Lopdell Gallery Pops Up Around West Auckland
Lopdell House during development project
6th August 2012 - As plans for the redevelopment of Titirangi’s historic Lopdell House are underway, the Gallery team are taking a creative approach to solve their residency and ongoing local programming
over the next two years.
From September 1st, Lopdell House Gallery will continue to deliver a creative and exciting art programme from the new address of 5 Totara Avenue, New Lynn, a minute’s walk away from the Lynn Mall shopping centre and the new Transit Centre. This isn’t the only roaming that
the gallery will undertake however.
Plans are underway with the Gallery to embrace the current trend of “pop up” spaces, appearing in a variety of venues
across West Auckland throughout the construction period. The Education programme has hit the road already with “Art in a
Box” delivering exciting curriculum based art projects directly into the classroom. Collaborations with Motat and the
Maritime Museum are already happening. Signs are the Gallery Team are going to be busier than ever.
The Trusts Secondary School Art Scholarship marks one of the last exhibitions to take place at the Titirangi gallery from August 10th, showcasing the talent of the
future. Profiling the art work of West Auckland’s talented high school students this week-long exhibition continues to
gather the generous support of The Trusts Community Foundation, offering a $5000 tertiary art scholarship along with
other prizes and commendations.
The scholarship is accompanied by No Fools, Tools - a funky, edgy and beautiful exhibition demonstrating the talents of Kelston Boys High School, by crafting tools
(hammers, saws, chisels et al) all from clay.
The final days in Titirangi will also allow visitors to share their thoughts and wishes for Lopdell House Gallery in a
continuously evolving cardboard structure – by popping in and designing a cube before the Gallery vacates the building.
Lopdell House began its life in the 1920s as a luxury hotel, and was a former home to the School of the Deaf – before
turning into a regional arts gallery in the early 1980s after an acquisition from Waitemata Council.
The historic building will undergo a $19m makeover, with a focus initially on seismic strengthening, heritage
restoration and the addition of a new gallery space to meet international standards to bring a wider scope of art to
West Auckland.
For information regarding Lopdell House Gallery, visit http://www.lopdell.org.nz/
ENDS