Dannevirke: Czech art expedition fruitful

Hosts Petr (left) and Martha Odehna, with Woodville's Joan McIntyre in the Chapel of Saints Methodius and Cyril which was being set up for Mass. The paintings are by Gottfried Lindauer. Photo / Christine McKay

For Woodville couple, Joan and Kevin McIntyre a trip to the Czech Republic to learn more about artist Gottfried Lindauer was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"It was exciting and we were rapt," Mrs McIntyre said. "We learned more than we'd ever known about Lindauer as those putting together the exhibition at the Gallery of West Bohemia in Pilsen had found out so much more.

"Letters sent by Lindauer from New Zealand back to his birthplace have really added flesh to the bones of what we already knew."

One special piece of information came from a letter the artist sent from Woodville in 1904, describing how he'd extended his house.

Since 1975 the McIntyres have dedicated much of their time to the pursuit of Lindauer paintings which they've copied, with permission of the owners, for Woodville's Lindauer Replica Studio and even their holidays are spent chasing down more of the artist's work.

And in the Czech Republic they hit the jackpot.

"It was wonderful. We found another 20 Lindauer paintings over there which we were able to copy for the Woodville studio," Mr McIntyre said. "We proved our credentials by being allowed to do that.

"And we learned that a lot of the details we believed in here in New Zealand weren't quite as we thought.

"Yes, Lindauer did go to Vienna, but never enrolled in the school of fine arts there. Instead he joined a group of painters working with a well-known painter."

As their contribution to the Lindauer exhibition in Pilsen, the McIntyre's contributed a book of their own research.

"The organisers of the exhibition were thrilled to get our information and we were thrilled to get their research," Mr McIntyre said. "Now we have to rewrite our research document to include all the new stuff and there's a lot to sort out.

"Our visit strengthens the value of Woodville's replica Lindauer studio and our vital place in the life and work of the artist."

At Valasske Kiobuky , the local priest welcomed the McIntyres, even opening his home to them because he too had Lindauer paintings.

"They rebuilt the chapel there on the 1000th anniversary of Christianity and they've also dug around the base of the church, and found envelopes with postcards sent from New Zealand by Lindauer - that's incredible," Mr McIntyre said.

Now the links between the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and Woodville are being strengthened, with plans for an artist in residence at Woodville well under way.

"After several months of emails, Skyping and translation of language with people from the Pilsen Gallery and then the university, appointments were made to confirm the points of this programme," Mr McIntyre said.

"The university has exchange students in North America, Asia, and around Europe, so the concept is not new to them, but they liked the simplicity of our proposal.

"Because the residence programme will run in January, February and March, a busy time for the university's bachelor of arts students, the vice-dean has suggested a master's student come to Woodville instead. They think our artist-in-residence programme is very generous and they've already begun the selection process."

A shortlist will be submitted to members of Woodville District Vision and Mr McIntyre said he was confident the artist programme would be a good experience for everyone.

Lindauer tour of Gorge Cemetery

Czech-born Gottfried Lindauer lived and painted in Woodville from 1890 when he purchased a 10-acre block in Pinfold Rd, until his death in 1926.

He is buried at the historic Gorge Cemetery with his wife Rebecca and son Hector.

A Lindauer tour of Woodville's Gorge Cemetery will take place on Sunday, August 30.

The tour will feature visits to the burial sites of a number of prominent early-day settlers who were the subjects of portraits painted by Lindauer in the early 1900s.

Joan and Kevin McIntyre will lead the tour, which begins at 2.30pm at the upper gate to the cemetery. For more information, phone 06 376-5690 or 376-4472.