Hometown show for Foxton artist
Albert McCarthy has had a broad career both in NZ and internationally
After an early interest in science, including physics, Foxton Ma¯ori artist Albert McCarthy was still in high school when he switched to art. Growing up in Taihape an interest in art soon overtook the desire for a career in physics while at Taihape College, he said.
McCarthy’s work will be exhibited at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom on Waitangi Day.
“An American couple who were teachers at Taihape College provided a studio for me to work from. I also received a National Bank Scholarship which meant I was one of a group of young artists from around the country who could attend a workshop in Wellington, meeting senior New Zealand artists of that time including the late Ralph Hotere and the late John Drawbridge .
“In the 70s I moved to Palmerston North to attend Teachers Training College where I was fortunate to meet up with the late Frank Davis and the late Cliff Whiting, who both worked at the Teachers College’s Art Department. I had already met Cliff Whiting I spent some time with him in Whanganui while at Taihape College.”
Students who took art as an elective could become involved on Marae based refurbishment projects. Cliff Whiting was a mentor — overseer and director — manager of the projects.
This was an important project for McCarthy and others and it shaped their careers.
McCarthy has had an extensive career in the arts both nationally and internationally from the 1970s onwards. He has exhibited his works in Japan, UK, USA, Hawaii, and Australia, thanks to international and national grants from Te Waka Toi and
Creative New Zealand.
McCarthy has also been an invited tutor to many national workshops throughout New Zealand. He was the first recipient of the Jenny Gibbs
Fellowship at Elam School of Fine Arts Auckland.
He was also Canterbury Artist in Residence Award at the Arts Centre for one year in Christchurch.