Tuck shop art on show

Photos: AMELIA JACOBSEN

Treasures: Curator Paul Baragwanath with four of the Colin McCahon works hanging in the One Tree Hill College entrance.

Colour injection: An Allen Maddox work hangs in the school library.

Warm welcome: A large scale work greets visitors to the new gallery.

BOLD CHOICES: A work by painter and former Penrose High School art teacher Wallace Crossman, left, and a piece by Dick Frizzell.

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Students and teachers are celebrating the revival of a world-class art collection, bought with profits from the sale of chips and pies.

The contemporary New Zealand artworks are being displayed in new buildings at One Tree Hill College, as part of the school’s reinvention from Penrose High School.

The works, including pieces by Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere, Pat Hanly and Dick Frizzell, were bought between 1969 and 1980 with profits from the school tuck shop.

"It was quite unique in those days for a school to have an art collection like this, and also for an art collection to come from the sale of pies and chips," says curator and art adviser Paul Baragwanath.

"For a decile three state school to have works like this is exceptional. Any of this could be in the collection at Te Papa or Auckland Art Gallery."

The collection was founded in 1969 by then principal Murray Print and art teacher and painter Wallace Crossman.

They sought advice from galleries on their sometimes controversial purchases, and introduced each work to students at a school assembly.

"Mr Print would unveil it and talk about it, and bring it right into the lifeblood of the school," Mr Baragwanath says.

"It was quite radical, what they did, and some of the art in this collection is still quite radical, even today."

But few new pieces have been bought since 1980, and some have sustained water or sun damage after hanging on school walls for more than 30 years.

Board of trustees deputy chairman Graeme Hunt says the school couldn’t afford to insure the collection, and came under pressure to sell the works to fund much-needed repairs.

But he says the board and staff were determined they should remain part of the school and community.

"Part of the education is to give students an experience and identity that’s different from any other school," he says.

"It’s part of the culture, and there’s a high amount of emotional attachment to it."

The collection is now insured at $1.8 million.

Works will be rotated so different pieces are on display in the secure gallery space, beside the new school office, while others are hung in the library, staffroom, offices and corridors.

It’s hoped the new focus on art will extend to artist-in-residence programmes, and new works will be added.

Funding is still needed to help with restoration and repairs, and developing a suitable display for a collection of ceramics.

Principal Iva Ropati says he hopes giving the works a new prominence will inspire a new generation of schoolchildren.

"Our kids, who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, should aim high, should aim for excellence," he says. "For them to rub shoulders with that type of culture is good for them, and hopefully they’ll set their sights on higher things."

Mr Ropati says reviving the works is a key part of the school’s new image, which included last year’s name change to One Tree Hill College.

"We’ve got a fair way to go before we get the college to the place where we want it to be, but all the signs are really positive, and we’re all really determined."

The works will be celebrated with a cocktail party at the school on March 13.

Tickets are $50. Email: swest@onetreehillcollege.school.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News