Old New World Launch at Unity Books, Wellington

The very distinctive cover.

Mary-Jane Duffy launching the book.

The photographs above were taken by Marta Starosta at the book launch of “Old New World” by Mary MacPherson on Thursday 21^st June at Unity Books Wellington. The book was published by Lopdell House Gallery and consists of 62 beautiful images taken by Mary during a seven-year period while touring small towns of New Zealand.

More about the book:

The striking colour photographs feature buildings, houses, statues and murals to tell the story of a shift from the remains of the traditional New Zealand of the 1950s and 60s to places of boom and prosperity that look very different to our remembered past.
“Within that major story arc, I wanted to show the major social and economic trends I saw over the seven years – towns painting up the main street to attract custom and celebrate their identity, places that remained resolutely themselves and those that were heading into decline,” – Mary Macpherson.
The book features an interview between noted art writer Gregory O’Brien and Mary Macpherson and 62 full page images. The photographs cover towns in many regions including Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.