Hands-on exhibition opens

Hands-on delves into the history of the Faculty of Education Collection as a distinct branch of the University’s Art Collection. The Collection visually represents the interconnectedness between education and the arts, reflecting the evolving landscape of art education and the revolutionary focus on the arts in the Aotearoa curriculum from the 1940s – 1980s.

The Faculty of Education Collection began in the lively studios and lecture halls of the Auckland College of Education, at the former Epsom campus, with the majority of the 200 artworks made by artists who trained and taught there. Several of the artworks had a long history on the campus as site-specific commissions which were embedded in the very fabric of the site. The education of visual arts teachers at Epsom played a vital role in the development of a significant number of artists’ lives and careers and helped inspire countless tauira in classrooms throughout the country.  

The exhibition features artworks by influential artist-educators Peter Smith, Max McLellan and Charlotte Graham, alongside a selection of ceramic pieces by Barry Brickell, Len Castle, Mirek Smíšek and Brian Gartside. The artworks are exhibited with archival and published material, including letters, exhibition catalogues, photos, books and videos. Hands-on illuminates and brings to life the interwoven history of visual arts and education in Aotearoa. 

Explore the exhibition and come along to a curator talk — other events will soon be announced.