Pomegranate
MICHAELA STONEMAN
Cyanotype—$260 each , $500 set
Poppy
MICHAELA STONEMAN
Cyanotype—$260 each , $500 set
Humans have a curious and far-reaching relationship with plants, with strands of meaning and connection threaded throughout history.
In the Victorian era, flowers were used to deliver messages, offering a complex language to communicate intimate or malevolent sentiments. They allowed people to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken.
Our mutually beneficial relationship with the plant kingdom is conscious and endless.
MAY / JUNE
Taranaki Arts Trail Exhibition
Saturday 29 May – Sunday 20 June
Opening event Saturday 29 May 1pm
MAIN GALLERY
Although the Taranaki Arts Trail is now part of the Taranaki Garden Festival calendar later in the year, the annual exhibition retains its time-slot in the middle of the year.
The exhibition, with one work from each Trail artist, provides an opportunity for people to get a feel for the artist’s work and decide whether they would like to visit the artist’s open studio during the Festival.
JUNE / JULY
Puanga 2021
Saturday 26 June – Sunday 11 July
MAIN GALLERY
A community celebration for Puanga — the Māori New Year.We are turning the gallery into a magical starlight wonderland and have invited local schools to decorate the walls with paintings of stars and the night sky.
JUNE / AUGUST
Matariki
Deep Space: A View of the Stars and Beyond
Saturday 26 June – Sunday 8 August
GALLERY 2
A collection of 25 ‘space’ photographs by astronomer and Massey University professor Stephen Chadwick.
Psychedelic photos of the Matariki stars, galaxies, and the colourful remains of exploded stars are captured by Chadwick in a way that impossible 20 years ago.
For the past 14 years he has photographed deep-space using the same light-sensitive technology used in the Hubble Space Telescope, now available in consumer-grade digital cameras. Chadwick puts his telescope on a moving mount, and the camera allows the rig to track the movement of the stars as it takes photos.
JULY / AUGUST
Looking Forward 2021
Saturday 26 June – Sunday 8 August 2021
MAIN GALLERY
A selection of work by artists who belong to The Print Council of New Zealand. The Print Council encourages and stimulates printmaking throughout New Zealand. The prints included in this exhibition are evidence of the continued revival of printmaking in New Zealand and include new artists and new techniques.
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
Marti Friedlander:
Portraits of the Artists
Curated by Dr Leonard Bell
Saturday 15 August – Sunday 5 September
TOURED by the NEW ZEALAND
PORTRAIT GALLERY
MAIN GALLERY
Marti Friedlander (1928-2016) is one of our most prominent and highly regarded photographers. Her work has been central to New Zealand’s social and cultural life.
This exhibition is full of novel and compelling images of both well-known and now ‘forgotten’ or little-known artists, writers, craftspeople, actors, who were prominent players in expanding and vitalising cultural fields in New Zealand in the 1960s, 1970s and later.
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
Dale Copeland Collection
Friday 13 August – Sunday 5 September
GALLERY 2
Assemblage and collage artist Dale Copeland shares some of her favourites from her collection of ‘goodies’.
We're looking for Taranaki textiles with a story for an upcoming exhibition
Felicity Willis and Wendy Johnston are co-curating an exhibition with Percy Thomson Gallery director Rhonda Bunyan focusing on Taranaki textile treasures and family heirlooms such as embroidery, quilting, sewing, crochet, clothing etc. These items will include anything that has been made with textiles; cloth, yarns, quilts, flax; household items such as tea cosies and tablecloths, garments such as christening gowns and wedding dresses, toys, accessories such as handbags and jewellery. We are asking for a history/story to go with each work.
We are asking for submissions now. The item may be made out of Taranaki but link to a family here now. Email for a submission form and other information. All entries require a photograph.
Image: A little jacket made by Jeanette Verster’s grandmother for her mum when she was three years old, 80 years ago.
A selection of work by artists who belong to the Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand.
Friday 16 July – Sunday 8 August 2021
MAIN GALLERY
The Print Council encourages and stimulates printmaking throughout New Zealand. The prints included in this exhibition are evidence of the continued revival of printmaking in New Zealand and include new artists and new techniques.
