TheNewDowse Pays Tribute To Much-loved Arts Patron

TheNewDowse Pays Tribute To Much-loved Arts Patron
Dr Doreen Blumhardt (1914 - 2009)

At TheNewDowse in Lower Hutt, The Blumhardt Gallery stands as testament to the tireless support of its patron, Doreen Blumhardt ONZ, DCNZM, CBE. Doreen, who worked passionately as a ceramist and arts educator for close to 70 years, died on Saturday 18 October at the age of 95. Doreen's dedication to the decorative arts is well acknowledged, but it was her passion to inspire others that lead to the establishment, through the Blumhardt Foundation, of The Blumhardt Gallery and the Creative New Zealand/Blumhardt Foundation Curatorial Internship at TheNewDowse art museum.

"The Blumhardt Foundation is the outcome of a long-held dream of mine - to ensure that New Zealand's rich tradition of applied arts is celebrated, cherished and nourished." Dr Doreen Blumhardt.

Dowse Director, Cam McCracken says staff and the extended gallery community are deeply saddened by the news of Doreen's death. "Art making and education were inseparable throughout Doreen's life and her generosity towards our gallery and the decorative arts community was immense. Through our ongoing partnership with the Blumhardt Foundation, TheNewDowse will continue Doreen Blumhardt's legacy with the Blumhardt Gallery exhibition programme and curatorial internship," he says.

The Blumhardt Gallery is a premier showcase for New Zealand's decorative arts and design. It opened in 2007 with The Gift Exchange, an exhibition dedicated to "makers" like Doreen who were not only outstanding practitioners in their own right, but also devoted to passing on their craft knowledge. The Blumhardt Foundation / Creative New Zealand Curatorial Internship based at TheNewDowse provides support and training for New Zealand curators launching their careers. The three recipients to date have all gone on to exciting opportunities in their chosen fields: Reuben Friend is Curator, Maori and Pacific Arts at City Gallery Wellington; Jaqui Knowles is Curator at the Museum Wellington, and was recently instrumental in the development of the NZ Pottery Society's 50th anniversary exhibition at the Museum; and Grant Thompson is programme director of the School of Visual Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology.

Art making and education have been inseparable throughout her life. She attended art school and teachers college in Christchurch in the 1930s. In 1942 the revolutionary Director of Education, Dr Clarence Beeby, employed her to develop art and craft activities for a national programme. Dr Beeby believed that "putting tools for creativity into children's hands would have a long-term effect on the adult community". Doreen began her developmental work right here in Lower Hutt, at Waterloo School. As Head of the Art Department at Wellington Teachers' College from 1951 to 1972, she continued to implement Dr Beeby's vision.

Doreen played an instrumental role in New Zealand‘s pottery movement from the 1950s onward. A passionate, experimental potter and an avid traveller, she frequently returned from trips with boxes of ceramics from as far a field as Japan, Petra and Mexico, to share with other enthusiasts. She also encouraged celebrated international potters such as Bernard Leach from England and Takeichi Kawai and Shoji Hamada from Japan, to present workshops in New Zealand. Throughout her career Doreen exhibited widely both nationally and internationally. Her work is held in several international collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and Museo Gaccia, Switzerland. The Dowse hosted the first solo exhibition of Doreen's work in 1976.

Image: Doreen Blumhardt in her studio. Photo by Nick Servian