B.

Dr T.L. Rodney Wilson 1945-2013

Behind the scenes

We learned of the death of Rodney Wilson yesterday and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

In the 1960s Rodney studied at the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts under Bill Sutton, Russell Clark, Rudolf Gopas and Tom Taylor. He was a foundation lecturer in art history at the University of Canterbury from 1974.

Rodney was appointed director of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery in November 1978, a position he held for just over two years until January 1981. Within these few short years, however, he worked assiduously to professionalise the Gallery, establishing positions for curatorial, conservation, and education staff.

He left Christchurch an impressive legacy with several astute acquisitions made while he was director. Ralph Hotere's Malady Panels were bought during his term, as well as five works by Frances Hodgkins including Zipp, Spanish Still Life and Belgian Refugees. Rodney's 1979 catalogue raisonné on the Dutch artist Petrus van der Velden remains a standout publication in New Zealand art scholarship.

Wilson was frustrated with the limitations of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, particularly with displaying contemporary art. On his departure he noted in the Gallery's Bulletin in 1981 that, 'Christchurch deserves a bigger and better gallery than it has – it deserves the sort of programme that would result from the provision of more gallery space and spaces better suited to contemporary works, of a classroom, library, better workshops and offices and so on.' We are pleased he agitated for change when he did.

More recently Gallery staff had the pleasure of working closely with Rodney when he organised the exhibition Miles: A Life in Architecture, a survey of Miles Warren's architectural designs, for the Gallery in 2009. Rodney also gave memorable floor talks to packed audiences here at the Gallery on van der Velden and Warren.

Dr T.L. Rodney Wilson was not only director of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch, but also Auckland Art Gallery; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; New Zealand Maritime Museum, Auckland; and Auckland War Memorial Museum. He was awarded the CNZM for his services to museums and art galleries in 2007.

Ralph Hotere Malady Panels 1971. Acrylic on canvas. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 1979

Ralph Hotere Malady Panels 1971. Acrylic on canvas. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, purchased 1979