Author(s): Bridget Hackshaw

Art | Architecture | Aotearoa | Aotearoa | Painting | Sculpture

A beautiful and important book about the remarkable collaboration between the modernist architect James Hackshaw (a member, for a time, of the famous Group Architects), the painter Colin McCahon and the then young sculptor Paul Dibble on 12 New Zealand buildings - from churches to school halls. Drawing on interviews with James Hackshaw before his death and on the McCahon archive, this book brings into the light a body of work and a collaboration that has been little known or examined, even by old McCahon hands.

Richly illustrated with Hackshaw's plans, McCahon's drawings, letters and journal entries, and contemporary images of the surviving buildings and artworks, expert essays by Peter Simpson, Julia Gatley, Peter Shaw and Alexa Johnston complete the package.

Review: A daughter's clear labour of love has brought to light the little-known collaborative efforts of three creative individuals on twelve New Zealand buildings. Hackshaw has delved into archival material and paired this with an informative range of essays by expert contributors. A set of powerfully evocative photographs by the author provide a strong visual argument on their own. Her work is an intimate tribute and a classic example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Judges' comments, 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

Contents: Part 1: Hackshaw, McCahon and Dibble Into the Light Bridget Hackshaw -9 James Hackshaw Peter Shaw - 21 Hackshaw and the Group Julia Gatley - 27 A Great Affinity for Catholic Symbolism Peter Simpson -43 A Good Man Wasted: A Conversation with Paul Dibble Christopher Dudman - 63 Part 2: The Projects 01 Convent Chapel of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, Remuera Otara Convent, Otara St Patrick's Church, Te Puke Hackshaw House, St Heliers Poole House, Flat Bush Baradene College of the Sacred Heart, Remuera McKillop College, Rotorua St Francis de Sales Church, Torbay St Ignatius Church, St Heliers Liston College, Henderson St Mary's Church, Papakura Gillman House, Remuera List of Artworks Biographies Notes Bibliography About the Contributors Acknowledgements Index