New John Walsh print to aid National Whale Centre
Leading New Zealand artist, John Walsh, has offered his haunting depiction of a whale He Whanaunga, as the third in a series of artists’ prints to raise funds for the proposed National Whale Centre in Marlborough.
The print will be launched on December 3 at The Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland in association with the National Whale Centre Development Trust. Only 28 of the limited edition will be
available for individual sale initially with all proceeds going to the Whale Centre project.
“We are very privileged to have such a remarkable print in the series and the Trust is grateful to John for his support
and enthusiasm for the project,” says project director Luit Bieringa.
John Walsh’s etching and aquatint is a collaboration by him and Michael Kempson of Cicada Press at the College of Fine
Arts, University of New South Wales.
It will be part of a portfolio of works by some of New Zealand’s and one of Australia’s most important image makers
including Dick Frizzell and Greg O’Brien (already released), John Pule, Fiona Hall , Michael Tuffery and two others
still to be confirmed.
The prints will be available from The Gow Langsford Gallery , the Diversion Gallery, Picton or Bowen Galleries in
Wellington.
“Some collectors have already purchased the first two prints and are keen to put together a portfolio of all the prints
to be issued.”
The NWC aims to tell the story of New Zealand’s whaling history in the Marlborough Sounds as well as current whale and
dolphin (cetaceans) conservation efforts through information, research and exhibition programmes. The Trust aims to
build an interactive space near the Picton foreshore for visitors to learn more about cetaceans and the local area’s
whaling history.
After the release of individual prints over the next year, each artist will receive a full set for their own collection,
with a portfolio of 8-10 prints being offered to the public.
ENDS