How Great Thou Art

AUCKLAND, Today: Long-established Kiwi promoter Stewart Macpherson (who operates under the moniker Stetson Productions) is offering agency clients a piece of the action in his latest project – an exhibition of high-quality reproductions of the frescoes of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

He wrote to M+AD: “Would you be able to ascertain whether any of the agencies have clients who would wish to associate with this remarkable exhibition in some way?”

“The complex artwork includes the most famous painting of them all – The Creation of Adam, a depiction of God giving life to the first man – which forms part of this new exhibition coming to Auckland.

“The exhibition will be held at the Aotea Centre from 3 January 2022 to 30 January, but with a possible extension to 15 February.

“Interested parties can contact me directly [scroll down for the link].”

“The show includes one of the most famous paintings in the world, The Creation of Adam, a depiction of God giving life to the first man.”

Stetson has been active in the NZ market since the 1970s, and has built an enviable reputation, contributing to Kiwis’ cultural lives in so many ways.

His most recent foray into the arts was the hugely successful The Art of BANKSY which ran in the same venue two years ago.

His other shows have featured Uriah Heep, Rowan Atkinson, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the original Phantom Of The Opera (which still plays internationally, Kenny Rogers (“I still have the genuine John B Stetson hat he brought me, personally autographed”), Albert Hammond, Blue Mink, Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge, Glen Campbell, Gary Glitter, Electric Light Orchestra, Helen Reddy, Hues Corporation, The Hollies, José Feliciano, Leo Sayer, Seals & Crofts, Uriah Heep (in Western Springs), The Rocky Horror Show, The Byrds, Dolly Parton, and Talking Heads.

Michelangelo
In 1508, Pope Julius II commissioned sculptor and painter Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni – known simply as Michelangelo – to paint the huge ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Michelangelo and his assistants spent four years on scaffolding under the vaulted ceiling creating his Renaissance masterpiece.

“I still have the genuine John B Stetson hat Kenny Rogers brought me, personally autographed.”

Faced by the challenge presented by the chapel’s architecture, he developed unique painting techniques, setting new standards for future generations of artists.

Michelangelo was originally commissioned only to paint the 12 apostles, but persuaded the Pope to let him depict scenes and individuals of his own choosing. Consequently, the chapel is peopled with more than 300 characters from the Bible.

The work was completed in 1512 and has been adored by artists across the world for more than 500 years as well as being admired by four million visitors each year to the Sistine Chapel.

The complex artwork includes the most famous painting of them all – The Creation of Adam, a depiction of God giving life to the first man – which forms part of this new exhibition coming to Auckland.

Another major attraction is a spectacular 4 metres square reproduction of Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement, which covers the whole of the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.

• stewart@stetsongroup.com
• www.stetsongroup.com