Christine Boswijk

Christine Lynn Boswijk ONZM (née McDowell, born 1939) is a New Zealand ceramicist. Her works are held in institutions both in New Zealand and internationally including in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Dowse Art Museum, the Christchurch Art Gallery, the Suter Art Gallery, the Museum of Taipei and the Aberystwyth University ceramics collection.

Christine Boswijk

ONZM
Born
Christine Lynn McDowell

1939 (age 83–84)
Christchurch, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand
Alma materOtago Polytechnic, Dunedin
National Art School, Sydney
Known forCeramics
WebsiteChristine Boswijk Workshop

Early life and family

Boswijk was born in Christchurch in 1939, the daughter of Edna Frances (née King) and the Reverend Matthew Alexander McDowell.[1] She married the Dutch-born pioneering Nelson cafe owner Eelco Boswijk in Nelson in 1962.[2][1] Boswijk originally worked as a dental nurse before decided at the age of 37 to train as a ceramicist.[3] Boswijk's grandson Dok Boswijk was a well-known motorcycle salesman in Wellington, and passed away in a motorcycle crash on November 7, 2022. Boswijk's obituary for her grandson was posted in the Wellington online newspaper Stuff the following day. [4]

Career

She graduated from Otago Polytechnic School of Fine Art with a diploma in ceramics in 1977.[2] While there she was taught by potters Michael Trumic and Neil Grant.[5] After completing her diploma she returned to Nelson and became a full time potter producing ware intended for domestic use.[5] In 1988 Boswijk gained a postgraduate diploma with honours from the National Art School, East Sydney Technical College.[2] She received funding for this study through a Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council grant.[6] Her time at the National Art School changed her approach to her art, including ensuring the firing process played a more pivotal role in the creation of her pieces.[7] It was after obtaining her postgraduate diploma that Boswijk moved to her studio in Upper Moutere.[5][8]

During her four decade long career Boswijk forged a reputation for being one of New Zealand's most acclaimed ceramic artists.[7] Her work is held in the collections of many New Zealand, as well as international institutions, such as the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa,[9] the Dowse Art Museum,[10][11] the Christchurch Art Gallery,[12] the Suter Art Gallery,[13] the Museum of Taipei,[10] and the Aberystwyth University ceramics collection.[2] She gained inspiration for many of her pieces from New Zealand's geology and terrain.[8][5]

Major exhibitions she has participated in include Treasures of the Underworld at the 1992, Seville World Expo,[14] Kisses, Crosses and Flowers in 2007, at Milford Galleries, Queenstown and Before Words, in 2010 at Woollaston Estate, Nelson.[6]

In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to ceramic arts.[15]

In 2020 the Suter Art Gallery held a retrospective exhibition on Boswijk's career that included many of her works created during her 40-year career.[16]

Exhibitions
  • 2020, Thinking Through My Hands The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson.[17][18]
  • 2010 Before Words Woollaston Estate, Nelson.[6]
  • 2007, Kisses, Crosses and Flowers Milford Galleries, Queenstown.[19]
  • 2004, Fact Fusion Faith The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson.[5]
  • 1992, Treasures of the Underworld Seville World Expo, Seville, Spain.[14]

References
  1. "Married". Nelson Photo News. No. 20. 23 June 1962. p. 29. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  2. "Christine Boswijk (New Zealand)". Prifysgol Aberystwyth. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  3. Cusano, Claudia (24 August 2019). "Christine Boswijk Sculpts Passion". Nuvo. Winter 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021.
  4. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130406848/didnt-waste-a-minute-of-his-life-grandmothers-tribute-to-killed-rider
  5. Cook, Jeanette (2005). Crafted by design : inside New Zealand craft artists' studios. Stephen Robinson. Auckland, N.Z.: Godwit. ISBN 1-86962-116-6. OCLC 70265773.
  6. Schamroth, Helen (1998). 100 New Zealand Craft Artists. Auckland: Random House. p. 9. ISBN 1869620364.
  7. Moore, Christopher (9 October 2002). "Spirit of Place". The Press. p. C1.
  8. Mack, James (1993). Treasures of the underworld. Te Papa, Spain). New Zealand Pavilion Expo (1992 : Seville. Wellington, N.Z.: The Museum. p. 13. ISBN 0-909010-02-1. OCLC 34626315.
  9. "Christine Boswijk". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. 2021. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  10. "Christine Boswijk". Sarjeant Gallery Whanganui. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  11. "Christine Boswijk" (PDF). Craft New Zealand. 42: 33. 1992 – via Christchurch Art Gallery.
  12. "Cleansing Spirit". christchurchartgallery.org.nz. 2021. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  13. "Christine BOSWIJK". The Suter Art Gallery. 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  14. Gibbs, Peter (21 October 1991). ""Ceramics & glass ... relevant to the Expo theme."". Listener & TV Times: 57.
  15. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2004". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2004. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  16. Gooch, Carly (15 January 2021). "Christine Boswijk's 'surreal' exhibition unlocks four decades of work". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  17. "Christine Boswijk: Thinking Through My Hands". The Suter Art Gallery. 2020. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  18. "Ceramicist Christine Boswijk". Radio New Zealand. 13 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  19. "Christine Boswijk Kisses, Crosses and Flowers". www.milfordgalleries.co.nz. 2007. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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