Applause - Issue 18

i n s i d e

3meet the 2009 arts foundation Laureates with 5 more artists joining the 44 previousLy awarded

6marti friedLander photographic award recipients announced – this year 2 photographers share the honour

12featured artists:fLorian habicht, peter peryer, jo randerson and raymond boyce

14inspiring patrons and partners – we ceLebrate the many peopLe and organisations that are part of the arts foundation

Applause is the biannual newsletter of the Arts Foundation, focusing on artists supported by the Foundation, awards announcements and relevant activities.Send us your mailing address for a hard copy or email address for a digital version at www.thearts.co.nz or call +64 4 382 9891.Applause is also available to view at www.thearts.co.nz.

Issue 18 n o v e m b e r 2009

ISSN 1178 4687

Raymond Boyce

Box of birds John Reynolds LAuReAte painted approximately 7,000 small canvasses with phrases from the New Zealand vernacular in his work called Clouds. ‘Box of birds’ is one of the artwork phrases that sums up nicely how we feel at the Arts Foundation. We are celebrating our 10th birthday by launching into the second decade with a stream of new ideas to grow support for artists.

the Arts Foundation is the place where you can give to artists, whether it is a little or a lot. It is also a place to experience artists. So stay involved, indulge and enjoy. And pass it on – tell your friends to check out the Arts Foundation today.

Raymond Boyce designed scenario scenery and costumes for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 1969 production of Cinderella. He says, “I designed the costumes by cutting out coloured montage pieces from fashion magazines and sticking them together. One gets kind of tired of doing

the same kind of style all the time. Sometimes you want to break the pattern.” Raymond Boyce talks about designing for theatre, ballet and opera and more on pages 10–11. Like most of the articles in Applause, you can see much more on our website.

raymond boyce icon

john reynolds Box of birds, 2009

a p p l a u s e | t H e A R t S F O u N D A t I O N

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up frontf r o m e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r s i m o n b o w d e n

I’ve been at the Foundation for seven years now and

I have learnt a lot. The experiences I’ve had meeting

people from all walks of life, who come together

with a love of the arts, have been at the heart of

my learning.

Leigh Davis is one of the many people who had a profound influence on the Foundation. He was a great source of inspiration. Leigh was an Arts Foundation trustee until half way through last year. We are all still saddened by his death in October.

Leigh made an interesting observation about the dynamics at our events. He said, “From time to time, you will find yourself in the presence of greatness. And equally, from time to time, you will find yourself in the presence of ordinary people.” Leigh captured one of the most important things about us. the Arts Foundation is not a passive funding body – it creates active environments where artists and their audiences come together to share and experience great ideas.

Meeting as ordinary people, to explore extraordinary ideas, fits well with the Kiwi character. When artists meet patrons we quickly find there is no void to cross and that the same things fascinate us. the exciting thing about the Arts Foundation is that we are all able to flex our creative intuition when stimulated by the thoughts of artists.

this is why Arts Foundation people participate, not just give. Some are highly engaged and travel the country to come to our events, some stay in touch by email and others become inspired by reading Applause.

Participation is one of the ideas underpinning our plans for the Foundation’s second decade. We have a new brand – you are immersed in it right now – and we have a new website, which provides access to artists and their works in new ways. Our events are being reinvigorated so that audiences are as much part of the show as the participants on stage, and we are working on secret plans to display the work of artists in some unlikely places (watch this space!).

Our purpose has not changed. We will carry on honouring the past with an emphasis on stimulating the future. Our awards will continue to place deep trust in recipients, by selecting artists without them knowing they are being considered and by giving them freedom to apply the awards as they see best. In this way, we support artists in a liberating way.

With this goal in mind, we met with Jason O’Hara from Origin Design earlier this year. He captured the new direction: “Make your site about the artists that you have awarded. Let people search by discipline and visual cues. Give them video, image, audio and word galleries, news and events.” And this is what we have done.

each awarded artist will have their own page with their work added to the site as information becomes available. News and events will be accessible through a news and events section, and you will be able to keep up to date with RSS notifications. Populating the site will take time, but as the updating will be regular, there will always be a reason to visit.

the website also has new facilities for donors, thanks to a partnership with CRM provider total View. Credit card donations are accepted online, and patrons can log on to the membership section and update their personal details. We hope you enjoy www.thearts.co.nz and welcome your feedback.

the website is a companion to Applause. Look for this symbol throughout to indicate there is much more to experience online.

To celebrate our second decade, we are launching what we believe will be

one of the most significant arts websites in New Zealand.

our big news

eXPeRIeNCe MORe ONLINe At thearts.co.nZ

t H e A R t S F O u N D A t I O N | a p p l a u s e

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This is the 10th year for the Laureate Awards.

We are proud to announce that Lyonel Grant,

carver, Witi Ihimaera, writer, Chris Knox,

musician, Richard Nunns, musician and

researcher, and Anne Noble, photographer,

join 44 previously awarded artists as Arts

Foundation Laureates.

this year’s recipients were celebrated at a ceremony that was supported by Presenting Sponsor Forsyth Barr. the event was a feast – a feast of art, great people, great food and great performances by previously awarded Laureates.

there is always a delay between the selection of the Laureates and when the Foundation calls each recipient with the good news. On the eve of calling this year, we heard the terrible news that Chris Knox had suffered a serious stroke. Like many others, we read blogs and newspaper articles to keep up with his progress. three days after the stroke, we felt confident enough to call. We spoke to a family spokesperson and then to Chris’s partner Barbara. At such a terrible time, we were pleased to be able to be in contact with some good news.

the job of letting the recipients know they have been selected, without knowing they are under consideration to receive $50,000 towards their careers, is given to Simon Bowden, the Foundation’s executive Director. this is why Simon says, “I have the best job in New Zealand.” He always has some stories. “Anne Noble was not prioritising returning my call,” said Simon. “Anne thought I was calling to ask her to donate a work for a charity auction. I had to call her several times. I finally got her walking home and got a great kick out of her surprise.” Richard Nunns was on Kapiti Island working on a project, Witi Ihimaera was at home wondering how he was going to survive as a writer post retirement from Auckland university and Lyonel Grant was just emerging from a major marae project at unitec in Auckland.

Laureates are selected on behalf of the Foundation by a voluntary panel. this year’s panel was elizabeth ellis (ex-chair te Waka toi), Jenny Harper (Director, Christchurch Art Gallery), Derek Lardelli (Laureate – tā moko), Bill Manhire (Laureate – poet) and Grant Smithies (music writer). the panel meets twice in person. they consider a long list of candidates that has been gathered over time through nominations from Arts Foundation patrons and contact with arts organisations. However, the panel is not limited to selecting from the list and can add names as they wish. At the first meeting, they make a short-list, which is narrowed down to the final five at the second meeting. Panels are free to interpret the criteria for the Laureate Award and are asked to be mindful of the changing character of the award through its history of recipients.

Lyonel grantCARVeR

witi ihimaeraWRIteR

chris KnoxMuSICIAN

richard nunnsMuSICIAN AND ReSeARCHeR

anne noblePHOtOGRAPHeR

2009 arts foundation Laureate awards

presented by forsyth barr

tOP FROM LeFt – Lyonel Grant, Witi Ihimaera, Chris KnoxBeLOW FROM LeFt – Anne Noble, Richard Nunns

LAuReAte StAtuette DeSIGNeD By SCuLPtOR teRRy StRINGeR.

See MORe OF tHe 2009 ARtS FOuNDAtION LAuReAteS At thearts.co.nZ


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Lyonel Grant is a master carver and sculptor working in many media, including stone, wood, bronze, glass, ceramics and paint, with each creation having its own distinct character. He has an exceptional ability to trust his instinct in pushing the boundaries of a medium and can take a simple tool, such as the adze, and shape a waka hull, leaving precise, symmetrical lines. Having learned from time-honoured disciplines, he endeavours to advance the visions of traditional practice by using his own unique methods.

the recently opened marae at unitec on Carrington Road, Auckland, used such traditional building methods. Lyonel is currently writing about this whare. He has been invited to contribute to the 2010 expo pavilion, Shanghai, China and has new work in Roundabout scheduled for Wellington’s City Gallery in September 2010.

The first Māori writer to publish both a book of short stories and a novel, Witi Ihimaera considers “the world I’m in as being Māori, not European”, and his fiction has always grown out of this perspective. From 1972, he began to create imaginative new realities for New Zealand readers, describing The Matriarch (1985) as his most important book about historic Māori-Pākehā relationships. He subsequently expanded into even more ambitious territory, creating Nights in the Gardens of Spain (1995). Pākehā characters, settings and themes confirm his place, today, as a writer of international status. He has continued to increase his range, producing new work for opera, theatre, ballet and film, while his novel The Whale Rider has become an internationally successful feature film.

