John Drawbridge

Drawbridge was the son of Samuel Drawbridge, Wellington's City Treasurer, and Elma Wylie. He was born in the Wellington suburb of Karori and attended the Wellington Teachers College{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=City Gallery Wellington |url=https://citygallery.org.nz/exhibitions/john-drawbridge-wide-open-interior/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203082027/https://citygallery.org.nz/exhibitions/john-drawbridge-wide-open-interior/ |archive-date=2021-02-03 |access-date=2021-02-03 |website=City Gallery |language=en}} from 1948 to 1949 completing his teacher training the following year in Dunedin.{{Cite web |title=John Drawbridge |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artists/drawbridge-john-19302005 |access-date=1 August 2024}} During the fifties Drawbridge was a regular contributor to the School Journal, Primary School Bulletin, Tusitala mo vasega tetele Samoa, School Bulletin on Niue along with doing design work and covers for the literary journal Hilltop in 1949 and a Design Review in 1953.{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Hamish |title=Coverup: the art of the book cover in New Zealand, Auckland |date=2007 |publisher=Godwit |pages=110–15}} Charles Brasch also published Drawbridge's work in Landfall during the fifties and in 1964 Drawbridge was asked to design the Landfall cover for the four issues of vol 18 and used again in a range of different colours the following year.{{Cite journal |last=Valentine |first=Jonty |date=2007 |title=Max Hailstone's Landfall Covers |journal=The National Grid |pages=68–81}} In 1957 he was awarded a National Art Gallery Traveling Scholarship taking him to the UK to study at the Central School of Art and Design in London for three years.{{Cite news |date=7 March 1957 |title=Art Gallery scholarships |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=3}} Three years later in 1960 Drawbridge married the sculptor Tanya Ashken who was also a student at the Central School of Arts and together they moved to Paris{{Cite news |title=Obituary: John Drawbridge |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-drawbridge-305076.html |access-date=1 August 2024}} so he could study under SM. Hayter at Atelier 17 and later under Johnny Friedlaender.{{Cite journal |last=Kirker |first=Anne |date=Winter 1982 |title=John Drawbridge from Print to Construction |journal=Art New Zealand |issue=24}} In 1963 Drawbridge showed his work at the Redfern Gallery run by Rex Nan Kivell in London.{{Cite news |date=23 April 1963 |title=N.Z. Painter’s London Show |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=11}}

Drawbridge, along with Ashken, returned to New Zealand at the end of 1963{{Cite news |date=10 December 1963 |title=John Drawbridge Back In N.Z |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=12}} and in 1964 he was appointed as a tutor in printmaking at the Wellington Polytech School of Design (now Massey University, College of Creative Arts) and taught there for 25 years.

After his return Drawbridge was considered one of New Zealand's most significant artists, but fell out of favour with the art critics of the late 1970s and 1980s (his work being seen as too international during a time when regional realism was helping define a New Zealand identity). After his death in 2005 his contribution to the New Zealand art scene has been revisited, on a number of occasions, by an increasing number of champions (notably by Dr. Damian Skinner, of Auckland Museum).

He lived at Island Bay in Wellington for over 40 years{{Cite web |title=John Drawbridge |url=https://www.bnzheritage.co.nz/collection/artist/john-drawbridge |access-date=1 August 2024}} with his artist wife Tanya Ashken; they had two sons, Tony and Cameron. In 1967 there was controversy about one of his oil paintings of Island Bay which was gifted to Canada.{{Cite news |date=20 July 1967 |title=Gift to Canada |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=22}}{{Cite news |date=21 January 1969 |title=The Right Choice Press |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=13}} He was born and died in Wellington.

1962 Drawbridge was commissioned{{Cite news |date=7 November 1962 |title=N.Z. House Art Work |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=16}} to make mural for New Zealand House in London{{Cite web |title=New Zealand House Mural |url=https://publicart.nz/artworks/john-drawbridge-1963 |access-date=1 August 2024}} Watching the Queen open the building and view the mural in 1963 Drawbridge was reportedly a bit to see the Queen's gown brush close to his mural and its still freshly painted surface.{{Cite news |date=11 May 1963 |title=General News |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=10}} The mural has since been removed from New Zealand House and is now displayed in Victoria University's Maclaurin Building.{{Cite journal |last=Little |first=Paul |date=June 2019 |title=Colonial Upstart |journal=North & South |issue=400}}

