"Art is able to provide solace, exhilaration, and satisfaction in a huge variety of different forms. Above all it is able to humanise a building, infusing an often soulless and impersonal environment with affirmation . . . many critical moments in our lives occur there, from birth through to death and they ought to take place in surroundings which honour their true significance."
- Jeremy Baron, Lesley Greene, “Art in Hospitals,” British Medical Journal 289, (1984): 1737.
The process to establish an art collection at the Dunedin Hospital began in 1970 with the formation of the Dunedin Hospital Art Committee. The Committee gained the support of the Otago Art Society and the people of Dunedin, holding specialist art exhibitions for paintings to be purchased and donated to the hospital. All of the art at Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals is now owned by The Healthcare Otago Charitable Trust, with the exception of Te Oranga Tonu Tanga – Mahi Toi (The Māori Mental Health Team Artworks).
Te Oranga Tonu Tanga is within the Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand. The name translates to, “A pathway for healing.” Taonga belonging to this area are the responsibility of the Kaioranga Hauora Māori in Te Taiahoaho and not the Southern DHB. They retain all rights to these treasures, numbering approximately 37 works at the present time.
We are extremely fortunate for the support and guidance of the Art Advisory Committee. The Art Advisory Committee manage the art collection at Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals on a voluntary basis, with a dedicated group of people from various backgrounds related to the arts and health including hospital staff, and those in the business and artistic community. With funding from the Trust, the Art Advisory Committee has purchased quality original works, as well as limited edition prints and colourful reproductions. The Trust and the Southern District Health Board recognise the important role the Art Advisory Committee offer including providing expert advice on protecting and displaying the artwork to best effect. Barbara Brinsley is the current Aesthetics Coordinator.
Below is a showcase of just some of the works in this important and valuable collection. The entire collection has recently been catalogued by art expert Christine Mulligan. Christine has also kindly contributed background information for each work showcased below (click on the image to reveal).
Child at a Gate
Annie Baird
1979Gouache on paper
440 x 740 mm
Donated by Dunedin Medical Wives Group.
Ward Block / Level 1 / Corridor
Baird, Annie (1932-1999) was born in Owaka, Otago, New Zealand. A Dunedin based watercolourist, she started to paint seriously in 1965. After encouragement from Colin McCahon and training in life drawing and portraits at Otago Polytechnic, Baird became a full-time artist and book illustrator. Although, principally self-taught, she attended classes run by Doris Lusk and McCahon. Baird exhibited widely in New Zealand and Europe. In a naive style she painted scenes of New Zealand, particularly enjoying Wellington subjects, Italy and Provence (France), as well as Matisse-like portraits and figure studies. She was the winner of numerous prizes and awards. Child at a Gate portrays Baird’s granddaughter Chenoa.
Saffron Gallery BAIRD Annie - Saffron Gallery
www.saffrongallery.co.nz/index.php/artwork/no-category/baird-annie
Dunedin House
Colin Wheeler (QSM)
1985Oil on canvas board
595 x 750 mm
Purchased by the Art Advisory Committee, 1985.
Clinical Services Building / Ground Floor/ Main Corridor
Wheeler, Colin (1919-2012) was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. He studied at Canterbury College, Christchurch, N.Z. and Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, London. A former boarder at Waitaki Boys High School, Wheeler returned as Art Master for 18 years, then commenced painting and writing full time in 1959. Wheeler is renowned for his Regionalist paintings of North Otago buildings and landscapes. In 1967 he was commissioned to compile, write and illustrate New Zealand sheep stations for publishers A.H. and A.W. Reed. Four volumes were produced during the 1970’s. An acclaimed artist, Wheeler has works in numerous public and private collections throughout New Zealand and abroad. These include the Forrester Gallery, Oamaru, which he helped establish in 1983 and the Christchurch Art Gallery. Wheeler’s significant contribution to art was recognised with a Queens Service Medal in 1987.
Sally Brooker, Recognition for Wheeler, Oamaru Mail June 4, 2017.
Colin Wheeler: The Artists Room: The Artists Room www.theartistsroom.co.nz/artists/id/88/view/bio/Colin%20Wheeler
Portrait of a Young Girl
Doris Lusk
1989Watercolour on paper
405 x 280 mm
Clinical Services Building / LG / G725 / Main Corridor
Lusk, Doris (1916-1990) was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. She studied art at King Edward Technical College from 1934 to 1939. Her teachers included J.D. Charlton Edgar, R. N. Field and Russell Clark. Exhibiting with The Group in Christchurch from 1943 her circle of acquaintances were artists and poets such as Rita Angus, Leo Bensemann, Allen and Betty Curnow, Charles Brasch and James K. Baxter. She became a prominent New Zealand painter associated with the regionalist and nationalist styles of the 1930’s and 1940’s. She painted landscapes, portraits and still life and had an interest in cubism. As well as being a commercial artist, Lusk taught privately and at the University of Canterbury 1967-81. In the 1980’s she was President of the Canterbury Society of Arts. The most prominent public institutions to hold her work are the Auckland City Art Gallery and the Hocken. Lusk won first prize in the watercolour section of Hay’s Art Competition 1966, and the following year first prize in the watercolour section of the National Bank Art Award. She was posthumously granted the Governor General’s Art Award in September 1990.