The Trowenna Sea by Witi Ihimaera (published by Penguin) is now available in bookshops. the little-known fact that Māori prisoners served as convicts in 1840s tasmania provides the inspiration for Witi’s new novel.

There are writers before me and my

generation, and there will be others

who follow us. We all have a role in

developing New Zealand’s identity.

I’m honoured to be a part of that.

Witi ihimaera

Lyonel grant carver

te arawa

witi ihimaera writer

te whĀnau a Kai

STROKE, AN ALBuM OF COVeRS OF CHRIS KNOX SONGS, SCHeDuLeD FOR ReLeASe ON 20 NOVeMBeR 2009. tHe ALBuM FeAtuReS MANy NeW ZeALAND AND INteRNAtIONAL MuSICIANS.

Lyonel grant Workshop

When I was informed of the Arts

Foundation Award, I was impressed

by the way the award was structured.

The artists were nowhere in the mix

other than to be the recipients by

accepting the award. What prevailed

for me was a sense that your peers

do appreciate and are aware of what

you do, and there is an element of

reassurance perhaps that maybe, just

maybe, you are on the right track...

lyonel grant

2009 arts foundation Laureate awards

presented by forsyth barr


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l a u r e a t e a W a r d s

Richard Nunns is a living authority on ngā taonga pūoro (Māori traditional musical instruments) and is described as one of New Zealand’s most remarkable musicians. He is credited, along with Hirini Melbourne and Brian Flintoff, with rediscovering many Māori instruments. With a personal commitment to research, as well as to presenting and performing traditional musical instruments, Richard has organised his body of knowledge into a form that is immediately understandable to people, including many Māori who had lost contact with such knowledge.

Richard has three different recording projects that take him through to Christmas. His next major performing event is with Latitude 35 Degrees South, which premieres at the Bay of Islands Festival in February 2010.

richard nunns musician

I’m lucky to have a many pronged

fork of musical activity. In any day,

I might be recording for film or say

recording for the gateway for Expo in

Shanghai; working with a student at

Waikato University or with a classical

flute player. Virtually every day is

different, and I am blessed to be able

to participate in these fields and

blessed to be in this country and

this world.

richard nunnsrichard nunns Recording session. PHOtO: COuRteSy RAttLe ReCORDS

Invercargill-born Chris Knox has an astounding creative output, which is not confined to making music. He is also known for his spirited and original contributions to film, video, cartoons, writing and criticism in a number of New Zealand’s leading magazines and on national radio and television networks. Chris is known as the spiritual godfather of the Flying Nun recording scene. As well as releasing his own music on Flying Nun, Chris was involved with the recording of many bands on the label, also designing their LP covers and shooting their film clips. He has been a mentor to numerous bands in New Zealand and is highly regarded around the world as an influential musician.

We are thrilled to know that Chris is getting the best possible care and is progressing well following his stroke. He is up and about, working hard on recovery and even managing a weekly music session with friends Don McGlashan and Shayne Carter. Chris’s progress is due to the love and care he is receiving from his family and friends, good wishes of fans and his unstoppable spirit. Keep up the great work Chris!

A cover album of songs by Chris is in the making. Dubbed Stroke, the album includes many international musicians and will be released in November this year.

chris Knox musician

chris Knox PHOtO: PAtRICK ReyNOLDS

For me, photography is a means to

present critically engaged observations

and understandings of the world.

I am particularly interested in how

photography shapes the cultural

imagination, the relationship between

photography and desire, and its

importance as a medium that can

unsettle the messages of advertising

and corporate photography.

anne noBle

Anne Noble is one of New Zealand’s most widely recognised and respected contemporary photographers. With images renowned for their beauty, complexity and the conceptual rigour, Anne has been described as “one of New Zealand photography’s most subtle and poetic of practitioners” and her work as “strangely arresting and almost always profoundly moving”. Professor of Fine Arts (Photography) at Massey university Wellington, she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to photography in 2003.

Anne Noble: The Colour of Gold shows at Bartley + Company Art, 56A Ghuznee Street, Wellington until 28 November 2009. In this exhibition, Anne Noble explores ideas of beauty and toxicity, surface and depth in relation to photography and the Antarctic environment.

anne noble photographer

anne noble Ruby’s Room

The Arts Foundation Laureate Awards, presented by Forsyth Barr, annually celebrate five New Zealand artists who have a proven

track record. Each recipient receives $50,000 in recognition of their achievement and as a challenge to go on producing great work.

Recipients can be practising any art form. They are selected without knowing they are under consideration by a panel of experts.

Each artist receives a Terry Stringer-designed bronze statuette.

m a r t i F r i e d l a n d e r


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marti friedlander photographic awards u p p o r t e d b y t h e a r t s f o u n d a t i o n

Mark Adams is a photographer working with subjects of cross-cultural significance. His photographs of Samoan tatau, Māori-Pākehā interactions around Rotorua, historic sites around the South Island and his investigations into New Zealand’s post-colonial history have been extensively exhibited within New Zealand, as well as in europe, Australia, South Africa and Brazil’s Sao Paulo biennale.

He uses a conventional realism to investigate aspects of New Zealand and Pacific post-colonial history as a form of critique. He likes the notion of “art being that of a witness”. His carefully composed photographs, of great formal elegance, are arresting as they encompass the paradoxes and complexities of the cross-cultural relationships of the histories they record.

mark adams photographer

john miller photographer

John Miller (Ngaitewake-ki-uta, Uritaniwha, Ngāti Rehia hapū of Ngāpuhi) is an independent social documentary photographer, renowned particularly for his protest images.

Self-described as a “sympathetic observer” of anti-war, civil rights, anti-apartheid, anti-nuclear and Māori political protests, John has captured some momentous events and moments in the struggle for peace. In 2003, John received a Media Peace Prize Lifetime Award in recognition of his photography and its role in helping to promote peace.

His works have featured in exhibitions and publications including the books By Batons and Barbed Wire (1981 Springbox tour), Negligent Neighbour (east timor) and Hikoi – Forty Years of Māori Protest.

This year, Marti Friedlander has chosen two artists to share her $25,000 donation. John Millar and Mark Adam are the recipients of the 2009 Marti Friedlander Photographic Award. John and Mark join 2007 recipient Edith Amituanai.

Supported by the Arts Foundation, the Marti Friedlander Photographic Award was launched in 2007. the award is presented every two years to an established photographer with a record of excellence and the potential to continue working at high levels. the award includes a $25,000 donation for the photographer(s) to help further their career.

mark adams Hinemihi. Clandon Park, Surrey, england. 2000

john miller Māori protest group Ngā Tamatoa, including Tame Iti, pictured on the steps of Parliament in 1972.

m a r t i f r i e d L a n d e r

Marti Friedlander is herself the subject of a recently released book by art historian Leonard Bell, published by Auckland university Press. the publication provides a detailed account of Marti’s life and work, including 200 photographs, many published for the first time. The book was launched in association with the exhibition Marti Friedlander: Looking Closely held in October at Auckland’s Gus Fisher Gallery.

I wanted to acknowledge

the work of these

two remarkable

photographers who

have recorded

New Zealand history

and New Zealanders

with a body of work that

is truly unique.

marti Friedlander

PHOtO: MARtI FRIeDLANDeR

See MORe OF MARK AND JOHN ONLINe At thearts.co.nZ

h a r r i e t F r i e d l a n d e r


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florian habicht bites the big apple

Well, I’ve landed in NyC!!! (Check out ‘Florian arriving in New york’ on www.thearts.co.nz). I’ve already bought a fruit blender, eaten at McDonald’s, gone to an outdoor orchestra of 200 electric guitars, experienced the subway and seen a woman watering her plants in the rain.

I’ve got a great ‘railroad’ apartment in Brooklyn. 15 minutes on the L train to Manhattan. everyone else in my building is from Puerto Rico and related to each other. One big family with lots of children and dogs. I don’t have a television, so any television I need to watch will be on the big screen at my local laundromat!

One day, I could smell gas coming from the stove... I tried to fix it and broke the rusty connection. Victor, in the apartment next door, said I had to call 911... so I did and told them to send someone to check it out... “No emergency, just send someone...” 5 minutes later, we hear sirens and my jaw drops...!

I stumbled across “Samantha” and I asked her if I could direct a scene... she asked “Carrie” what she thought... [this was] the greatest moment in my life!!

