November 2011 / Max Gimblett The Word of God - The Sound of One Hand reviews

Two reviews of the exhibition The Word of God - the sound of one hand at the Andy Warhol Museum were recently published. One in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review by Kurt Shaw here, and the other in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Mary Thomas here.

September 2011 / Max Gimblett at Andy Warhol Museum, USA

Gallery Director Gary Langsford is in New York this week having celebrated the opening of Max Gimbletts exhibition The Word of God: Max Gimblett The Sound of One Hand at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, USA.

Max Gimblett The Sound of One Hand is the fourth exhibition in The Word of God series, which examines major world religions and their texts through the lens of contemporary art. Congratulations to Max on this momentous exhibition at a world class museum. See a slide show of images and more information on the Warhol Museum website.

SEPTEMBER 2011 / Max Gimblett book launch

The Holloway Press in association with Rattle Music invites you to a unique event:  the double launch of a new Holloway publication, the green bicycle, and of Campursari, a new Jonathan Besser CD from Rattle Music. Live music will be performed by Miranda Adams and her gamelan orchestra. Max Gimblett and Jonathan Besser will be present (Chris Price is in France).

the green bicycle
Poems by Chris Price, Drawings by Max Gimblett, Music by Jonathan Besser  
In this  three-way cross-media collaboration, Jonathan Bessers music a fusion of East and West with the Indonesian gamelan prominent appears as facsimiles of his  hand-written scores; a  CD of the music also includes Chris Price reading the poems.  Max Gimblett listened to this music continuously as he made the brilliantly colourful double-page ink drawings (each 255 x 650mm) three of which are included in each copy (example above). Chris Prices title poem (plus smaller pieces) written in Menton , France, in response to the drawings and music   a vivid and lively excursion in magic realism over 200 lines long,  perfectly complementing the music and drawings. The landscape format book (260 x 380mm) is designed and printed by Tara McLeod in Helvetica sans serif types on 290 gsm Tiepolo paper.  Cover and sleeve by Design Bind. The edition is 40 signed and numbered copies. Pre-publication price (for orders before 10 September) is $NZ4000 (20% discount). From 11 September the price is $5000. Order also at www.hollowaypress.auckland.ac.nz.

Campursari: Music by Jonathan Besser (Rattle Music)
Campursari is an Indonesian term for music that combines gamelan with western instruments. The instruments used are slentem, bonang, kenong, rehab, gender,  gongs, electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass guitar, soprano saxophone, violin, viola, accordion, drums, flutes, voice, and (most crucially) vibraphone, an instrument that links the two instrumental systems. The CD comes with an extensive, 20-page, booklet which incorporates Chris Prices shorter poems and images from Max Gimbletts ink drawings.

Date: Sunday 4 September at 2pm. Venue: Gow Langsford Gallery, Kitchener Street (corner Kitchener and Wellesley Sts.) 



April 2011 / MAX GIMBLETT TO EXHIBIT ONE PERSON SHOW AT THE ANDY WARHOL MUSUEM, PITTSBURG, USA

Max Gimblett is included in The Word of God at the Andy Warhol Museum Pittsburg.  The exhibition is made up of five one person shows, representing the world's major religions, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Gimblett represents Buddhism.  The show opens in September and is curated by Eric Shiner Acting Director and Curator.  

APRIL 2011 / MAX GIMBLETT NEWS

Max Gimblett has been awarded the Christchurch at Gallery Inaugural Artist Patron Award honouring his gift of 210 paperworks to the gallery. His oxherding exhibition has been reviewed in Tricycle Magazine.

JANUARY 2011 / MAX GIMBLETT Sumi Ink Workshops



Max Gimblett will be hosting a series of sumi-ink workshops in Auckland on February 21 and 22. Sumi-e is an ancient form of Japanese ink painting that developed from the practice of Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and is spiritually rooted in Zen Buddhism. Sumi-e literally means "ink pictures". The aim is to depict the spirit, rather than the semblance of the subject matter.

