Past Project Highlights
Since its foundation in 1971, TheNewDowse has been known for its innovative exhibition and events - listed below are some of the highlights
The New Cool
9 June - 30 August 2005
The New Cool showcased the inspirational stories of 12 young entrepreneurial New Zealand companies.
more
CupCup
11 September - 14 November 2004
CupCup was an eye-popping installation by leading German artist Thomas Bayrle and students from Massey University’s School of Fine Arts.
more
Engage?
5 June - 19 September 2004
Combining elements from craft, furniture design, architecture and sculpture, Tim Wigmore presented a unique installation of furniture made from environmentally friendly materials.
more
Finnish Design 125
14 June - 31 August
Developed and toured by the Finnish Design Forum, Finnish Design 125 traced the transformation of Finnish design from the 19th century to the early 21st century.
more
Thrift to Fantasy
17 October - 16 February 2003
Thrift & Fantasy explored the dual worlds of practicality and dreams through two unique collections of early twentieth century women’s handwork.
more
Lalique
26 January - 21 April 2002
In celebration of the100th anniversary French glass genius René Lalique’s first foray into glass.
more
Casting Light - Ann Robinson
14 February 20 May 1998
In the late 70's, after a 15 year break, Ann re-enrolled at art school having been inspired to study glass practice.
more
A Human Touch - Droog
17th Feb - 15th April, 2007
Dutch design collective Droog built itself upon an aesthetic that seeks to trigger questions, spark discussion and elicit giggles.
more
Domestic Futurists
17th Feb - 20 May, 2007
Mind boggling approaches to how everyday household appliances might look in 2017, from design students at Victoria's design led futures programme.
www.designledfutures.com
more
Animalia (remix)
April 21st - May 20, 2007
A life-size interactive game, created by cyborg artist Angela Main, Caroline McCaw and HitLABNZ
more
Design Ambassador's Showcase
17 Feb - 20 May, 2007
Product design, fashion and graphic design by the 2006 winners of the British Council Design Ambassador Awards.
more
Alan Preston
17th Feb - 17 June, 2007
A celebration of a career committed to creating distinctive jewellery of and for this place, using shells, stones and the natural fabric of New Zealand.
more
Homemade Mathematics
17th Feb - 1 July, 2007
After designing the pattern of perforations for Rainscreen, the huge aluminium screen on the building's facade, Simon Morris explored the same design ideas in three large canvases.
more
The Gift Exchange
17 February - 12 August 2007
From Doreen Blumhardt's lifelong teaching to WETA's 'medieval workshop' environment, The Gift Exchange looks at how inspiration is passed on in a range of media.
more
Sergeant P - New Work by Jim Cooper
May 12 - September 16 2007
Citing The Beatles' Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club as one of his major inspirations, ceramicist Jim Cooper has modelled over 100 toddler-sized celebrity figures to create a who's who of 1960s pop icons, musicians, film stars and royal figures.
more
Of Gorse of Course
2 June - September 16 2007
Of Gorse Of Course presented an obsessive, inventive, funny, provocative look at gorse by young Wellington-based artist Regan Gentry
more
Becoming King Kong
June 30th - November 18th 2007
Developed in partnership with internationally celebrated Weta Workshop & Weta Digital, Becoming King Kong revealed the amazing creative journey that took King Kong from the imagination of Kiwi filmmakers to the world's cinema screens.
more
Of Heart and Hands
October 15 - January 27 2007
Indian Mudhubani artist Shanti Devi and local potter Doreen Blumhardt met at TheNewDowse in a celebration of two creative women.
more
When Philip Met Isabella
6 October - 2 February, 2008
Thirty-two striking avant-garde hats made by the world's most famous milliner, Philip Treacy for his friend and muse - the style-icon Isabella Blow
more
Zeitgeist Becomes Form
6 October - 2 February, 2008
From Christian Dior to Issey Miyake, these images capture the evolution of fashion, with over 100 photographs from famed photographers such as
Helmut Newton, Jurgen Teller and Willy Maywald
more
Navigate
December 7 - March 30 2008
Wanganui glass artist Lyndsay Patterson's stunning series of glass works explore surface and texture - each vessel etched with navigation maps. extracts from family letters and intrinsic Pacific themes.
more
Conversations
December 7 - March 30, 2008
Glass-artist Elizabeth McClure and painter Lorraine Rastorfer met over 10 years ago and began a creative conversation, based on their mutual aesthetic interests. In this exhibition, they presented a series of works developed in conversation.
more
Wallace Art Awards 2007
16 Nov - 30 March, 2008
Utilizing all variety of materials from beer to bubble-gum, Fimo to hand-dyed wool, the finalists of the 16th Wallace Art Awards give viewers the chance to glimpse some of the provocative work being produced by contemporary NZ sculptors, photographers and painters.
more
The Wind
February 16 - June 22, 2008
Aptly titled ‘The Wind’, Issey Miyake’s latest collection show was brought to life in the form of a thrilling man-made wind storm.
more
A Costura Do Invisivel
February 16 - June 22, 2008
In celebration of TheNewDowse's first birthday, and ‘Paper Anniversary’, we are delighted to showcase an artist whose creative genius can transform a humble sheet of paper, into the most extraordinary objects of wonder.
more
Beasts
16 February - 2 June, 2008
From family pets to feared foe, the collection show beasts sheds light on our relationship with animals as 'beast mates', beastly foes and showy side-kicks.
more