Featuring 40 artworks extracted from their storage place in the Dunedin Railway Station clock tower, the works are on display — some for the first time in 50 years — as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the
Otago Art Society’s (OAS) exhibition continues until June 20.
Among the works on display are pieces by local artists H.V. Miller, John Charles Veitch, Fred O’Neill, George Chance, Mabel Hill, Shona McFarlane, Annie Baird, Alfred Henry O’Keefe, Myra Thompson, W.M. Hodgkins, Elizabeth (Annie) Kelly and many more.
OAS president Rose Shepard said works of significance had been gathered into the Permanent Collection since the OAS was established in 1876, and numbered about 200 works.
‘‘It’s quite an eclectic collection, and definitely makes a good conversation starter,’’ she said.
The full collection has recently been reviewed by John Timmins, of Moray Gallery, along with Kate Drummond, to provide information on the condition and provenance of the works, especially in relation to their significance to Otago.
Shepard said the OAS was grateful to have received sponsorship from the Aotearoa Gaming Trust and the Cleveland Foundation to reframe some of the works and improve storage.
Local joinery firm Metalon is creating a purpose-built storage unit to safely house the collection.
OAS Heritage Exhibition designer and society past president Jenny Longstaff said the showcase featured only one work from each artist, and provided a fascinating exploration of the significance of the society to Dunedin’s history.
‘‘As Dunedin has changed, so has the art society, which has become much more egalitarian over the years — opening up its membership to many more artists and supporters,’’ Longstaff said.
The society has 450 members, both exhibiting artists and non-exhibiting members.
Located at Dunedin Railway Station since 2007, the OAS operates as an unofficial tourism bureau for the city, welcoming cruise ship passengers and other visitors to the city during the season.
OAS past president Doug Hall said having multiple gallery spaces at the railway station allowed the society to host a busy programme of exhibitions year-round.
‘‘We tend to have a new exhibition under way every six weeks or so, including major awards exhibitions, society exhibitions and hires by local artists.
‘‘It’s a very busy programme to maintain — we have amazing volunteers, who work incredibly hard on staging our exhibitions and to help run the gallery,’’ he said.
‘‘We couldn’t do it without them.’’
Shepard said the ‘‘Looking forward to looking back’’ theme perfectly encapsulated the feel of the Heritage Exhibition for society members.
‘‘It is really good to look back at what we have achieved over all these years, and to think of what we can do in the future,’’ she said.
Visitors to the exhibition are also being invited to share any information they may have on the history of each of the works in the exhibition to help add to the society’s historical knowledge.
Running alongside the Heritage Collection Exhibition is a showcase of works by past presidents of the Otago Art Society, many of who are also life members.
The showcase, which features works by Doug Hart, Joan Hardey, Raimo Kuparinen, Gillian Pope, Mary Jane Sneyd, David Corballis, Jenny Longstaff, Brenda Nyhoff and Anne Baldock, will continue until June 20.
OAS history
Otago Art Society was founded in 1876 by prominent Dunedin citizens, including artist William Mathew Hodgkins (father of Frances), who was a driving force behind OAS activities for its first 22 years.
The OAS has played an important role in the history of art in New Zealand, providing a great deal of support for Dunedin Public Art Gallery. The two organisations were amalgamated from 1921 to 1930 before separating again.
The OAS existed for most of its life in hired premises, before establishing a home in the old Dunedin North Post Office in 1968 — now the HD Skinner Annex of Tūhura Otago Museum.
Having outgrown that space, the OAS moved to its home on the first floor of Dunedin Railway Station in 2007.
brenda.harwood@alliedmedia.co.nz
