New gallery for Elam
Elam School of Fine Arts is launching a new gallery, projectspaceB431. Located at Whitaker Place, it will provide a crucial second exhibition space for the School.
projectspaceB431 will present a programme of workshops, exhibitions and events by staff, students and invited guests. Comprising a 7 x 7 metre cube, the venue is designed to offer a flexible, multidisciplinary space. For Elam’s emerging artists, projectspaceB431 will provide practical experience in exhibition design, curatorial care, installation and promotion. With its highly visible location at the entrance to the School, it will encourage discourse between students, staff and the general public, in a supported environment.
“Galleries situated within a University play an important role in providing a space for students to test ideas,” says Elam Head, Professor Jonathan Mane-Wheoki.
“Only when projects are trialled in an exhibition space is it possible to see whether they work or not. If not, they can be returned to the studio for further consideration.
"Sometimes, however, something quite special, something unanticipated, can happen. Many well known New Zealand artists had their first public exhibition whilst studying at Elam. I’m delighted that we can expand on this tradition with the opening of projectspaceB431. I hope the public will join us in celebrating at the launch - an exhibition of new drawings by Elam Senior Lecturer Denys Watkins.”
Highlights during 2010 will be an Elam Jubilee exhibition - celebrating 60 years since the School joined The University of Auckland; staff research shows by Denys Watkins, Ellen Portch, Tracey Williams with Taarati Taiaroa-Smithies; and student exhibitions including the Auckland Festival of Photography.
During the first half of the year, Elam’s longstanding gallery, the George Fraser Gallery, will be a venue for the 4th Auckland Triennial. It will present work from the early 1970s by leading Australian artist Mike Parr. A programme of senior Elam student exhibitions will follow.
For media inquiries and images contact
Sonya Korohina
Public Programmes Manager, Elam School of Fine Arts
Ph: 09 373 7599 ext 86623 or 021 466 207
s.korohina@auckland.ac.nz
Projectspace B431
20 Whitaker Place
Email: projectspaceb431@auckland.ac.nz, ph: 09 3737599 ext 86623
Web: www.projectspaceB431.auckland.ac.nz (from 14 February)
Denys Watkins: I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname
Opening event: 3 March, 5:30-7:00pm
Exhibition open to public: 4-13 March, Thurs-Sat, 11am-4pm
Artist talk 13 March, 12noon
George Fraser Gallery
25a Princes Street
Email: info-georgefraser@auckland.ac.nz, ph: 09 3677163,
web: www.georgefraser@auckland.ac.nz
The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.