McGahey, Kate. The Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists: Painters Printmakers Sculptors (Wellington: Gilt Edge Publishing, 2000).
Lusk, Doris More – Dictionary of New Zealand Biography – Te Ara
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5l22/lusk-doris-more
Pigeon in Winter
Eileen Mayo (DBE)
n.d. 20th CenturyLino - cut
500 x 387 mm
Ward Block / LG / G533 / Main Foyer
Mayo, Eileen (1906-1994), was born in Norwich, England and died in Christchurch, New Zealand. An extraordinary person of her time, she was accomplished in various artistic endeavours including wood graving, sculpture, theatrical design and tapestry. Mayo studied at Slade School of Art and Chelsea Polytechnic, London, and at the Tubord Atelier and Academy Montmartre, Paris. She was a well-known author and illustrator of books on natural science. Mayo emigrated to New Zealand in 1962 and became a prominent printmaker working in Canterbury. Delighted to submit designs for the reverses of New Zealand decimal coins, she also fulfilled several commissions for New Zealand first-day covers and stamps. Six lithographs by Mayo are displayed in the Ward Block, which show a meticulous attention to detail and lively colour. Mayo was honoured as Dame of the British Empire in the 1994 New Years Honours list.
McGahey, Kate. The Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists: Painters Printmakers Sculptors (Wellington: Gilt Edge Publishing, 2000).
Two Figures Dancing
Jeffrey Harris
n.d. 20th CenturyAcrylic on paper
430 x 685 mm
Clinical Services Building / LG / G725 / Main Corridor
Harris, Jeffrey (1949- ) was born in Akaroa, New Zealand. A self-taught artist, he acknowledges influences of German Expressionism and New Zealand painters Michael Smither and Rita Angus. His style reflects bold use of colour and line, and flattened perspectives. Certain subjects have been revisited throughout his practice: the crucifixion, the self-portrait, family and social relationships. Images are largely biographical, highly symbolic and laden with emotional impact. Harris is the recipient of numerous major awards, including the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship, University of Otago in 1977 and the Wallace Award 2003, New Zealand’s major painting prize. He has exhibited extensively in New Zealand and Australia, and in the USA, Carnegie International annual exhibition, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, 1982, and Wooster Gallery, New York, 1985. Harris is represented in public gallery collections throughout New Zealand and Australia. A survey exhibition was curated by Justin Paton for the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and toured through five New Zealand public galleries 2004-2006.
Jeffrey Harris | Milford Galleries Dunedin
https://www.milfordgalleries.co.nz/dunedin/artists/124-Jeffrey-Harris
nz-artists.co.nz/artists/harris/
Flowers in a Glass Vase
Joanna Paul
1974Acrylic on paper
340 x 270 mm
Clinical Services Building / LG / G725 / Main Corridor
Paul, Joanna (1945-2003) was born in Hamilton, New Zealand. She spent a formative year in 1964 with her family in London, which included studying figure drawing and painting at the Sir John Cass School, and a trip to Greece that reinforced a belief in classical values. On her return to New Zealand Paul studied English and Philosophy at Auckland University, graduating BA in 1968. She then gained a Diploma of Fine Arts at Elam where her teachers were Colin McCahon, Greer Twiss and Tom Hutchins. Paul’s interdisciplinary art practice included painting and drawing, photography, filmmaking, poetry, publishing, architectural history and critical writing. Her painting style typically employed negative space, that apparent emptiness 'between' lines of text, pencil marks or wads of colour. Paul was awarded the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship in 1983. Exhibiting throughout the country, she took up the Rita Angus Residency in Wellington, 1993.
Originally published in Art New Zealand 108 Spring 2003
A Shape to Part the Space: Joanna Margaret Paul ... - Art New Zealand
www.art-newzealand.com/Issue108/paulobit.htm
Holy City
Mary Middleditch
c. 1980Mosaic tiles on board
1200 mm diameter
Donated November 1980 by The National Insurance Company of New Zealand Limited.
