Artists

  • Ann Shelton
  • Mark Adams
  • Di ffrench
  • Robin White
  • Donna Demente
  • Bing Dawe
  • Peter Cleverley
  • Ross Hemera
  • Marilynn Webb
  • Colin McCahon
  • Ralph Hotere
Exhibition Information

In 1965, a local architect and former mayor of Ōamaru, John Megget Forrester, left a bequest to establish a public art gallery. From 1965 through to 1983, when the Forrester Gallery first opened its doors in the previous Bank of New South Wales, to today, the gallery prides itself on its regional identity. It has developed in the form of an art collection that houses more than 2000 works of art. Hononga Rohe - Regional Ties celebrates the attitudes and intentions that are beneficial for maintaining a regional art collection. This selection of works collected over the last 60 years, during a crucial time for modern and contemporary art in Aotearoa New Zealand, exposes a period of self-discovery as we found our own national identity. Through minimal degrees of separation, the artists in this exhibition highlight connections that reveal how small Te Wai Pounamu and Aotearoa really are.

The Forrester Gallery collection has existed through the generosity and hard work of artists, staff, volunteers, supporters, Waitaki residents and visitors. When local artist and educator Ivy Pollard passed away in 1984, she left a substantial bequest to the gallery that allowed for the purchase of more than 100 works. In 2005, Noel Parsloe, the husband of Colin McCahon’s older sister Beatrice Parsloe, donated 11 of McCahon’s paintings in memory of his wife. These thoughtful acts of generosity emphasise the successes of the Forrester Gallery in acquiring art that enhances the lives of those who walk through its doors.

Gallery Hours

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday - Fridays: 10am - 4pm
  • Saturday - Sundays: 1:30pm - 4pm

Location - Waitaki Museum

  • 9 Thames Street
  • Ōamaru, 9495