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- EKB: Artist and friend
EKB: Artist and friend
Part of Friends of the Dorothy Neal White Collection series
Thursday 12 October 2023, 5:30pm to 7pm
Free. Koha from non-members appreciated.
In this talk, the Director of Katherine Mansfield House & Garden Cherie Jacobson, will introduce the life and work of New Zealand artist Edith Kathleen Bendall (EKB). Today Edith is usually mentioned in the context of her relationship with writer Katherine Mansfield, but in early 20th-century Wellington, Edith was a popular artist and illustrator in her own right.
Join us online or in person.
Edith Bendall, early 20th-century illustrator
This Friends of the Dorothy Neal talk is about artist Edith Bendall (later Robison, 1879-1986), whose relationship with acclaimed writer Katherine Mansfield has overshadowed her own work as an artist. As two creative young women born and raised in Wellington, Edith and Katherine had much in common, but the lives they each went on to lead could not have been more different.
Cherie Jacobson will introduce the life and work of Edith Bendall — a popular artist who created illustrations for celebrated Australian children's book authors, including Ethel Turner. She was particularly known for her portraits of children, including children from Wellington’s Chinese community. In later life, she received media attention for becoming a centenarian, ultimately reaching her 107th birthday.
Join the committee for drinks and nibbles at 5:30pm before the talk at 6:00pm.
Can’t make it in person?
Can't make it in person? This event will also be delivered using Zoom. You do not need to install the software in order to attend, you can opt to run Zoom from your browser.
Register if you’d like to join this talk and we'll send you the link to use on the day.
About Friends of the Dorothy Neal White Collection
The Dorothy Neal White Collection is a research collection of children’s books that were enjoyed by young New Zealanders before 1940. The Friends of the Dorothy Neal White Collection supports the work of this, and other children’s literature collections held in the National Library of New Zealand.
Interested in finding out more about Children’s Literature collections in the National Library? Have a look at our Children’s Literature research guide.
Children's Literature research guide
About the speaker
Cherie Jacobson is the Director of Katherine Mansfield House & Garden. She has a background in the arts as a theatre maker, producer and venue manager, and has worked as a researcher, writer and curator in the heritage sector for organisations such as Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage and Bay Heritage Consultants. She has recently contributed chapters to Making Space: A history of New Zealand women in architecture (2022) and articles to Heritage magazine.
Check before you come
Due to COVID-19 some of our events can be cancelled or postponed at very short notice. Please check the website for updated information about individual events before you come. For more general information about National Library services and exhibitions have look at our COVID-19 page.
Drawing from the New Zealand Graphic, date unknown, by Edith Bendall. Ref:A-350-087. Alexander Turnbull Library.