Birthday Exhibition Preparations

We are going to have a new look gallery over the next few months. The first stage will be finished in time for our exhibition on Thursday 9th June. We are sourcing images of dad's early work from collectors in New Zealand and overseas, and the public art galleries. Although winter is traditionally a quiet time, we are busier than ever.

Easter at the Pankhurst Gallery

Parnell is one of the few places in New Zealand that opens throughout Easter. It has a special tourist dispensation. We are the only gallery that opens right through Easter, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Dad's art has interest to overseas visitors. We are going to close for 3 days the week after Easter, from Wednesday the 27th to Friday the 29th. Dad is finalising 57 new posters, many of which are already in the gallery. This encompasses his paintings from the 1970's onwards.

Their Time

Last night dad finished a major painting called Their Time. He has painted About Time, with the great Maori warrior carving of Tiki in the Auckland Museum, which was sold and is in New Zealand still. Then he painted Our Time, with the great Maori Chief carving of Pukaki, which has been sold and has gone to America. Now dad has finished this magnificent painting, Their Time. He has combined the three main carvings of Tiki, Pukaki and the war canoe. We will be exhibiting it in the gallery soon. Ultimately we will be sending it to London.

Sold the Paintings "Just Another Friendly Aucklander" and "After the Rain"

We've been busy in the gallery. We have sold limited edition giclee prints and the paintings "Just Another Friendly Aucklander" and "After the Rain", both of which are on their way to Australia. Also, look out for our full page ad in the Autumn 2011 Art News.

The Gallery and the Christchurch Earthquake

Everybody coming into the gallery from overseas is very affected by the earthquake. All of our thoughts go out to those in Christchurch. It is strange that we are continuing here in the gallery and our family and friends in Christchurch are suffering. The Christchurch art gallery was built by a very good architect and it has been set up as the main area for emergency services. We are very mindful of the artists who have been hurt and displaced down there and the loss of the art work.

Dad Organising his Early Work

Dad is working on two large paintings and one small one at the moment. He has just finished a commission work. He has organised many of his earlier works to go into print form, including his Regeneration series in which he won a top New Zealand art award and got into The Royal Academy in London. Dad also has organised some prints of the Fox Glacier commission and others. We have posters and prints in the gallery now from when dad was the age of 19, when he painted his self portrait after the fire, in which he lost everything and nearly his life, to the present day.

Chinese New Year Year of the Rabbit

We have started the new year on the run. We have been busy right through the Christmas New Year period. Our gallery is looking different inside, outside and up above us. We now have the Coffee Club open which is giving a buzz to the Parnell Village area. Dad is working on small and large paintings and he has just finished a commission work. We also have a new set of prints coming out soon.