NZ art focus for Auckland’s new art centre
18 Aug 2010
One of New Zealand’s notable historic homesteads and most significant private art collections have come together in an art and culture mix that promises to become a prominent Auckland visitor attraction.
Pah Homestead in Hillsborough, which was built as a gentleman’s residence in the 1870s and was better known for social services as Monte Cecilia House, has recently undergone a NZ$10m refit.
It has been transformed into a permanent home for the James Wallace Art Trust’s extensive collection thought to be valued at more than NZ$50m.
Wallace is one of the most prominent figures of the New Zealand art world and has been collecting since the 1960s. The Trust now has more than 5000 pieces, many of which will be displayed at the homestead, now to be known as the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre.
Wallace Arts Centre
As well as becoming a public gallery to house the Trust’s art collection, the Wallace Arts Centre will also host touring exhibitions and provide facilities for artist residencies and events.
Part of the Wallace collection will continue to be loaned out to universities, hospitals and other galleries, and the Trust says the new gallery will be an epicentre for curating new shows.
Auckland Mayor John Banks says the Trust’s extraordinarily valuable collection will be the centrepiece for the newly developed Monte Cecilia Park which covers more than 14 hectares.
The property has views to Manukau Harbour to the west and the city landmark One Tree Hill, and the grounds include some of Auckland’s finest exotic trees.
The council purchased Pah Homestead in 2001 as part of a plan to develop the area into Monte Cecilia Park, described by Banks as Auckland’s best kept secret.
"This must be one of the most beautiful open spaces in any city on earth. It's magnificent in shape and form. What we are doing is creating a legacy that has history and will survive for future generations," Banks said.
Careful restoration
The NZ Historic Places Trust has been involved in the restoration of Pah Homestead, and says the quality construction of the building has survived more than a century of hard use and at times severe neglect.
The homestead has seen life as an orphanage, boarding school and emergency housing but most of the original features including elaborate ceilings, parquet floors and marble fireplaces, remain intact.
It will be open to the public six days a week with no charge for entry.
The centre says income will be provided from the bookshop, restaurant and café sales as well as functions such as weddings and fundraisers.
Pah Homestead
Pah Homestead is an Italianate style house built between 1877 and 1879 for businessman James Williamson. Established as a ‘gentleman’s residence’ it was one of the largest and finest houses in Auckland at that time.
The original 162ha property, which was purchased from local Māori in 1843, has significant cultural importance as it once housed Whataroa Pa / Māori village.
The city council developed a heritage conservation plan, archaeological and geophysical assessment and culture heritage overview for the site. A landscape history and tree assessment were also produced to better understand the Māori and European heritage.
In 1888, Pah Homestead was taken over the by the Bank of New Zealand and was leased to the Anglican Church to house St Johns School.
It was purchased by the Sisters of Mercy and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland Henry William Cleary in 1913 when it became known as Monte Cecilia House - serving as an orphanage, novitiate house, boarding school and emergency housing.
James Wallace
James Wallace began collecting New Zealand art in the 1960s and has accumulated a vast collection that references the history of New Zealand contemporary art over the past half century.
In 1992 he transferred his collection to the newly formed James Wallace Arts Trust, and has continued to fund the charitable trust as well as support arts throughout New Zealand. Grants include NZ$50,000 to the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra.
While his original aim was to assist emerging artists through patronage and promotion, the Trust has continued to acquire the work of artists thereby creating a ‘diary collection’.
Nothing is ever sold. The Trust has the biggest collection of a number of leading New Zealand artists such as Toss Woollaston and Philip Trusttum. It has also initiated more than 80 commissions.
Public access to the collection has been given by making bodies of works available to some 30 institutions ranging from schools, universities and science research establishments and hospitals.
The annual Wallace Art Awards were established nearly 20 years ago, and are now the longest surviving and richest annual art awards of their kind in Australasia - amounting to more than NZ$150,000.
James Wallace is patron, trustee or board member of some 20 art institutions throughout New Zealand.
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
