What remains when you strip away colour? Plenty, according to the new-look team at Harrisons Gallery. Kiri Gillespie talks to the managing director about an upcoming black and white exhibition
It's time to start afresh at Harrisons Gallery and a new look team are doing so with a rare and striking
exhibition - displaying works only in black and white.
This year's exhibition season opens with Black and White, what remains in the absence of colour. The collection of photographic, paint and multi-media works create a contemporary exhibition not seen in Tauranga before.
The gallery's new managing director, Gaye Carrothers, says although the works are in black and white, the concept behind the idea came about from exploring possibilities with colour.
"It's all about colour really," she says. "We started thinking what would happened when you took all of the colour out. What remains? What's left? So we thought that could make an interesting exhibition - how do you convey emotion and depth without colour?"
The result is a collection of works from some of the country's finest artists - including Sylvia Siddell (OBE), Peter McIntyre (famed as a New Zealand Army artist), John Blackburn and Piera McArthur.
Local artists Nic Clegg, Lynette Fisher and Andrea Cooper also feature.
"Even though it's black and white, because we have photography, painting works and mixed media, there is a texture in the exhibition even though it's two colours," Carrothers says.
"It's a unique exhibition. I have never seen or heard of one in New Zealand before.
"This is the kind of exhibition that I feel is of a standard that could be shown in a major city gallery."
Black and White, what remains in the absence of colour is the first exhibition at Harrisons Gallery since a restructure to the team earlier this year.
The departure of former gallery manager Durelle Green and master framer Stacey Howell has meant two new faces at the gallery.
While Carrothers takes on the role of managing director, Carmen Dickison is the new marketing and programming manager and Guild commended framer Marie Rhodes will take over the master framer position. Beverley Hollister-Jones still retains a large interest in the business.
The exhibition opens to public tomorrow.
