Coastlines of James Cook
A Catalogue of Recent paintings by
2
Opposite page: Trees XXVII, 2011. From northern New Zealand, coming around the eastern coastal hills going into Russell (Kororareka) in the Bay of Islands. It is typical of Northland Kanuka and Manuka trees. Strata, oil on canvas, 76 x 100 cm. $5,000 Cover: Detail of Stand Alone I, Cape Terawhiti XXX 2011 (see p8.)
Susan Webb prefers to travel around New Zealand by car, ferry, train or boat, vehicles from which her powers of observation can capture images she will later transform into the vibrant paintings that have made her a favourite of selective art collectors over the past 22 years. From her purpose-built studio on a rural property in the Horowhenua, she manages to transform barren hills into an explosion of colour, a clump of trees into a beautiful bouquet, and a brooding wine-dark sea into a sparkling painted ocean. This latest collection is compiled under the title of Coastlines of James Cook as many of the locations that have inspired her works are the same coast that Captain James Cook observed and charted on his several voyages around New Zealand in the late 18th century. These coasts have changed little since those days of discovery, and Susan has injected her magic into them for us all to appreciate in our present century and beyond. She also ventures inland to Central Otago in New Zealand’s South Island, focusing on views from the highways and seeking out particularly attractive patterns of the light on both hills and tree clusters along the way. All of this is created together in her own distinctive technique and style that makes Susan unique among the artists of her time. The girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
Coastlines of James Cook An Exhibition of Recent paintings by Susan Webb Represented by Denis Robinson All prices in New Zealand dollars inclusive of gst. For all enquiries please contact: Email: denis@artdirection.co.nz Mob: +64 21 425 638 Web: www.artdirection.co.nz/gallery 3
4
Opposite page left: The Other Side VII, 2011. From a launch around the back of Motutapu Island behind Rangitoto Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand. Strata, oil and acrylic on loose pre-stretched canvas with 9 black eyelets along top for hanging. Canvas: 164 x 124 cm. $7,500 Opposite page right: The Other Side VIII, 2011. From a launch around the back of Motutapu Island behind Rangitoto Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand. Strata, oil and acrylic on loose pre-stretched canvas with 9 black eyelets along top for hanging. Canvas: 164 x 124 cm. $7,500 Left: The Other Side VI, 2011. From a launch around the back of Motutapu Island behind Rangitoto Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand. Strata, oil and acrylic on loose pre-stretched canvas with 9 black eyelets along top for hanging. Canvas: 164 x 124 cm. $7,500 5
Above: The Other Side V, 2011. This is the coastline of Motutapu Island, from a launch around the back of Rangitoto Island in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand. Oil on canvas, 46 x 112 cm. $5, 500 6
Above: Up North X, 2011. This is the coastline coming back through the marine reserve from Poor Knights Islands, heading for port at Tutukaka, Northland, New Zealand. Oil on canvas 46 x 90 cm. $5000 7
Right: Stand Alone I, Cape Terawhiti XXX 2011. From Cook Strait on the Interisland ferry while travelling to Picton from Wellington, New Zealand. Oil and acrylic on loose pre-stretched canvas with 27 black eyelets for hanging. Canvas 173 x 412 cm, image 122 x 364 cm. $30,000 Note: This massive work has an unfinished black painted border on the canvas, allowing the purchaser to choose either to hang from the eyelets or fit around a purpose-built frame. 8
9
Above: Stand Alone I Queenstown V, 2010. Jack’s Hill, at the north end of the Remarkables Range in Queenstown, New Zealand, from the bottom of the Crown Range. Oil on loose pre-stretched canvas with 25 black eyelets for hanging. 100 x 305 cm. $25,000 Note: Again a huge work that has an unfinished black painted border on the canvas, allowing the purchaser to choose either to hang from the eyelets or fit around a purpose-built frame. 10
