Capital Times

Capital Times features artworks that relate to the Wellington region. The six Wellington based artists in the exhibition are Neil Pardington, Geoffrey Notman, Ans Westra, Barbara Strathdee, Bob Kerr and Ann Shelton. The opening of Capital Times will also mark the installation of Aphasia in the courtyard at Suite by Auckland based sculptor Anton Parsons.

Neil Pardington's recent photographs investigate restricted and sacrosanct spaces such as the museum storeroom, the morgue and underground tunnels.    His two works in this exhibition are being shown for the first time.

Geoffrey Notman's paintings are astute social and topographical observations drawn in part from his own diverse work history; which includes unloading fishing trawlers, the mills at Kawarau and Kinleith as well as publishing, teaching, designing, animation and advertising.

Ans Westra is responsible for what is arguably the most comprehensive photo documentation of the lives and cultures of New Zealanders during 40 plus years of cultural, social and generational change. In 1998 Westra was awarded the Companion of the Order of New Zealand Merit for services to photography, and in 2007 she became an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon.

Barbara Strathdee has held more than 30 solo exhibitions in New Zealand and Italy. Her large painting in this exhibition, Porirua Plaza, includes imagery such as a tuatara skeleton, a representation of a tiki taken from a 1910 newspaper advertisement, and a painted sketch of people in the present day shopping mall.

Bob Kerr is the author and illustrator of many children's books and his work was featured on the cover of the acclaimed Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King. Kerr is a full time artist and he has exhibited regularly in public and private galleries around New Zealand and overseas.
Ann Shelton exhibits on a regular basis in public galleries, artist-run spaces and dealer galleries within New Zealand and internationally. Shelton's photographs have been seen in Germany, China, Australia, Italy, England, Poland, Australia and North America.

Anton Parsons' work is held in numerous public and private collections and he has successfully realised commissions within both the public and private sectors. His major work Invisible City on Lambton Quay is arguably one of the best public sculptures in Wellington.