These workshops are an amazing opportunity to learn about sumi drawing from Max Gimblett, a renowned artist and practising Zen Buddhist. See the Auckland Art Gallery website for more information or call 09 307 4540 to book. Numbers are strictly limited so book early to reserve your place.



December 2010 / Max Gimblett oxherding reviewed in The Wall St Journal

New York based writer Lee Lawrence has reviewed the exhibition oxherding in The Wall St Journal this month. He begins "since Zen is known for conundrums, it seems only fitting to suggest that a good way to appreciate the paintings of 18th-century Japanese Buddhist master Hakuin Ekaku is by looking at work by 21st-century New Zealander Max Gimblett. Both are on view at the Japan Society Gallery, and while "The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin" is by far the bigger draw, Mr. Gimblett's series of 10 "oxherding" paintings provides a useful entry point.." read the full article here.

November 2010 / Max Gimblett at Japan Society Gallery, New York

Celebrated New York based New Zealand painter Max Gimblett partners with author Lewis Hyde for oxherding, a fresh, American take on the Ten Oxherding Pictures, a venerated Buddhist parable from 12th-century China. Running October 1, 2010, through January 16, 2011, oxherding shows in tandem with Japan Society's major fall exhibition The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin.

oxherding is a series of ten sumi-ink paintings by Gimblett matched to a letterpress-printed poem in Chinese with three multi-layered English translations by Hyde. It is accompanied by a six-volume set of jointly produced artist books. The ten picture/poem vignettes tell the story of an elusive ox and a herder whose quest to find and tame the animal becomes a metaphor for the struggle toward Buddhist enlightenment. (text source:  Japan Society Gallery, New York website).

Watch Nihon New York for an insight into Max Gimblett's studio in New York and an interview about oxherding.

September 2010 / Max Gimblett: workspace, a new publication by Max Gimblett.

For the last 36 years, New Zealand-born painter and ordained Buddhist monk Max Gimblett (born 1935) has been working out of the same painting studio on New York's Lower East Side. With images by renowned photographer John Savage and essay by Jenni Quilter, Max Gimblett: workspace offers an exciting glimpse into Gimblett's daily practice, and explores the recesses of his studio. Available at Parsons Bookshop. RRP $49.95

February 2010 I Max Gimblett, Guest Lecturer at The Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery 13th Walter Auburn Memorial Lecture

The Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery present the 13th Walter Auburn Memorial Lecture. Dr Walter Auburn was an outstanding man who freely gave his time and expertise as an honorary adviser to the print collection at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki for many years. The Friends recognise Dr Auburns role in the development of the Gallery with a biennial event, where a distinguished speaker is invited to give the Walter Auburn Memorial Lecture.

The 2010  lecture will be given by eminent New York based New Zealand artist Max Gimblett.  In his lecture titled West Approaches East - My Response to The Third Mind, Guggenheim Museum, New York, Max will discuss the influences of moving countries; on Walter Auburns life and Maxs own life as he journeyed away from New Zealand to America and travelling back to New Zealand.  

Monday 1st  March  
6.15pm for a 6.30pm start
Venue: AUT WA 220 Lecture Theatre, WA Block, Main Entrance AUT, Wellesley Street. 
Bookings essential (there will be no door sales)
Friends $20.     Student members $15.   Non Members $30.
Credit card bookings available from the Friends Secretary.  Ph: 09 3077705 

(image: Gimblett, Coral Bay, 2008)

January 2010 I Max Gimblett in EXCHANGE at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art

Exchange explores collaboration as the means to transfer ideas and generate new modes of thinking. This exhibition series will feature diverse collaborative approaches including the joining of arts and letters, the merging of the physical boundaries of the human body, institutional collaboration, and a project requiring the participation of ICA visitors. These projects manifest as collaborations between individuals, groups, and institutions traversing subjects as broad as oil politics, the history of optics, Zen practice and personal space.

