The Otago Art Society has an ulterior motive for its 140th anniversary celebrations. Its committee members tell Rebecca Fox it is time to lift the society's game.
New biennial national art awards to rival some of the country's most prestigious is the goal of the Otago Art Society.
To celebrate its 140th anniversary, the society - the oldest in New Zealand - is launching a fundraiser to establish the awards.
Society chairwoman Jenny Longstaff said it was proposed the awards would include all types of art, such as 3-D and digital.
"It will generate a positive buzz and a sense of unity within the wider arts community.''
The society used to host the annual City of Dunedin Art Awards but they had been discontinued in 2013. The ever popular South Island-wide annual Edinburgh Art Awards and biennial Hope and Sons Art Awards had continued, but those competitions were focused on two-dimensional art only.
"The disappearance of the COD Art Awards left a gap in the OAS' exhibition calender which has yet to be filled.''
While the society would apply to various groups and the Dunedin City Council for funding towards the proposed awards, it wanted to begin fundraising to cover some of the costs itself, Ms Longstaff said.
So, to kick things off, society vice-president Nic Dempster came up with the idea of hosting an A4 anonymous exhibition.
Mr Dempster got the idea from an endeavour he took part in while living in the United Kingdom.
The art society he belonged to needed to fundraise for a new roof on the fishmonger's shop it used as an exhibition space - the Fishlab Gallery.
An A4 anonymous art show there was hugely successful.
"So I've just extrapolated the idea here. It was a very good experience there, although there was only 20 or so artists.''
The society sent out more than 300 A4 boards to artists throughout the country with instructions to paint what they wanted but to put their signature only on the back of the painting.
"We have had an excellent uptake of the idea with over 350 boards being taken away by artists to work on, so it's gearing up to be a really exciting exhibition. Artists have embraced the idea,'' Ms Longstaff said.
Each board will be hung in the society's rooms at the Dunedin Railway Station and be available for sale for $140 (echoing the 140th anniversary). People will not know whose art they are buying until they pick it up at the close of the exhibition.
"Potentially, there is the opportunity to purchase well-known artist names for a fraction of what they would normally sell for.
"People will make a purchase because they love the work rather than buying the name.''
Mr Dempster said the event summed up what he loved about the society, as it showcased works created by artists from the entire spectrum of the arts community.
"This helps expose artists to each other, creates links and enhances the art scene as a whole.''
He hoped the exhibition would attract people who were slightly intimidated by the thought of going into a gallery space.
The anonymous nature of it was sure to generate a few surprises, as not all artists had painted in their traditional style, he said.
"There are some different styles ... others are obvious.''
Getting support from the community for the exhibition and the awards was important for the survival of the society. While it had many volunteers, the society required paid employees to keep the gallery, which is open seven days a week, running.
"Hundreds of hours of voluntary work go in every month,'' vice-president Ann Baldock said.
Like many organisations, it was feeling the pinch as costs increased, even small ones such as postage, and the increased competition for what funding was available.
"We've been running at a loss for two years, which is a concern, but we have been working very hard to make a profit.''
Ms Longstaff said during the cruise boat season, the gallery was very busy; 140,000 came through its doors this past year, and 130,000 the year before.
"This does not always equate to income, though. Our premises are often seen as free entertainment or somewhere to get tourist information.''
It was hoped the new award would create interest and foot traffic during the quieter winter months.
"It will provide a good chance to capture new members and generate more local interest in winter months rather than relying so heavily on the cruise ship season.''
The Dunedin City Council helped out with a rates rebate on the gallery but the society was determined to try to stand on its "own two feet''.
"We really want to lift the profile of the art society.''
Concerned at the possibility of being regarded as a "fuddy duddy'' society, it wanted to attract younger members and those who created in less traditional ways, such as digital and three-dimensional work.
"It is very pleasing to see a trend developing of younger artists wishing to join the society.''
The society had changed over the years, like the city itself. While it was formed by a group of "gentlemen favourable to the formation of a society of arts in Dunedin'' and presided over by "many illustrious presidents'' including David Theomin, of Olveston fame, it was much more diverse today.
"It is quite funny, I'm president of the society yet I'm also on the housekeeping staff at Olveston,'' Ms Longstaff said.
Dunedin artist Inge Doesberg, who is taking part in the A4 exhibition, said the society's anniversary was significant.
"To my mind, it makes the society one of the important art organisations in the country. It is of historic importance in that it has encouraged and fostered discernment and appreciation in the making and viewing of art, with varying focal points over time.
"There seem to be fresh viewpoints emerging and new directions in the current leadership of what is essentially a form of co-operative.
"I view it as a means to encourage all manners of art activities, community, exchange and learning in the varied and active and lively art world that is and always has been of importance to Dunedin.
"The location of the society at the Dunedin Railway Station is an inspired situation, one that I can enjoy from the window of my own gallery.
"It combines the symbolism of tradition, moving forward, as well as appreciating where it stands right now.''
Society facts
•The Otago Art Society was formed in 1876 with the purpose of education about and advancement of art in Otago.
•1897: The society had 40 artists and 50 honorary members.
•Past presidents include Sir Lindo Ferguson, David Theomin and Sir Percy Sargood.
•Francis Hodgkins' father encouraged the purchasing of work for an art collection.
•1922: The society and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery amalgamated, the OAS signing over its art collection to the DPAG.
•1930: The society ‘‘divorces'' the DPAG and takes control of its own destiny. Exhibitions are held in hired premises around the city.
•1972: The society gets its own home at the old Dunedin North Post Office.
•2007: Moves to Dunedin Railway Station.
•Since the 1930s, a large collection of paintings have been donated to the society. They are on display at the railway station gallery as a permanent memorial for members.
•Oversees Blair Estate purchasing of works for Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
•2016: Has a membership of more than 500, aged from 19 to 90-plus years old, made up of half artists and half appreciators.
•Had 140,000 visitors to the railway station gallery this past financial year.
The exhibition
The Otago Art Society's 140th exhibition, ‘‘A4 Anonymous'', is on at the Dunedin Railway Station, June 11-July 10.
