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Tom Taylor (sculptor)

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Tom Taylor
Tom Taylor at Bill Sutton's 70th birthday in 1987
Born1925
Christchurch
Died1994 (aged 69)[1]
Christchurch
NationalityNew Zealand
Alma materCanterbury University College School of Fine Arts[2]
Known forSculpture and teaching
MovementSculptural modernism

Tom J. Taylor (1925–1994) was a New Zealand sculptor and educator who spent most of his life in Christchurch. He was a well-regarded lecturer at the University of Canterbury (UC), and a number of his students became notable artists.

Taylor trained in architecture and later sculpture at the forerunner of UC. He spent most of his working life as a lecturer at the UC School of Fine Arts. Taylor specialised in sculpture and later led that department. He taught and largely practiced modernism, but encouraged his students to explore other art movements and unconventional media.

As a sculptor, his productive early and sparse late periods were figurative with a period of formal abstraction in between. Taylor also designed houses, theatre sets, and was an organiser in the Christchurch arts community.

Early life and education

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Taylor was born in Christchurch in 1925. He completed his schooling at St Kevin's College, Oamaru, and passed the examination to enter university (or matriculated) at 14+1⁄2 years old. However, World War II interrupted his studies. He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy and served overseas for the last two years of the war.[1]

On his return, Taylor studied architecture then sculpture at Canterbury University College (CUC).[1] He completed a degree in architectural construction in 1947.[3] Then in 1952, at the School of Fine Arts, Taylor completed a diploma in the fine arts.[2][4] He specialised in figurative sculpture,[5] which was taught by Eric J. Doudney.[6]

Working life

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Educator

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Taylor was an educator in Christchurch throughout his working life. He started as the art master at St Andrew's College.[7] Then in 1960, Taylor joined the UC School of Fine Arts as a lecturer specialising in sculpture.[8] He led the sculpture department from 1969 until his retirement in 1991.[9][1]

As late as the mid-1980s, Taylor taught and largely practiced modernism.[10] But he encouraged his students to explore other art movements and unconventional media.[11] A number of Taylor's students became notable artists. They include Chris Booth, Stephen Clarke, Paul Cullen, Bing Dawe, Neil Dawson, Stephen Furlonger, Rosemary Johnson, Rodney Broad, John Panting, Matt Pine, Phil Price, Pauline Rhodes, Carl Sydow, Bronwyn Taylor, Merylyn Tweedie and Boyd Webb.[12][13] In a 2013 interview, Dawson remembered Taylor as a highly intelligent but tough sculpture and art history lecturer. He continued "[Taylor] set challenges which would last for the rest of your life, and you can't ask for more than that from your teacher."[14]

Sculptor

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Taylor's early work was figurative and mainly in concrete (see Known works). In 1966,[15] he received the first Canterbury Society of Arts Guthry travel grant, and visited Australia.[16] There, Taylor was inspired by the massive steel work of Clement Meadmore.[15] For the next decade,[17][18] he produced formal abstractions in steel.[13] In 1969, Taylor received a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council travel grant. He visited Europe to study sculpture in bronze with Quinto Ghermandi [it] and steel with Rudolf Hoflehner [de].[19] From the 1980s, Taylor returned to his figurative roots,[6] and produced the occasional bust in bronze.

Taylor was a member of The Group and 20/20 Vision in the 1960s, and the Sculptors' Group in the early 1970s.[20] He exhibited his work with all three.[21][22][23] In his book New Zealand Sculpture: A History, Michael Dunn wrote "As a teacher, Taylor earned wide respect, though as a practitioner he failed to fulfil his potential."[6]

Designer

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Although Taylor was not an architect, he still designed houses for acquaintances in Christchurch.

The first was for his School of Fine Arts colleague and close friend, the painter W. A. "Bill" Sutton.[24][13] Taylor designed the house, including a studio, in a local modernist style. Built in 1963, Sutton lived there until he died in 2000. The house on Templar Street, Richmond was one of the few in the area to survive the 2010 Canterbury and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Owned by Christchurch City Council since 2019,[25] it is used as an artist's residence.[26] In 2022, Sutton House and Garden was listed as a category 1 historic place of special or outstanding significance.[25]

Taylor also designed the Governors Bay house of author Margaret Mahy,[26] who lived there from 1968 until her death in 2012.[27] Sources conflict on whether Taylor designed a third house on Gloucester Street, Linwood,[26][28] for another colleague, the painter and potter Doris Lusk.[29]

Between 1953 and 1972, Taylor also occasionally designed theatre sets.[30][31] Most were for Shakespeare plays performed by the university drama society,[32][33] which were produced by Taylor's friend, the author Ngaio Marsh.[1]

Organiser

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Taylor helped to found a number of art ventures, all based in Christchurch.

