OUR PEOPLE

STAFF

Maree Mills

Director (06) 871 5097 mareem@hdc.govt.nz

Maree Mills joined the Hastings City Arty Gallery in January 2008. She is of Maori (Ngati Tuwharetoa) English and Scottish descent. Maree has spent her first year planning a new direction for the gallery, including a comprehensive programme, the set up of an advisory group, extending staff and capacity, and building relationships with the wider community.

She previously lectured at the University of Waikato, New Zealand on video production and experimental video practice. Her own art practice explores communication of ethereal and cosmological concepts inherent in a Maori world-view, from a female perspective. She is completing a PHD by part creative practice and has published on Maori and digital media.

Maree's page

Kath Purchas

Exhibition Designer (06) 871 5095 kathp@hdc.govt.nz

Kath Purchas has been with the Hastings City Art Gallery since June 2007. Previously Kath has worked at a number of museums, including Te Papa, The Auckland War Memorial Museum and the San Francisco Fine Arts Museums (The De Young and Legion of Honor).

She has also tutored in the Visual Arts Department at the Eastern Institute of Technology. Kath holds a Bachelor of Design and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University. Kath's role at the gallery includes exhibition design, graphic design, exhibition management and curation. Her own art practice includes photography and painting.

Kath's page

Kevin Webby

Technician/Promotional Officer (06) 871 5095 kevinw@hdc.govt.nz

Born in Wellington and of Cook Island descent, Kevin is a recent addition to the Staff of the Hastings City Art Gallery. Kevin holds a diploma of Furniture Design & Making from the Universal College of Learning, Palmerston North.

Since graduating in 2003, Kevin launched his career as a founding member of the high profile furniture design incubator, Cicada Studios and has steadily risen through the ranks from emerging designer status to become one of New Zealand’s leading furniture designers.

Kevin regularly exhibits his work on the international stage as well as in New Zealand and currently designs for his own studio based company (www.kevinwebby.com) and Auckland based design house, ‘Essenze’.

Kevin's Page

Paula Taaffe

Customer Services Officer (06) 871 5095 hastingsartgallery@hdc.govt.nz

Paula Taaffe joined the Hastings City Art Gallery in September 2008. Following the completion of a B.F.A with honours at Elam in 1988 Paula spent 20 years working as a freelance illustrator, exhibiting and teaching art in Canada and U.S.A.

Her work was selected for The Feminine Viewpoint in Canada and the Norsewear Art Award exhibition 2007. She currently tutors painting part-time for the Visual Art and Design programme of E.I.T. Her multimedia art practice includes paint, photography and more recently, video.

Paula's page

Tricia Johnson

Administrator/Arts Liason Officer

(06) 871 5095

triciaj@hdc.govt.nz

Working in the Hastings City Art Gallery gives me the opportunity to share the knowledge I already have, express my creativity and expand on my capabilities. I am excited and extremely motivated in continuing to bring Hawkes Bay a gallery of exceptional standards. I look forward to meeting with you, liaising with the artists and community and viewing all the exquisite work that Hawkes Bay and New Zealand has to offer while retaining our cultural roots and working with the community. I look forward to bringing my personal views to the gallery and would love to see the gallery incorporate fashion and textile art.

I have a lot to learn and I welcome any input that you offer, and I will endeavour to assist the already brilliant team here in the delivery of fine art, design and creativity that the community will embrace and be proud of.

I look forward to seeing you.

Tricia's page

Lizzie Russell

Visitor services/Retail Co-ordinator

(06) 871 5095

lizzier@hdc.govt.nz

Lizzie has recently moved home to Hawke’s Bay to join the Hastings City Art Gallery team. With experience in hospitality and events, Lizzie has also worked in museum collection management and spent a year teaching English in Japan.

Early in 2010 she completed an MA in Creative Writing at Victoria University, Wellington and is continuing to work on a novel manuscript.

She sees her new role at the gallery as a fantastic challenge, and a great opportunity to combine her previous experience with her love of contemporary art, and looks forward to supporting the team at such an exciting time of growth for HCAG. She looks forward to seeing you at the gallery sometime soon.