I’m slowly starting a feature script about daydreaming and occasionally asking people on the subway if they think fish have feelings. (Am filming this for a DVD extra for Land of the Long White Cloud, my latest doco that will be released in New Zealand in January 2010.)

Last night, I had the best karaoke session ever with new friends and visiting Kiwis Chris Pryor and Brydee Rood at trash Bar on Grand Street.

A gallery in Soho, PPOW, is screening my (Elam Art School) short film Liebestraume on thursday night.

Florian is the first recipient of the Harriet Friedlander Residency – eight months, with all expenses paid – in New York. Does it get any better than that!? Florian left New Zealand on 4 August 2009. Let’s see how he is getting on:

See FLORIAN’S FILMS At thearts.co.nZ

the Harriet Friedlander Residency sends an artist (from any discipline) to live in and experience New york, valued at up to NZ$80,000. It is supported by the Harriet Friedlander Scholarship trust and the Arts Foundation.

Woody allen (taKen at the wax museum)

“�Eternal�nothingness�is�fine�if� you�happen�to�be�dressed�for�it.”

centraL parK

Sex and the City…�“SAMANTHA!!!”

directing Sex and the City

Lower east side

from directing to dogwaLKing

the day i shrunK aLL my shirts!

The fire department took the matter very seriously and actually discovered another gas leak in my building, so was lucky they came! NyC Fire Department doesn’t muck around.

I am happy, excited and so inspired. The other day, I had a film idea just from standing in the queue at the post office. there are a lot of queues in NyC.

Learnt that, if you want to get into a party and aren’t on the guest list, you just need to have a pineapple in your hand. Works every time!

Have been going out lots at night, great not to be a workaholic for a while! Reading self-help book called How to write a script in 21 days! at my local café. Randomly meeting or walking past famous people is normal here.

I walked through Central Park the other day – wow!! A party of dancing roller-skaters was a highlight.

the city is certainly inspiring! Probably the only place where people clap at the end of Hollywood blockbusters I found out tonight! And everyone is so, so friendly.

I love taking photos here and can see how my Dad fell in love with this city with his camera in the 70s. I also met Nick Cave and gave him my film Woodenhead!

Florian IN NyC


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peter peryer

For anyone interested in learning about the life of a New Zealand photographer and the art of photography, it would be a real shame if they weren’t referred to Peter Peryer’s blog. http://peryer.blogspot.com/

l a u r e a t e

Peter is one of five artists who received one of the inaugural Arts Foundation Laureate Awards. He is the recipient of several other awards, including an Order of New Zealand Merit (ONZM) for his contribution to photography. For over three decades now, he has been exhibiting in New Zealand and overseas. His work is held in the collections of all major art institutions here and in several international institutions such as Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris and the Australian National Gallery in Canberra.

Peter began his blogging in 2006 partly in response to the continual requests he was receiving from school children wanting to learn more about him and his craft. Currently, there are about 650 entries.

Often, Peter posts information about his own work with supporting images, while at other times, he might post a series of old family photographs accompanied by entertaining historical dialogue. We’ve chosen a number of entries where his blogging covers the theme of tree trunks.

Peter says, “I’ve been writing on the internet for some years. Sometimes, I lose my enthusiasm, I lose my enthusiasm for a while. In fact, I’m going through one of those periods now. At other times, I write several times a week. Why do I do it? I often ask myself that question. It’s often quite hard work. Writing doesn’t come easily for me; words don’t flow of their own accord. ‘Hewn’ is a word that comes to mind. I’m glad I’m not writing a novel. I’m not sure that my writing is about work at all. In a way, the writing is the work. But there is one overriding benefit of a blog that surpasses all others. Writing on the net enables me to make friends from all over the world.

Sometimes, I get to meet them in person. I am glad to be alive to experience this new kind of community, and I am glad to be part of it.”

9 april 2007 at 6:14 pm

roots 1

today, I photographed these on a track in Pukekura Park, about 10 minutes walk away. I’ve probably photographed these exact same roots about five times now. I always stop and look at them when I pass by. If you asked me to explain why, I would struggle. I feel that sometimes I photograph something in order to see what it looks like when it’s been photographed. In this photo’s case, it feels a step on from the previous one of which I am glad. Right in the centre, there seems to be an area that is glowing. I like that part.

monday 31 march 2008 at 5:25 am

Bonsai 2

A couple of postings ago, I raised the subject of how one of my themes concerns size, more specifically, just how big is the subject that we are looking at. Here is another example of a photo that illustrates that point.

About 18 months ago, I discovered that there was a major grower of bonsai in New Plymouth. Although he is unable to be too public about his collection because of the danger of being robbed, he was generous towards me in allowing me unlimited access to his beloved plants. this Japanese pine he has been growing for about 40 years.

the photo is small, and I printed it in quite a large edition with the aim of it being an inexpensive Christmas photo, although as much as I like it, it did not really sell that well. It is possible that its time will come, perhaps not.

I’ve written on this topic partly because I have a number of students emailing me with questions, and “What are my themes?” is one of the most common. Another one is “What are your influences?”

Friday 14 august 2009 at 8:37 pm

stump study 3

A few days ago, I decided to take a breather and do some work on the rather steep and ramshackle garden that I have in New Plymouth. As I was weeding these dead nightshade plants, I began to be aware of the forest look of the long stalks. there was a little slippage in scale that appealed to me.I’ve been looking at photographing the tree trunk for a couple of months now, ever since I bought it at a pet shop. It is a cover for an aquarium filter pump, something like that, and I’m working towards buying the rest of the parts necessary for setting up my first tropical aquarium, including the fish. I have cold water fish in three places here already but tropical is a step up. I want neon tetras because I like the way they swim in schools and I find that relaxing.

Anyway, as soon as I saw the tree, I bought it, and it has had a prominent home here in my studio since. every day, I admire it. to me, it looked very photogenic but it wasn’t until today when I saw those weeds that I saw a possible context for it.

Now I’ll live with the photo for a little while, it’s not there yet but I will perhaps print it up on some large paper, pin the print to the wall and let it share my space for while. then I have to decide to reshoot or to let it go and move on, using it as another rung on the ladder.

sunday 30 august 2009

What do you photograph?Often people who I have just met, meaning well, of course, ask me this question. there is usually a second or so pause on my behalf, and probably, a slightly stricken look on my face making the enquirer fire out a couple of quick prompts as if in a play: “Landscape?” “People?” for example.

I always wish that I could give them a simple answer, to help us both bridge the divide that exists at that point. Coal miners of the West Coast would be a good one. Lighthouses of New Zealand is another. Samoan fa’afafine is also one that I would put in there, because these third gender Samoan hold some genuine photographic interest for me. I want to go to Samoa soon.

It’s an opportunity; if I could speak Dalai Lama responses, we would both be able to make progress towards our understanding of each other.

the photograph of the roots is to provide an example of how, if I was to describe literally what I photograph, might not be too helpful. In this case, “I photograph tree roots” does not illuminate too much. the real subject is behind this.

l a u r e a t e a W a r d s

the Arts Foundation Laureate Awards, presented by Forsyth Barr, annually celebrate five New Zealand artists who have a proven track record. each recipient receives $50,000 in recognition of their achievement and as a challenge to go on producing great work. Recipients can be practising any art form. they are selected without knowing they are under consideration by a panel of experts. each artist receives a terry Stringer-designed bronze statuette.

1 2 3

n e W g e n e r a t i o n a W a r d s


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jo randerson

Jo Randerson is a unique theatre-maker with extensive experience in comedy, poetry, literature and theatre. She received an Arts Foundation New Generation Award in 2008. Jo founded Barbarian Productions in 2001, producing five shows that travelled to Prague, Norway, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as around New Zealand.

Barbarian Productions recently partnered with Downstage theatre, Wellington, to present an evening of “wild humour, terrifying humanity and a stab at some of the great unanswerable questions in Good Night – The End an existential comedy”. Jo plays one of three Grim Reapers.

jo reported in during production

“everyone knows that strange out-of-body experience when you find yourself staring down at the motley collection of arms and legs beneath you, asking yourself, ‘How did I end up here? How did the series of unfolding events that I loosely call ‘My Life’ lead me to this activity, to this moment and is it really worthwhile?’

n e W g e n e r a t i o n a r t i s tthe Arts Foundation New Generation Awards, presented by Freemasons New Zealand, biennially celebrate five artists early on in their career. each recipient receives $25,000 to contribute to their individual artistic identity. each artist also receives a Christine Cathie-designed glasswork. the award was established in 2006.

