Tuesday, Octobr 17, 2017
ANDREW McLeod found his artistic feet already at primary school.
Photo supplied
Sven Carlsson
THE renowned artist who is opening an exhibition in Whakatane this weekend is the son of Opotiki couple John and Kay McLeod.
He is also the grandson of the man who was instrumental in establishing the Whakatane Museum – and all this despite never having lived in the Eastern Bay.
“When I was pregnant with Andrew we were living in Te Kaha,” Mrs McLeod said.
Suffering from high blood pressure, Mrs McLeod had gone to hospital in Rotorua.
“I didn’t expect to give birth, so I didn’t bring any baby clothes,” she said.
“I had to get them on the way back.”
The premature birth had taken place just as the McLeods were in the process of shifting to Auckland.
“So, Andrew did not grow up in Te Kaha, but in Auckland,” Mr McLeod said.
While in Auckland, Mr McLeod had continued working as a woodwork teacher, then changing into building and project management.
His wife was working as a nurse.
Their son said he had discovered he was good at drawing while in primary school.
“Then at age 15 I discovered painting,” he said. “With great support from school teachers I got into painting – and I just continued doing what I’m best at.”
The McLeod couple moved back to the Eastern Bay in 2006, settling in Opotiki.
Mrs McLeod said her father – Andrew’s grandfather – was Whakatane historian Dave White.
“He mapped all the pa sites around here,” she said. “He was also the president of the Whakatane Historical Society for many years and was instrumental in setting up the Whakatane Museum.”
Thus, the Eastern Bay artist who has never lived in the Eastern Bay but often visits over the holidays – is on Saturday opening an exhibition in a museum that his grandfather helped establish, but which is now in a different place and has another name.
Realistic and slightly surreal at the same time.
Echoes of the great masters
ANDREW McLeod’s Classical Scene.
RENOWNED New Zealand artist Andrew McLeod will be exhibiting a selection of his works at Te Koputu – Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre – later this month.
Auckland-based McLeod’s exhibit, from October 21 till February 11, will feature grand figurative works and playful miniatures from 2000-2017.
McLeod combines the mastery of realist technique, influenced by a host of art history names, such as Hieronymous Bosch and Henry Feselli, with a collection of post-modern and contemporary visual culture.
McLeod was born in Rotorua and studied at Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland. He has exhibited widely throughout New Zealand and internationally, and in 2010 was the recipient of an Arts Foundation Award for Patronage Donation from Gus and Irene Fisher.
His paintings are a part of New Zealand’s public institution collections, including Auckland Art Gallery, James Wallace Arts Trust and Te Papa Tongarewa – Museum of New Zealand.
The artist will present a talk, starting at 5pm, at the opening on Saturday, October 21.
To attend opening RSVP museumandarts@whakatane.all 07 3060505.