Melvin Day—Continuum

Uccello, 1969 from the series ‘Uccello’. Collection of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tämaki.
Melvin Day Sky, Land, Sea, 1974. Private collection.
Melvin Day Tihoi, 1973. Private collection.
Melvin Day Walled City 1970. Private collection.

12 December 2004 - 6 March 2005 in the Entire Gallery

Senior Wellington painter Melvin Day began his artistic training in 1934, when as an eleven-year-old school boy he attended the Saturday morning classes held at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland. Seven decades later—after serving in the RNZAF during World War II, studying, teaching, living overseas, serving as Director of the National Art Gallery (now Te Papa) and Government Art Historian—he continues to paint avidly. In 2003 Day was created a CNZM in recognition of his outstanding contribution and services to New Zealand art.

Day’s dynamic and prolific career maps the development of New Zealand painting since the 1940s and his intimate involvement with the Wellington art scene since the 1950s. City Gallery Wellington’s exhibition will draw upon the rich holdings of Day’s works in private and public collections in Wellington in order to reflect the significance of this well-known local painter.

Public Programmes

Arist's and Curator's floor talk
Presented by Melvin Day and Gregory O’Brien

Panel Discussion: London Calling–New Zealanders in the 1960s London Art Scene
Lead by Melvin Day, John Drawbridge, Don Peebles & Jeanne McCaskill, Gregory O’Brien

Calligraphy Demonstration: Beautiful Writing
Presented by Zhengming Bao