I’m feeling this every night as I stand

behind a faux crushed-silk blue

curtain, clad in heavy make-up and a

series of black cloaks and cowls. I am

Death. Every night of the week, except

Sunday and Monday, as even Death

needs a rest sometimes.Jo randerson

See MORe OF JO’S WORK ONLINe At thearts.co.nZ

PHOtO: MAtt GRACeJo Randerson also recently combined with the artist Seraphine Pick to produce Through the Door, an otherworldly fable for adults as much as children, published by Wedge Press.

“As the curtain parts, the lightning and smoke machine kick in and about a hundred heads swivel round to face me, I think to myself, ‘this is quite a bizarre situation you are in. Why are you doing this again?’ And then I remember. ‘Because I am trying to make art that means something.’ And I offer up my own little prayer that tonight’s show will mean something to the collection of people who watch it.”

The�final�monologue�from�Good night – the end�follows:

harvester of sorrow: this mysterious thing – life, that vague, persistent sensation of something substantial, just out of my reach. I once caught a glimpse of myself, the person I could have been, just the edge of my foot, disappearing around the corner, away from my sight. And then I was gone. So I fumbled along, waiting for someone to pull me up, bail me out, sensing somewhere deep down that things could have been different, that I had failed... standing on the jetty as the boat took off, thinking of all the things left unsaid, left undone, calling, ‘that was my life! that was my life, sailing without me!’ And it won’t happen again.

raymond boycei c o n

Raymond Boyce designed over 250 stage sets and costumes for New Zealand theatre, ballet and opera in just over 40 years. Over this period, he was also a stage director, actor, puppeteer, executive designer for the Globe embroidered hangings presented to Shakespeare’s Globe in London and worked on the design committee for Expo ‘70 in Japan.

He is now writing his memoirs and has also produced five wonderful photo albums of much of his life’s work. We went and visited him in August, with his close friend Sunny Amey (theatre director and educator), armed with a recorder. the result is a treasure trove of history told through the wit of Raymond and Sunny as they discussed many of the photos. We will deposit the recording and photos with the Oral History unit of the Alexander turnbull Library, and you will also be able to enjoy them on our website.

there are 544 photographs in the collection. to give you a taste, we have selected some of these images, and one of our own, with accompanying stories.

PHOtO: MAtt GRACe

See AND HeAR MORe OF RAyMOND’S StORIeS At thearts.co.nZ


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i c o n a W a r d s


hoW it all BeganRaymond has two Pollock’s toy theatres in his studio, which he made “for the enjoyment of going back to sweet memories of when I was aged eight or nine”. Knowing Raymond was interested in theatre, his grandmother took him to a tiny shop in north-east London, run by Pollock’s daughters. In the area, there was “a real Dickensian shop, with a bow window, and as you opened the door, it went ‘ping, ping, ping’.” In the middle of the shop was a long table with cabinets on either side, all full of shelves. It was explained that in these drawers were printed black and white scenes that could be coloured. Raymond went through the drawers and chose The Miller and his Men (a famous melodrama at the time) complete with little characters and scenery to cut out and an original theatre script. His father stuck the characters and scenery all on board for him to paint and this, Raymond says, “is how I got started”.

theatreIn the theatre, Raymond created stage and costume designs for over 140 productions, including the 1954 New Zealand Players production of Saint Joan.

Above, Raymond works with his wife, Geraldine, making the armour for Saint Joan. It was made from under-felt “soaked in good old New Zealand Grippit glue, which remained flexible. It was sanded down and repainted with silver aluminium dust mixed with glue. We took moulds of edith’s legs and then fashioned the armour around them.” Raymond also designed the graphics for the programme and the stage sets.

“I tell you what was sensational backstage in those days… it was when Sellotape came in!!”

glove puppets“When I left the New Zealand Players, I shot myself in the foot, because there was no-one at that time, outside of the Players, able to pay a designer. So, I decided to try a puppet theatre using glove puppets as I knew they played much more directly to people then trying to pull a string, then having to wait for the energy to make its way down that string. A doll might have danced around and waved its hands, but with glove puppets, there was a direct communication. We spent all our time making the puppets, which we delighted in. Rehearsing and learning the scripts, was quite another story.”

Raymond had joined up with the British Puppet and Model theatre Guild at an early age. He said that “lots of wonderful people were there, like all the Punch and Judy men, and a great professional company run by John Wright. He was contracted to do film work and goodness knows what else. I joined up with him as he wanted someone to help with his puppets, and I toured with him – even a royal film command performance. Anyway, I learnt an awful lot about working, using marionettes [dolls on strings].”

a storm oF a BalletNapoli by August Bournonville was produced in 1962 by Poul Gnatt with stage design by Raymond.

Poul Gnatt is Danish and grew up as a dancer with the Danish National Ballet. Raymond said, “All the Danish ballets were close to Poul Gnatt’s heart. He was determined to do Napoli, and the production was staged in 1962. I designed for him and had to have everything just right. there is a great storm in the fishing village, and he said there must be thunder and I’ll tell you how it was done in Denmark. We had great planks of wood, he said, built like a blind… with ropes coming down, and they pulled the ropes and all the planks collapsed. the thunder was wonderful! We must have that, he said. It had to be exactly as they had done it in Denmark. So I got scaffold planks… and we strung them all out, I think about six or seven… we opened in Napier and hung them backstage. During the technical rehearsal, the cue came, stage hands pulled the ropes, and they came clattering down and went straight through the stage floor.”

“I lived in London and I saw so many productions – ballets, opera, dramas and everything. they stay with you. this is what made me so valuable to these companies. they would want to do a ballet, and I would already have seen it – no-one else had.”

I designed for Carmen for an

international director who just

wanted a very simple set, just a few

platforms, painted black with black

curtaining all the way around – I said,

oh dear. This was one of the rare

occasions that I disagreed. Eventually,

he let me have my way and I designed

a very colourful background for it.”raymond Boyce

opera gets colourRaymond was also the designer for New Zealand Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen in 1969.

the Arts Foundation Icon Awards – Whakamana Hiranga honour senior New Zealand artists for their life-long achievements. these artists are recognised as leaders in their fields. The award is considered the Arts Foundation’s highest honour. Icon Awards are limited to a living circle of 20. established in 2003, each Icon receives a medallion and pin designed by stone sculptor John edgar. the artist keeps the pin in perpetuity. the medallions will be presented to new Icons following an artist’s death, so that the mana of each award increases over time.


12

snapshot tributes

Laureate DonorsLaureate Donors is a programme that Lesley and Michael Shanahan helped start a few years ago. It allows donors to contribute directly to the financial aspect of Laureate artists’ awards. Early in the year, we gathered at Michael and Lesley’s home in Wellington to enjoy performances by artists this group have helped support – Lloyd Jones (writer), John Psathas (composer) and Jacob Rajan (actor).

Award for PatronageIn July this year, we were in Christchurch for the Award for Patronage. the award was presented to Adrienne, Lady Stewart, with the support of her family, friends and guests of presenting sponsor Perpetual trust and the Arts Foundation. the Christchurch Art Gallery kindly donated their foyer for the event. We’d heard that Adrienne was keen on brass bands, so surprised her with some rousing tunes from the Woolston Brass Band at the end of the ceremony. the evening also celebrated the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery of New Plymouth as a recipient of the Governors’ Award in 2009.

MAIN IMAGe Award for Patronage recipient Adrienne, Lady Stewart. With her are (left to right) Holly Mathieson (conductor), Raewyn Hill (choreographer and artistic director), Philip Norman (composer) and Deborah McCormick from Art & Industry Biennial trust. each received a $10,000 donation from Adrienne, Lady Stewart.

LeFt trish Clark (from Auckland) with Icon Don Peebles and his wife Prue. CeNtRe Rhana Devenport, Director, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery (recipient of the 2009 Governors’ Award) with John McCormack (Chair of the Arts Foundation College of Governors). RIGHt the Woolston Brass Band.

CLOCKWISe FROM LeFt – Lesley Shanahan, Rodney Wilson (Arts Foundation Governor) and Jacob Rajan laureate.

e v e n t sSearch for events by artist, discipline, location or date. Read about the event, locate it and find out other details like times, costs and further links. Visit the page of the artist featured in the event, learn more about them and where else you can experience their work.

n e W sKeep up to date with the latest news from the Foundation and its award recipients. Search for a news item or be notified by RSS.

aLL this and more at

Aue te mamae! Kua hinga te Totara o Te Waonui-

a-Tane. Kua kotia te ringa whatu kakahu, teringa

raranga. Haere ra e te Kuia, haere. Haere ki to

okiokinga. Moe mai.

