Click for big version
Press Release
Love Birds by Linda Gilbert
Love Birds is an exhibition of oil paintings by emerging artist Linda Gilbert. The show opens on Valentine’s Day
(Tuesday 14 February 2006) at the Wellington Art Centre Gallery, 61 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro and runs until Tuesday
February 28 2006.
New Zealand birds from the past, present, and possibly the future are set amongst mythical cloudscapes. Sub-titled
Extinct, Endangered and Engineered, Gilbert considers ideas of evolution, preservation, genetic engineering and time.
Evolution is gradual and based on naturally occurring events or mutations. Human manipulation uses genetic engineering
to accelerate the process. Both create hybrids. Pick and mix, or wait and see?
The single, common denominator of evolution and genetic engineering is that change is inevitable.
Fear about Avian flu is sweeping the world and many birds, both sick and healthy, are being slaughtered to prevent a
possible pandemic. Love Birds references the unique and fragile status of New Zealand’s endangered birds and wonders if
our geographic isolation may ultimately protect birds as well as humans.
This exhibition is a Fringe Festival event, run in conjunction with the Wellington Arts Festival 2006. It is kindly
supported by the Wellington Creative Communities Scheme and Margrain Vineyard, Martinborough.
ENDS
Exhibition Contact details
Opening: Tuesday 14 February 2006 at 5.30pm
Duration: 14 February – 28 February 2006
Opening Hours: Weekdays 10am – 7pm
Weekends 10am – 4pm
Venue: Wellington Art Centre Gallery
61-63 Abel Smith Street
Te Aro
Wellington
Phone: (04) 385 1929
Fax: (04) 385 3987
Email: artscentre@wcc.govt.nz