This is one of McCahon's major works of the mid-1970s, along with the Urewera Mural, the Blind series, and the Parihaka Triptych. It has several motivations and triggers. The primary one is the shining cuckoo's song, spoken of in a Maori poem passed…
Centre (c.) in ink: oil, Maitai Valley landscape. Not for sale. C. McCahon; u.l. in pencil: 2… BW dk cream close up no glass, Mr Brasch, 11a Smith St; verso original card: [oil painting Maitai Valley landscape, acc. 20,922 also titled Nelson Hills…
Lower right (l.r.) in pencil: James M. Nairn; verso frame in pencil in Brasch’s hand: J.M. Nairn; verso frame in ballpoint pen: Nisbet [framing instructions]
"In the 1960s Wellington's long settled inner suburb of Thorndon was threatened by the proposed construction of a motorway through it. Old houses were pulled down and Wellington's first cemetery was demolished." "When plans for an extension to the…