Thank you - it’s been a resounding success!

27 November 2021

It began as a fledgling idea from our esteemed Chief Librarian; to make the paintings within the collection more accessible and to raise them to a standard where they could be shared with other institutions for exhibition purposes.

Launched at a fanfare event in November 2020, in less restrictive covid times, Paintings in Perpetuity started its journey to make sharing these paintings a reality. Today we held a small event, suitably distanced, to celebrate this anniversary.

Post launch, a general assessmentof paintings by Sarah Hillary was undertaken and the process of curatorial selection, individual treatment assessment, conservator appointment and transportation of works to studios began.

We are delighted that ten worksare now funded for treatment along with one specific donation enabling the detailed reimaging of eleven Anthony Stones sculptures.  This is an undertaking that simply would not have been achieved without your support.

Paintings in Perpetuity’s exposure increased througha crowdfunding campaign, which gained significant publicity through a Radio New Zealand interview and an article in Habitat magazine by Resene, reaching thousands of New Zealanders. It resulted in the funding of treatment to one of Charles Blomfield’s paintings of the White Terraces.

Conservation does not happen at breakneck speed but takes measured care and consideration of the subject’s chemical makeup, structure, and the exposure that it has had over its lifetime.  It’s a painstaking combination of art and science, with a gentle and extremely patient touch and delivered with true empathy for each work.

Whilst remedial treatment of the paintings is imperative, it is quite another to bring it to life with a frame that enhances, and glazing that protects it. More care and problem solving is required, especially when the canvases hold not one, but a second painting on its reverse side!

Behind the scenesthe curation and conservation care teams from the Alexander Turnbull Library are developing a panel of external conservators to expand the scope of the work that is undertaken. Whilst the many paintings remain a priority, we wish in future to include remedial treatment to some photographic and manuscript material that falls outside of the library’s core expertise.

We have an opportunity tooto repatriate frames separated from their works. Many will require treatment and of course the fitting of museum quality glazing to then protect the paintings they will hold, once again.

The Turnbull Endowment Trust continues to actively seek funding to continue the work the Trust delivers in support of the library, both now and into the future.

Please do let me know if you can help.

Thank you all for your support and generosity in ensuring that the heritage resources from the Turnbull can be shared with many future audiences.

Paintings in Perpetuity is an initiative from the Turnbull Endowment Trust.