptural collages.

Eve once described her art practice as making "adaptable support structures". Often these structures are object-based, like Rise, which uses found and second hand materials to conduct experiments in colour and form. "My work is typically made in quite a precarious way – different components are arranged rather than being glued. There's often a lot of propping, stacking, leaning, hanging – constant making and re-making."

Home Sewn: Original New Zealand Fashion 10 August – 24 November 2013 | FRE

Curated by Doris de Pont, one time New Zealand fashion designer, Home Sewn is a retrospective of the home sewing revolution in New Zealand. At a time when off-the-peg fashion was scarce and expensive, home sewing provided many generations of women with a stylish wardrobe that reflected the current couture of the fashion capitals. Home Sewn is a touring exhibition from the New Zealand Fashion Museum. 

ENDS

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