101 works at Rotorua Museum by NZ artist Sir ‘Toss’ Woollaston
101 works at Rotorua Museum by NZ artist Sir Toss' Woollaston
Saturday 1 December 2012
Sir Mountford Tosswill "Toss" Woollaston was one of New Zealand's most important 20th century artists.
The exhibition, Woollaston 101 at Rotorua Museum, is a comprehensive representation of Woollaston's mind at work and is distinguished by its focus on portraiture and figure studies. It also includes watercolour landscapes and some of his large studio oils for which the artist was perhaps best known.
In 1979 Toss Woollaston gifted 101 works on paper from his collection to The Suter Art Gallery (Nelson), in appreciation of the gallery's work for the Nelson community. The selection was made by The Suter's then director, Austin Davies, and it was the artist's wish that the collection was referred to as: The Toss Woollaston, Austin Davies one-oh-ones'.
Opening at Rotorua Museum on Saturday 1 December 2012, Woollaston 101 reflects Woollaston's belief that drawing is always intended as a thing in itself, it might sometimes later serve as a reference for a painting but only incidentally.
The title of this exhibition plays on the common title for first year university courses 101' as well as the number of works gifted by the artist.
Rotorua Museum art curator, Karl Chitham says "This exhibition is a great opportunity for us to showcase our own paintings and drawings by Toss Woollaston alongside this major collection of works."
Woollaston 101 is showing at Rotorua Museum from 1 December to 24 February 2013. Entry to the exhibition is included with Museum admission which is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $8 for children. Entry is free for local residents with ID.