Who was Philip Augustus Edmiston?
Edmiston was a prominent businessman who spent most of his life in Auckland. He was a supporter of the Auckland Institute and Museum and wished Auckland to be enriched with a fine art gallery and works of art. In his will he left a bequest of £200,000 to provide for the visual arts in the city. It is from his goals and dreams that the Edmiston Trust builds upon today.
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1853
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Philip Augustus Edmiston, born 16th September, Westerham. Kent, England.
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1858
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Emigrated to New Zealand with his parents on the ship "Mary Anne".
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Educated at Auckland Grammar School at Chapel Street, and Christ's College, Christchurch.
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After leaving school entered into an auctioneering business in the South Island.
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1879
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Joined N.Z. Accident Insurance Co. as an accountant and was promoted to General Manager in 1884.
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1906
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Retired as General Manager of N.Z. Accident Insurance Co, receiving a large parcel of shares, when the company was taken over by NZI Insurance.
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1946
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Died in Sydney leaving part of his estate to form a charitable trust to be used to establish a gallery and acquire works of art for Auckland.
"...for the beautification and adornment of public places or for cultural improvement of the community..."
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What has been achieved thanks to Philip Edmiston's Legacy?
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1958
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April 14th the Edmiston Trust Board met for the first time.
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1971
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April 16th, the Edmiston Wing was officially opened at the Auckland City Art Gallery. Funded by Edmiston's Bequest.
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Noted in the New Zealand Herald, "Now, with the addition of the Edmiston wing, the Auckland Art Gallery will have more space, better light and gallery area to promote further collections as the city and its art appreciation grows."
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1985
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First major purchase. George RICKEY, Double L Excentric Gyratory, 1985, stainless steel for the International Art Collection, Auckland Art Gallery. Gift of the Edmiston Trust.
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1986
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Funded the purchase of Jacques CARABAIN, Queen Street, Auckland, 1889, oil on canvas, for the New Zealand Art Collection at the Auckland Art Gallery. Gift of the Edmiston Trust.
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1989
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Funded the Holly SANFORD, Edmiston Screen, stained glass for the Aotea Centre. (Later removed). Gift of the Edmiston Trust.
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1989
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Funded the purchase of Jesus SOTO, Triptico Azul, Negro y Violetta (Blue, Black and Red triptych), 1977, mixed media optical kinetic relief for the International Art Collection, Auckland Art Gallery. Gift of the Edmiston Trust.
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1990
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Provided the funds for Dick FRIZZELL to be commissioned to paint Portrait of Dame Catherine Tizard, oil on canvas, for the Aotea Centre. Gift of the Edmiston Trust.
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1992
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Provided funding for building the Edmiston Gallery of Maritime Paintings at the New Zealand National Maritime Museum and for the purchase of artworks to establish a maritime art collection of national significance.
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1993
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Funded the purchase of Anish KAPOOR, Untitled, 1992, wood fiberglass and pigment for the International Art Sculpture Collection, Auckland Art Gallery. Gift of the Edmiston Trust.
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1995
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Purchased Len LYE, Universe, 1963, steel, wood, electromagnets, Edmiston Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery. Long Term Loan.
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1995/1999
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Assisted with the funding of the Nigel BROWN designed Creation Window, stained glass made by Glassworks for Auckland Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Parnell. Gift of the Edmiston Trust.
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2004-2006
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Funded Outdoor Sculpture 2001 Incorporated to make and install eight new sculptures to form the beginning of a sculpture walk in the Auckland Domain. The New Zealand Lotteries Board Millennium Fund also assisted with funding.
Chiara CORBELLETTO, Numbers are the Language of Nature, 2005, Bronze.
John EDGAR, Transformer, 2004 Granite, (Coromandel, NZ and Indian).
Charlotte FISHER, Arc, 2004, Granite and bronze.
Fred GRAHAM Kaitiaki, 2004, Steel plate.
Christine HELLYAR, Spring, 2004, Bronze and basalt.
Neil MILLER, Regeneration, 2005, Steel and vines.
Louise PURVIS, Promise Boat, 2005, Bardiglio marble and basalt.
Greer TWISS, Graftings, 2004, Bronze.
All Edmiston Trust Collection.
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2007
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Funded the purchase of Brett GRAHAM, Whaowhia, 2007, granite for the Auckland Museum South Entrance. Edmiston Trust Collection. |
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2008
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14th April marks 50 years for the Trust of supporting the Arts in Auckland.
Launch new website.
Pledge $1,500,000 to the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation for the redevelopment of the Auckland Art Gallery and $500,000 to the Auckland Art Gallery to purchase a major new artwork to mark the reopening of the gallery.
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2009
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The year began with the completion of the demolition of the Edmiston
Wing at the Auckland Art Gallery which enabled building work for the
major redevelopment of the gallery to begin. This has been progressing
well through the year with significant changes becoming more evident. The
gallery is planned to re-open in 2011. The Edmiston Gallery at the
renamed 'Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum' underwent renovation to
coincide with the opening of the Museum's new exhibition 'Blue Water
Black Magic'.
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Philip Augustus Edmiston
(1853-1946).
Sculptor, John Edgar with then Prime Minister, Helen Clark and Cr. Scott Milne at the opening of the Domain sculptures, May 2005.
Planting ceremony at Neil Miller's sculpture, "Regeneration", Auckland Domain, June 2005.
George Rickey's "Double L Excentric Gyratory", sculpture "we love it because it is never the same from one moment to another, moves as softly as a pair of wings, externally responsive to invisible shifts of wind." Metro Magazine 2002
Exterior shot of the Edmiston Wing, circa 1971.
John Street, Karolina Spaseska-Markovska, Paul Evans and Don Clark at the Edmiston Gallery opening.
Progress at the Auckland Art Gallery, 21 August 2009. Photograph: Jennifer French.
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