Artwork: Dragon Arum by MB Stoneman, monotype and gold leaf
An exchange of work between two Australian Printmaking groups: the Firestation Print Studio in Armidale (NSW) and the Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts in Townsville, and New Zealand printmakers from The Print Council of Aotearoa, New Zealand. These postcard sized prints include works from 114 artists and explore a wide range of ideas, styles and techniques ranging from traditional to new.
Artwork: Tiny Nest 2 by Rosemary Mortimer, intaglio from found object
Why do we celebrate Puanga in Taranaki and not Matariki?
A quirk of latitude has led to Puanga being recognised by our local iwi.
Puanga is given prominence mainly because some iwi struggle to see Matariki clearly from their locality and therefore look to the next important star near Matariki.
That star is Puanga.
As we travel ever further southwards Puanga rises earlier and earlier than Matariki. By the time you get to Southland, Puanga rises 45 minutes before Matariki does.
Using Matarik—also known as the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters, and the Kritika—as herald of the new year is an ancient tradition that originated in Asia and Europe thousands of years ago before the migrations into the Pacific began.
Join us in a community celebration for Puanga, the Ma¯ori New Year
Saturday 26 June – Sunday 11 July
GALLERY 2
We have two co-joined exhibitions opening this Saturday that pay homage to the night sky and, in particular, the stars that appear in our heavens at this time of year and hail the beginning of the Maori New Year.
Two local schools and a group of pre-schoolers have provided artwork which represents their interpretation of ‘Puanga’, and Massey University Professor and astronomer Stephen Chadwick shares extraordinary psychedelic photos of the Matariki stars, galaxies, and the colourful remains of exploded stars.
Stephen Chadwick
Floor Talk
Sunday 8 August 1pm
Don't miss this chance to learn Stephen's secret to his incredible 'deep space' photography.
Saturday 26 June – Sunday 8 August
GALLERY 2
Massey University Professor and astronomer Stephen Chadwick shares extraordinary psychedelic photos of the Matariki stars, galaxies, and the colourful remains of exploded stars.
For the past 14 years he has photographed deep-space using the same light-sensitive technology used in the Hubble Space Telescope, now available in consumer-grade digital cameras. Chadwick puts his telescope on a moving mount, and the camera allows the rig to track the movement of the stars as it takes photos.
Kia ora. Welcome to Percy Thomson Gallery
Percy Thomson Gallery is Stratford's public art gallery and was opened in June 2002.
The gallery has developed and grown over the years, now receiving national recognition as a thriving and diverse exhibition space catering for all age groups and interests and involving the community at large.
New exhibitions start every three to four weeks, and vary between national, local and regional artists – established and emerging.
Image: Percy Thomson portrait by Donna Willard-Moore. This portrait was painted for a future bronze-relief work by Donna.
Glass
Art 2021
Various glass artists
26 February – 21 March
Curated by Amy Taunt
Glass Art 2021 celebrates the wonderful world of glass art, its many forms and iterations and using a myriad of techniques.
More than 30 works from this country’s top glass artists, in a variety of glass techniques, including kiln-forming, casting, blowing, flame-working, and other specialized techniques, will be exhibited.
Exhibition work includes pieces from Justin Culina, Carmen Simmonds, Karin Barr, David Traub, Claire Bell, Richard Landers, Philip Stokes, Graeme Hitchcock, Jenny McLeod and Paul Burgham.
Gallery
2
Raranga
Harakeke
Weaver/designer
Bernie Ross
26 February – 21 March
Bernie connects with the Whenua with her large colourful works. You see the bright blues and greens of the sea and sky, the golds and browns of the earth and the glorious greens of the land.
Bernie was born in South Auckland on a dairy farm, one of nine siblings. Growing up on the farm taught her huge respect for the land, the bush, the rivers and sea. These early experiences led her to a landscape gardening career. She lived living in England working in landscaping before returning to New Zealand in 2002. A physical injury at 50 necessitated a change of direction and subsequent enrolment into Te Wananga o Aoteroa.