In 1964, John Coley and Taylor inspired other artists to form 20/20 Vision,[13] an informal group influenced by international contemporary art.[16] The group held annual exhibitions of its members' work 1965–68.[34][35]

The Sculptors' Group, founded by Taylor and his student Carl Sydow in 1970, organised lectures and held three exhibitions. It disbanded in 1972 when members moved from South to North Island or overseas for training or work opportunities.[11]

In 1980, printmaker Jule Einhorn set up the Gingko Print Workshop and Gallery for Works on Paper with the help of printmaker Barry Cleavin and Taylor.[36][37] Gingko was located in the Arts Centre, of which Taylor was a board member, and its buildings used to be the CUC School of Fine Arts, where he had trained.[13] The print workshop closed in 1992.[38]

Personal life

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Taylor and his former wife Paddy had three children.[1] His next partner was Joan Livingstone.[13] Taylor died in 1994, and was survived by his last partner Jule Einhorn.[1]

Known works

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Known works by Tom J. Taylor
Year Title, subject or description Type Medium Dimensions Notes
1960 WWII airman in flying kit Memorial Clay for concrete H 3300 mm Commissioned for Brevet Club, Christchurch. Model completed,[39] but damage to mould and club concern that memorial would become dated meant it was not cast.[40] See Icarus falling (1964).
1962 John Baskcomb Bust Plaster for bronze Shown at The Group exhibition.[41]
1963 Head of H. Winston Rhodes Bust Concrete Shown at The Group exhibition.[42] See Professor Winston Rhodes (1989).
1964 Icarus falling Bas-relief Concrete Also commissioned for Brevet Club.[40] Accessible at Spitfire Square, Christchurch.
1964 Shakespeare Sketch model Shown at The Group exhibition.[43] Commissioned for original Ngaio Marsh Theatre in UC Students' Union building. Medium was to be concrete,[44] but memorial was produced in steel, see Shakespeare (1967).
1965 Echoing figure Statue Plaster Life-size Shown at first 20/20 Vision exhibition.[22]
1967 Shakespeare Memorial Steel L 4000 × H 910 mm Commissioned for original Ngaio Marsh Theatre in UC Students' Union building. Etched with Shakespeare portrait.[32] Not moved to current Ngaio Marsh Theatre.
1967 Moraine Freestanding Steel 1300 × 1000 × 1470 mm First formal abstraction.[15] In Christchurch Art Gallery collection.[17]
1967–68 Tuarau Freestanding Steel 460 × 380 × 380 mm [15]
1968 The Sum of the Squares Freestanding Steel 677 × 1486 × 750 mm In Christchurch Art Gallery collection.[45][15]
1968 Climactic Freestanding Metal Shown and for sale at The Group exhibition.[46][47]
1968 St Ivo Freestanding Metal Shown and for sale at The Group exhibition.[48][47]
1970–71 IBM Centre outdoor to indoor Architectural Steel L 5200 × H 4400 mm Commissioned for 155–161 The Terrace, Wellington by owners A.M.P. Society,[49][50] following international competition.[23] Deinstalled.
1973 Palladian Subdivision Installation Multi-media Conceptual and performance art.[51]
1973 QEII Park fountain Fountain Fountain Commissioned for 1974 British Commonwealth Games.[52] All park facilities damaged by 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Demolished.
1976 Transit Architectural Steel 2700 × 4200 × 3300 mm Commissioned for Auckland Medical School.[18][53][9] Last formal abstraction. Deinstalled.
1989 Professor Winston Rhodes Bust Bronze Commissioned as memorial for UC Professor of English.[54][55]
1991–92 W. A. Sutton C.B.E. Bust Bronze 340 × 210 × 200 mm In Christchurch Art Gallery collection.[24]

