The World of James Tannock Mackelvie: A Victorian collector
The event is presented in partnership with Auckland Museum and is open to members of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the Mackelvie Society.
Join speakers Mary Kisler MNZM, Dr Josh Emmitt and Dr Sophie Matthiesson as they share their thoughts and insights on James Tannock Mackelvie and his collection. The introductory talks are followed by a panel discussion chaired by Finn McCahon-Jones.
TUES 7 MAY, 6PM
TE MATA TAIRONGO MUSEUM AUDITORIUM, LEVEL 2
AUCKLAND MUSEUM
PAY WHAT YOU CAN
James Tannock Mackelvie was a Glaswegian Scot who lived and worked in Auckland from 1865 to 1871. He made a fortune in land speculation and gold mining investments before returning to London, and was perhaps, Auckland's single biggest arts benefactor.
Mackelvie was a prodigious collector and from the beginning, intended his acquisitions to one day form a teaching collection in New Zealand. Auckland Museum holds all the applied arts that Mackelvie donated to Auckland, both while he was alive and on his death. Paintings and sculptures are held in the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and books are held in the Auckland Library Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau.
Emerita Curator
Mary Kiser MNZM
Art historian, curator, writer, and now Emerita Curator Mary Kisler MNZM has an MA in Italian and Art History. The latter was completed thanks to an Italian Government scholarship that allowed her to study in Florence for 7 months in 1992. She commenced a Ph.D. but after three years left the university, working for 21 years at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, latterly as Senior Curator, Mackelvie Collection, International Art. In 2016, Mary was Craig Hugh Smyth Fellow at the Harvard Centre for Renaissance Art, Villa I Tatti, Florence, researching Italian works in New Zealand Public Collections. From 2014 to 2019 Mary worked on the Frances Hodgkins Project at Auckland Art Gallery, producing an exhibition, subsidiary book and co-producing the exhibition catalogue and the Frances Hodgkins online catalogue raisonné. Mary is currently working on two other book projects.
Mary’s introductory talk will focus on James Mackelvie - A Life Well Lived.
Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum
Curator of Archeology
Dr Josh Emmitt,
With a background in anthropology and ancient history, and a PHD in anthropology from the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, Dr Joshua Emmitt is Curator Archaeology at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum. Josh has worked on archaeological sites and collections around the world including from Egypt, Italy, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand. His interests are in the application of new methods and analyses to old data, including archival studies and the application of 3D technologies.
Within the portion of the Mackelvie collection held by the Museum lies archaeological artefacts, including Roman pottery, and material from the Swiss Lakes Dwellings, and this formed the beginnings of the ancient worlds collections of the Museum back in its earliest days.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Senior Curator International Art
Dr Sophie Matthiesson
Senior Curator of International Art, Dr Sophie Matthiesson has more than 20 years’ experience as a curator and educator in England and Australia including Curator of International Art at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (2007-2019). In her role at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Sophie develops and manages the Gallery’s historical and modern international collection, including the Mackelvie collection.
Sophie’s past curatorial projects include Modern Britain (2007), Salvador Dalí (2009), Monet’s Garden (2013), Degas: A New Vision (2016) and Van Gogh: The Seasons (2017).
Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum
Senior Collection Manager Documentary Heritage
Finn McCahon-Jones
Finn McCahon-Jones is the Senior Collection Manager of the Documentary Heritage collections at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum. He previously held the roles of Associate Curator Applied Art & Design and Exhibition Curator. Finn was the Curator / Director at Te Toi Uku Crown Lynn & Clayworks Museum in Auckland. He has a fine arts degree majoring in sculpture from AUT; and recently completed his BA (Hons) in Art History at The University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau.
Finn is a trustee on the Mackelvie Trust and the Colin McCahon Research and Publication Trust. He is actively involved in the art and craft sectors as a writer and exhibitor. Finn is an alumni of the prestigious Clark Collection / Creative New Zealand Attingham Summer School scholarship and in 2020 was the Auckland Library Heritage Trust scholar.