[Alfred Memelink]

John Rundle Memorial Exhibition
Alfred Memelink Artspace Gallery, 223 The Esplanade Petone
Opening Saturday 28th Feb – Sunday 29th March

Just over a year ago. New Zealand lost one of it’s foremost and respected artists of bush and mountains, John Rundle, and Petone’s new art gallery, Artspace Gallery, is honored to host a large exhibition of his art.
Over 50 of John’s masterpieces will be on show and for sale and although most were inspired by his beloved bush and mountains, there are also paintings of Wellington cityscapes, other landscapes, birds, cats and even one of his dog. The mediums John used are oil, gouache and watercolour, but the latter, he described as the “the master’s medium – the hardest to perfect’’.

His wife, Annette says ‘’ John started painting in the early 1950’s through to his last work started in 2013 and to have seen him persevere and achieve success has been a great pleasure’’

John’s love of tramping and mountaineering gave him the inspiration to initially photograph and then paint the magnificent scenery he encountered on his many tramping adventures. He always enjoyed exploring our great outdoors and started tramping at primary school. Initially he borrowed his brother’s camera to take on his trips, which then led to a career as professional photographer. He soon developed the urge to paint the beauty that he encountered and his first lessons were from Alan Collins, an artist in the same government department. National Publicity studios where John worked as photographer (Alan is also regular exhibitor at Artspace Gallery). Then in 1977 John took the plunge and decided to become a full time artist and painted away steadily since then from his studio underneath his home at the top of Korokoro. John also gave back to the community in many ways, as well as a respected volunteer in local art groups, he became a life member of the Hutt Valley Tramping club for his services. He was also a member of the New Zealand Alpine Club and has been a Mountain Safety Council instructor for over 40 years. He has also had his paintings published in several New Zealand art books.

Not only are John’s paintings sort after by art collectors, he has been a wonderful inspiration to other artists says gallery owner Alfred Memelink who learnt much from John during the years they volunteered together hanging exhibitions for art groups.

Gallery hours, 10am – 5pm, 7 days, starting Sat Feb 28th

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