By 1975, Taylor had produced a plaster head of Ngaio Marsh.[55] At some point, he also produced a bust of Marsh in bronze.[1][13]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h TP 1994.
  2. ^ a b TP 1952.
  3. ^ TP 1947.
  4. ^ Ogilvie 1992, p. 132.
  5. ^ UCSoFA 1940.
  6. ^ a b c Dunn 2009, p. 105.
  7. ^ Ogilvie 1992, pp. 130, 132, 239.
  8. ^ Barton 2014.
  9. ^ a b Dunn 2009, p. 160.
  10. ^ Strongman 2007.
  11. ^ a b Roberts & Milburn 2000, p. 83.
  12. ^ Roberts & Milburn 2000, p. 83-84,101.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Coley 1994.
  14. ^ Moore 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d e Ascent 1968.
  16. ^ a b Roberts & Milburn 2000, p. 78.
  17. ^ a b CAG 1967.
  18. ^ a b UoAAC 1976.
  19. ^ TP 1969.
  20. ^ Roberts & Milburn 2000, pp. 101, 83.
  21. ^ Catchpole 1984, p. 163.
  22. ^ a b Roberts & Milburn 2000, p. 79.
  23. ^ a b TP 1970b.
  24. ^ a b CAG 1991.
  25. ^ a b HNZ 2022.
  26. ^ a b c AN 2022.
  27. ^ Bolger 2021.
  28. ^ Banbury 2019.
  29. ^ Milburn 2016.
  30. ^ TP 1953.
  31. ^ TP 1972b.
  32. ^ a b TP 1967.
  33. ^ TP 1972a.
  34. ^ RMAG 1982.
  35. ^ Roberts & Milburn 2000, p. 79,81–82.
  36. ^ NLoNZ 1980.
  37. ^ Thomas 1981.
  38. ^ Vangioni 2011.
  39. ^ TP 1960.
  40. ^ a b TP 1964a.
  41. ^ TG 1962, 117.
  42. ^ TG 1963, 119.
  43. ^ TG 1964.
  44. ^ TP 1964b.
  45. ^ CAG 1968.
  46. ^ TG 1968, 112.
  47. ^ a b TCS 1968.
  48. ^ TG 1968, 113.
  49. ^ TP 1970a.
  50. ^ TD 1971.
  51. ^ Roberts & Milburn 2000, pp. 84–85.
  52. ^ TP 1973.
  53. ^ Pollock 2014.
  54. ^ TP 1987.
  55. ^ a b TP 1989.

