Gus Fisher Gallery
Encyclopedia
The Gus Fisher Gallery is part of The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries (NICAI), and is located in The Kenneth Myers Centre, an historic building restored in 2000 with the help of the gallery's patron, Gus Fisher
(1920-2010).
It is operated by the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), which was established in 2005 to support and develop the academic and research activities connected with the Gus Fisher Gallery, The University of Auckland Art Collection, and Window. The gallery aims to present a balanced and relevant programme of curated exhibitions of contemporary and historical art, which interrogates current visual arts knowledge nationally and internationally.
In 2008, The Gus Fisher Gallery was awarded Metro Magazine's Best Arts Institution in Auckland, from their annual Best of Auckland Issue.
The Gus Fisher Gallery is free, and open Tuesday to Friday, 10am – 5pm, and Saturday 12pm - 4pm.
.
In the 1990s the building, with its purpose-built studio environs, became a natural base for a range of musicians and producers, including Dave Dobbyn
, The Submariner and York Street Studio
. The many recordings made in this period include albums from The Muttonbirds, Che Fu
and Pitch Black
. Parts of the Kenneth Myers Centre still function as recording and rehearsal studios and are regularly used by musicians from The University of Auckland’s School of Music.
Purchased by the University from TVNZ in 2000, the building was extensively and authentically restored and renovated. Downstairs are dance studios, music practice rooms, video edit suites and other facilities for teaching and studying the creative and performing arts, while the upstairs areas were refurbished with the help of art lover and fashion designer Gus Fisher (fashion)
’s generosity to become The University of Auckland’s art gallery.
Described as neo-Romanesque in style, the 1YA studios were designed by Norman Wade and Alva Bartley, architects of De Bretts (also in Shortland Street) in 1935. Deceptively large, the structure presents a single storey façade to Shortland Street, but extends for another three levels down the hill to Fort Street at the back. Requirements of early radio broadcasting technology dictated that the building be solid and soundproof. Thick double brick walls block out noise, and copper framed arched ‘windows’ reveal a second layer of brick rather than a view of the interior.
While most of the interior has always been very plain, the main foyer features a coloured glass dome lit from above, encircled by elaborately decorated plaster, originally painted in seven colours. This has been painted white to accentuate the pink, green and tobacco coloured glass in the dome.
The original bronze 1YA entrance lamps at the building's entrance were removed when the building was refitted for television in 1959 and ended up at a private home in Siota Cres, Kohimarama. To complete a condition of a city council resource consent (issued in 2000 with a 2005 deadline) that allowed the University to restore the building, at the prompting of artist Billy Apple
, a new set of lamps were produced and installed on 23 October 2009.
Established in 2006, the Centre is entrusted to manage and develop the University’s extensive and valuable art collection, to coordinate the busy exhibition programme of the Gus Fisher Gallery, and to support and guide the student team that leads the activities of the online and onsite student-curated gallery, Window. The Centre also liaises closely with those other parts of the University engaged in similar or complementary activities with a view to maximising opportunities to profile key initiatives.
and Bob Chapman, The Art Collection is one of the University’s most valuable and cherished assets. However, its most poignant value lies in its use as a resource for teaching, learning and research. Available on loan to departments and faculties on all campuses, the Collection has been built up over forty years to include major works by significant artists such as Frances Hodgkins
, Colin McCahon
, Billy Apple
and Ralph Hotere
. Outcomes from postgraduate research on the Collection have included a thesis on its own history as an entity, monograph exhibitions on individual artists, and surveys of the impact of the evolution of the Collection on Auckland’s dealer galleries, resulting in the exhibitions and publications Vuletic and His Circle (about the Petar/James Gallery) in 2003 and New Vision Gallery in 2008.
Gus Fisher (fashion)
Gurshon "Gus" Fisher ONZM is a philanthropist and a former leading figure in the New Zealand fashion industry. He headed the fashion house El Jay for 50 years, introducing Parisian style to New Zealand, and was the New Zealand agent for Christian Dior for 33 years from 1955 until 1988...
(1920-2010).
It is operated by the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), which was established in 2005 to support and develop the academic and research activities connected with the Gus Fisher Gallery, The University of Auckland Art Collection, and Window. The gallery aims to present a balanced and relevant programme of curated exhibitions of contemporary and historical art, which interrogates current visual arts knowledge nationally and internationally.
In 2008, The Gus Fisher Gallery was awarded Metro Magazine's Best Arts Institution in Auckland, from their annual Best of Auckland Issue.
The Gus Fisher Gallery is free, and open Tuesday to Friday, 10am – 5pm, and Saturday 12pm - 4pm.
Kenneth Myers Centre
The Gus Fisher Gallery is located in the former Broadcasting Buildings at 74 Shortland Street – now renamed the Kenneth Myers Centre in honour of principal benefactor, Douglas Myers', father. Once home to 1YA, Auckland’s oldest radio station, the building was turned into a television studio and was the site of New Zealand's first official television broadcast on June 1 1960. Centre of the nation’s television broadcasting until 1985 when TVNZ relocated, sentimental regard for the old building known as the Shortland Street Studios lives on in the titling of a certain long running hospital soap, Shortland StreetShortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
.
