A celebration of colour
Avibrant exhibition celebrating the life of the highly- regarded and much- loved Nelson artist, Jane Evans ( 1946- 2012) opened officially this week at Reflections Gallery.
The exhibition of 20 works remembers Evans and her association with the World of WearableArt from its early days. The works are from the private collection of Sally Hunt, one of Evans’ closest friends.
Hunt is a patron of the arts and her Nelson home features one of the largest and most varied art collections in New Zealand, comprising hundreds of artworks, ranging from glass and sculpture to ceramics and paintings, by local and international artists.
Hunt owns more than 70 of Evans’ paintings including important and rare examples.
‘‘ This exhibition, for me, is going to be very special indeed, because Jane was an incredible human being, as well as an incredibly talented artist,’’ says Hunt.
An entire bedroom in Hunt’s home is dedicated to Evans, the walls adorned with her work. Hunt named the bedroom ‘ Jane’s Room’ as Evans stayed there for a time during her last illness.
Hunt believes Nelson is ‘‘ so much more, for Jane having been a part of it.
‘‘ She did so much for Nelson. She was a true giver – not just through her painting, but through her time and energy and passion for supporting the arts, from the School of Music and The Suter Art Gallery to the Masked Parade and the World of WearableArt. She gave from the bottom of her heart.’’
The two women met in 1998, when Hunt and her late husband, Robert, were building Paratiho Lodge near Ngatimoti . The couple approached a number of local artists and commissioned an artwork for each guest suite. Evans was one of them.
‘‘ We met at her studio in Russell Street and I felt incredible warmth between us. We were friends, instantly,’’ says Hunt. ‘‘ I also remember feeling in awe of her, right from the start. She really was an extremely special person, and I feel very privileged to have been her friend.’’
The exhibition has been developed by Reflections Art Gallery curator, Rachel Kearney and Anna- Marie White from The Suter Art Gallery. Their selection emphasises different colour phases in Evans’ career, and key themes of her work, from portraits to still life, interiors to flower studies.
‘‘ For past Suter exhibitions of Jane’s work we have borrowed extensively from Sally Hunt’s collection,’’ says White.
Since then, Hunt has bought quite a number of Evans’ paintings at auction. This exhibition showcases new paintings alongside those that are wellknown.
‘‘ We’ve planned a really good representation of Jane’s works over the decades, showing the different styles she used, and there are a couple of quite surprising artworks included too,’’ adds Kearney.
Jane Evans: Celebration of Colour, Reflections Art Gallery, World of WearableArt, 1 Cadillac Way, Nelson, to June 20.
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