Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History stuns in Resene hues

23 Aug 2022

Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History is looking bright and fresh, with a new exhibition kitted out in colours sponsored by Resene.

Masterton Trust Lands Trust turned 150 in July 2022, and for that celebration they have sponsored an exhibition at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art & History. “The exhibition is known as the Masterton Collection, and will run for up to one year,” general manager Andrew Croskery says.

Hues like Resene Tangerine, Resene Green House, Resene Galliano and Resene Pirate Gold stun on the exhibition’s walls. 

From the 1880s until 1954 there was a Museum in Masterton, established under the guidance of Richard Brown, the secretary of Masterton Trust Lands Trust. The collection consists of some 170 fascinating and curious objects, gathered by local people, sometimes souvenirs from overseas trips.

Resene Lightning Yellow is bold on the exhibit's walls.

When the Museum closed because new premises could not be found, the collection went to the Dominion Museum in Wellington (now Te Papa Tongarewa) under the proviso that it would be returned if a suitable facility became available.

Resene Greenhouse was selected as the perfect green hue.

With Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History opening in 2002, discussions to return the collection began and finally in 2012, the Masterton Museum Collection was returned to the Wairarapa. The entire collection is on display for the first time. The exhibition is proudly supported by Masterton Trust Lands Trust, and is showing until 2 July 2023.

Published: 23 Aug 2022