An exhibition can simmer under the surface for a long time before a chance meeting or an unexpected conversation brings it to life. 2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar, which will be presented simultaneously at Tim Melville Gallery and Gow Langsford Gallery, has an interesting back story.
Auckland Art Gallery’s Colin McCahon exhibition, A Place to Paint, was one of the highlights of last year’s art calendar. Judy Millar gave a powerful speech at the opening and I remember talking with her afterwards about Alberto Garcia-Alvarez, and especially about his influence on her practice during the 1970s at Auckland University’s Elam School of Fine Arts. Later, continuing our conversation by email, Judy wrote: “It was great to talk the other night – it would be wonderful to work on a project with Alberto. I often wonder what I would have become without his teaching.”
By chance, the following week, Gary Langsford and I found ourselves sitting next to each other at a café. When I told him about my conversation with Judy he immediately said, “Let’s have a show.” He checked with his fellow Directors (!) and the touch-paper was lit.
Finally, as the icing on the metaphorical cake, Stephen Bambury offered to curate the exhibition across both gallery spaces.
Like Judy, Stephen is a New Zealand household name with an international art career … and he too was one of Alberto’s students. Stephen’s curation includes a group of paintings produced by Alberto during his time in California in the late 1960s which will be shown alongside works made more recently in his Auckland studio. The selection of works by Judy includes a series of paintings made in 2020 as well as work made in 1981 during her time at Elam.
An illustrated catalogue, including a dialogue between the three artists, has been produced to accompany the exhibition.
Stephen Bambury writes: “Alberto says he has never taught anybody, though we both regard him as a formative figure in our development as artists […] Nonetheless, the traces left by our mentor and our mutual gratitude for this give testimony to something I want to call teaching, and I know Judy shares this sentiment. For the three of us to collaborate so many years later is a particular joy, presenting the opportunity to come together as independent colleagues.”
Photography by Sam Hartnett.
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
Firmament
1973
painted tape on canvas
2000mm H x 3020mm W
JUDY MILLAR
Untitled
2005
acrylic and oil on canvas
1500mm H x 1100mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
JUDY MILLAR
Untitled
2005
acrylic and oil on canvas
1500mm H x 1100mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
2 in 1
2020
aluminium alloy
2700mm H, 1000mm W x 1000mm D (base)
Collection of St Peters School Cambridge
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
-39-
1973
mixed media on canvas
2400mm H x 1650mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
-01-
2009
mixed media and paper
1540mm H x 1300mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
-01-
2009
mixed media and paper
1540mm H x 1300mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
Old Glory
1969
mixed media on canvas
1750mm H x 2700mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
JUDY MILLAR
Untitled
2020
acrylic and oil on canvas
1800mm H x 1300mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
JUDY MILLAR
Untitled
2020
acrylic and oil on canvas
1800mm H x 1300mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
JUDY MILLAR
Front View
1999
gesso and masking tape on canvas
560mm H x 610mm W
JUDY MILLAR
Back View
1999
gesso and masking tape on canvas
560mm H x 610mm W
JUDY MILLAR
Steps
1981
acrylic and masking tape on canvas
1520mm H x 1070mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
Stairs
1970
mixed media on canvas
1300mm H x 2200mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
-62- (Positive/Negative energy)
2020
mixed media on nylon canvas
430mm H x 430mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA ALVAREZ
Moonlight (Claro di Luna)
2020
mixed media on canvas
1740mm H x 1150mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
Tu
2019-2020
gauze and mixed media on aluminium sheet
445mm H x 300mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
JUDY MILLAR
Untitled
1991
gouache on paper
420mm H x 300mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
Yo
1990
mixed media on board with nail
600mm H x 570mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
JUDY MILLAR
Untitled
1991
pencil on paper
330mm H x 240mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
JUDY MILLAR
Untitled
2020
acrylic and oil on canvas
1400mm H x 1000mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ
Moonlight (Claro di Luna)
2020
mixed media on canvas
1740mm H x 1150mm W
ALBERTO GARCIA-ALVAREZ + JUDY MILLAR
2 in 1: Alberto Garcia-Alvarez & Judy Millar
August 2020
Installation View