In the Lunder Gallery animal dreaming highlights an ongoing collaboration between painter Max Gimblett and poet and cultural critic Lewis Hyde. Inspired by their shared interest in Buddhist practice, Hyde and Gimblett have created a series of works on paper and artist books. animal dreaming features works spanning their twenty years of collaboration and debuts a new series of paintings made for the ICA.

The exhibition runs 20 January - 11 April, 2011 at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art. For further information see here.

Image : Lewis Hyde and Max Gimblett, Fish Forget Trap, plaster, epoxy, oil-based silkscreen ink, copper leaf, acrylic and vinyl polymers, wood panel, 2009

May 2009 I Max Gimblett on Close Up

Max Gimblett and his work in the Guggenheim Museum was featured on TVNZ's Close Up this month. View Gimblett Goes to Guggenheim online here.

May 2009 I FISHWORKS a collaborative project by Max Gimblett and Alan Loney

Artist Max Gimblett and Poet Alan Loney have joined forces to create FISHWORKS an exquisitely delicate publication of poems and drawings that reflect each artists talents.

When Alan Loney visited Gimblett in his New York studio in 2005 he was so intrigued with the artists set of lunar / sea creature paintings that he composed nine poems in response to them. In turn, Gimblett responded to the set of poems by creating a set of nine drawings to accompany the writing in a possible publication. That publication has turned into FISHWORKS. The nine drawings are printed in a variety of colours, with each poem printed over the metallic ink drawing and with a forward by respected artist and critic John Yau.

The edition of 80 signed and numbered books is divided into 30 deluxe copies (15 for sale) encased in a yellow cloth spine with gold paste-paper over boards in a red cloth-covered slipcase, and 50 standard copies (45 for sale) in yellow cloth spine with red cloth over boards. Each deluxe copy includes one original Gimblett drawing bound in. The deluxe edition is NZ$2,000 per book and the standard edition is NZ$750 per book. 

Orders should be sent to Dr. Peter Simpson, Director, The Holloway Press, c/- English Department, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand, or by email to p.simpson@auckland.ac.nz. Cheques should be made out to The University of Auckland.

The book is designed and printed by Alan Loney at Carolyn Fraser's Idlewild Press in Melbourne, Australia, on a Vandercook cylinder press on damped BFK Rives and Magnani papers. Types are Dante and Castellar, and paste paper for the deluxe copies is by Claire Maziarczyk in New York. The drawings are reproduced from photopolymer plates made by Boxcar Press in Syracuse, New York, and the binding is executed by Wolfgang Schaefer in Melbourne.

Alan Loney's recent poetry books include Day's Eye, Rubicon Press, Edmonton, Canada 2008, and Nowhere to go & other poems, Five Islands Press, Melbourne 2007. Max Gimblett's work was recently included in The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860-1989, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and his exhibition full fathom five at Gow Langsford Gallery.

IMAGE: Gimblett Fish Dreaming 2004

April 2009 I Max Gimblett in MINDFOOD Online
On the occasion of showing at the Guggenheim as part of the exhibition "The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860-1989", New York-based, New Zealand artist Max Gimblett talks to MiNDFOOD about life in the big apple.

17. 02. 2009 I Max Gimblett featured in Dogs of Auckland

This year's Auckland Festival 2009 is offering a visual arts / performance crossover package, integrating visual and performance art to create a series of extraordinary productions. Dogs of Auckland is a  cross-media show, featuring musicians, poetry, and projected visuals by artists including Max Gimblett, Len Lye, Billy Apple and John Reynolds. Limited to two performances only, the show dates are: Saturday 21 - Sunday 22 March, Festival Club, Red Square.  For more information about the show or other cross-over packages being offered by the Auckland Festival go to: www.aucklandfestival.co.nz

22. 01. 09 I Max Gimblett at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum



