Barry Mackenzie with a painting of the Lindis Pass which is
part of his exhibition at the Forrester Gallery. Photo by
Sally Rae.
Barry Mackenzie wishes his late wife Else could see his
exhibition at the Forrester Gallery in Oamaru.
She provided inspiration and motivation that allowed him to
recapture his love of painting and he has dedicated the
exhibition, titled "Small Beginnings", to her.
Mrs Mackenzie was curator at the Forrester Gallery until her
death after a short illness in July last year.
She had suggested he should have an exhibition but initially
he did not want to.
When she died, he thought that would be the end of it, but
then Forrester Gallery director Warwick Smith decided the
exhibition would go ahead.
"I'd love her to see it," Mr Mackenzie said.
Born in London and raised in Brixton, he liked to paint and
draw from an early age.
By 11, he had decided he would be a commercial artist,
thinking he could combine his love for art with an income.
On his 15th birthday, he started work as a messenger boy for
a major London commercial arts studio.
That began a career in graphic arts which took him around the
world and to New Zealand, where he met his future wife.
But the pressures of the advertising world meant he had no
time to indulge in personal art.
That opportunity came only after he retired and the couple
moved to Lake Ohau.
With encouragement from Mrs Mackenzie, he painted in oils for
the first time, describing the time of learning as "creative
self-indulgence".
Having come from London and having spent most of his life in
Auckland, to see the high country landscape, which was "so
different" was exciting.
The most important thing was rediscovering the feeling he had
as a boy.
The couple later shifted to Oamaru. The exhibition runs until
February 13.
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