Dr Diggeress Rangitutahi Te Kanawa, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Kinohaku, died in August at the age of 89. She was a key figure in the revival and promotion of different Māori weaving styles and spent her life supporting this art form. Diggeress was one of the 10 artists honoured in 2003 with an inaugural Arts Foundation Icon Award. She was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), and she received an honorary doctorate from the university of Waikato for her dedication to the traditions of fine weaving, Ngā tohu a tā Kingi Ihaka, the Sir Kingi Ihaka Award for her contribution to Māori Arts (te Waka toi’s premiere award) and te tohu tiketike o Te Waka Toi for a Lifetime Commitment to Māori Fibre Arts, particularly weaving.

“Puritia nga taonga a o tatou tupuna: Hold fast to the treasures of our ancestors. Ko te mamae kei I a tatou, ko te kororia kei te Atua.”

Dr Diggeress Rangitutahi te Kanawa, NgāTI MANIAPoTo AND NgāTI KINoHAKU

i c o n

Leigh Davis 1955 – OCtOBeR 3, 2009

We were very sad to lose Leigh Davis in October this year. He was a much admired and highly valued trustee of the Arts Foundation. Described in a recent NBR article as an avant garde businessman, artist and adventurer, Leigh had an extraordinary life at the leading edge of all three disciplines. those that were lucky enough to know Leigh will remember his extraordinary intelligence and his wonderful use of language. His mind was startling and brilliant. With Sue Wood, Leigh instigated the brand development work and strategic planning that is shaping the Foundation’s second decade. Many of his contributions will be noticed as we launch into the next ten years. A number of Leigh’s publications are available at: http://www.jackbooks.com. Leigh is survived by his wife Susan, three daughters and a son.

You’ve got mailWe have honoured 105 artists to date. These artists are all busy people! They produce enough work to fill every waking hour. Now you can find out when and where to experience the work of these artists with ease. Visit thearts.co.nz and sign up for our email updates or check out our news and events sections.


13

FilmIt has been a rich few months for New Zealand film. Many of the

projects feature artists awarded by the Arts Foundation.

home by Christmas is a film memoir by gaylene preston Laureate. It is her father’s war story with Gaylene’s daughter Chelsie playing the role of her own grandmother. the music is by Gaylene’s sister Jan. the premiere is planned for 29 April 2010. Above, Chelsie Preston Crayford (tui) farewells Martin Henderson (young ed Preston) before he leaves for war.

Mr Pip, the award-winning novel by Lloyd jones Laureate, is to be adapted for film by Andrew Adamson (Kiwi director of the first two Shrek and Chronicles of Narnia films). Producer Robin Scholes plans to film Mister Pip in Australia, post-produce in New Zealand and complete the sound in Britain.

the Strength of Water was written by briar grace-smith Laureate and was workshopped at the Sundance Directors’ and Screenwriters’ Labs in utah in 2006. Filmed in the Hokianga in the Far North, this is Briar’s first feature film script. Directed by Armagan Ballantyne, the film has screened at numerous international festivals including Rotterdam, Berlin, Shangai, Cannes, Seattle and Sydney, opening in New Zealand in July.

the Vintner’s Luck is based on the award-winning novel by elizabeth Knox Laureate. Directed by Niki Caro, the film was released in New Zealand cinemas on 12 November. Elizabeth’s sequel to The Vintner’s Luck, the angel’s Cut, was published in June 2009. elizabeth Knox, seen above with director Niki Caro, has a cameo role.

Boy is a full-length version of taika waititi’s new generation artist two Cars, One night. The setting is Waihau Bay on the East Coast where Taika grew up. Taika’s first venture into feature film was eagle vs Shark in 2007, which he also wrote and directed. Boy will be released in New Zealand in 2010.

Under the Mountain, written by maurice gee icon in the 1950s, became an eight-part television New Zealand series in the 1980s and is now a movie. Produced by Jonathan King, the film will open in New Zealand cinemas from 10 December.

BooksThree new literature releases feature or have been written by Icon

artists. There is a new book that features the work of Douglas Wright

and a release from the 2009 Governors’ Award recipient.

maurice gee’s icon novel access Road was released in September by Penguin. “Rowan wonders how long she can keep her own past at bay, as she watches her brother losing the battle with his memories.”

patricia grace’s icon first non-fiction work was released in october, also by Penguin. ned and Katina is the story of Ned Nathan who developed a tentative love affair with Katina while stationed on the island of Crete during World War II. the relationship blossomed slowly, and at the end of the war, they married and returned to New Zealand to settle in the Far North.

margaret mahy’s icon poems and stories in rhyme have been collected together by her biographer, Tessa Duder, for the first time ever in the wonderful new book the Word Witch: the Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy. Illustrations by David elliot and published by Harper Collins.

Len Lye, showcasing one of New Zealand’s most inspirational and influential artists, throws fresh light on the inventive vitality and incredible diversity of the work of Len Lye (1901–1980). Over 1,000 new photographs were created and hundreds of them selected for this publication by 2009 Governors’ Award recipient the govett-brewster art gallery and the Len Lye Foundation. It is co-edited by the Gallery’s Len Lye Curator tyler Cann and the writer, critic and poet Wystan Curnow. Len Lye was officially launched in an event at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in late September. two Len Lye exhibitions are forthcoming in December 2009 at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, and the Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland.

Also, Craig Potton Publishing has just released the book Black Milk. Photographs by John Savage of the dance-theatre work by douglas wright Laureate.

focus

See MORe NeWS At thearts.co.nZ

THE STRENGTH OF WATER

THE VINTNER’S LUCK

HOME BY CHRISTMAS


14

“One of the joys of supporting young artists to realise their dreams is to hear and to see them perform. We are rewarded by attending their performances and by the hard work that goes into achieving their goals.

Anna Leese is currently performing as tatyana in Eugene Onegin with the NBR New Zealand Opera. We are receiving great messages about her performances and she is getting great reviews (see below). Anna has been a joy to support in the years since she won the Lexus competition. While in London we have heard Jonathan Lemalu singing The Best of Gershwin with Gweneth-Ann Jones at the famous de la Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea. this was a fundraising concert for Chichester Cathedral, and the audience loved Jonathan’s wonderful voice and engaging personality.

We had a picnic with Jonathan, his wife, Sandra, and his sister, Selena, before a concert and were joined by pianist Amber Rainey who is a new Kirsten Deane Scholar. Amber has recently enrolled at the Guildhall, and Jonathan was able to give her lots of advice to help progress her career. I was reminded how important it is to have access to information, and I am so pleased that the artists we have supported can help each other.

In 2008, Dame Kiri suggested that the Dame Malvina trust and our trust jointly support young New Zealand artists. Networking in the arts is such an important component of making things happen and to ensure funds go further. our first joint support was of

Phillip Rhodes, who sang with Dame Kiri at the tower of London Festival on 16 September this year. the concert was held in the Moat of the tower with the walls helping to shelter us from the wind. New Zealanders in the audience were very proud of Phillip striding on to the stage. Given his splendid progress, it will be wonderful when we can hear him sing at home again. The Times said of Phillip’s performance: “the baritone Phillip Rhodes – a good looking Māori like Te Kanawa herself – delivered Largo al factotum with such panache that a lifetime of Figaros and Papagenos seems guaranteed.”

Recently, Phillip took Roderick and me to Dame Kiri’s home when he had a lesson. While we were waiting at Victoria Station, a woman said to Phillip: “I was at your concert last night and thought you were wonderful.” this was a great start to the day and it was a special privilege to witness Phillip having another demanding lesson. experiencing the lesson reminded me what an extremely long hard road it is to excel in the worlds of opera and music.

the work of Dame Kiri and Dame Malvina, in helping so many young New Zealanders build their talents, is inspirational. The students benefit not only financially, but even more importantly from the mentoring of Kiri and Malvina. Both provide such vast experience, great knowledge and extensive networks throughout the music world.

It is always our pleasure to be able to help artists in some small way.” Gillian Deane (18/09/2009)

The Arts Foundation was very grateful for a donation

received from Valerie and Kelvin Grant, my aunt and

uncle, earlier this year. Sadly, Kelvin died unexpectedly

in November 2008 of pneumonia. Prior to his death,

he and Valerie had decided to make a donation to the

Arts Foundation. Moved by Valerie’s decision to go

ahead with the donation, I asked if I could relate

Kelvin’s story in Applause. She agreed, saying “if it

inspires more people to give to the arts, then Kelvin

would be pleased”.

Kelvin regarded himself as a “social and community” architect. His commissions included libraries, rest homes, theatres, hospitals, schools, churches and more. He won a design award for Whangarei’s Forum North and was honoured to be asked to rescue Premier House in Wellington.