Lizzie's page

ARTS ADVISORY BOARD

Roy Dunningham

Writer/Teacher/Curator (06) 877 8409 artful@clear.net.nz

* Graduated in Painting. Canterbury University School of Fine Arts. 1958 * 20 years Head of Art at Havelock North High School * Curated shows for Cultural Trust and Hastings Community Arts Centre. * Mural and glass designs in Hastings and Napier buildings * Consultation work for Opus International and Hastings District Council * Aquisitions committee HBAGM 1980s * Art reviewer for newspapers and magazines for over 30 years. * Lectures and workshops on art for various adult groups

Cynthia Bowers

Deputy Mayor/Hastings District Councillor 06 8734288 cynthia@actionwoman.co.nz

Cynthia is Deputy Mayor of Hastings District Council and chairman of Council’s Community Services Committee. She works closely with Hastings City Marketing, Hastings District Landmarks Trust and Creative Hastings, where she had been chairman. She is also a former chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Cultural Trust and is currently a director of Hawke’s Bay Opera House Ltd.

Cynthia has a strong vision for the role that the arts play in the community and was one of the drivers of the commissioning of public art in the Hastings City centre. Her vision for the Hastings City Art Gallery is that it will be a cornerstone of a cultural precinct in the Hastings CBD, together with the Opera House, Community Arts Centre and the public art display. She looks forward to the creation of a vibrant precinct - a place that will attract both locals and visitors.

Bruce Martin

Artist (Pottery) (06) 8799555 anagama@clear.net.nz

Bruce Martin is one of New Zealand's pioneer potters, establishing Kamaka Pottery with his wife Estelle in 1965. Bruce and Estelle travelled extensively in Japan in 1978 and in 1980 built a large traditional Japanese anagama kiln at their property near Bridge Pa. Their work explores the surface effects of natural ash glazes on traditional and modern forms. Bruce is especially known for his hand-built slab ikebana flower containers.

He has exhibited widely in New Zealand and Japan, and is represented in many galleries and private collections. Now retired, Bruce still sells work from his studio in Valentine Road, maintains his 4 hectare garden and retains an active interest and involvement in the arts, architecture, and music.

Judith Anderson

Gallery Director Contact Phone: 06 835 5607 Email: jagalleryhb@xtra.co.nz

Web: http://www.judith-anderson-gallery.co.nz/

I have been involved in the art world for over 30 years, opening my own gallery in 1988. I am now situated in Hawkes Bay where I continue to exhibit some of New Zealand's very best contemporary artists.

I am ready to put my knowledge and passion for both New Zealand and international contemporary art at your disposal, providing you with sound advice on starting an art collection, expanding your current collection or simply sharing my knowledge and passion with you.

Patrick Tyman

Art Educator Contact Phone: 06 835 3007 E-mail: tymans@clear.net.nz

Patrick Tyman lives in Napier and is Head of Art at Iona College, Havelock North. He emigrated to New Zealand from England in 1996.

A painter, printmaker and lecturer in Art History, he has exhibited widely over the past years at: The Royal Society of Oil Painters, The National Print Exhibition, The Medici Gallery, and The Mall Galleries, in London: John Davies Fine Art, Art in Action (3 times), Laing Landscape Exhibition, The Royal Overseas. He continues to exhibit in New Zealand (Tamerillo Gallery, Wellington; Hawkes Bay Review; Hawkes bay Invitational) and his screen print "Ranthambor" was hung at the Norsewear Award (2006) and the screen print "Nature as Designer" at the 2007 Norsewear Award. “Unity with variety was a finalist for the 2008 Wallace awards.

Initially he lived in the more remote areas of India amid a post colonial life. The tropical landscape, lush colour, life style and the exoticism of India left a lasting impression on him, seen so lucidly in the decorative impact, bold painterly effects, and intense blazing colour which make his art.

After completing his formative education at Lushington (later called Hebron) in the Southern Indian hill station of Ooty and his further education in England at: Dover College, Medway College of Art and Design, Kingston University, and Brighton University, he gained experience in teaching art and design at secondary schools in England, and he continues to do so here in New Zealand.

Recent achievements:

In 2008 Patrick completed a Masters in Education (Med) and in 2009 his paintng "Unity with Variety II" was selected as a finalist in the Wallace art awards.