Book dives into prolific artist’s life
After many years of writing stories about people’s lives, Carly Thomas decided to take it a step further and write a book.
Thomas, a Stuff journalist who specialises in arts and long-form features, was nervous about the launch of her book Verve, 60 years of the Art of Bruce Rennie.
‘‘It is a big responsibility writing about a person’s life and when you see that between the covers of a book for the first time it is exciting, but also terrifying.’’
Thomas worked on the book, which captures the life and art of Rangitıkei man Bruce Rennie, for eight months before handing it over to Palmerston North designer Anthony Behrens.
‘‘It was a short timeframe, but I do like a deadline. I interviewed many of Bruce’s wonderful friends and that took a lot of time, but once I started writing things took shape quickly.’’
She was brought into the project by Julian Rennie, Rennie’s son, who approached her after she interviewed Bruce for a feature about an exhibition of his art at Te Manawa.
Bruce Rennie, from Marton, died shortly after the retrospective and Thomas said she felt honoured to have spent time with him.
‘‘It was the most memorable interview I have ever done. Bruce was funny, clever and grumpy all at the same time.’’
He was a man of stories who had a passion for art that he carried throughout his life.
Rennie spent 35 years as a teacher and head of the art department at Rangitıkei College and created thousands of pieces of art in his lifetime, many of which are now part of the Te Manawa Art Gallery collection.
Thomas said to write the book she spent hours travelling to interview Rennie’s friends and colleagues.
‘‘That was the enjoyable part of the process. Bruce had amazing friends who had wonderful stories to tell.’’
She agreed to be part of the project after she saw his works laid out at Te Manawa.
‘‘It was an incredible sight and I couldn’t get over how prolific he was and how ahead of the times he had been. The book had written itself on that floor and I knew I had to do it.’’
David Lupton photographs completed the book and Thomas said the final product was beautiful and full of Rennie’s art.
The book is available at Bruce Mckenzie Booksellers in Palmerston North.