AUTHOR CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTONE HONOURED
The Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture has just announced the recipient of its 2008 Award in Garden History. Christopher Johnstone, author of "The Painted Garden in New Zealand Art", published by Godwit/Random House New Zealand in November last year, will be presented with the institute's gold medal in Auckland on an occasion yet to be arranged following the announcement at the Institute's annual conference on Anzac Weekend - see citation below.
The Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture has just announced the recipient of its 2008 Award in Garden History. Christopher Johnstone, author of "The Painted Garden in New Zealand Art", published by Godwit/Random House New Zealand in November last year, will be presented with the institute's gold medal in Auckland on an occasion yet to be arranged following the announcement at the Institute's annual conference on Anzac Weekend - see citation below.
Johnstone, who kicks off an Authors' Afternoon at the Ashburton Art Gallery on Saturday 2 May, said he was delighted and honoured to receive the award which is usually presented to a distinguished garden historian rather than an art historian. 
His earlier title, Landscape Paintings of New Zealand , was published in November, 2006.
The other authors at the Ashburton event are Fiona Farrell, Sue Orr and David McPhail & John Gillies the portrait painter.
CITATION
Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, Inc.
Award in Garden History
Christopher Johnstone
“The creation of a beautiful garden is hard but satisfying work and part of the garden’s reward is the pleasure it gives to others. The same can be said of paintings of gardens.”
These are the final words of the Introduction to Christopher Johnstone’s The Painted Garden in New Zealand Art published by Godwit last year. These words can be paraphrased to say that one of the rewards of Johnstone’s efforts and his book is the pleasure they will bring to many readers.
Christopher Johnstone began his career as an art museum curator at the Tate Gallery in London and this was followed by positions at public art galleries in Scotland and Australia before he was appointed Director of the Auckland Art Gallery in 1988. After 8 years he left the gallery to run his own business, which took him back to Australia. Since returning to New Zealand in 2004 he has written extensively on New Zealand art.
The Painted Garden in New Zealand Art is a splendidly illustrated account of gardening from the very first European gardens in New Zealand to current gardens. The author considers his book to be more about art history than about garden and gardening history but he probably underestimates just how valuable it is to have contemporary interpretations of garden. This is a beautiful book, it is an excellent introduction to garden paintings, it is well written and the illustrations linger in the memory.
The Institute is pleased to acknowledge this important addition to the history of gardening in New Zealand.
His earlier title, Landscape Paintings of New Zealand , was published in November, 2006.
The other authors at the Ashburton event are Fiona Farrell, Sue Orr and David McPhail & John Gillies the portrait painter.
CITATION
Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, Inc.
Award in Garden History
Christopher Johnstone
“The creation of a beautiful garden is hard but satisfying work and part of the garden’s reward is the pleasure it gives to others. The same can be said of paintings of gardens.”
These are the final words of the Introduction to Christopher Johnstone’s The Painted Garden in New Zealand Art published by Godwit last year. These words can be paraphrased to say that one of the rewards of Johnstone’s efforts and his book is the pleasure they will bring to many readers.
Christopher Johnstone began his career as an art museum curator at the Tate Gallery in London and this was followed by positions at public art galleries in Scotland and Australia before he was appointed Director of the Auckland Art Gallery in 1988. After 8 years he left the gallery to run his own business, which took him back to Australia. Since returning to New Zealand in 2004 he has written extensively on New Zealand art.
The Painted Garden in New Zealand Art is a splendidly illustrated account of gardening from the very first European gardens in New Zealand to current gardens. The author considers his book to be more about art history than about garden and gardening history but he probably underestimates just how valuable it is to have contemporary interpretations of garden. This is a beautiful book, it is an excellent introduction to garden paintings, it is well written and the illustrations linger in the memory.
The Institute is pleased to acknowledge this important addition to the history of gardening in New Zealand.
No comments:
Post a Comment