John Fields’ (1938- ) photographs have been exhibited in shows around the Eastern U.S.A (including co-exhibiting with Harry Callahan at the prestigious Carl Siembab Gallery in Boston). He was active in the creative photographic group PhotoForum, and is a former president of the group.
Fields was among the first the New Zealand recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council grant for photography, in 1975, of the goldfield town of Thames, New Zealand. He is co-author of the book
Victorian Auckland (1973) with noted historian and architect, John Stacpoole. Fields also directed
Victorian Auckland (1973) a film screened on TV. He produced the publication,
A Visual Dialect (1971), illustrating the work of ten New Zealand photographers. Aside from regular exhibitions in Auckland with PhotoForum, his work was exhibited in the most important exhibition of NZ photography at the time,
The Active Eye: Contemporary New Zealand Photography, (Manawatu Art Gallery) which toured to 12 venues throughout NZ from 1975 to 1976. Galerie Langman showed his work in 1998; many works entering into Te Papa’s collection at that time, as well as Sarjeant Gallery Wanganui. Te Papa further bolstered its holdings of his work with the acquisition of 12 additional photographs in 2006.
Fields was both highly regarded and influential during the time his work flourished in New Zealand between 1966-1976. His photographs are used by the University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts to instruct students in photography. These vintage photographs, although made between 33-40 years ago are very fresh due to the exceptionally high standards that Fields employed. In most cases the number of photographs made from each negative is in the single figures and less than half a dozen. This makes them beautiful, affordable but valuable. His
Bed, Union Street will be illustrated in a forthcoming collection publication by Te Papa Press (2007). Fields work will be the subject of a touring retrospective currently in preparation by the New Zealand Centre for Photography.
His work is held in private collections throughout New Zealand, Australia and USA; the principal holdings are in the Auckland Art Gallery (the plates from
Victorian Auckland, 140 works) and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (around 25 works) and Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui.
Athol McCredie, Curator of Photographs, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, notes.
… For example, over the last two or three years we’ve strengthened our holdings of Gary Baigent, Richard Collins and John Fields, seminal photographers of the late 60s-early 70s. Interview, May 2007.
In semi-retirement, Fields has exhibited photographic works in New Zealand, and taught and lectured at tertiary level.
These vintage photographs, although made between 33-40 years ago are very fresh due to the exceptionally high standards that Fields employed. In most cases the number of photographs made from each negative is in the single figures and less than half a dozen. This makes them both beautiful and valuable, but affordable.
* all works unless otherwise stated are silver gelatin, archivally printed original vintage photograph.
Unless stated otherwise photographs are signed and dated verso. All archivally printed vintage photographs made by the artist are authenticated by myself as sole agent for John Fields.
All works are copyright the artist. Reproduction is expressly forbidden without the written approval from the artist.
Thank you
David studied art history first at high school then later at Canterbury University. He completed his double major in English literature and art history at the University of Queensland. He went on to an Honours degree for which he wrote his thesis on Andrey Tarkovsky's films "Stalker" and "Solaris".
He took up the position of Assistant Director at Newcastle Region Art Gallery in 1988. He then completed his Master of Arts Administration at the University of New South Wales.
David is a curator and sometime tutor/lecturer in museology, who organises exhibitions of contemporary New Zealand photography. He first took photographs in 1973 with a Pentax Spotmatic - a gift from his father. Since his return to New Zealand he has worked in medium and large format, as well as 35mm.
From October 2000 - May 2008 he was Director of the New Zealand Centre for Photography, Wellington; curating exhibitions viewed by over 15,000 people including mounting several exhibitions over a 5 month period in Shed 11. From 2002 to 2008 he Managing Editor of 20 issues of its New Zealand Journal of Photography.
He runs Galerie Langman as a virtual gallery and writes occasionally. Galerie Langman has sold to major museums Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland City Gallery and Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui.
View my snapshots
Dr. Allan Chawner is Associate Professor in Photomedia and Covener: Bachelor of Fine Art and Honours, School of Fine Art, Drama, Music and Conservatorium, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
He has exhibited internationally for over 30 years, and is one of the world’s finest panoramic photographers. His work has been shown to critical acclaim in NZ, Australia; Nova Scotia, Canada, and in France, Japan, and China.
In recent yeras he has exhibited his works worldwide via projections. His latest project Kalkadunga Man is a collaboration with musicians William Barton and and The Song Company.