RICHARD ADAMS
A new exhibition opened March 1, it was great seeing Richard at the opening, and again April 6th, when he returned to Kerikeri to perform Blues & Jazz with Nigel Gavin at Marsden Estate Winery.
Richard also ran a weekend workshop teaching the skill of mark making, inspired by the Japanese. “ I recently spent time as the resident artist at Wellesley College, a private school in Wellington which hosts artists every second year. There I did a lot of gestural mark making with the boys.They loved that whole process so I thought I would run it as a workshop” he says.
“The principal of mark making comes from the movement of making a character by not taking the brush off the paper” , Richard says. On paper it looks beautiful and combined with working outdoors ( weather permitting ), I’m expecting it to be a really abstract process”.
“Artists are generally an isolated bunch” Richard laughs.”At the end of the workshop we get together and talk about the work and what we accomplished which makes it social and fun”.
Richard Adams, a contemporary New Zealand abstract artist, first exhibited his works in 1982 at the Molesworth Gallery in Wellington. Since then, the Auckland based artist has become nationally and internationally renowned for his work, exhibiting in Tokyo, Sydney,New York, London and most recently at gallery thirty three in Wanaka, The Arthouse in Christchurch and the McPherson Gallery in Auckland.
A man of many talents, Adams is not only an established artist, but also displays a passionate flair for the Jazz Violin as frontman for the Nairobi Trio. He published his first book of poems and etchings called ‘Translations’ in 1979 and in the same year co-scripted, produced and directed the New Zealand film ‘Artman.’
Adams abstract, minimalistic plains of vertical and horizontal motif panels, curves and lines are inspired by nature, colours, textures, shapes and surfaces. Drawing from the landscape Adams uses canvas and paper as frames for the exploration of coloured oil panels, ovals and line etchings cemented by an obvious structural base, balanced by optical restraint and painterly freedom.
Adams believes he will never run out of things to paint “the well is endless” so to speak. The guide rather than the master of the brush, Adam’s works are both literary and artistic. They are images resultant of thought processes, simplified and emotional that grow as he works – Hamish Coney, in a recent interview with the artist said “unlocking the meaning of Richard’s work is a joint venture between the artist and viewer, both of whom bring a history to the moment of viewing.”
From Richard’s last Exhibition Mark Making , 6 May – 5 June 2016
From the Workshop:
By popular demand a workshop was held over the weekend of 7 – 8th May. “With an abstract emphasis and focus on the importance of mark making, when preparing for under painting, and how to reveal textures and expressive brushwork within a composition” This was the aim of this successful and the third workshop organised for Richard.
Works from past shows are always available to see, we have a good variety from large canvases to different sized works on paper, spanning a few years of changing style. Ask within.
Last year, Richard did a six week residency at Winchester School in Winchester UK, where he was commissioned to do a painting and workshops with the pupils.
