Introducing this exhibition are four new Marté Szirmay bronze sculptures, inspired by the poem After the Storm by Wellington writer, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell.
Born in Hungary, Szirmay arrived in NZ in 1957. Graduating DFA (Hons), from the University of Auckland School of Fine Arts in 1968, she went on to gain a Teaching Diploma and has dedicated over 45 years to teaching art to new generations. Frances Hodgkins Fellow in both 1971 & 72, she was a QEII Arts Council grants recipient in 1973, 1978 & 1982, and a founding member of Medal Artists of New Zealand (MANZ). Szirmay has created architectural works, sculpture for city squares, wall reliefs and free-standing objects. With numerous solo exhibitions within NZ, she has participated in group shows in London, Budapest, Helsinki, Tokyo, USA, Sweden, Crete, Spain and Australia. Her work is held in private and public collections worldwide.
Building on the theme are many previously unshown, early bronzes by Auckland based sculptor, Bill Hayes.
Growing up in New York, Hayes earned a BFA from Alfred University. He worked at the Tallix Foundry, NY and Artworks Foundry, Berkeley, CA before moving to NZ in 1997. Since then, he has been resident sculptor at the Lakehouse Art Centre, Takapuna, and is a member of MANZ. In a career spanning over 40 years, Hayes has made his name as a leading commission bronze sculptor and ceramics teacher. With a number of public works in NZ, his sculptures can also be seen in private collections both nationally and internationally.
Complementing the bronzes of Szirmay and Hayes, are recently released works on paper by selected Fe29 artists. These include rare, signed etchings and mezzotints by the late John Drawbridge (MBE), early etchings by Robert Macdonald (currently of Wales), and monotypes from Kristin O’Sullivan Peren’s Breath series.