References

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  • "125 Years of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury: 1940–1950". Christchurch Art Gallery. n.d. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  • "University of New Zealand: Degree Examination Results". The Press. Christchurch. 15 December 1947. p. 5.
  • "125 Years of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury: 1950–1960". Christchurch Art Gallery. n.d. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  • "Examination Results: Canterbury College Passes". The Press. Christchurch. 21 November 1952. p. 6.
  • "Julius Caesar, The Stage, Canterbury College Production". The Press. Christchurch. 27 July 1953. p. 3.
  • "Brevet Club Memorial Beside Airport". The Press. Christchurch. 22 February 1960. p. 31. Retrieved 18 February 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "The Group Show 62" (PDF). Christchurch: The Group. 1962. Retrieved 16 February 2025 – via Christchurch Art Gallery.
  • "The Group Show 1963" (PDF). Christchurch: The Group. 1963. Retrieved 20 February 2025 – via Christchurch Art Gallery.
  • "More Durable". The Press. Christchurch. 7 March 1964. p. 7. Retrieved 18 February 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "Shakespearean Sculpture". The Press. Christchurch. 2 October 1964. p. 10. Retrieved 26 February 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "The Group 64" (PDF). Christchurch: The Group. 1964. Retrieved 21 February 2025 – via Christchurch Art Gallery.
  • "Sculpture at Theatre". The Press. Christchurch. 26 June 1967. p. 3. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "Moraine (1967)". Christchurch Art Gallery. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  • "The Sum of the Squares (1968)". Christchurch Art Gallery. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  • Benseman, Leo; Brooke, Barbara, eds. (July 1968). "Tom Taylor: Recent Sculpture" (PDF). Ascent: A Journal of Arts in New Zealand. Vol. 1, no. 2. Christchurch: Caxton Press. pp. 30–31. Retrieved 12 February 2025 – via Christchurch Art Gallery.
  • "The Group Show 68" (PDF). Christchurch: The Group. 1968. Retrieved 20 February 2025 – via Christchurch Art Gallery.
  • "Photographs of Climactic and St Ivo the sculptures by Tom Taylor in The Group show at the CSA gallery". Music Art Theatre. The Christchurch Star. Christchurch. 30 October 1968. p. 10.
  • "Arts Council Grants". The Press. Christchurch. 29 May 1969. p. 18. Retrieved 13 January 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "Sculpture for New Building". The Press. Christchurch. 8 September 1970. p. 9. Retrieved 13 January 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "Sculptures and Otago Arts". The Press. Christchurch. 21 July 1970. p. 11. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  • Hill, Martin (17 April 1971). "IBM Centre on The Terrace". Wellington Townscape. The Dominion Weekend Magazine. Wellington. p. 15.
  • "Relaxed, Confident Henry [V]". The Press. Christchurch. 3 October 1972. p. 16. Retrieved 22 February 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "Peer Gynt for Hay Theatre". The Press. Christchurch. 21 November 1972. p. 10. Retrieved 13 January 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "Fountain at Q.E. Park". The Press. Christchurch. 2 April 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 13 January 2025 – via Papers Past.
  • "University of Auckland Art Collection: Transit". University of Auckland. n.d. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  • Thomas, Michael (1981). "Gingko Print Workshop and Gallery for Works on Paper". Exhibitions Christchurch. Art New Zealand. No. 19. Auckland.
  • "20/20 Vision" (PDF). Bulletin. No. 24. Christchurch: Robert McDougall Art Gallery. 1982. p. 2. ISSN 0111-1426. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  • Catchpole, Julie A. (1984). The Group (Masters thesis). University of Canterbury. hdl:10092/8504.
  • "Einhorn, Jule, 1945–". National Library of New Zealand. n.d. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  • "Memorial for Professor". The Press. Christchurch. 9 October 1987. p. 41. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  • "Ashen-faced". Reporter's Diary. The Press. Christchurch. 30 May 1989. p. 2.
  • Ogilvie, Gordon (1992). High Flies the Cross: The 75th Jubilee History of St Andrew’s College, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1917–1992. Christchurch: St Andrew's Presbyterian College Board of Governors. ISBN 0-473-01371-1.
  • "W. A. Sutton C.B.E. (1991–92)". Christchurch Art Gallery. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  • "Tom Taylor, Sculptor". Obituary. The Press. Christchurch. 22 July 1994. p. 17.
  • Coley, John (1994). "Remembering Tom Taylor" (PDF). Bulletin. No. 92. Christchurch: Robert McDougall Art Gallery. pp. 2–3. ISSN 0111-1426. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  • Roberts, Neil; Milburn, Felicity (2000). A Concise History of Art in Canterbury, 1850–2000 (PDF). Christchurch: Robert McDougall Art Gallery. ISBN 0-908874-91-X. OCLC 155531143 – via Christchurch Art Gallery.
  • Strongman, Lara (2007). "Art School 125" (PDF). Bulletin. No. 151. Christchurch: Christchurch Art Gallery. p. 10. ISSN 1176-0540. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  • Dunn, Michael (2009). New Zealand Sculpture: A History (Updated ed.). Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-425-3.
  • Vangioni, Peter (8 November 2011). "Salamander Gallery Closes". Christchurch Art Gallery. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  • Moore, Christopher (10 June 2013). "Conjuring Space and Freedom". The Press. Christchurch – via Stuff.
  • Barton, Christina (22 October 2014). "The Rise of Post-Object Art". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  • Pollock, Kerryn (22 October 2014). "Public and street art – Public sculpture". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  • Milburn, Felicity (1 June 2016). "Doris Lusk: An Inventive Eye". Bulletin. No. 184. Christchurch: Christchurch Art Gallery. ISSN 0111-1426. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  • Banbury, Grant (2019). "I Paul". McCahon House. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  • Bolger, Devon (21 November 2021). "Margaret Mahy's Former Home in Governors Bay Relisted". The New Zealand Herald. Auckland. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  • "Sutton House and Garden". Heritage New Zealand. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  • "Sutton House and Garden Listed As Category 1 Historic Place". Architecture Now. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
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