In the 1990s the building, with its purpose-built studio environs, became a natural base for a range of musicians and producers, including Dave Dobbyn
Dave Dobbyn
Dave Dobbyn, ONZM is an award-winning New Zealand musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash...
, The Submariner and York Street Studio
York Street Studio
York Street Recording Studio is a Recording Studio based in Auckland, New Zealand. Founded and built by producer and engineer Martin Williams, producer Malcolm Welsford and Jaz Coleman it quickly became New Zealand's leading music recording, mixing and mastering facility...
. The many recordings made in this period include albums from The Muttonbirds, Che Fu
Che Fu
Che Fu MNZM is a New Zealand Hip hop/R&B and Reggae recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally, including in Australia and the UK.-History:Fu is one of New Zealand's...
and Pitch Black
Pitch Black
Pitch Black is a 2000 science fiction thriller film directed by David Twohy and starring Vin Diesel. The film costars Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser and Keith David....
. Parts of the Kenneth Myers Centre still function as recording and rehearsal studios and are regularly used by musicians from The University of Auckland’s School of Music.
Purchased by the University from TVNZ in 2000, the building was extensively and authentically restored and renovated. Downstairs are dance studios, music practice rooms, video edit suites and other facilities for teaching and studying the creative and performing arts, while the upstairs areas were refurbished with the help of art lover and fashion designer Gus Fisher (fashion)
Gus Fisher (fashion)
Gurshon "Gus" Fisher ONZM is a philanthropist and a former leading figure in the New Zealand fashion industry. He headed the fashion house El Jay for 50 years, introducing Parisian style to New Zealand, and was the New Zealand agent for Christian Dior for 33 years from 1955 until 1988...
’s generosity to become The University of Auckland’s art gallery.
Described as neo-Romanesque in style, the 1YA studios were designed by Norman Wade and Alva Bartley, architects of De Bretts (also in Shortland Street) in 1935. Deceptively large, the structure presents a single storey façade to Shortland Street, but extends for another three levels down the hill to Fort Street at the back. Requirements of early radio broadcasting technology dictated that the building be solid and soundproof. Thick double brick walls block out noise, and copper framed arched ‘windows’ reveal a second layer of brick rather than a view of the interior.
While most of the interior has always been very plain, the main foyer features a coloured glass dome lit from above, encircled by elaborately decorated plaster, originally painted in seven colours. This has been painted white to accentuate the pink, green and tobacco coloured glass in the dome.
The original bronze 1YA entrance lamps at the building's entrance were removed when the building was refitted for television in 1959 and ended up at a private home in Siota Cres, Kohimarama. To complete a condition of a city council resource consent (issued in 2000 with a 2005 deadline) that allowed the University to restore the building, at the prompting of artist Billy Apple
Billy Apple
Billy Apple, ONZM is an artist whose work is associated with the New York and British schools of Pop Art in the 1960s and with the Conceptual Art movement in the 1970s. He collaborated with the likes of Andy Warhol and other pop artists...
, a new set of lamps were produced and installed on 23 October 2009.
CNZARD
The Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD) develops, supports and promotes scholarship, learning, and community engagement in the visual arts. It is an important platform for The University of Auckland’s interface and engagement with the wider Auckland and New Zealand communities.Established in 2006, the Centre is entrusted to manage and develop the University’s extensive and valuable art collection, to coordinate the busy exhibition programme of the Gus Fisher Gallery, and to support and guide the student team that leads the activities of the online and onsite student-curated gallery, Window. The Centre also liaises closely with those other parts of the University engaged in similar or complementary activities with a view to maximising opportunities to profile key initiatives.
The University of Auckland Art Collection
Established in 1967 by Keith SinclairKeith Sinclair
Sir Keith Sinclair, CBE was a poet and noted historian of New Zealand.Born and raised in Auckland, Sinclair was a student at Auckland University College, which was then part of the University of New Zealand. He was awarded a Ph.D...
and Bob Chapman, The Art Collection is one of the University’s most valuable and cherished assets. However, its most poignant value lies in its use as a resource for teaching, learning and research. Available on loan to departments and faculties on all campuses, the Collection has been built up over forty years to include major works by significant artists such as Frances Hodgkins
Frances Hodgkins
Frances Mary Hodgkins was a painter chiefly of landscape and still life, and for a short period was a designer of textiles. She was born in New Zealand, but spent most of her working life in Britain...
, Colin McCahon
Colin McCahon
Colin John McCahon was a prominent New Zealand artist. During his life he also worked in art galleries and as a university lecturer...
, Billy Apple
Billy Apple
Billy Apple, ONZM is an artist whose work is associated with the New York and British schools of Pop Art in the 1960s and with the Conceptual Art movement in the 1970s. He collaborated with the likes of Andy Warhol and other pop artists...
and Ralph Hotere
Ralph Hotere
Hone Papita Raukura "Ralph" Hotere is a New Zealand artist of Māori descent . He was born in Mitimiti, Northland and He is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most important living artists...
. Outcomes from postgraduate research on the Collection have included a thesis on its own history as an entity, monograph exhibitions on individual artists, and surveys of the impact of the evolution of the Collection on Auckland’s dealer galleries, resulting in the exhibitions and publications Vuletic and His Circle (about the Petar/James Gallery) in 2003 and New Vision Gallery in 2008.