Kelvin often designed flexible space for concerts and art exhibitions in his churches and encouraged their use. For example, soon after the opening of the Devonport Methodist Church (1960s), he organised an exhibition of Colin McCahon paintings, transporting them in the back of his Volkswagen Beetle. However, Kelvin’s designs did not always immediately win over local parishioners. He suggested the St John’s uniting Church in Whangarei be painted bright yellow. One parishioner wrote to the local newspaper that she was praying to God that it was only the undercoat. the church is now known as the “golden church on Kamo Road” and was recently repainted in the original colour.

Kelvin was a dedicated follower of the arts, both personally and as part of his practice. His designs often included light fittings and furniture, and sometimes sculpture. He also collaborated with artists. In the 1970s, he commissioned Jim Grieg to create a pottery mural for the Phoenix Insurance Company Building in Wakefield St, Auckland. The result was a wave form, made up of hundreds of small glazed pottery discs. Like many other public works, the artwork was bulldozed a few years later. Kelvin worked with the Brickells on the Devonport Arts Festival, which at that time displayed works by Pat Hanly, Don Binney, Len Castle, Barry Brickell and many others. He was a lifetime friend and patron of many artists, often purchasing their works before they were recognised.

Valerie said, “the arts were a lifetime passion for Kelvin. As he grew older, he encouraged family members and friends in their appreciation of the arts, often by giving them tickets or helping them to organise festival visits. We often talked late into the night about the impact of the various events or exhibitions. I was pleased to make the donation to the Foundation as a way of celebrating Kelvin’s passion for art and his love and respect for artists.”

inspiring patrons

London callingThe 2008 recipients of the Award for Patronage, presented by Perpetual Trust, were Gillian and Roderick Deane. We asked Gillian for an update on her and Roderick’s life in the arts world and received the following by email from London.

LeFt tO RIGHt – Amber Rainey, Gillian Deane, Phillip Rhodes, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Jonathan Lemalu and Sandra Martinovic Lemalu after the tower of London Festival Concert.

Singing the role of Tatyana [in

Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin for

New Zealand Opera] was Anna Leese

who brought a freshness and

elegance to the role and a voice that

was captivating and poignant.

John daly-peoples

(22/09/09) NAtIONAL BuSINeSS ReVIeW

A lifetime love of the arts By SIMON BOWDeN

Kelvin Grant, marquette for cross for Devonport Methodist Church


15

As part of our plans for the next ten years, a number of changes are being implemented to the Foundation’s sponsorship structure. the changes include the disestablishment of the Principal Sponsorship position. We are grateful to Forsyth Barr for supporting these changes so the Foundation can implement a new funding model. Forsyth Barr will continue to form an integral part of the Arts Foundation as Presenting Sponsor of the Laureate Awards. the implementation of out new funding model is only possible due to the commitment and care Forsyth Barr has brought to the sponsorship.

the relationship between Forsyth Barr and the Arts Foundation is founded on growing support for artists. Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage events have grown this support by connecting our community of artists and supporters so that they can share, collaborate and inspire one another. We celebrated Forsyth Barr’s remarkable seven years as Principal Sponsor, at the last Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage, in Wellington on October 21 this year.

the purpose of Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage is to take artists around New Zealand so that guests of the Foundation and Forsyth Barr can experience these artists up close. Sir Ronald Scott, a Founding trustee, said, “It was a brave move. It was one thing to honour artists with awards for acknowledged excellence, but would they want to talk about themselves, openly, to others? Would they really? Aren’t they all a bit different, and what about their public, would they be interested? Well, blow me down, behind all that dazzling creative talent, artists turned out to be ordinary humans after all. they were prepared to talk, and much to the surprise of some of us, good people out there were prepared to learn, listen and to figure things out for themselves.” there have been over 50 Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage events presented across 12 cities from Invercargill to Auckland.

Sir Ronald told guests at the last Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage, that the event and the Principal Sponsorship of the Foundation was a triumph. He thanked Forsyth Barr’s Managing Director Neil Paviour-Smith, his wife Phillipa who is invariably in attendance, and his management teams around New Zealand who helped make these events special and successful. He thanked trish Oakley, Head of Product Development and Marketing, for her endless attention to detail and dedication to seeking fantastic outcomes for all parties. He also thanked one of our own trustees, Sir eion edgar who, to the Foundation’s good luck, is not only one of its founding trustees but also Chairman of Forsyth Barr.

Neil Paviour-Smith reminded guests that Forsyth Barr is one of the few independently owned New Zealand financial services firms. He feels this important point of difference comes with a responsibility to contribute back into the communities in which Forsyth Barr operates. this has underpinned Forsyth Barr’s commitment to the Foundation, enabling it to share artists and their talents, with New Zealanders.

However, what we didn’t plan for was the impact that events had on the artists. We have numerous stories of what happens when you get artists, from different disciplines, to talk to audiences, or hang-out together in a van on a road trip between appearances. there are too many stories to tell here! there have been a number of collaborations to emerge from connections made at Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage. this is a particularly rewarding part of the partnership between the Arts Foundation and Forsyth Barr. Neil Paviour-Smith said “we are thrilled that new work has been created as a result of the meeting of artist minds at our events, this multiplying effecting has added greatly to the value of the events for New Zealand”.

inspiring partners

Growing Support for ArtistsForsyth Barr is an integral partner and a long-term supporter of the Arts Foundation. Their support is substantial and is one of the key reasons the Foundation has been able to grow significantly in its first decade.

LeFt – Jacob Rajan LAuReAte performing and explaining the different characters

ABOVe – Jacob’s masks, made by a traditional Balinese mask-maker are currently named after their traditional stage characters. tOP – Woman, MIDDLe ROW, FROM LeFt Sick-man, Clown, LASt ROW, FROM LeFt – Bouncer, Priest and Old-man. the masks will have new names when Jacob has developed characters for them.

Inspiring collaborationA great example of a collaboration that emerged from Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage is when Jacob Rajan, a theatre practitioner who specialises in mask, met Jack Body a composer, with a love of the indigenous arts from Indonesia. Jack gave Jacob some contacts in Indonesia that led him to a traditional mask-maker. He came home with six wonderful new masks and is now creating new work for them. Jacob brought these masks to life for us all at the last Forsyth Barr Laureates On-Stage and has a great future planned for featuring these works in private homes. It was a great way for us to end this series – with an inspiring collaboration that started at one of the Forsyth Barr Laureates on Stage events.

tOP Neil Paviour-Smith, Forsyth Barr Managing DirectorBeLOW Sir eion edgar, Forsyth Barr Chairman and Arts Foundation Founding trustee, Bill Manhire LAuReAte & Sir Ron Scott, Founding trustee.

PHOtO: PeteR DeKKeRS


16

from our engine room

Have you heard of Gavin Bradley?

He’s an ex-Saatchi & Saatchi creative

guru who has worked his magic to give

the Foundation its new brand. Gavin was

part of a team that included Sue Wood,

Leigh Davis and Simon Bowden.

This team found no need to alter the

way the Foundation operates, just the

way it communicates. The result of this

work is emerging through new event

plans, website, language, design and

other strategies.

A key aspect of the Foundation’s brand is our new logo. the design of the logo was no small task; we had a number of attempts that failed. At the 11th hour of a self-imposed deadline, with two concepts lying on the floor, gavin came up with the idea that everyone immediately agreed too. Months of trying gave way to a moment of inspiration. However, Gavin’s idea was in concept form and needed to be executed by an artist. the answer was obvious – Sarah Maxey.

Sarah is a practising graphic designer, specialising in typography and hand-lettering.

She trained as a textile designer before becoming, as she says, “a till jockey” at unity Books, kick-starting a love of books and a long career in book-cover design. Sarah’s new business, Nice Work, concentrates on a range of design work and illustration for household textiles and stationery. She also finds the time to work on her own artistic practice, with an exhibition planned in May 2010 at Bowen Galleries, Wellington.

When Sarah is hand-lettering, she writes the words out again and again and again, until she feels she has some good results. She produces pages and pages of the same words. each time Sarah writes a word that she likes, she marks it with an “x” so she knows which ones to go back to. When she feels she has enough material, she then reviews the marked words, often chopping and changing words from different pages to create the right result.

In the case of the Arts Foundation logo, she chopped up the words and even stole letters from some. Once she had found the right parts, she scanned the words and letters and then put them together with the help of her computer. unlike calligraphy, which is precise, the outcome was, Sarah says “a happy accident”. Sarah used a pen that deliberately leaked, so had to work very quickly to avoid too much blotting – although this blotting has become part of the character of the letters. With no control over this, Sarah worked with what flowed from the pen, which she likes and encourages in her work. “the slightly unexpected, out of control aspect is when you get surprising results.”

