Martin Poppelwell

February races by, even a leap year ‘bonus day’ isn’t going to stop us crashing into March with unseemly speed.

Leisa and I went to the [re] opening of Collecting Contemporary at Te Papa, in particular to catch up with Martin Poppelwell whose wonderful ‘Study for Strip’ is still on display.  Have a look at this link, Martin describes how he went about putting the display together...

http://www.youtube.com/user/tepapamuseum/featured

 Martin investigates language, design and the role art plays in such matters as politics. He has created an extraordinary dinner set or table arrangement that uses the ubiquitous nature of such objects as they evoke the sense of rituals- both daily and in turn leading onto more significant types of ritual.

 As humans we are attracted to each other through objects that we utilise to discuss or celebrate various points in our lives.

Here at CVG we have four wonderful ceramic pieces and two wall pieces of Martins- ‘study of Odysseus’ and an artists proof of ‘study for a badpie chart’ .

See you soon    

Royal Bake, pie charts and others.....

We have some exciting new work in the gallery… Eion Stevens, Martin Poppelwell, Basia Smolnicki and Andy Irving have all contributed to our ‘Royal Bake’ show and the work looks great.

Stevens says he hasn’t shown in Wellington for  ‘a good 15 years.. ’ and has sent up from Lyttleton 6 iconic ’ oil on panel works that span a 12 year period. His flat planes of colour and signature semi-abstract motifs are as consistent as ever. He says his work is largely autobiographical…’heading towards self portraiture’. One thing that remains the same is his deftness at handling form and colour that can only come from years of steadfastly plying his trade.



Music



Martin Poppelwell has sent down 2 ceramic pieces and a fabulous pie chart painting- as always a delightfully bemused stream of consciousness corralled into his signature wonky grids!

Pie Chart Study

Andy Irving has replaced ‘strip light’ with the stunning illuminated ‘Concentric Circles’ …do a drive by this is always on and looks great at night.



Concentric Circles



Basia Smolnicki has made aquatint portraits from rubbish! These are hilarious outcomes from the humblest beginnings!



Frank



Totaranui by Tom Sladden

A new ceramic work from Roger Booth and an illuminated tent work by Tom Sladden round out a great collection….

Battleships by Roger Booth

See you soon.