Max Gimblett at the Guggenheim Museum, NYC 2009

Max Gimblett, the New Zealand Artist who has made New York his home for decades has a work in  The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860-1989 at the Guggenhiem, Frank Lloyd Wrights famous New York Landmark with its galleries in the round.

I was fortunate enough to be part of a small group of New Zealanders given a private talk by Max about his life past, present and future in front of his glorious work shown above.

I was struck by the pure joy Max exuded at being included in this wonderful exhibition where his quatrefoil work sits amongst the great and glorious of the american modern artists. He talked of his teachers, those who inspire him, time spent in San Francisco in his earlier days and his humble aspirations as a working artist.

It was great to see Helen Klisser at the event. Helen, a former kiwi ski racer and daughter of the famous Klisser family famous for Vogels bread, is now art consultant living in the US. Also present was Debbi Gibbs, daughter of Jenny and Alan Gibbs both art collectors and philanthropists of Auckland NZ, who lives in NYC these days.

Max recounted that Debbi's parents were first to buy his big works and how much he appreciated their support through the years.

view this link for a brief talk by the curator.