Winning work made ‘banal’ enthralling /  by Sam Foley

Making the "almost banal" enthralling proved to be the winning formula at the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize last weekend. Wellington artist Zoe Marsden took home the $20,000 acquisition prize for her oil painting The Lookout, which depicts an abandoned police hut overlooking the motorway in Thordon.

Sam Foley, a renowned contemporary New Zealand Landscape painter and one of the prize’s two judges, said he had been drawn to the winning image by its subject, which had stuck with him on the drive from Dunedin.

"For once, I didn’t actually ask how — I asked what and then why. What appealed to me is that search by the artist to find an almost banal subject, and then present it in such a curious way. For me, it’s such a strong image but also so subtly ambiguous in its nature. Really strong work, in my opinion."

Now in its 17th year, the annual fundraiser for Wānaka’s Holy Family Catholic School draws artists from across New Zealand to submit original pieces for judgement.

Click here for the full ODT article.

Painting auctioned for the Cancer Society Spring Ball, achieving $21,000 /  by Sam Foley

Water tank near Oamaru, oil on canvas, 150 x 110cm

‘This painting was auctioned at the Dunedin Townhall, on Friday 1st September, as part of the main fundraising event for the Dunedin office of the Cancer Society. Amid the bidding war that ensued from the 3 interested tables, the hammer fell on $21,000, achieving a new record price at a charitable event for one of my artworks. It was quite exciting.

The total result was over $117,000 raised I’m told. A terrific result thanks to Emma Anderson and all the team. Congrats on putting together a great event. Everyone was having good fun from what I could see.’

https://fb.watch/mVcS8mETou/

www.facebook.com/cancersocietyotagosouthland

cancer.org.nz

OBHS 160th Founders Assembly with a new commissioned painting /  by Sam Foley

Otago Boys High School, oil on canvas, 230 x 145 cm

‘A little chat to the boys from me. Very privileged to be so closely involved with the schools celebration. Dropped off a wee painting at the same time. Skip through to about the 30min mark for the chat but the whole thing is certainly worth a listen if you are interested in the history of the school.’

OBHS Auditorium, 3rd August 2023

Print auction raises $2200 for the inaugural lunch for The Lousie Davie Trust /  by Sam Foley

Glenroy Auditorium, August 4th 2023

‘I felt humbled to be involved with this inspiring event. Steve Davie, with his long history of fundraising, has launched what will be a game changer in the advancement of early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. What a truly fitting tribute to his wife, and I look forward to hearing all the positive work this trust will achieve.’

https://www.louisedavietrust.com/

Artwork’s proceeds help Garden Friends - Otago Daily Times /  by Sam Foley

Artwork’s proceeds help Garden Friends | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)

Dunedin artist Sam Foley’s recent exhibition, "Last Light in the Gardens", has given a huge boost to the Friends of the Dunedin Botanic Garden (FDBG), as he donated proceeds from one of the paintings to the group.

"The result was that Sam has gifted $15,000 to the Friends committee to be used for a future development project in the botanic garden," FDBG president Sue Lambie said.

Foley, who lives in North Dunedin, drew inspiration from the botanic garden and its rhododendron dell, for the exhibition.

"I’ve been coming here since age 4," he said. "I just wanted to pass on the gift."

Click here for the full article

Art Seen: March 3, 2022 - Otago Daily Times /  by Sam Foley

Last Light IX, oil on canvas, 150 x 110cm

"Last Light in the Garden", Sam Foley (Dowling Street Studios)

It’s always interesting to see an artist’s work in or close to their studio, and Sam Foley’s latest exhibition is in such a space, down an alley and up some steep steps at 20A Dowling St. For those not game to climb to Foley’s studio, the exhibition will be transferring to The Artist’s Room in two weeks.

"Last Light in the Garden" uses the Dunedin Botanic Garden, and especially the Rhododendron Dell, as subject matter. Foley was somewhat hesitant about painting walkways overhung with rhododendrons, a subject which has been virtually copyrighted in New Zealand by Karl Maughan. Using the latter artist’s work as a benchmark, Foley has created images which touch on the Maughan-like but which have the distinct mark of Foley. This has been achieved by not presenting the dell in full daylight, but by recreating it in the crepuscular gloom which is a mark of many of the artist’s works.

The resulting images present the gardens as a place of beauty and haunting otherworldliness, with paths leading into the unknown. This is fitting, given the multilayered meaning of "Last Light in the Garden". It can not only be taken in a literal sense, but also in terms of the expulsion from the Garden of Eden and also our current global ecological crisis.

By James Dignan

Click here for the full ODT article

Inspiration down the garden path /  by Sam Foley

Rhododendrons (after Maughan), oil on canvas, 160 x 110cm

Click here for the full Otago Daily Times article

Artist Sam Foley hopes to give back to the place he has always loved through his latest exhibition, which features one of the city’s landmarks. He tells Rebecca Fox about his love of the city’s botanic garden.

Running through Dunedin Botanic Garden, artist Sam Foley does some of his best thinking — and possibly some of his most confused.

It was the confused thinking that finally galvanised him into creating his latest exhibition, when he realised waiting for someone to die before painting something did not really make sense.

Foley, who is known for his detailed urban and nature landscapes, has always loved the botanic garden and has fond memories of time spent there as a child.

"Mum used to take us there, it’s firmly etched in my memory as an environment. We spent endless hours in that old playground where the car park is now."

Still living in the North end today, Foley runs every day during the week through the garden, and can often be found there with his daughter at the weekends.

"There is always something new to see. I’ve been to quite a few botanic gardens around the place and this one really stacks up, but maybe I’m biased."

The idea of painting the garden, especially the upper garden, seemed a natural idea. So Foley gave it a go, but each time he did, he felt was "ripping off" one of New Zealand’s most recognisable painters, Karl Maughan, who specialises in garden scenes, even though he paints differently to him.

"It was an issue for me. It was psychological but it was getting in the way of something I wanted to do. It’s been a funny process in that respect. Coming to terms with ‘can I do it?’ Trying to see my way to a situation where I can."

Click here for the full Otago Daily Times article