Happy National Volunteer Week!

Happy National Volunteer Week!

Artfelt thanks to our amazing team of dedicated volunteers at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. We love what you do.

Chaliapin

Chaliapin

In our leatest exhibition Bad Hair Day there is a caricature of the singer Chaliapin in the role of Don Quixote. Chaliapin visited New Zealand in 1926 but it seems likely that this drawing originates with the film Don Quixote, directed by Georg Pabst, in which Chaliapin starred.

This film opened in Christchurch in September 1934

Mischa Levitzki

Mischa Levitzki

Our exhibition Bad Hair Day includes a caricature by Leo Bensemann of the Ukrainian-American pianist Mischa Levitzki (1898-1941), who toured New Zealand in 1921 and again in 1931.

Reviews suggest he was a superlative technician and a poor communicator and his popular reputation has not really lasted. Vladimir Horovitz was scathing: 'Just fingers, and you cannot listen only to fingers. There is a difference between artist and artisan. Levitzki was an artisan.'

Listen below to his performance of his own Valse de Concert, opus 1, recorded 23 May 1924.

Face Five

Face Five

Christchurch-born and internationally renowned artist Ronnie van Hout has had a huge hand in our latest outdoor installation. Quasi, a five-metre-tall sculpture of the artist's hand and facial features, was unveiled this morning on the Gallery's rooftop, next to Gloucester Street.

Something missing at Cass

Something missing at Cass

A few weeks ago my family and I visited Cass but something didn't look quite right.

Untitled (Taylors Mistake) by William Sutton

Untitled (Taylors Mistake) by William Sutton

This article first appeared on Stuff as 'Modernism by motorbike' on 28 June 2016 and as 'Artist stumbled upon striking scenery on morning motorbike rides' in The Press on 30 June 2016.

Innocence by Evelyn Haig

Innocence by Evelyn Haig

This article first appeared as 'Sweet portrait belies tough protestor's tragic tale' in The Press on 24 May 2016.

On the level

On the level

A chilly trip to the mountains to identify Ivy Fife's level crossing

Untitled by Connie Samaras

Untitled by Connie Samaras

This article first appeared as 'Seal of approval for video' in The Press on 20 April 2016.

Art Makes Me... A Winner!

Art Makes Me... A Winner!

Meet Kylie Hansen from Christchurch. She's the lucky winner of our Art Makes Me selfie competion. 

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