Small town's big slice of the art world

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX

It may be difficult to regard Gore - the small Southland town made famous by country music and Mikey Havoc's insults - as home to some of New Zealand's finest art works.

But Jim Geddes, director of the Eastern Southland Gallery, believes visitors to his gallery's new John Money Wing will form a new impression of the town.

The week-old wing was opened with fanfare and civic recognition, including visits by Prime Minister Helen Clark, Clutha-Southland MP Bill English and surprise guest Janet Frame.

The $1.2 million wing was built specifically to house the works bequeathed by its namesake, a renowned sexologist and Kiwi expat living in Baltimore.

Janet Frame's attendance was a closely guarded secret. The reclusive Dunedin-based writer, who recently revealed she was suffering from cancer, made the trip to see Dr Money, an old friend.

The benefactor's 50-year-old collection of 20th century New Zealand, Australian and American art is not the only great work in the gallery.

A separate room is the permanent home to various Ralph Hotere works, including 36 lithographs donated by Hotere himself.

The John Money wing was built with the help of a $480,000 grant from the Lotteries Board but the rest was raised by the Gore public.

Mr Geddes said farmers who had never been to the gallery before were coming in with cheques. Local business got behind the venture and there was "significant assistance" from the licensing trust.

He does not know why Dr Money chose the Eastern Southland Gallery.

"It really came out of the blue. But he was keen for the collection to stay together rather than be split up.

"If it had gone to a metropolitan museum it would have probably been divided into various collections and various areas."

The building - a four-year project - has earned Mr Geddes accolades from other gallery directors, and locally he is regarded as "Southland's Peter Jackson".

Speaking at the official opening Gore District Mayor Owen O'Connor said both men had the drive necessary to fulfil their dreams, and Mr Geddes' efforts were "nothing short of amazing".

But Mr Geddes prefers to share the glory with the rest of the community. "We've got some really good quality, significant artists lining up to have shows here and work here, which didn't happen before."

The gallery has a permanent gallery dedicated to Hotere which Mr Geddes says is a huge drawcard for art lovers to come to Gore.

"There will always be a Hotere exhibition here in one form or another. You can go through the country and not guarantee to see any of his work anywhere, if you strike the wrong day or the wrong exhibition.

"You can guarantee there will always be some Hotere here."

And it is not an out-of-the-way trip. Gore sits on State Highway 1 two hours south of Dunedin and 45 minutes north of Invercargill.