Cultural Icon Peter Smith Passes Away
New Zealand’s most influential art educator since the Second World War, died on May 8, 2012 aged 86 years.
Peter Smith, subject of one of Depot’s “Cultural Icons” interviews, and New Zealand’s most influential art educator since the Second World War, died on May 8, 2012 aged 86 years. Peter headed the Art Department of Epsom Secondary Teachers’ College several decades ago, and was a major influence on the formation of new Art and Art History curricula for schools in the 1970s, 1980s and beyond. He concluded his teacher training career as Principal of the combined Auckland Teachers Colleges. He was a major influence on more than one generation of emerging teachers, and remained a friend and mentor to successive waves of graduates. But Peter was also a fine painter, a superb craftsman in wood, and sailor/boat builder. He pioneered New Zealand’s rekindled enthusiasm for traditional boats with his restoration of Rebecca (formerly Dolphin), and the beautiful book he wrote and illustrated on her. Rebecca preceded a cancer scare, and Peter sold the boat in preparation for his final voyage. But he weathered that storm, and went on to restore and build other boats of his own design, including an ocean going-yacht that he and wife Jill sailed throughout the Pacific. Every building project was executed with the skill of a fine instrument maker. Peter was one of the most thoughtful people in the arts in Auckland, and he was certainly the most benign and generous. He believed in New Zealand, all that it was, and all that it might become. He rejoiced in its individual character, its biculturalism and its contemporary cultural diversity. His is a legacy that will last, and has been already passed onto many others. He will be missed by a large circle of friends. (Text by Rodney Wilson)
