SOLO turns 30!

Bill Allan

"Solo30 will be a very significant celebration for me. It is 30 years since I became a born-again Christian; I have been married to Jill for 30 years; and it is 30 years since I first exhibited at the Academy in Buckle St.  I was elected an Artist Member in 1982 and had my first 'Going Solo' exhibition 10 years ago when I left the Wellington City Council. This solo will show a retrospective of some earlier works and include an overview of unframed paintings. There will be current work as well - all in my expressionist style. 20010 is a special year and I'm delighted to celebrate it at Solo30" 

Trevor Askin

Trevor lives in Timaru where he has his own studio foundry and gallery. Some thirty years ago he cast his first bronze. A self taught sculptor he gives an ethereal quality and movement to his sculpture which belies the eight of the bronze. He has cast over 500 works which include outdoor public commissions. he believes that the metal he loves deserves a fine finish.

Alfred Memelink

The earthquake in Christchurch resulted in the cancellation of the Academy Vice President's exhibition so he was able to step in at the last minute when Jennifer Lee Griffin had to withdraw. We look forward to sampling his Antarctic experience.

Mia Hamilton

"Six months ago I saw a tiny article in the newspaper; Rare Birds Die - Two of New Zealand's rarest and oldest birds have died. Sass, the Kakapo and Alpine, a takahe were euthanized this week due to poor health, the Conservation Department said. Sass' age was unknown and her death reduces the world kakapo population to 123. Alpine was the world's oldest known takahe at 27. The takahe population is believed to number 230.

This article inspired my work for solo30  which I have called 'Nest' The fragile nature of the Kakapo's plight and a visual representation of just how few there are left, form part of my exhibit. There are direct parallels between the fragility of of the kakapo's continued existence and the fragility of the cramic nests I have created here. I have two themes in my current  body of work. Firstly hand built ceramic vessels and sculptures. Simple bold contemporary pieces form the second body of work such as the piece you will see in Headland Sculpture on the Gulf 2011. These objects are often based on recollections of childhood seaside activities or remembered objects."

Jane Hyder

Jane was born in christchurch and lives in Wellington with her family. She has studied at Elam Summer school, the Slade in London, gained a teaching qualification from Wellington Polytechnic anda graduate Diploma in Fine Arts from Massey University in Wellington, 2009. She has been artist in residence with Dick Frizzel and others. and has been on art trips to France, England, Australia, USA, Spain, Greece and Italy.he has had solo exhibitions at new zealand house in 2004 and at the new dowse in 2008.she has also exhibited in group shows at pataka, solander gallery, auckland art gallery, van helden gallery  and others. Jane has published two books about her art: jane hyder art works and give and take. The subject matter of her work on paper, print or paint include biography, narrative, fauvist, expressionist with elements of folk art and symbolic meaning.

Sheelagh Leary

Sheelagh has a love-hate relationship with paper, knives, scissors and glue.She weaves paper into complex patterns or interpretations of a natural subject and says that the satisfactions of a finished piece seem proportional to the struggle. Her work room is surrounded by hard beech, misty in winter mornings and filled with bach, tallis, ligeti and others. Perhaps the music and the view show in her work?

Jeanne Macaskill

Jeanne Macaskill studied for five years at Chelsea School of Art in London to gain her painting qualifications. She lived for seventeen years in London and France before returning to New Zealand nearly 40 years ago. She is a former Vice president of the NZ Academy of Fine Arts and has shown her work widely both in New Zealand and Internationally.

In 2004 she was awarded by the Queen, membership to the Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the arts and the community. Last year she was awarded the Governor General's Art Award and made a Fellow of the Academy.

Judith Royal

Judith Anne is a New Zealander. In her earlier years she spent time in England and Australia. It was there that she was introduced to the art of painting.

As a former Committee member of Watercolour New Zealand, and elected artist member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Judith Anne exhibits regularly.

Since returning to New Zealand some years ago, Judith Anne has experimented and painted with a variety of media. Experience has been gained through teaching, training and travelling in Australia, America and Europe.

She is a regular guest artist at exhibitions and demonstrations, in New Zealand and overseas, and a solo and group exhibitor.

Judith Anne was Chairman of the successful National Golden C'Art Exhibition Group based in the Wairarapa.

 
Judith Anne was a partner in the successful Cable Art Gallery in Wellington. In the Waikato she established Gallery 565 at Matangi near Hamilton. On moving to the Kapiti Coast she established the Art 44 Gallery. Her workshop is now in Wellington.

Present work is with a variety of multimedia and is a series of Wet Wellington and Fantasy Flowers.

Diane Toscano

"My recent art work is a combination of oils, scenes of Queens Wharf and Wellington. I'm also excited by Botticelli whose images I screen print onto my clay bodices and small dresses of clay which also have prints of early 19th century boned bodices underwear etc. The whole story of women and the different roles they have played intrigues me. So in the mosaics the women are stroppy, naughty, strong and fun!"

Sandra Wong

Sandra is an artist and illustrator from Greytown. She paints in acrylic on canvas and is best known for her intensely coloured paintings of native birds and plants. This exhibition will include a series of tiny bird paintings which feature the local birds that often visit her garden, and the Left-Field gallery where she is the artist on site most Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Sandra has been painting fulltime since 2002 and has participated in many Academy exhibitions since her student days in 1996. Her paintings can be found in private collections in New Zealand and overseas.