10 – 21 March 2009

Avid Gallery Wellington, New Zealand

Barry Clarke is a well established artist and jeweller, living and working in Christchurch. He has exhibited at AVID over many years, his latest exhibition, “The Boat Show” features his painting. Barry produces sculpture in bronze and silver. His jewellery is always popular and we always have a good selection of his rings, necklaces and brooches in the gallery.

“I was very fortunate to have spent the 60s at sea in what I call the “Indian Summer” of British shipping. Riveted, solid, always dependable in a storm.

On the “wheel” in such conditions the bow would dig in and would rise and shudder, water running off the foc’sle and foredeck to repeat over and over.

I also remember the Thames – shipping all the way up to Tower Bridge. Baltic boats laden with timber, Russian and Polish cruise ships with the “Party Elite”, endless cargo ships.

In 1992 I had a nostalgic trip to the Royal Docks with my brother. The old dock gate was open and what was once a thriving dock, full of ships, barges, dockers, lightermen was now empty.

Acres of dockland lay before me, but a few hundred metres in was a mobile tower crane with this doll-like figure on a bungy cord – it was surreal.”

Barry Clarke, Christchurch 2009 All boats are oil paint on tin, board and timber,wall mounted unless stated.
Avid Gallery 48 Victoria Street, Wellington New Zealand

Mon-Fri 10:00 – 6:00

Saturday 10:00 – 3:00