Dunedin Public Art Gallery facts for kids
The Dunedin Public Art Gallery is a cool place in Dunedin, New Zealand, where you can see lots of amazing art! It's right in the middle of the city, near the library and the Dunedin Town Hall. It's a great spot to explore and learn about different artists and artworks.
A Look Back: The Gallery's Story
The Dunedin Public Art Gallery was started in 1884 by a person named W. M. Hodgkins. It was actually the very first public art gallery in all of New Zealand!
Over the years, the gallery moved around a few times. It started in a building that's now part of the Otago Museum. Then it moved to the city's main offices, and later to a special building in Queen's Gardens in 1907.
In 1927, the gallery found a new home in Logan Park. This building was bought and given to the city by Sir Percy and Lady Sargood. They wanted it to be a special memory of their son.
Finally, in 1996, the gallery moved to its current location. This building used to be a big department store!
The gallery has also shown many famous art shows from other countries. These included modern art from the Guggenheim and a special show about "Pre-Raphaelite" art from the Tate Gallery.
What You Can See: The Art Collection
The gallery has a huge collection of art, both old and new. You can see artworks by artists from New Zealand and from all over the world.
One of the most special parts of the collection is the many works by Frances Hodgkins. She was a famous artist who was born right here in Dunedin!
The gallery also has the biggest collection of "Old Master" paintings in New Zealand. These are very old and important paintings by famous artists from long ago. Plus, it has many important paintings by artists who lived after the year 1800.
You can find paintings by artists like Claude Monet, who painted La Débâcle, and Gottfried Lindauer, who painted Chief Ngairo Rakaihikuroa.
The gallery also has a fantastic collection of British watercolour paintings. There are over 1300 of these! You can also see many old and modern drawings and prints, including a cool collection of Japanese woodblock prints.
New Zealand art is also a big part of the collection. You can see famous works like Rita Angus's 1937 Self-Portrait and Colin McCahon's The 5 Wounds of Christ.
Unlike some other art galleries, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery also collects "decorative arts." This means they have amazing ceramics (like pottery), glassware, metalwork, furniture, and textiles. It's like a mini-museum of beautiful everyday objects!
The gallery is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM, except on public holidays. The current director is Cam McCracken.
Gallery
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Chief Ngairo Rakaihikuroa in Wairarapa, New Zealand by Gottfried Lindauer
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La Débâcle by Claude Monet
See also
- Hocken Collections
- Otago Museum
- Otago Settlers Museum
