POSTPONED: Dame Jenny Gibbs – a private collection

Please note: This event has been postponed. Ticket-holders have been contacted directly. 

Dame Jenny Gibbs, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important art advocates and philanthropists, invites Gallery Members to an exclusive visit to her art collection and residence. Explore this private gallery filled with exquisite works by New Zealand and International artists while enjoying drinks and canapés, then sit down for a conversation between Dame Jenny and Curator, New Zealand Art, Julia Waite. Together they will discuss Dame Jenny’s passion for the arts, her philanthropic efforts, as well as how this beautiful collection came about.

This is a truly unique opportunity to hear Dame Jenny speak about her vision for her own collection and the arts more broadly.

This is a fundraising event, and the proceeds will benefit Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, helping us to learn more about our collection.

The proceeds from this event will be used to purchase an infrared camera for our Conservation team. This technology will help them treat and investigate a painting by Pieter Brueghel the Younger (pictured). This work is one of the most treasured in our collection and has come down after a long period on display. This means that our team of conservators can provide it with some well-needed care by removing old, discoloured varnish and re-housing the work in a new frame.
 
They are also taking the opportunity to do a full investigation and, with the help of infrared photography, will reveal the under layers of a painting in a non-destructive manner. This means we can see any underdrawings, initial sketches by the artist, changes that have been made or how the painting might have been produced. In the case of portraits by Gottfried Lindauer, it helped to differentiate between the work of the artist and forgeries. With the Brueghel, infrared technology can help us to identify the hands involved in making this work, any changes in composition, and possibly reveal how the underdrawing was transferred from preliminary images, known as ‘cartoons’.

Understanding the work to this extent, not only helps us conserve the work to the best of our ability, but allows us to contribute to current research on the artist and his studio. Your ticket helps us learn more about our collection and brings people, all over the world, closer to art.

 

About Dame Jenny Gibbs DNZM

Dame Jenny is well known as a patron of the arts, having served as a trustee on the Arts Foundation New Zealand, the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation and the Auckland Contemporary Art Trust, and on the boards of the Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa New Zealand and NBR New Zealand Opera. She is also the Founder of the Patrons of the Auckland Art Gallery. In addition to her work in the arts, Dame Jenny served on The University of Auckland Council almost continuously from 1975 to 2009, including two terms as pro-chancellor.

About Julia Waite

Julia Waite is Curator, New Zealand Art at Auckland Art Gallery, Toi o Tāmaki. Her research interests are focused on the development of modern art in New Zealand, and global modernisms. She has a Masters in Art History from the University of Auckland (First Class Honours), a Masters of Museum and Heritage Studies from Victoria University, and a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in Art History from the University of Otago. Julia has curated several exhibitions at Auckland Art Gallery, including Freedom and Structure: Cubism and New Zealand Art 1930-1960 (2015), Gordon Walters: New Vision (2017), and Louise Henderson: From Life (2019-20). Her latest exhibition, Bill Culbert | Slow Wonder will open on 3 July 2021.

This event is part of our membership programme. Gallery Members enjoy exclusive benefits while supporting art and artists.
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Dame Jenny's collection includes several works by Colin McCahon, some of which will be on display during this event.

Image credit: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Colin McCahon Artist Files, 1952-23 Dec 2015. RC2015/6. EH McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Pieter Brueghel the Younger, A Village fair (Village festival in honour of Saint Hubert and Saint Anthony), unknown. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1961.