Work by Max Gimblett can be seen this Janurary at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.  The exhibition, The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia , 1860-1989, considers the dynamic and complex impact of Asian art, literature, music, and philosophical concepts on American art.  Curated by Alexandra Munroe, approximately 270 Works by 100 Artists and Literary Figures make up the exhibition. Also featured are Live Performances by Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk, Yoko Ono, and Robert Wilson. Max Gimblett will be leading a Sumi Ink Painting Workshop on Saturday March 7, 10am - 1pm. This special workshop begins with an exhibition tour followed by a studio session using traditional handmade paper, sumi ink, and Asian brushes.  No previous experience necessary. For more information or to book, contact the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Exhibition: The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia , 1860-1989
Venue: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York
Dates: January 30 - April 19, 2009
Preview: Thursday, January 29, 10AM - 1PM
Sumi Ink Painting Workshop on Saturday March 7, 10am - 1pm



27.08.08 I Max Gimblett and Judy Millar in Edges of Darkness
Max Gimblett and Judy Millar have been included in a group exhibition at Hamish Morrison Galerie in Berlin, Germany. Edges of Darkness showcases artists working from various different aesthetic angles using black. From artists whose names are synonymous with black such as Ad Reinahrdt, to others, most strikingly the Spanish painter Prudencio Irazabal, whose focus has been the antithesis to black - light and colour. As the title suggests, rather than a severe, minimilist or monochromatic standpoint it is a colourful exhibition of black, encompassing the glassy reflective and charred black depths of the tar sculpture from the Viennese artist-group Mahony, to the myriad tonings to be found in the canvases of Jrg Scheibe or Ronald de Bloeme. Both New Zealand artists have achieved significant success this year with Max Gimblett being chosen to exhibit in American Art and the East in New York 2009 and Judy Millar chosen as one of two NZ representatives for the prestigious Venice Biennale 2009.

5th September - 25th October 2008

20.05.08 I Max Gimblett gifts artworks to Auckland City Art Gallery contd...
Max Gimblett says he and Barbara are honoured to gift the works of art to the foundation to demonstrate their support of the development of the gallerys main building. Barbara and I recognise the importance of a creative and healthy gallery. This gift shows our support for the role of the foundation in strengthening the gallerys position as the leading art museum in New Zealand, says Gimblett. Gimblett, who has lived in the United States since the mid 1960s and exhibited widely in New Zealand and abroad, is gifting key works from the last 40 years of his artistic practice. Auckland Art Gallerys curator of contemporary art, Natasha Conland worked closely with Gimblett at his studio in the Bowery, New York, to select the 51 works on paper that make up the gift. This collection captures the extraordinary range in Gimbletts artistic temperament from his early portraiture to his achievements with abstract form and a long-standing exploration of Zen calligraphic technique. Most of all this collection reveals the artists extraordinary sensitivity to the very materials of art, especially ink, paper and pencil, says Conland. A number of key works from the gift will be included in the new collection displays that will be the feature of the newly developed main gallery building in late 2010.  The art works will be formally gifted to the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation at a special event attended by Max Gimblett, foundation chairperson John Judge, Auckland city Mayor Hon. John Banks and gallery director Chris Saines in the Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday, 21 May at 6pm.

For more information: Eran Donders Communications coordinator, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Phone: +64 9 307 7706, Mobile 027 291 9953 Email: eran.donders@aucklandcity.govt.nz

26.03.08 I Max Gimblett to exhibit at Guggenheim, New York
Max Gimblett will show work in American Art and the East curated by Alexandra Munroe. The Exhibition opens at the Guggenheim Museum, New York, in February 2009 as a centerpiece of the museum's 50th Anniversary of the Frank Lloyd Wright building. American Art and the East is a masterpiece show featuring works by canonical figures of the 20th century and leading younger artists working today. The exhibition will travel to the West Coast, Asia, and Europe through 2010. A fully illustrated, 475 page catalogue will accompany the exhibition. Edited with an introduction by exhibition curator Alexandra Munroe, it will be the first comprehensive study of the influence of Asian aesthetics and philosophy on modern and contemporary art.

26.03.08 I Max Gimblett in Mindfood Magzine
Max Gimblett will feature in issue 3 of Mindfood Magazine due for publication on May 12. Max was recently interviewed by Donna Duggan, associate editor of the magazine at his New York studio.