Left: Maniototo XIV 2009. In Central Otago, New Zealand, the Maniototo basin is surrounded by a rim of hills and mountains which create a unique microclimate with ever-changing light patterns and colours. Strata, oil on canvas, 137 x 100 cm. $7,000 11
Above: The Hokianga 1, 2011. Looking west from Omapere driving south along the Hokianga Harbour, Northland, New Zealand. Oil on canvas, 40 x 122 cm. $5,000 Opposite page: Up North XI, 2011. Driving up State Highway 1 just north of Auckland, New Zealand. Oil on canvas, 76 x 100 cm. $5,000 12
13
Left: Come on Girls XXI, 2011. Generic Hereford cattle. Strata, oil on canvas, 100 x 76 cm. $5,000 14
Above: Trees XXVI variant, 2011. Generic, with no specific New Zealand location. These three paintings are able to be hung in any order in six possible variations. This shows an example of three of the variants. Triptych, oil on canvas. 30 x 162 cm. $4,200 15
This page: At Sea Level XXVI 2010. Out on Auckland Harbour, New Zealand by North Head. Diptych, oil on canvas, left 40 x 122 cm. right 122 x 40 cm. $9,000 (the pair). 16
Susan Webb 1990-2012 2011 2010
2008-2010 2006-2011 1998-2005 2003-2004 2002-2003
Born 1944, lives and works in Wellington and the Horowhenua, New Zealand
Exhibited in Wellington; Dunedin; Christchurch; Auckland; Palmerston North; Canberra; London; The Hague Solo exhibition, Parallels, Exhibitions Gallery, Wellington ANZ Private Bank Preview, Exhibitions Gallery, Wellington Completion of purpose-built studio Fractured painting arm at the wrist, relearned how to draw with the left hand applying the same skills as the right Joint exhibition, Simply The Best with Brian Strong and Keith Reid, The Artist’s Room, Dunedin Joint exhibition A Celebration of Wellington Artists Exhibitions Gallery, Wellington Publications: 2011 Artists’ Impressions of New Zealand, Denis Robinson New Holland ISBN 978-1 86966-330-8 2009 New Zealand on Canvas, Denis Robinson New Holland ISBN 978-186966-278-3 2007 New Zealand - A Painted Country, Denis Robinson New Holland ISBN 976-1-86966-184-7 2006 New Zealand’s Favourite Artists vol.1, Denis Robinson Saint, ISBN 187729065-3 Short&Sharp/er joint exhibitions, with Sally Burton, Jane Kellahan and Lynne Sandri, Wellington and Auckland Artist in Residence and solo exhibition, Ranfurly, Central Otago Joint exhibition, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, James K. Baxter, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts (NZAFA) Invited Artists’ Exhibition, in conjunction with Peruvian Artist Pedro Caballero, Wellington
2000 1999-2000 1998-2002 2001-2002 1998-2000 2000 1997 1996 1995 1994 1989-1993
Solo exhibition, The Freedom of Cass, Dobson Bashford Gallery, Christchurch Judge, Telecom Art Award Judge, NZAFA Art Award Guest lecturer, Whitireia Art School, Porirua Guest artist in Ashburton; Timaru; Te Anau Council member, NZAFA and its Vice President for two years Critiqued, NZAFA exhibitions Curator, 30 Experimental Artists, Wellington Arts Encompassing, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Wellington Travelled to The Hague to exhibit First international solo exhibition, Canberra, Australia Finalist, Mainland Art Awards, North Shore City Art Awards Awarded Artist Member, NZAFA, Wellington Travelled to China and Taiwan to paint First solo exhibition, Going Solo 6, NZAFA, Wellington Finalist, Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards, Whakatane Attended Wanganui Polytechnic Art Summer School, under Jacqueline Fahey Finalist, Norsewear Art Awards, Waipukurau Attended Hutt Valley Memorial College adult art classes under Mary Archibald For all enquiries contact Denis Robinson Mob +64 21 425 638 Email: denis@artdirection.co.nz Web: www.artdirection.co.nz/gallery 17
www.artdirection.co.nz/gallery