Ward Block / L1 / 1402 / Foyer
Middleditch, Mary (1910-1994) lived in Dunedin with her artist/sculptor husband John Middleditch until 1981 when they moved to the Hawkes Bay. Middleditch, a mosaicist, was one of the few people in New Zealand at this time who worked with traditional glass tiles from Italy. Travels in Italy had inspired the artist to make Holy City as described in her letter to the Dunedin Hospital Art Advisory Committee:
The background of many shades of blue set in a circle, and with a circular movement round the city and symbols was suggested to me by a vivid memory of my first mosaic experience in Ravenna. The incredible beauty of the tomb of Gallea Placidia lit by the bright Italian sun muted through narrow alabaster windows and catching the colours and mingling them into a fantastic night sky effect will remain with me forever. The rich blues of the cupola shimmering with stars and melting into a seemingly vast appreciation and interest for viewers.
- Mary Middleditch, Letter in Art Advisory Committee Files (n.d.), Private Collection of Barbara Brinsley.
Chris Cricket Meets Buzzy Bee
Michael Smither (CNZM)
1967Screen print - 7/65
578 x 468 mm
Ward Block / L1 / 1404 / Foyer
Smither, Michael (1939-) born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, was based here until 1993 when he moved to Coromandel. Smither attended Elam School of Fine Arts in 1959, studying under J. Weeks, A. L. White and R. Ellis. During his long and prolific career Smither has produced a large body of representational work, encompassing, painting, printmaking and sculpture synonymous with New Zealand landscape and culture. He is particularly renowned for his paintings of Mount Taranaki and the Taranaki boulders, domestic objects, religious symbols, family and children. A large collection of works is strongly influenced by music and harmonics. In art history books Smither’s name is filed under Hard-edge Realism, the most prominent painter of this home grown school. As one of New Zealand’s most recognized master painters, Smither’s works are held in public collections, including Auckland Art Gallery and Te Papa Tongawera Museum of New Zealand, and in prominent private collections. Throughout New Zealand and Australia Smither has exhibited in prestigious one man shows and group exhibitions. Chris Cricket Meets Buzzy Bee is based on a 1967 painting that celebrated the lesser known character “Chris Cricket” alongside the now iconic toy of a kiwi childhood, “Buzzy Bee.”
Michael Smither | The Arts Foundation
http://www.thearts.co.nz/artists/michael-smither
As Music to Attending Ears
Nicola Jackson
2002-2003Papier-mâché on wood and acrylic
1322 x 2126 mm
Ward Block / LG / G413 / Main Foyer
Jackson, Nicola (1960-) was born in Dunedin and studied art at the University of Canterbury SFA. She is a mixed media artist who is known for her autobiographical and anatomical themes. As Music to Attending Ears was commissioned and entitled by writer George Griffith. It was donated to the Dunedin Hospital after his death in 2014. The abstracted Dunedin landscape is infused with images to suggest the rich resonnace of everyday sounds. Close inspection of this intricately detailed and colourful work reveal noisy subjects including birds chirping, children happily playing and singing nursery rhymes, musical instruments, the Otago Rescue Helicopter in flight and chiming tower clock of the Dunedin Town Hall. New Zealand public collections that hold Jackson’s works include the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Aigantighe, Forrester, Hocken, Te Papa and the University of Otago.
McGahey, Kate. The Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists Painters Printmakers Sculptors (Wellington: Gilt Edge Publishing, 2000).
Living Here: Aotearoa
Nigel Brown
1987-1988Wood print 13/15
600 x 755 mm
Clinical Services Building / LG / G725 / Main Corridor
Brown, Nigel (1949-) was born in Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand and grew up in Tauranga. From an early age Brown wanted to become an artist. He attended Elam SFA where he studied under C. McCahon, G. Tapper and R. Ellis. A contemporary, figurative painter and print maker, Brown addresses human concerns, social comment and life experience including for instance, environmental issues and the anti-nuclear stance. His work, associated with New Zealand Expressionism, is highly symbolic, and certain places and motifs are often revisited. Brown’s unique style is recognised in its bold use of outline, text within borders and a painterly technique incorporating iconic archetypal New Zealand figures such as the pakeha pioneer wearing a black singlet. Brown is represented in many New Zealand public collections, including Dowse, Forrester, J Wallace Collection, Manawatu Art Gallery, McDougall, Rotorua Museum, Suter, Te Papa and Waikato Museum.
McGahey, Kate. The Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists Painters Printmakers Sculptors (Wellington: Gilt Edge Publishing, 2000).
Red On Black
Ralph Hotere (ONZ)
c. 1977Acrylic on board
785 x 585 mm
Purchased by Art Advisory Committee from the Bosshard Gallery.
