Aratoi registrar Jo Torr and director Susanna Shadbolt carefully handling the new acquisitions. PHOTO/KAREN COLTMAN
KAREN COLTMAN
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A collection of new Pacific-themed watercolours and prints have been donated to Aratoi Museum.
Behind the scenes upstairs in the gallery’s clean, dry and safe collection store, the watercolours were were soon to go on display.
Dennis Knight Turner [1924-2011] was a pioneering New Zealand modernist. He completed the watercolours in 1992, when he was the Whanganui Tylee Cottage artist in residence. He was one of the first European artists to incorporate Maori and Oceanic motifs.
The five watercolours were donated by Jan and Luit Bieringa.
Five prints were also donated from the disestablished National Whale Centre’s limited collection by chairman Nick Gerritsen and trust member Luit Bieginga.
The portfolio included work by nationally-recognised artists Dick Frizzell, Greg O’Brien, John Pule, Michel Tuffery and John Walsh.
Aratoi registrar Jo Torr said the pieces were “a wonderful addition to Aratoi’s fine collection of prints and works on paper”.
The last remaining copies of these limited-edition prints were now available for sale at the gallery’s shop, she said.
“We are immensely grateful to Nick, Jan and Luit, the latter for their generosity over the years.
“It is donors like these who enrich and deepen Aratoi’s excellent collections which everyone can enjoy.”
The Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History collections committee consists of staff and board members and, occasionally, selected external consultants.
It meets regularly to make recommendations to the Aratoi Regional Trust Board for ratification.
