The Friday Drawing Group: Square
November 7, 2016 - November 27, 2016
A selection of works by the group
The Friday Drawing Group first drew breath in late 1981 when it was founded by sculptor Terry Stringer. Sometimes known as The Auckland Drawing Group, or “Terry’s Group”, it boasted such early members as Jan Nigro, Mary McIntyre, Glenda Randerson, Jo Smith, Margaret Lawler-Bartlett and Sylvia Siddell. Since then many other well-known Auckland names have come and gone. Now only four of the original members still remain, and the local art scene has changed greatly. Commitment, today, however, continues to be strong.
Its aim was to meet once a week to draw live, untutored, from the model, and to provide mutual support, both social and professional, for working artists. It was recognised that, by the very nature of their job, artists often felt isolated, and so the group was seen to provide a sense of community. Often there were joint exhibitions. Members were friends, and, unlike other life classes, silence was discouraged in favour of stimulating discussion and debate.
The group has continued to meet for three and a half decades, witnessing great changes in membership and venue over time. Initially it met at Terry Stringer’s Mt Eden home, then, subsequently, at other members’ homes and studios, Sir James Wallace’s Queen Street gallery and Rannoch, an Epsom ballroom, a church hall, and, presently, a community centre in Ponsonby.
Our show has been inspired by the 100 x100 Christmas exhibition that Cliff McPherson ran for several years in his Vulcan Lane gallery in the early 2000s. There was no agreed theme, but a small square format was to be the common factor. Our intention is to celebrate our continued sense of community, and to explore what we can do when working within the restriction of a small square.