About the Project

House for Titirangi 1955
Colin McCahon, House for Titirangi, 1955. Exhibited at the Group Show, Durham Street Gallery, Christchurch.
The McCahon House Trust was set up to preserve the small house in French Bay where the artist and his family lived and to establish a residency in his honour.

Here you can learn about the activities of the Trust, including the restoration of the house and the conditions of the artist's residency, and also explore through text and images the vivid and powerful work—much of it directly stimulated by his immediate environment of beach and bush—that McCahon created during this vital period.

RECENT NEWS:

RICHARD LEWER

Our newest resident, Richard Lewer has arrived from the slightly warmer climes of Melbourne. He is finding it quite a change to now be living in the Waitakere rainforests. His visual pallette has gone from reds, yellows and ochres to 'dark, dark, dark'. He is working directly on to the walls of the studio, so we will be holding his post residency exhibition in the residency itself. His exhibition will be held from the 16th to the 23rd of November at the residency. (69 Otitori Bay Road Titirangi) Open hours between 10am and 4pm.

The Trust is pleased to announce that Richard was awarded the paramount prize at the 2008 Wallace Awards held at the Aotea Centre on the 1st of September. These awards were established 17 years ago and have a total prize pool of $85,000. Richard's award will take him to the ISCP programme for a 6 month residency in New York.

Mike Vinsen Motors have very kindly sponsored a car for Richard during his three month stay.

Richard Lewer with his Wallace Award winning work. Richard Lewer with the car kindly donated by Mike Vinsen Motors

ROHAN WEALLEANS

Our last resident Rohan Wealleans is now settled in New York where he has taken his place in the International Curatorial and Studio Programme (ISCP) which was part of his award as winner of the Wallace Awards in 2006. His post residency exhibition was a feast of colour, as was his studio during his stay.

Rohan Wealleans's post residency exhibtion at Lopdell House Gallery Rohan Wealleans work in studio Rohan Wealleans in residency studio

THE MCCAHON DEBATE

Held to celebrate McCahon's birthday on August 1st and the anniversary of the opening of the restored House, this debate led to a very thought provoking and entertaining night for all. Linda Tyler chaired a group of eminent writers, commentators and artists discussing McCahon's standing in the history of New Zealand art. This event was so successful and created so much interest that we now plan to hold it annually.

Bill Hammond has designed for the Trust, in support of the project, a limited edition lithographic print inspired by the work of McCahon. The edition of 100 prints has been printed by Paper Graphica in Christchurch. Printed on 250gm BFK Rives paper, the 575mm x 430mm prints are unframed.

The Trust has recently decided to make a limited number available to the public for a short time at the price of $3,000.00. There is a discount available to Benefactors and Friends.

Contact Cynthia Smith on (09) 817 8087x203 or at mccahon@lopdell.org.nz while these offers last.

Bill Hammond print