Exhibition Details
March 3-30, 2025
Central Stories Henderson Gallery, Alexandra
About the Exhibition
“Grace, Poetry and Wit” brings together the remarkable artistic legacy of one family across generations. This unique exhibition showcases works by three sisters—Rachel Hirabayashi, Amanda Griffin, and Sarah Jones—alongside pieces by their late father, David Jones, a professional artist of the 1970s.
The exhibition invites visitors to discover the “Sight Lines” between these four distinctive artists, spanning creations from before 1974 to beyond 2024. Inspired by Kristy Baker’s exploration of connective tissue between artists, this collection reveals the threads that bind siblings and father through a shared devotion to artistic expression.
The Artists
Rachel Hirabayashi
A professional artist based in Central Otago, Rachel’s work is well-known throughout the region. Her paintings capture the essence of landscapes, abstracting and communicating the spirit of place through her unique visual language.
Amanda Griffin
A digital artist who has recently settled in Central Otago, Amanda creates daily digital collages that transform worn paint, the patina of time, and discarded photographs into subtle commentaries on our world. Her practice represents a contemporary reimagining of found objects and forgotten moments.
Sarah Jones
Rachel’s identical twin and a structural geologist working remotely from Cromwell, Sarah’s scientific eye brings a fascinating perspective to visual art. Her work illustrates how art and science can intertwine—both observing the land, discovering underlying structures, and communicating these findings through visual means.
David Jones
The late David Jones turned to professional artistry in the early 1970s, creating abstract landscapes that earned him recognition alongside notable figures like McCahon and Henderson at the Auckland Art Society. His work traveled to exhibitions in Australia and London, and now returns posthumously to Alexandra.
Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition features an eclectic collection that goes beyond traditional artwork. Visitors will discover:
- Studio artifacts from David’s creative space
- Paint-covered aprons from both Rachel and David—physical evidence of their professional practice
- Sarah’s terracotta dragon and examples of her digital modeling with annotated ground photos
- Amanda’s vibrant prints revealing her passion for patina and color
- A rich selection of paintings representing just a fraction of David and Rachel’s prolific output
Poetry also plays a key role in the exhibition, with works by Ella Borrie (“Fruit Train,” inspired by Rachel’s painting) and Ian Rockel (“Sunfish Alchemy,” discovered among David’s possessions).
Curator’s Note
This exhibition celebrates the connective tissue between artists as presented in Kristy Baker’s book “Sight Lines.” Rather than tracing stylistic developments or specific theories, we follow the pathways of art and artists through their relationships and shared influences.
“Grace, Poetry and Wit” invites you to draw your own connections from this assembly of memories and, we hope, inspires you and your family to live with ART as a constant and vital presence in your lives.
Join us in celebrating artistic achievement through grace, a touch of poetry, and a generous helping of wit.
