In celebration of a practical visionary
In honour of the centenary of her birth, Christchurch Art Gallery's upcoming exhibition Practical Visionary celebrates the remarkable career of Doris Lusk.
From intricately constructed early landscapes through to imaginative explorations in luminous acrylic and watercolour, Practical Visionaryhighlights how Lusk combined observation with invention to create paintings that resonate with a sense of place.
"Doris Lusk was strongly drawn to structure, finding it in both the natural landscape and in the built environment. She
was also technically innovative, and often chose subject matter that would extend her painting practice," says Gallery
Director Jenny Harper.
"Practical Visionary highlights the significant stylistic changes she embraced across a long and productive career."
A key figure in the development of contemporary New Zealand art, Doris Lusk (1916–1990) combined technical versatility
with a perceptive and analytical eye.
Dunedin-born, she cut her teeth on Central Otago’s vivid landscapes before shifting to Christchurch in 1942, where she
soon became a core member of the celebrated Christchurch Group – an alliance of independently minded artists who
rejected the conservative policies of the Canterbury Society of Arts.
For years she fitted her painting around the demands of raising a family, turning Sunday walks into sketching
opportunities and holidays into painting trips.
In Christchurch, she is remembered not only for her paintings, but for her work as a teacher, both at the University of
Canterbury (1966–81) and at Risingholme Community Centre, where she taught pottery classes for two decades.
Doris Lusk: Practical Visionary is on display at Christchurch Art Gallery, 4 June – 30 October 2016. Entry is free.
A programme of events and talks is associated with this exhibition. For more information, please see the Gallery's
website:christchurchartgallery.org.nz/events
ENDS