Group Architects: Towards a New Zealand Architecture

Group Architects – ‘the Group’ for short – are New Zealand’s most mythologised firm of mid-century architects. They are known for their provocative calls for a specifically New Zealand architecture and for their modern houses, often characterised by exposed timbers, open-plan interiors and new attention to indoor-outdoor living. This exhibition combines drawings, photographs, models, furniture, paintings and sculpture by members of the Group. It is curated by Julia Gatley to coincide with the launch of her new book (published by AUP), the first on this significant Auckland firm.

Public events:

Friday 15 October, 5.30pm
Opening function: guest speaker Marshall Cook.

Saturday 16 October, 1-3pm
Panel discussion on Group Architects: Gus Fisher director Linda Tyler MCs this session, with Marshall Cook, David Mitchell, Patrick Clifford, Julia Gatley and Jeremy Salmond each presenting their ideas about the Group Architects and their work.
20 CPD points for architects.

Sunday 17 October, 1-5pm
Bus tour: Group Architect on the North Shore: A tour to half a dozen buildings by the Group Construction Company, Group Architects and their final incarnation, Wilson & Juriss Architects. Commentary by Julia Gatley.
$20; bookings essential: gusfishergallery@auckland.ac.nz

Saturday 23 October – gallery closed for Labour Weekend

Saturday 23 October, 7pm
Malcolm Le Grice: The Image of Time: In association with the New Zealand Film Archive, Elam School of Fine Arts and Gus Fisher Gallery present a one-night-only film and video performance by British artist Malcolm Le Grice. Widely regarded as the most important British film-maker and theorist to emerge from the British avant garde of the 1960s and '70s, Le Grice’s work is a manifesto for the reinvention of cinema. Not to be missed. $15, no bookings.

Saturday 30 October, 1-5pm
Centre for Continuing Education half-day course: ‘Group Architects: Towards a New Zealand Architecture’: Contributors to Julia Gatley’s new book on the Group elaborate upon their chapters. Julia is joined by Andrew Barrie, Bill McKay and Kerry Francis. $55 ($49.50 for UoA staff); 40 CPD points for architects; Design Theatre, 26 Symonds Street; bookings essential: conted@auckland.ac.nz

Saturday 6 November, 1pm
Architectural models: Eva Cheung, Philip Guan and David Lau, three of the University of Auckland architecture students who made models for the Group Architects exhibition, discuss their strategies, techniques and tips for making great models.

Saturday 13 November, 1pm
Group Architects floor talk: Julia Gatley discusses her exhibition, including the emphasis on the Group’s non-residential work and on Bruce Rotherham’s art and furniture.

Saturday 20 November, 1pm
Simon Esling and Anna Parlane will discuss the themes and ideas present in Six Obstructions by analysing the relationships between cutting, the body, pouring, the wall, abstraction and negation.

Saturday 27 November, 1pm
Please join artist Ruth Cleland and curator Stephen Cleland as they discuss the suburban commercial scenes and pictorial nuances within the exhibition mall.
All exhibitions and events are free and take place at the Gus Fisher Gallery unless otherwise noted.

Event listed by gusfishergallery

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