The exhibition has been curated by Brendan O'Brien who has also happily hand-printed a beautiful limited edition book containing a selection of Janet's poems and illustrated with some of her drawings to coincide with the exhibition. As the blurb for the exhibition states 'Dame Janet Paul (1919-2004) had a notable career deeply involved in New Zealand's cultural milieu. She was a significant presence among our publishers, writers and artists; and she was herself widely respected for her artwork and writing.' This is an all too rare opportunity to view a selection of Janet's work so if you happen to be in Wellington before 21 November (when the show closes) make the effort and head along to see it...and I'd highly recommend Janet Paul: Poems and Drawings if you can lay your hands on a copy, it's been printed in a limited edition of just 80 copies. 

Actually while I'm writing about Brendan's Fernbank Studio I should also make mention of the beautifully designed and hand-printed poem by his brother Greg titled tibbets close, produced to coincide with the exhibition 'Dark Arts; Twenty Years of the Holloway Press'. This short poem has the reader heading this way and that and has been illustrated with a photograph by Mari Mahr. The cover, one of my favourites in recent times, has been printed using the geometric shapes of found printers blocks and furniture that creates a wonderful sense of balance and elegance with an edge. Both books highlight Brendan's brilliant ability to bring the written word and visual art together in book form and they are just the sort of thing one likes to recieve in the post to lift the spirits.