Last week, the government released the new curriculum subjects for students in years 11-13. New subjects such as politics, civics, philosophy, music technology, and media, journalism, and communications were included, but art history as a standalone subject has been quietly dropped – now to be incorporated into design, painting, photography and creative arts subjects.
The move has been widely criticised by art historians, academics, and past students, calling the decision both ‘devastating’ and ‘unsurprising’.
Sof spoke to the President of the New Zealand Art History Teachers Association, Dr Barbara Ormond, about the decision and the potential impact it will have on teaching the subject, both at the secondary and tertiary levels.
Razzle Dazzle is a new exhibition showing a suite of previously unexhibited works from 2005-2006 by Martin Thompson, opening tonight at Charles Ninow Gallery.
Martin Thompson (1956-2021) was a self-taught artist from the Wellington Region who became renowned for his abstract drawings.
Although embodying these digital, post-internet, and almost early video game-like qualities, Thompson’s work was shaped and directed by fractals, which showed how simple mathematical rules can generate the complex structures we see in nature.
The works in Razzle Dazzle show Thompson extending and upscaling his drawings beyond A3 and A4 graph paper, using a decidedly anti-digital approach with a Xerox machine, inviting an inspection of the works’ delicate complexities.
Sof had a kōrero with Gallery Director and Curator Charles Ninow about Martin Thompson, his life, and practice.
Sof chats to Charles Ninow about the life and work of Martin Thompson, in light of an exhibition of his works, Razzle Dazzle, opening tonight at Charles Ninow Gallery.
Maya talks to Assistant Curator, Audrey Goggin, about Dialogues in Video Art, currently showing at George Fraser Gallery.
And, later in the show, Sof speaks to the President of the New Zealand Art History Teachers Association, Dr Barbara Ormond, about the government's recent decision to axe art history as a standalone subject in the high school curriculum.
Pōneke post-punkers Half/Angel came into the bFM studio to play 15-minutes of loud, raw but honest music before the Doubleslack!! Newzician Magazine fundraiser at Double Whammy with Oscar Dowling, Awning, VMorg Ltd and The Slack Agency. Whakarongo mei nei to hear their latest E.P release - Boat Ramp + Jitterbug.
Rāmere drive featured Pōneke 4-piece post-punk outfit Half/Angel playing for Friday live, playing their newest E.P - Boat Ramp + Jitterbug, and witty banter from today's drive host - Oto.
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