The legendary Christchurch Art Gallery Foundation Gala Dinner returned for a night of exquisite dining, great company and Insta-worthy art experiences.
Our May dinner celebrated us being in our building, Te Puna o Waiwhetū, for twenty years. They’ve been the best of times and the worst of times, and we’re excited for the next chapter. Don’t miss this moment to celebrate together – all in support of the arts in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
The funds raised from our Gala Dinner will go towards an ambitious new project we’re working on with artist Yona Lee, something playful and site-responsive just for Ōtautahi – a work that helps visitors see and experience our spaces in a totally new way.
On Saturday 7 August, we hosted an elegant dinner in the Gallery to launch our artist in residency programme at Sutton House. The residency will give selected artists the time to reflect and undertake new research, make discoveries and create new work, all while immersed in a city that has inspired generations of artists.
Blair Jackson’s vision to build a world-class residency programme reflects his commitment to help artists by providing opportunities and resources to undertake projects not possible without additional support. Supporting artists to have the freedom and ability to think big, be bold, take risks and make great work is very much part of our belief in the role of this Gallery. Our residency is hosted in a very special place – a house built in 1963, designed by artist Tom Taylor for his friend Bill Sutton; a house made for art.
On Saturday 7 November, we had an intimate dinner with 100 guests to help once again make something very special happen. Special thanks to our event partner Lyttelton Port Company for their generous support. This time the work that we plan to add to the collection was painted right here in Ōtautahi by one of our finest artists, Bill Hammond.
Bill’s haunting and beautiful Bone Yard Open Home, Cave Painting 4 was painted in 2008. However, in many ways this painting talks very much to the now, to the precarious nature of today’s world and the vulnerability of all species, including humanity. What 2020 might have finally taught us, is just how fragile this world really is.
We have nothing in our collection on the scale of Bone Yard Open Home. It’s huge, at four metres long – a lush, beautifully dark and mysterious view into an alternative world, a very different history (or possibility future) of Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s a very special work and well beyond the new reality of our COVID-cut acquisitions budget.
