Towards a Promised Land: On the Life of Colin McCahon
by Gordon H Brown
Auckland University Press HB.

The launch of this outstanding book was held at the Gus Fisher Galllery in Auckland last Thursday evening and what a great event it was.
Speakers included specialist art bookseller Roger Parsons, AUP publisher Sam Elworthy, director of the Gus Fisher Gallery, Linda Tyler, and Rob Gardiner, Head of the Chartwell Trust.
All paid tribute to the author Gordon Brown and his scholarship before the author signed copies for the many keen buyers present.


Prominent art world people I noticed present included:
Artists Billy Apple, Gil Hanly
Film makers Shirley Horrocks and Roger Horrocks
Auckland Art Gallery director Chris Saines (who is also on the McCahon publication trust)
Victoria Carr from the McCahon family
Chris McBride, Manager of the McCahon house
Art historian Len Bell, author of the recent book Marti Friedlander
NZ Herald critic T J McNamara
Art historian and author Christopher Johnstone

and of course official book launcher Rob Gardiner from Chartwell.

 

Photo above shows - left to right - Bookman Beattie, author Gordon Brown, AUP publicity manager Christine O'Brien, AUP publisher Sam Elworthy and Gus Fisher Gallery Director Linda Tyler

 

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 Rob Gardiner above left launching the book, and author Gordon Brown right. These two photos by Gil Hanly.


 A wonderful evening. My thanks to AUP for including me among their guests.