The life and work of New Zealand’s most important twentieth century artist, Colin McCahon, is being celebrated in the first large-scale solo exhibition of his work, Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith, opening at the Stedelijik Museum, Amsterdam. Organised with the support of Creative New Zealand and the Auckland Art Gallery, the exhibition draws together 78 of McCahon’s works from collections throughout the world, including Australia and Europe, many of which have never been seen before. Displaying McCahon’s artworks from 1946 to the beginning of the 1980s, the exhibition focuses on the artist’s spiritual quest, demonstrating how he explored questions of faith, doubt, hope and eventual despair. In other arts news, the foyer of Auckland’s Stamford Plaza will be transformed into a temporary art gallery for three weeks from September 6, with the support of Creative NZ’s Regional Strengths Strategy. On display will be the works of Hawke’s Bay (located on New Zealand’s North East Coast) artists, sculptors, ceramists, furniture makers and jewellers as part of the 'Best of the Bunch' promotion of the regions renowned food, wine and tourism products. Among the artworks on display will be a large glass installation by artist Merry Jones, a set of five ceramic and metal artworks by artist Linda Bruce and the decorative clay works of Eileen Webb.