Sarjeant Gallery facts for kids
The Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui is a cool art museum in Whanganui, New Zealand. It's currently getting a big makeover! While the main building is closed, you can still see amazing art at their temporary spot called Sarjeant on the Quay. This gallery has a huge collection of art from all over the world and from New Zealand.
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How the Sarjeant Gallery Started
The Sarjeant Gallery exists because of a generous gift from a man named Henry Sarjeant. In 1912, he left money for the city of Whanganui. He wanted the art gallery to "inspire" people, both then and in the future.
Designing the Building
To choose the best design, a competition was held for architects. Edmund Anscombe, an architect from Dunedin, won. However, it's thought that a young student in his office, Donald Hosie, actually created the design.
The building opened in 1919. It has a special shape called "cruciform," which means it looks like a cross. It's built in a "neo-classical" style, which means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. Inside, four art rooms branch off from a central area. This central space has a round opening at the top, called an "oculus," in a dome-shaped roof.
The building is very important historically. It's listed as a Category I Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand. This is the highest possible listing for a historic building in New Zealand.
What Art is in the Collection?
The gallery has more than 8,300 artworks! These pieces cover 400 years of art history. When the gallery first started, it mainly collected British and European art from the 1800s and early 1900s. But because Henry Sarjeant's gift allowed for a wide range of art, the collection now includes art from the 1500s all the way to today.
Types of Art You Can See
The collection includes many different types of art. You'll find drawings and prints on paper, sculptures, pottery, ceramics, and glass. There are also bronze statues, video art, and paintings. These paintings are by both modern artists and "old masters" (very famous artists from the past).
Some international artists whose work is in the collection include Edward Burne-Jones, Frank Brangwyn, and Augustus John. New Zealand artists featured include Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere, and Charles Frederick Goldie. The gallery also has a large collection of works by two artists born in Whanganui: Edith Collier and Joan Grehan.
You can explore most of the collection online! Check it out here: Explore the Sarjeant Gallery collection.
Tylee Cottage Residency
Since 1986, the Sarjeant Gallery has run a special program called the Tylee Cottage Residency. This program allows artists to live and work in Whanganui for a period of time.
Redevelopment Project
The Sarjeant Gallery is getting a big upgrade! An architecture firm called Warren and Mahoney won a competition in 1999 to design the new look. This project includes making the building stronger so it can withstand earthquakes. They are also restoring the old parts of the building and adding a new section on the north side. This new part won't be seen from the famous front of the building.
In 2014, while money was being raised for the project, the entire Sarjeant collection moved. The gallery now holds its exhibitions and events at a temporary location on Taupo Quay in central Whanganui.
Gallery Leaders
The first professional director of the gallery was Gordon H. Brown. He started in 1974. He brought in new exhibitions and bought important modern artworks for the collection.
For many years, the gallery was led by Bill Milbank. He became director in 1978 and stayed until 2006. The Tylee Cottage Residency program started during his time. Also, special art installations in the gallery's dome became a regular thing.
After Bill Milbank, Greg Anderson was the director for 15 years. The current director, Andrew Clifford, started in March 2023.