Sarah Maxey PHOtO By VICtORIA BIRKINSHAW


17

Origin DesignWe’ve held a secret for quite a number of months now. you’ll be aware that the Arts Foundation has corporate partners who provide goods and services at no charge. you will also know that we have a new brand, but brand directions are of little use without a design company to bring them to life.

With the brand launched, we can now formally announce that Origin Design is our new design partner. they have been producing our material under the old brand for most of the year, but we agreed that it was best to profile them alongside their own work. We now introduce them to you. Before we do, however, we do need to say something. they are awesome! When we turn up to see their ideas, they show us two. The first is fantastic, while the second, exceeds our expectations. the design work makes sense – we think all of our Christmases have come at once.

Origin Design – introduced to the Foundation by trustee Sue Wood – was a design company Sue had worked with for many years on behalf of her own clients.

“As with all of our supplier partnerships, we seek out the best in their field and ask them to donate a portion of their professional skills and expertise to the Foundation,” Sue said. “We cannot afford to compromise on quality in everything we do because our design work must complement New Zealand’s finest artists and their work.”

In the case of Origin Design, it has proved to be a perfect fit, and their passion for the arts is matched by their hugely generous commitment to the Foundation.

Origin Design is Wellington-based, and the Foundation sincerely hopes that our patrons and supporters will consider using their design skills in web and print projects in the future. the Foundation’s new website www.thearts.co.nz, designed and built by Origin, is the best endorsement of their work. Do take a look.

Origin’s ability to do the full range of design work we need is a real advantage. there’s no to-ing and fro-ing between different agencies or designers. Since they took up the challenge, we’ve been able to redesign all our sponsorship material and newsletter and our wonderful new website.

the Arts Foundation has a close working relationship with its partners. In addition to contact with Origin’s Directors, two teams work closely with the Foundation – one for print and one for the web. As is often the case with creatives who’d rather let their work do the talking, a bit of arm wrestling was needed to get them to agree to this profile. We are grateful that they agreed on the basis that our supporters want to know who is in our team. their smiling faces are above.

“A significant challenge,” says Edwin Hooper, origin’s print designer “is not to design over the top of the artists. With New Zealand’s top artists in every field being honoured for their work, my job is to frame the work or act as a foil for it. the general design approach is to treat everything as though it is an exhibition, giving the art the prominence it deserves, and commands.” Jason O’Hara concurs. Jason has been painting the website into life in time for its launch on November 17. Both designers agree that this sort of work is pure indulgence, almost like being back at art school themselves, working on a dream project.

Service PrintersThe offices of the Foundation’s newest corporate partner are lined with framed certificates. Service Printers is the only New Zealand print company to have won three supreme awards at the Pride and Print Awards and Service has also won 50 gold medals at Pride and Print, which are New Zealand’s premium awards for print quality. We are excited to announce Service Printers as a new sponsor of the Arts Foundation.

everybody at Service Printers is committed to absolute quality in all areas of operation. This commitment was first made in 1978 when owner Bob Masters purchased the company and has been a mantra ever since.

Not only do Service Printers have high-quality offset and digital printing facilities, they also have a commitment to clients that is second to none. When an important sponsorship meeting had to be changed at short notice, the Foundation asked for a proposal to be printed that afternoon. the proposal was hand-delivered to the executive Director’s house that evening at 9pm so that he could take it to Auckland on the first flight in the morning. This kind of commitment has earned Service Printers a reputation for being Wellington’s best printers.

Again, we are very proud to be partnering with companies of the standard of Service Printers. With them and our other partners, we can celebrate the arts at the highest level.

ORIGIN DeSIGN SeRVICe PRINteRS

tOP FROM LeFt Origin Design Directors: Brian Slade, Alexandra LutyensBeLOW FROM LeFt Sylvia Smith and Mason Smith

tOP Bob Masters BeLOW Dean OliverFROM LeFt edwin Hooper, Jason O’Hara, Juliet Corney, Marijke Preston and Matt Bondi


18

the arts foundation

vice-regal patronHis excellency the Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, gnZm, Qso, Governor-General of New Zealand

honorary vice-patronsthe Right Honourable Sir Michael Hardie Boys gnZm, gcmg, Qso & Lady Hardie Boys Qso

trusteesRos Burdon cnZm (chair), Richard Cathie mnZm, Sir eion edgar cnZm, elizabeth ellis cnZm, Andrew Harmos, Fran Ricketts, David Ross, Sir Ronald Scott, Brian Stevenson, Sir Miles Warren onZ, Kbe & Sue Wood

governorsJohn McCormack (chair), David Carson-Parker, Dr Robin Congreve, Briar Grace-Smith, Roger Hall Qso, cnZm, elizabeth Knox onZm, Jonathan Mane-Wheoki, Helen Medlyn, Justin Paton, Gaylene Preston onZm,

Deirdre tarrant mnZm, Hon Georgina te Heuheu Qso, Marilynn Webb onZm, Dame Gillian Whitehead mnZm, Lloyd Williams & Rodney Wilson cnZm

staFFexecutive director

Simon Bowdenproject co-ordinator

Angela Busbyadministrator & events co-ordinator

Bryna Dekkers

the arts FoundationPO Box 11352, Manners Street, Wellington 6142, Level 3, 45 tory Street, Wellington 6011t +64 4 382 9691F +64 4 382 9692W www.thearts.co.nze [email protected] commission # CC24256

icon artistsraymond boyce theatre design

Len castle potter

janet frame (1924–2004) writer

maurice gee writer

Peter�Godfrey�musician

patricia grace writer

alexander grant baLLet dancer

dr pakariki harrison (1928–2008) CARVER

ralph hotere visuaL artist

russell Kerr choreographer

sir donald mcintyre OPERA SINGER

margaret mahy writer

milan mrkusich visuaL artist

donald munro opera pioneer

don peebles painter

don selwyn (1935–2007) actor/director

diggeress te Kanawa (1920–2009) WEAVER

hone tuwhare (1922–2008) poet

sir miles warren ARCHITECT

ans westra photographer

arnold manaaki wilson SCULPTOR

laureate artistsbarry barclay (1944–2008)

fiLm director/writer

jack body composer

alun bollinger cinematographer

jenny bornholdt poet

shane cotton visuaL artist

phil dadson intermedia artist

neil dawson scuLptor

Kate de goldi WRITER

ngila dickson costume designer

warwick freeman jeweLLer

alastair galbraith sound musician

briar grace-smith writer

Lyonel grant master carver

george henare actor

michael houstoun concert pianist

sarah-jayne howard dancer

michael hurst actor/director

neil ieremia director/choreographer

witi ihimaera writer

humphrey ikin furniture maKer

Lloyd jones writer

oscar Kightley writer/actor/director

elizabeth Knox writer

chris Knox musician

derek Lardelli ta moKo/Kapa haKa

colin mccoll theatre director

shona mccullagh choreographer/dance fiLmmaKer

don mcglashan musician

bill manhire poet

moana maniapoto musician

helen medlyn singer

julia morison visuaL artist

anne noble photographer

richard nunns musician & researcher

simon o’neill opera singer

michael parekowhai visuaL artist

peter peryer photographer

gaylene preston fiLmmaKer

john psathas composer

john pule visuaL artist/poet

jacob rajan pLaywright/actor

john reynolds visuaL artist

ann robinson gLass scuLptor

teddy tahu rhodes opera singer

ronnie van hout VISUAL ARTIST

ian wedde poet/writer

gillian whitehead composer

merilyn wiseman ceramic artist

douglas wright choreographer

neW generation artistseve armstrong visuaL artist

Jeff�Henderson�music maKer

warren maxwell musician

tze ming mok writer

alex monteith new media artist

madeleine pierard opera singer

jo randerson writer/actor

anna sanderson writer

joe sheehan stone artist/jeweLLer

taika waititi fiLmmaKer/theatre

aWard For patronage (AND tHeIR DONAtION ReCIPIeNtS)

denis and verna adamdave armstrong & oscar Kightley (jointLy) pLaywrights

john chen pianist

john drawbridge (posthumousLy)

visuaL artist

tom scott cartoonist/poLiticaL journaList

Jenny gibbsgretchen albrecht visuaL artist

artspace, aucklandauckland writers and readersthe new Zealand opera school

gillian and roderick deane jonathan Lemalu opera singer

anna Leese opera singer

delia matthews baLLet dancer

new Zealand youth choir

adrienne, lady stewartraewyn hill choreographer

holly mathieson conductor

philip norman composer

the art & industry biennial trust

governors’ aWardUniversity�Of�Otagoradio new Zealand concertgovett-brewster art gallery

the marti Friedlander photographic aWardedith amituanai photographer

mark adams photographer

john miller photographer

the harriet Friedlander residency florian habicht fiLmmaKer

Many people and organisations have supported the Arts Foundation through donations, gifts, bequests and sponsorships since our emergence in 2000. Patrons, donors and sponsors’ devotion to the cause is most gratefully acknowledged.

a W a r d p a r t n e r s B u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s t r u s t s s u p p o r t i n g p a r t n e r s

For a detailed description of how these wonderful organisations partner with us, go to www.thearts.co.nz.