1970 Drawbridge's mural for the Osaka Expo’70 was later reinstalled in the National Library The mural was based on Drawbridge's fascination with the pin-point light sources he saw created by glow worms in the Waitomo Caves.{{Cite web |title=Expo ’70 John Drawbridge Mural  |url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/45840/expo-70-john-drawbridge-mural |access-date=1 August 2024}}

1973 Wins the competition for the Beehive (Executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament) mural.{{Cite news |date=8 September 1973 |title=Mural for Beehive |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/document/00NZPHomeNews201508211/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=7}}

1990 Creates stained glass windows and stations of the cross for the Home of Compassion chapel designed by Structon Group.{{Cite web |title=Past Events |url=https://historicplaceswellington.org/past-events/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |website=Historic Places Trust}} In 2019 Tennent Brown designed a side chapel dedicated to Suzanne Aubert's life and with the Drawbridge family's help converted Drawbridge drawing into a stained glass window for the building.{{Cite web |title=Chapel for Mother Aubert |url= https://tennentbrown.co.nz/projects/spirit/chapel-for-mother-aubert |access-date=1 August 2024}}

In 1949, at the age of 19, Drawbridge had been invited to produce a water colour record of an ascent of Mount Aspiring by Brian Brake (acting as cinematographer), Douglas Lilburn (composer) and James K Baxter the poet to be filmed by the National Film Unit. The attempt failed and the film never realised but the experience left a deep impression on Drawbridge.{{Cite book |last=Drawbridge |first=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/276771658 |title=John Drawbridge |last2=Macdonald |first2=Robert |last3=Skinner |first3=Damian |date=2008 |publisher=Ron Sang Publications |isbn=978-0-473-13956-8 |location=Auckland, N.Z. |oclc=276771658}} The 45 watercolour and pastel drawings and Drawbridge's storyboard survived and are now held in the Turnbull Library in Wellington.{{Cite news |date=10 November 2012 |title=Doomed Climbing Film Sketches Re-Surface |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/7933553/Doomed-climbing-film-sketches-re-surface |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=Stuff}} Fifty seven years later in 2006 Drawbridge traveled back to the Matukituki Valley with a film crew, and revisited the Aspiring Hut for the documentary film Aspiring.{{Cite web |title=Aspiring |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/aspiring-2006 |access-date=1 August 2024}}

• Group Show 1952,{{Cite web |title=The Group 1952 |url=https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Publications/Art/TheGroup/pdfs/1952.pdf |access-date=1 August 2024}} Christchurch. 1952
• The Group Show ‘56,{{Cite web |title=The Group 1956 |url=https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Publications/Art/TheGroup/pdfs/1956.pdf |access-date=1 August 2024}} Christchurch. 1956
• The Group Show ‘66,{{Cite web |title=The Group 1966 |url=https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Publications/Art/TheGroup/pdfs/1966.pdf |access-date=1 August 2024}} Christchurch. 1966  
• 20/20 Vision.{{Cite news |date=9 June 1966 |title=20/20 Time |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=12}} (group) 1966
• New Zealand Painting{{Cite web |title=New Zealand Painting |url=https://cdn.aucklandunlimited.com/artgallery/assets/media/1966-new-zealand-painting-catalogue.pdf |access-date=1 August 2024 |website=Auckland Art Gallery}} (group) Auckland City Art Gallery. 1966  
• 10th International Exhibition of Drawings and Engravings{{Cite news |date=26 March 1968 |title=First Big Prize To Printmaker |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=14}} (group) Lugano, Switzerland. 1968 Prize winner.
• The Group,{{Cite news |date=1 October 1968 |title=New Works for Group |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=8}} Christchurch. 1968  
• Local Colour{{Cite web |title=Local Colour |url=https://citygallery.org.nz/exhibitions/local-colour-eight-wellington-artists/ |access-date=1 August 2024}} (group). City Gallery Wellington. 1995  
• John Drawbridge: Wide Open Interior{{Cite web |title=John Drawbridge: Wide Open Interior |url=https://citygallery.org.nz/exhibitions/john-drawbridge-wide-open-interior/ |access-date=1 August 2024}} City Gallery Wellington. 2002  
• Pieces of Eight {{Cite web |title=Looking at Seventies Abstraction |url=https://eyecontactmagazine.com/2010/11/looking-at-seventies-abstraction |access-date=1 August 2024}}(group) Dunedin Public Art Gallery. 2011  Curated By Aaron Kreisler.

