Sara McIntyre
Home & Away: Gardeners of Kākahi and others (Online only due to current Covid restrictions)
10/11/21 — 22/12/21
Early in life Sara McIntyre became familiar with the term ‘PO’ or ‘photo opportunity’ also known as ‘KO’ or ‘Kodak opportunity’. She got used to frequent stops on family car trips, for her father Peter McIntyre, to gather subject matter for his paintings.
Sara was nine when the family arrived at Kākahi in the King Country for a summer holiday in 1960. Fifty years later she returned to live permanently with no intention to work as a nurse or photographer. Serendipitously she found herself in the role of District Nurse.
“After years in an intensive care environment, to be given a bag and a car and sent out of the hospital was fantastic. I could barely contain myself. This was going to be my job! It wasn’t until I was back in the King Country that nursing and photography made sense. Every drive to work was laced with potential. I stopped often.”
Sara began sharing her photographs via Instagram. In 2016 her first solo exhibition Observations of a Rural Nurse was held at Anna Miles Gallery. In 2020 her book of the same title was published by Massey University Press. The book, designed by Sarah Gladwell, was longlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and is now in its third edition.
In 2020 the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua presented, Sara McIntyre — Observations of a Rural Nurse. In 2021, the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata presented, Kākahi: Peter and Sara McIntyre. Sara McIntyre continues to live and make photographs in Kākahi. Her photographs are now held in the collection of Te Papa Tongarewa and private collections across Aotearoa and Australia.
Judy Rameka and her garden shed (2016); Falls Dam Hut (2021); and Taumahiorongo Marae, Kākahi (2008) in HOME & AWAY
HOME & AWAY as installed at the Gallery, October 2021.
For me Kākahi is a never ending source of POs or photographic opportunities. The scenes change constantly with seasons, weather, light, time of day. It’s my patch. I’ve travelled the length of the country making photographs. I love the different landscapes. But I don’t have the time or the background knowledge. I don’t have the same ‘eye’. Photographing people can feel intrusive as I don’t belong. In my home patch there’s a connection. People are familiar, more relaxed and trusting. They’re interested in what I’m doing. I’m not an outsider swooping in to ‘take’, rather that make a photograph, with no feel for the place.
– Sara McIntyre
Gardeners of Kākahi: Manu, 2021
I was intrigued by series of black and white photographs by an English photographer, Keith Arnatt, made in the 1970s of gardeners in their gardens The gardens tell more about the gardeners and their connection to the land than the usual portrait. I felt a new series coming on. I’ve started with Gardeners of Kākahi as a practice run delighting me and the gardeners.
Gardeners of Kākahi: Colleen, 2020
Gardeners of Kākahi: Sarah, 2020
We were in Sarah’s garden after the rain. The light was stunning, the air fresh. Sarah stopped to pick some herbs as we were heading back to the the fire and wine. I suggested a Gardeners photograph. She muttered and grumbled away ignoring my suggestion. But that was it, Sarah not posing self-consciously. I had to arrange myself quickly to get that shot before she noticed. Uncontrived. For me the image vividly captures the moment.
Gardeners of Kākahi: Maxine, 2021
Peel Forest Hall, 2021
Shirley’s Wall, 2015
Falls Dam Hut, 2021
Judy Rameka and her garden shed, 2016
Rangitata River Valley, 2021
Taumahiorongo Marae, Kākahi, 2008
Kākahi Bakery, 2018
The Bakehouse, 2021
Whakapapa Picnic, 2008
Whakapapa Cliffs, 2019
Hangi at Kākahi, 2019
Liesbeth’s Stall for Ōhura Market Day, 2015
Gathering at the Marae, 2008
Porou St, 2016
Manunui Garden, 2016
Sara McIntyre, Observations of a Rural Nurse, Massey University Press (2020)
Designed by Sarah Gladwell
Copies available from the Gallery: $60 plus postage