Laureate awards new generation awards award for patronage design partner print partner


19

Founding patronsRoderick & Gillian DeaneSir eion & Lady edgar Dame Jenny GibbsFran & Geoff RickettsJohn toddJames H Wallace

platinum liFetime patronsNancy & Spencer Radford

platinum patronsPeter tathamAnonymous (1)

gold liFetime patronsRos & Philip BurdonJohn & Jo Gowernest & Catherine HenshawDiana, Lady IsaacDavid Levene FoundationPeter & Joanna MasfenFay PankhurstDian & David RossDeborah SellarSir Miles WarrenAnonymous (1)

gold Philip CarterJohn & Rose Dunn*Gus & Irene Fisher Kathlene Fogarty & Dr Gary ReynoldsHoldsworth Charitable trust*Andrew & Sheridan HarmosDon and Jannie Hunn*National Business Review**Denver & Prue Olde*Lesley & Michael Shanahan*Andrew & Jenny Smith*Adrienne, Lady StewartPhilippa, Lady taitDavid WiltonAnonymous (1)

silver Hon. Margaret AustinPaul BaragwanathDonald & Susan Best*Richard & Frances Cathietrish ClarkWayne Boyd & Ann ClarkeRobin & erika CongreveAlfons & Susie des tombeDiana & Bob FenwickMarti & Gerrard FriedlanderGilbert & Patricia GlausiussAlexander Grant cbe

Ross & Joséphine Green

Laurie GreigSir Michael & Lady Hardie BoysGreg & Shelly HortonMargot HutchisonJillian & Dick JardineChris & Dayle MaceRichard & Pamela NelsonKen & Lesley NesbitChris Parkin & Michelle Robertson*Collin Post & Brenda young*Andrew Robertson & Niina SuhonenNoel & Sue RobinsonRon & Margaret SaundersMary SmitSuzanne Snively & Ian FraserPamela & Brian StevensonDavid and Hilary StockFaith P taylorJenny toddSheelagh A thompsonCaroline & Henry van AschWalker & Hall trustHaydn Wong

Bronze Charlotte AndersonMichael & Gaye AndrewsArts WaikatoGraham AtkinsonMargaret & Warren Austad*Anne & tony BairdRichard & trish Barnes*John BarnettAlexandra & Charlie BartonDavid & ewa BigioSylvia & Brian BennettCaroline BonzonBurmark IndustriesLiz Bowen-Clewley & Greg ClewleyBill Brien & Frances RussellChris & Lyn BrocketPeter & Claire BruellJulie & Robert BrydenJohn & Lyn BuchananChris & Marguerite BurrMichael Burrowes & Kate MahonyBill & Meg BusbyKaty Campbell*Bruce & Margaret Carson Brecon & Jessica CarterSuzanne CarterAndrew & Niki CathieKim Chamberlain & Henrietta HallHelen ChambersRick & Lorraine Christieerrol & Jennifer Clark*

Margaret ClarkSarah & Graham CoxheadBruce & Jo ConnorAnna CrightonFay & Peter CropperMayford Dawsontim & Gillie DeansDinah & Robert DobsonJohn & Pip DobsonRocky & Jeanie DoucheJohn & Karen eaglesRobyn & Christopher evansKaryn Fenton-ellisHelen & Keith Fergusontim & Judy FinnBruce FinnertyCharlotte & Robert FisherRie Fletchere M FriedlanderAllan & Jennifer GalbraithJohn & Marelda GallaherJim & Marcella GeddesDorothy & Stephen Gentry*Sue Gifford & Simon SkinnerJohn & trish GribbenDerek & Kirsty HargreavesPhilip & Leone HarknessAlister HarlowCarole HartneyCaroline & tim HerrickGay Hervey & Bob SchmukeJohn & Barbara HeslopWilli HillProfessor Les & Patricia HolborowOmer & Don HookerKen & Jennifer HornerPatricia Hurley*Joan ImrieChris & Sue InesonSusan & Nigel IsaacsVicky Jones & ed AllenHugo Judd & Sue MorganPeter KeenanGrant KerrRoger King & Liffy RobertsDenis & Jane Kirkcaldie*Prudence Mary LaneMichael & Monica LaneyHilary LangerAnnie K H LeeAngela LewisKen Lister & Barbara Bridgereugenie LoomansRobert & Jenny LoosleyMary LynskeyRoderick & Mary MacKenzieJan & Rod MacleodJulie McDowell

Caroline & Gerald McGhieShirley, Lady McKenzieSue & John MaaslandAnn Mallinson*Selene Manning & Anthony WrightJohn & Mary Marshall*estelle MartinJenny MayJoy MebusPauline MitchellAnn & tom MorrisBarbara & Roger MosesRobert & Freda Narev Anna Nathan & David WilliamsCaroline & Gerald McGhieMike NicolaidiDavid Nicoll & Rosie eadyRob & Jacqui Nicoll Mervyn & Francoise NorrishHelen & Wayne Nybergtrish & Roger Oakleyema O’Brienterrence & elizabeth O’Brien*Sir Geoffrey & Mrs Margaret Palmer*Simon & Nell PascoeBarry & Alison PatersonNeil & Phillipa Paviour-SmithSam PerryM H PhillipsRachel & Neil PlimmerJoe & Jacqueline PopeJames & Rachel PorteousJack & Lynn PorusMichael PrenticeChris & Sue ProwseProfessor Hilary RadnerDon & Moira RennieGavin & Felicity RennieNicky Riddiford & John PrebbleMarjorie Robson*Lyn & Bruce RobertsonGillian Reid RossRita SalmonRonald Sang & Margaret ParkerGregg & Rosie SchneidermanSir Ronald & Lady Beverley ScottAntonia Shanahan*Suzanne ShandLindsay SheltonMax & Laraine ShepherdJan SparyMartin & Catherine SpencerDunbar & Glenda SloaneJohn & Robyn SpoonerJane Sanders & Mike Stanton Richard Jeffrey & Jessica emily

StanilandRoger Steele & Christine RobertsRoss SteeleGordon StewartBea & Brian StokesScott & Vicki St JohnKathleen tipler & Michael Coleturnovsky endowment trustJudy & Roscoe turner*David & Rachel underwoodGerrit & Marianne van der LingenPhilip van DykKerrin & Noel Vautierthe Waimarama trust Fredricka e M Walker-MurrayJames L D & eve WallaceWarren & Virginia WarbrickSusan & Peter Webb*Lenore WestLindsay & John Weststrate*Margaret WheelerHelen & Geoff WhitcherJudith e WhiteMichèle Whitecliffe & Adrian FarnsworthDame Gillian Whiteheadedna WilliamsLes & Marie WilliamsGeoff Winstone & Jenny MacdonaldKirsty WoodRichard & Joanna WoodsJohn & Rosemary WorleyHelen youngAnonymous (13)

legacy donationsKelvin & Valerie Grant

notiFied legaciesAlistair BettsJamie BullDavid Carson-ParkerAnne ConeyJohn DowJenny GibbsLorraine IsaacsHelen LloydPamela & Brian StevensonJohn toddAnonymous (7)

a W a r d p a r t n e r s B u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s t r u s t s s u p p o r t i n g p a r t n e r s

* LAuReAte DONORS | ** GOLD CORPORAte PAtRON | ALL OtHeR NAMeS LISteD ARe ARtS FOuNDAtION PAtRONS

thanKs aLso to the Lysaght-watt trust & the ruby noLan charitabLe trust

ronnie van hout LAuReAte Bananaman, 2005, painted plastic, PHOtO: RONNIe VAN HOut.

Ronnie will next exhibit in a group show – Problem Solving: I wish Charlie Kaufman wrote Relational Aesthetics. to 28 November 2009 at uplands Gallery, Studio 2 & 3, 249–251 Chapel Street, Prahran, Victoria, 3181, Australia.

Applause - Issue 18

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Transcript of Applause - Issue 18