• [https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/explore-art-and-ideas/artist/2508/john-drawbridge Auckland City Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki]
• [https://collection.aratoi.org.nz/objects?query=%22John+Drawbridge%22 Aratoi, Wairarapa Museum of History and Art], Masterton
• [https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?keyword=%22John%20Drawbridge%22 British Museum], London
• [https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/search?q=%22John+Drawbridge%22 Christchurch Art Gallery]
• Dowse Art Gallery, Lower Hutt
• [https://collection.dunedin.art.museum/objects?query=%22john+Drawbridge%22 Dunedin Public Art Gallery]
• [https://govettbrewster.com/collection/72-22 Govett-Brewster Art Gallery], New Plymouth
• [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/results?keyword=%22Drawbridge%22&includeParts&searchIn=artistOrCulture National Gallery of Australia], Canberra
• [https://collection.sarjeant.org.nz/objects?query=%22John+Drawbridge%22 Sarjeant Gallery], Whanganui
• Suter Gallery, Nelson
• [https://collection.temanawa.co.nz/objects?query=%22John+Drawbridge%22 Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History], Palmerston North
• [https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/search/%22John%20Drawbridge%22/results Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa], Wellington
• [https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?page=1&page_size=15&q=%22John+Drawbridge%22 Victoria and Albert Museum], London
• [https://universityartcollection.adamartgallery.nz/objects?query=artist%3A%22John+DRAWBRIDGE%22&view=list Victoria University], Wellington
• [https://collection.waikatomuseum.org.nz/persons/263/john-drawbridge Waikato Art Museum],Hamilton
• [https://cityart.wcc.govt.nz/persons/363 Wellington City Council]

1971 Manawatu Art Prize{{Cite news |date=13 November 1971 |title=Manawatu art prizes |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=18}}

1972 Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Fellowship.{{Cite news |date=6 January 1972 |title=Arts fellowships awarded |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=8}}

1978 Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1978 New Year Honours list for services to art.{{London Gazette

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1988 National Bank Art Award for Abstract Art.{{Cite news |date=30 November 1988 |title=Abstract art awards |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=8}}

2002 Honorary Doctorate of Literature from Massey University and inducted into the Massey Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |title=John Drawbridge |url=https://creative.massey.ac.nz/about/hall-of-fame/john-drawbridge/ |access-date=31 July 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

• Cape, Peter, 'John Drawbridge: techniques and values’, Landfall 106 (June) 1973: 130-47.
• Cape, Peter, Prints and printmakers in New Zealand, Auckland: William Collins Pub. Ltd, 1974.
• Foster, Susan, ‘Wellington: Chris Booth, John Drawbridge, Ans Westra’, Art New Zealand 33 (summer) 1984: 16–17.
• Hutchings, P, 'Eight New Zealand abstract painters, Art International XIX/1 (January 20) 1975: 23–24.
• Kirker, Anne, 'John Drawbridge: From print to construction, Art New Zealand 24, (Winter) 1982: p 18–21.
• McIntosh, Jill (ed.), Contemporary New Zealand prints, Wellington: Allen & Unwin with Wellington City Art Gallery, 1989.
• Morel, Mary, 'Printmaker/Illusionist’, Pacific Way, 1987: 57–60.
• National Art Gallery (ed.), Face to face: a survey of artists’ prints, Wellington: National Art Gallery, New Zealand, 1986.
• O’Sullivan, Vincent, Brother Jonathan, Brother Kafka, Wellington: Oxford University Press, 1980.
• Roberts, Ian The New Zealand Print Council’, Ascent 1(1) November 1967: 45.
• Skinner, Damian (ed), John Drawbridge, Auckland: Ron Sang Publications, 2008.
• Stocker, Mark, 'A window into John Drawbridge’, Art New Zealand 103 (Winter) 2002: 74–79.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Drawbridge, John}}

Category:1930 births

Category:2005 deaths

Category:20th-century New Zealand artists

Category:20th-century New Zealand male artists

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Category:21st-century New Zealand male artists

Category:Artists from Wellington City

Category:20th-century printmakers

Category:New Zealand art educators

Category:New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Academic staff of Massey University