‘Precious’ art works introduced to Mahara Friends

The reason why five art works are all “precious” to a panel of Friends of Mahara Gallery, were described at a November Friends event.

Friends presenting were from left, Roni Fitzmaurice, Friends’ Convener Julie Sperring, Gallery Patron and Number One Friend, Gillian Lady Deane and Mahara Trust Board trustee, Glen Wiggs. At centre left is Gallery Director, Janet Bayly.

Gallery Patron and number one friend, Gillian Lady Deane, talked about a painting, Sylvette and the Cyclamen, 2009.

“Sylvette David was Picasso’s model for three months in the summer of 1954. He drew, painted and produced sculpture and ceramics of her - it is said there were sixty works in all,” she said.

“Sylvette became a painter and those haunting images in her paintings remind us of Picasso’s obsession with her image. We admire her paintings which we saw after visiting the Picasso exhibition at the Tate in 1995.”

Roni Fitzmaurice talked about a painting, Wild Flowers, by aboriginal artist Sacha Long Petyarre, bought in a gallery in Circular Quay, Sydney. “I came home to New Zealand very happy with my first Australian art treasure. My family and friends often admire it.” she said

Gallery Trust Board member Glen Wiggs talked about a sketch of the tree by my father about 1945. “He was not an artist and the sketch has little artistic merit,” he said. “It has nostalgic value as I was there and remember him sketching it in the bush above Burrows Avenue in Karori.” He also talked about a 1976 painting titled The Owl by Wellington’s Paul Hunt when he was still at school.

Friends Convener Julie Sperring talked about a photograph of her great-grandmother, Minnie Hill, which had been “coloured” by an artist. “I don’t have the artist’s name but Minnie Hill is precious to me. She is holding a music diploma, so I thank her for passing on her love of music to me as well,” she said.