Art Beat

I'm delighted and disappointed: delighted at Angels and Aristocrats now showing at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery; disappointed over the plan for the gallery's old Logan Park building.

Are we heading for a heritage disaster? Quite possibly.

The exhibition "Ralph Hotere: Zero to Infinity" opened at the Hocken Collections on Friday night, celebrating the artist's 80th birthday.

You see some wonderful things at gallery openings. I did at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery's launch of Nollywood and Radiant Matter Part II. The first is staged photos by Pieter Hugo, a South African, the second sculpture and installations by Dane Mitchell, the gallery's artist in residence this year.

Art is not a cure for the ills of the world, but it can be a great solace.

The disaster which struck Christchurch on February 22 represents the greatest loss to this country's stock of heritage buildings from a single event, raises profound questions and poses great challenges.

It was good to hear Sir Eion Edgar is donating $500,000 to the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, good in itself and proof of the value of the 2008 change to the tax regime on donations which was long overdue.

All is not rosy in the arts garden. The University of the Third Age concluded its course on art in Otago with a panel discussion on art in Otago today.

Much art draws on the past, however innovative its means may be. But some is more specifically focused on it.

What should be done about the altar in the Teschemakers chapel?