Ward Block / LG / G533 / Main Foyer
Hotere, Ralph (1931-2013). This Dunedin based artist was born in Mitimiti, Northland. Hotere attended King Edward Technical College, Dunedin, studying under G. Tovey and W. J. Reed. He received further education at Auckland Teachers College from 1952-56 leading to an arts advisory position for Auckland and Northland schools. In 1961, Hotere attended Central School of Art and Crafts, London, followed in 1962, by three months at Michael Karolyl Memorial Foundation, Vence, France. Hotere is renowned as the first artist of Māori descent written into a history of New Zealand art, 1968. With a variety of materials as supports such as corrugated iron, polished stainless steel and old wooden frames, he also engaged with a diverse range of media including painting, printmaking and sculpture. As a contemporary, expressionist artist known for contemplative, minimalist and geometric abstractions, Hotere addressed personal, environmental and political concerns. A number of his paintings are informed by poems of New Zealander’s such as Cilla McQueen and Hone Tuwhare. Red On Black was part of a test series for the Godwit/Kuaka mural, commissioned for the Auckland International Airport. Variations of line, texture and colour, as well as written words of traditional Māori poetry, reference the hauntingly beautiful, Māori, Karanga greeting. Hotere is represented in many New Zealand public collections including the Auckland Art Gallery, Dowse, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Hocken, Te Papa, University of Auckland and University of Otago. Hotere was conferred with NZ's highest honour, becoming a Member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ), in 2012.
McGahey, Kate. The Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists Painters Printmakers Sculptors (Wellington: Gilt Edge Publishing, 2000).
Reap What You Sow
Richard Killeen
197918/50
612 x 500 mm
Clinical Services Building / LG / G725 / Main Corridor
Killeen, Richard (1946-). Auckland born, Killeen attended Elam SFA from 1964-66 where his teachers included C. McCahon and G. Tapper. In 1965 he worked with C. McCahon on the windows of the convent chapel, Sisters of Our lady of the Missions, Auckland. Following employment as a part-time sign writer, Killeen became a full time artist in 1980. Killeen’s early work of the 1960’s consisted of super-realist scenes of suburban life, until he began to produce geometric abstract art in grid-like patterns. From 1978 Killeen created the works for which he is best known: cut-out paintings, comprising a range of painted shapes and images that can be arranged in any order. Killeen is represented in numerous New Zealand public collections including Aigantighe, Dowse, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay Museum, Hocken, National Library and Te Papa.
McGahey, Kate. The Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists Painters Printmakers Sculptors (Wellington: Gilt Edge Publishing, 2000).
Your Health Is Your Wealth
Robin White (DNZM)
1972Acrylic on board
930 x 640 mm
Donated by public subscription from people of Otago and Southland 2009.
Ward Block / LG / G901 / Main Foyer
White, Robin (1946-) was born in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty and educated in Auckland at Epsom Girls Grammar. She attended Elam SFA from 1965-67 taking lessons from C. McCahon and then studied at Auckland Teachers Training College. From 1972 she became a full time painter and print maker, working in a hard-edged realist style. White is renowned for her portrayal of distinctive images of New Zealand including rural and urban landscapes as well as family and friends. In 2009, a successful and novel fund raising idea, saw The Art Advisory Committee at the Dunedin Hospital contribute $37,500 towards the purchase of Your Health Is Your Wealth. A copy of the picture was divided into 7500 squares and each sold for $5. White’s artwork is featured in many New Zealand public collections including Auckland Art Gallery, Aigantighe, Dowse, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay Museum, Te Papa and Turnbull. In 2003 White was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The Tea Tree
Rod Eales
1997Acrylic on paper
955 x 1700 mm
Donated by the Artist in 2012.
Wakari Hospital / Main Block / LG / G101 / Entry Lobby
Eales, Rod was born and bred in Whakatane, Bay of Plenty and now makes her home in Dunedin where, as an artist, she is inspired by the local landscape. After graduating with a Diploma in Fine Arts from Otago Polytechnic, she completed a Diploma in Kindergarten Teaching at Dunedin College of Education. Since then she has concentrated on the dual occupations of art and teaching. Her artistic interests lie in the natural world and New Zealand 1950’s Still Life table culture. Eales has a particular passion for trees and rocks, creating slightly surreal images that include the ritual of tea drinking in our culture. The Tea Tree was inspired by a collection of cups and teapots hanging on a tree that Rod came across while out walking near her home. It was one man’s three-dimensional representation of a fantasy garden, that became reinvented into the artists own two-dimensional garden fantasy. The Tea Tree was the first painting in a series of works focusing on ‘Garden Ornamentation.’
Author email 1/3/2018