‘What followed was four wonderful years of learning the art of raranga (flax weaving).’
Taranaki Arts Trail Exhibition
Various Artists
28 June – 20 July
Although the Taranaki Arts Trail is now part of the Taranaki Garden Festival calendar later in the year, the annual exhibition retains its time-slot in the middle of the year.
The exhibition, with one work from each Trail artist, provides an opportunity for people to get a feel for the artist’s work and decide whether they would like to visit the artist’s open studio during the Festival.
Kia ora.
Welcome to Percy Thomson Gallery
Percy Thomson Gallery is Stratford's public art gallery and was opened in June 2002.
The gallery has developed and grown over the years, now receiving national recognition as a thriving and diverse exhibition space catering for all age groups and interests and involving the community at large.
New exhibitions start every three to four weeks, and vary between national, local and regional artists – established and emerging.
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Longtime Okato artist exhibits at Percy Thomson Gallery
The gallery is closed for exhibition changeover. We're busily preparing the space for our next exhibition. You are warmly invited to join us for the opening of Glass Art 2021, Raranga Harakeke, and Take a Second Look, on Friday 26 February at 6.30pm. See you there!
What's
on
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Coming
soon
Glass Art 2021
Various glass artists
Curated by Amy Taunt
26 February – 21 March
Raranga Harakeke
Weaver/designer Bernadette Ross
26 February – 21 March
Take a Second Look
Textile artist Jennifer Patterson
26 February – 21 March
Covid-19
Alert
Level 2
⚠ Important Update
Kia ora tātou
As with all regions outside of Auckland, Stratford is once again back to Alert Level 2.
We have been planning for operations under Alert Level 2 and are ready to continue safely welcoming you to the gallery during this time.
He is what we ask of you and what we will do for you:
1. If you are sick, please stay home and visit another time.
2. Please observe the physical distancing and hygiene behaviour you have become familiar with earlier the year.
3. You should keep track of where you have been and who you were with. For your records, please either check in using our Ministry of Health COVID Tracing QR code, otherwise we have a manual register for those not wishing to use the QR codes.
4. The Gallery will continue to maintain a rigorous cleaning regime, with frequent sanitisation of all high contact surfaces.
5. We will update you if there are any changes or if the Gallery has to close.
As last time, the Gallery in general remains OPEN for business but we will be limiting entry to a maximum of 20 people to ensure safe 2m distancing. If this number is reached we will operate a one-out-one-in door policy.
We are very sad to once again implement this policy, however it is the right thing to do as we redouble our efforts to prevent any possible spread of COVID-19 in our community.
Gallery 2
Journey of Discovery
Vicky Taylor
September 18 – 11 October 2020
Gallery 2
Vicky Taylor spends hours burning wood to create striking artworks filled with depth, detail and emotion.
Pyrography means ‘writing with fire. It is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork or wood burning.
Vicky’s love of pyrography and the resulting creativity has allowed her to come to terms with crippling bouts of depression.
‘I lose myself in my art and the process becomes mindful meditation that brings me into the present moment. It has got me through some pretty rough patches and I am thankful for that.’
Saturday 29 May – Sunday 20 June
Opening event Saturday 29 May 1pm
Although the Taranaki Arts Trail is now part of the Taranaki Garden Festival calendar later in the year, the annual exhibition retains its time-slot in the middle of the year.
The exhibition, with one work from each Trail artist, provides an opportunity for people to get a feel for the artist’s work and decide whether they would like to visit the artist’s open studio during the Festival.
Artwork: Dave putting on his make-up by Suraya Sidhu Singh, Acrylic and oil on paper parasol.
Holiday Hours
| Christmas Day CLOSED Boxing Day CLOSED Sunday 27 December 10.30am – 3pm Monday 28 December – 30 December 10.30am – 4pm 31 December New Year’s Eve 10.30am – 3pm | New Year’s Day 2021 CLOSED Saturday January 2 10.30am – 3pm Sunday January 3 10.30am – 3pm Monday January 4 10.30am – 3pm |