Hard on the Heels, Capturing the All Blacks

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A Major Rugby World Cup - Exhibition Coup for Whangarei –

HARD ON THE HEELS, CAPTURING THE ALL BLACKS- photographs by PETER BUSH

13th September – 20th November 2011

Toured by Exhibition Services Wellington

LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER PETER BUSH AND A SELECTION OF HIS PEERLESS PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL BLACK TEAMS OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS.

THIS EXHIBITION IS SCHEDULED AT ONLY 5 VENUES DURING

THE RUGBY WORLD CUP IN SEPTEMBER 2011 - AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON CHRISTCHURCH, DUNEDIN

AND THE ONLY REGIONAL GAMES CENTRE IS - WHANGAREI!

The New Whangarei Art Museum is delighted to announce publically our major RWC11 exhibition. This event is to be formally opened at the new art museum at THE HUB on 12th September, just four days after the first Games commence in

Auckland. Over 2 years in negotiations on our part to make the exhibition available to Whangarei, this powerful and compelling exhibition is substantial - and equally substantial in its costs to mount, being over four times our normal exhibition budget.

Peter Bush is described as a 'living legend' in the niche field of rugby photography throughout its Golden Age - and his reputation as a photojournalist is internationally acknowledged.

He began his career in 1949 with the New Zealand Herald and has enjoyed privileged access and the friendship of All Blacks past and present ever since.

Long before satellite television, his vivid images were wired back from far-flung matches across the globe, to fans throughout New Zealand. Literally 'on the field' in rugby boots with the players he was able to capture remarkable images in the most intimate proximity to the action. An impossible feat now in the era of professional rugby! he has described his actions on the field capturing the All Blacks, as a 'total workout'.

The exhibition, toured by Exhibition Services has been developed for museums and galleries, is timed to coincide with the Rugby World Cup and includes close to 100 images, memorabilia and a special DVD film. The Whangarei Art Museum is very proud to have negotiated this highly sought after exhibition for the Games here in Whangarei in September - November 2011 and as part of the Paint it RED Northland campaign.

Reflecting 'Bushy's' affinity with the rugby 'heartland' the exhibition began its tour to 13 venues nationwide in May 2010 in the provinces, and was opened by Sir Colin Meads at Aratoi in Masterton. Only four exclusive sets of images were made for the 4 metropolitan centre Games for the RWC11 period. Once the Whangarei Games were confirmed the WAM director began the negotiations with sponsors and exhibition developers to include a further set to be made exclusively for WAM to showcase during the Games period in Northland. We were successful at the 11th hour, thanks to the support of the Oxford Charitable Trust, the museum trust board and Councilors Warwick Syers and Sharon Morgan who have close rugby affiliations.

Peter Bush’s photographs range from the controversial to humorous behind-the-scenes moments and feature All Black legends, from Sir Brian Lahore, Bob Scott and Sir Wilson Whineray, to Ian Kirkpatrick, Colin Meads, Graham Mourie and Jonah Lomu, along with star players from other rugby nations.

The exhibition also includes a set of mural sized works and a DVD in which Peter Bush recounts the stories behind his iconic images. Bush’s work has appeared in countless publications worldwide, and he has also published three books. His biography Peter Bush: A Life in Focus was published last year.

The exhibition in Whangarei will also focus on some Northland heroes, such as Sid Going, Ian Jones and Buck Shelford and will include images for sale and merchandise at the new Whangarei Art Museum at Quayside. There will be major Rugby celebrities and former AB's at the opening together with rugby commentator and journalist Keith Quinn who has helped develop the exhibition program.

This highly anticipated function will include a charity auction of many of the images from the exhibition to be signed on the night, with funds going to Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund.

Canon - major sponsors of the exhibition will also be supporting programs at WAM over the exhibition period.

ENDS

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