THE AUCKLAND ART GALLERY ON FILM 1880s-2011
In this Film Archive screening early silent films from the dawn of cinema in New Zealand depict Auckland as a small township – the population was a mere 40,000 at the time the current art gallery building was opened in 1888. This screening spans the 125 year history of the Auckland Art Gallery, includes interviews with former staff, footage of exhibitions, the opening of the Edminson Wing and performance art in the in 1970s, concluding with the blessing ceremony of the new major addition and renovation in 2011. Silent footage is accompanied by William Green on piano.
SCENES OF AUCKLAND 1925 Silent
Shops and landmarks including Pardington’s Flour Mill near Karangahape Road, The CPO, Town Hall and Auckland Art Gallery are pictured. Includes footage of horses and carts and trams on Queen Street, Karangahape Road, Grafton Bridge and the Lyric and Tivoli cinemas. Panorama of an area of eastern inner-city from a high vantage point depicts the Victorian-era wooden villas. Views of Auckland city including the waterfront, a shot from a ferry pulling out from Quay St. Queen Street, the wharves, busy port area and children swimming at Rangitoto.
GLIMPSES OF AUCKLAND 1929 Silent
Shots of Auckland landmarks and attractions identify some of the jewels in Auckland’s crown. “Auckland by the wide Hauraki Gulf, is one of the most beautiful and populous centres of the South Pacific” – reads one inter-title.
PROGRESSIVE NEWMARKET 1921 Silent (excerpt)
Scenes of a busy Newmarket show the development of Auckland township in the early twenties. Street scene with trams and cars driving down Broadway. People walking into a shop with the signage 'J. Williamson - Manufacturer and Importer'. A customer selects a pair of shoes from the proprietor. "The workshop. Here we see the various processes." Workers at various machines creating shoes. The Auckland Milk Co. Ltd." Panning shot of small dairy holding on a [Tamaki] hillside. "The milk is carried by motor to the factory." Truck arrives at the factory and is loaded onto the dock. "The milk is weighed and the cans sterilised." "And then." The milk is delivered to a house. Shot of the Union Jack.
NEW ZEALAND TRAMS: AUCKLAND 1994 (excerpt)
Part 2 of 'New Zealand Trams' is an in depth look at life on the tramways, particularly the Auckland lines, incorporating archive footage and still photographs. This short extract depicts the development of central horse-drawn tramlines and features the Auckland Art Gallery building prominently situated on Wellesley Street with very few large buildings around it. Note the early image of the Auckland Art Gallery’s clock tower sans clock.
AN INTERVIEW WITH HAMISH KEITH. 2009
A new interview with Hamish Keith about his early days working for The Auckland Art Gallery, starting as a student assistant keeper in 1958 with Colin McCahon and Peter Tomory.
JACOB EPSTEIN - AN EXHIBITION AT THE AUCKLAND GALLERY. 1960 (excerpt)
Members of the public visit the Jacob Epstein Exhibition at the Auckland Gallery to view art works. This film was conceived and produced by the Art Gallery’s Hamish Keith and Sigmund Spath. Music by Robin Maconie.
PICTORIAL PARADE 221: ART SURGEON. 1969 (excerpt)
Mr Leslie Lloyd, Conservator at the Auckland City Art Gallery, performs a step-by-step restoration of a 300-year old oil painting. Mr Lloyd was trained at London's Victoria and Albert Museum and was also a surgeon's assistant during World War II. In working on this painting, he will employ both these facets of his training and a lot of patience. [The footage shows historic conservation practices that are outdated and no longer considered acceptable. The conservators at Auckland Art Gallery adhere to ethical standards that are recognised in museums and art galleries around the world and are members of the New Zealand Conservators of Cultural Material.]
CITY OF AUCKLAND CENTENNIAL 1871 - 1971. (excerpt)
Auckland Centenary celebrations. Opening of the Edminson wing of the Auckland Art Gallery by the Governor General, Sir Arthur Porrit.
CONTACT. BODY ARTICULATION IMPRINT. 1974
The floor and walls of a large section of the Auckland Art Gallery were blocked off to form an 'arena' for action in this artwork by Jim Allen. “Six performers were dispersed around the perimeter of the space; each had a plastic bucket of gel colour, alternately red, blue, and yellow. The action commenced with the players smearing a quantity of colour on the joint areas of the body. As they moved a visual record was made of the articulation. After this initial exploration the colour was extended to cover the whole of the body. The player then proceeded to make an imprint on the polythene floor by squirming, rolling, and making sweeping arm and leg movements. At this stage there are red, yellow, and blue movements around the perimeter of the space. Next players moved closer to the centre and formed partnerships. They explored dual movements and bought about colour changes through body contact, yellow and blue to green, red and blue to purple. Following this all six met in the centre and all distinguishing colour was lost in the body mix. The action terminated by the players wiping colour off each other's bodies.” – www.imageandtext.org.nz
THE EDGE [SERIES 1 PROGRAMME 12]. 1993 (excerpt)
The Rembrandt to Renoir exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery. Andrew Bogle the Auckland City Art Gallery curator discusses some of his personal highlights in the exhibition.
FOR ARTS SAKE: BUT IS IT ART? (excerpt)
An arts show about the 'Transformers' exhibition at The Auckland Art Gallery, followed by an interview with Chris Saines then director of The Auckland Art Gallery (1996).
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OPENING WEEK OF THE AUCKLAND ART GALLERY TOI O TĀMAKI, SEPTEMBER 2011 (excerpt)
Features a short excerpt of the blessing ceremony of the new major addition and renovation in 2011. Guests are welcomed by powhiri into the new building which features the new kauri canopy and carved pillars.