Stella Corkery (born 1960) is a New Zealand visual artist and drummer, born in Tuatapere, New Zealand.[1] Corkery's work is experimental and reflective, often commenting on contemporary ideas. She currently lives and works in Auckland, New Zealand.

Stella Corkery
Born1960 (age 63–64)
EducationMFA (2013), BFA (Hons) (2012)
Alma materElam School of Fine Art, University of Auckland
Known forPainting, Sculpture
MovementAbstract, experimental, riot grrrl
PartnerAlan Holt

Education edit

Corkery attended the Elam School of Fine Art (University of Auckland) where she received a BFA (Hons) First Class Honors in 2012 and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in 2013.[2]

Visual art edit

Corkery's paintings use traditional processes, such as oils, although she doesn't restrict herself to a particular style.[3] Her visual works include Smoke and Butterfly (2015) and Gas Light (2015).

In 2013 Corkery was selected to be part of the exhibition Freedom Farmers: New Zealand Artists Growing Ideas at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.[4] This exhibition showcased twenty New Zealand contemporary artists from various media, reflecting on concept such as utopia, sustainability, and artistic freedom.[5]

Corkery's recent exhibitions in New Zealand include: Necessary Distraction: a painting show (Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, 2015, with Saskia Leek, Julian Hooper, Nicola Farquhar, Kirstin Carlin, and James Cousins);[6] Porous Moonlight (Papakura Art Gallery, 2013); and Episodic Nomadic (Gloria Knight, Auckland, 2013).[7][2] She has held several exhibitions at the Michael Lett gallery including: Theme for a Science Fiction Vampire (2017), Sparks (2015), Kicking Against The Pricks (2014),[7] and a joint show with Jim Allen & Dan Arps (2016).[8][9] Corkery has also exhibited outside New Zealand including Caravan (2014)[10] at the Station Gallery in Melbourne, Australia, Patches (2017)[11][12] and Keep Smiling the Boss Loves Idiots (2016), at Poppy's in New York, USA.[13][14]

Music edit

Corkery is a self-taught drummer and has been involved in the underground music scene since the late 1980s. She has been part of experimental, noise and lo-fi bands including Angelhead, Queen Meanie Puss, and White Saucer.[15] Her first band, The Pleats, was formed in Dunedin around 1980 with Rachel Shearer (Lovely Midget, which Corkery was also a member of) and Debbie Hinden (Indigo Underworld).[16]

Labels edit

In the early 1990s she started the Pink Air and Girl Alliance record labels with her partner Alan Holt.[17] Both labels were created to support musicians in Auckland, with The Pink Air label focusing experimental and psychedelic music and Girl Alliance part of the riot grrrl movement.

Discography edit

Band Album Date Credits
White Saucer Phoenix EP[18] Drums
White Saucer Black Patrol[19] 2009 Drums
Arrows Ashes[16] 2008 Drums
Arrows Holiday 93[16] 2008 Drums
Queen Meanie Puss 25th Anniversary Box Set[16] 2007 Drums
White Saucer Mars Attax Remix[16] 2006 Drums
Queen Meanie Puss Tard & Furthered[16] 2005 Drums
Queen Meanie Puss Where In The World Is Wendy Broccoli? (compilation – song 'Contracts')[20] 2005 Drums, written by
Fake Purr Bad Horsey[21] 2002 Drums, vocals
Lovely Midget Lovely Midget[22] 2000 Synthesizer
White Saucer White Saucer[23] 1999 Drums, artwork, synth
Sweetcakes (solo project) Pink Drums[24] 1997 Percussion
White Saucer Untitled tape – song 'HB Soul Practice (Edit)'[25] 1997 Drums
Sooty and Sweet Shrew'd (compilation – song 'Inch Deep')[26] 1993 Drums
Queen Meanie Puss The Darkling[27] 1992 Drums
Queen Meanie Puss The Beauty of Dogs[28] 1991 Drums
Queen Meanie Puss I heard the Devil call my Name[16] 1991 Drums
Angelhead Eat[29] 1990 Drums

References edit

  1. ^ "Stella Corkery". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Stella Corkery – Profile, Exhibitions & Artwork | Ocula". 14 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  3. ^ Magazine, Viva (24 November 2015). "Why Artist Stella Corkery Thinks We Should Slow Down – Viva". www.viva.co.nz. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Freedom Farmers: New Zealand Artists Growing Ideas". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Landmark New Zealand contemporary art exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery this summer". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Necessary Distraction: A Painting Show". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Stella Corkery – Michael Lett". Michael Lett. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Jim Allen, Dan Arps, Stella Corkery – Michael Lett". Michael Lett. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Gallery". Michael Lett. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Caravan – Station Gallery" (PDF). Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  11. ^ "BUG". b-u-g.site. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  12. ^ "STATION GALLERY". Home (in Tagalog). Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Stella Corkery at Poppy's – Michael Lett". Michael Lett. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Poppy's". Poppy's. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Stella Corkery". Discogs. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "Stella Corkery: New Zealand's Prodigious Drummer – Tom Tom Magazine". Tom Tom Magazine. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Record Labels: Pink Air & Girl Alliance". The Road Dreamed Forever. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  18. ^ "White Saucer – Phoenix". Discogs. 1998. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  19. ^ "White Saucer – Black Patrol". Discogs. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  20. ^ "Various – Where In The World Is Wendy Broccoli?". Discogs. November 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  21. ^ "Fake Purr – Bad Horsey". Discogs. 1998. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Lovely Midget – Lovely Midget". Discogs. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  23. ^ "White Saucer – White Saucer". Discogs. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Sweetcakes – Pink Drums". Discogs. 1994. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  25. ^ "White Saucer – Untitled Tape". Discogs. 1997. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  26. ^ "Various – Shrew'd". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Queen Meanie Puss – The Darkling". Discogs. 1992. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  28. ^ "Queen Meanie Puss – The Beauty Of Dogs". Discogs. 1991. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Angelhead – Eat". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved 14 September 2017.

Further reading edit

Artist files for Stella Corkery are held at:

Also see:

  • Stella Corkery: Abandon All Complaints – The Social Life of Painting (2013) Henry Babbage, Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki (produced for the exhibition Freedom Farmers, New Zealand Artists Growing Ideas)