For both Maori and Pakeha, the Waikato is a source of spiritual and material needs. I Go Down to the River to Pray - on at Wanganui's McNamara Gallery during November - is a photographic exploration of the river by Derek Henderson. The river is the thread in a visual journey from the source to the mouth, however the richness of the story is found in the details - the people who reside quietly on the riverside and, sometimes, the things they have left behind.For both Maori and Pakeha, the Waikato is a source of spiritual and material needs. I Go Down to the River to Pray - on at Wanganui's McNamara Gallery during November - is a photographic exploration of the river by Derek Henderson. The river is the thread in a visual journey from the source to the mouth, however the richness of the story is found in the details - the people who reside quietly on the riverside and, sometimes, the things they have left behind.Known for many things including its beautiful lakes and rapids, hydro electric dams, and also its military and transportation use throughout our short history, a great deal of this area remains raw and unexplored.

These photographs provide an introduction to this ongoing journey, which aims to construct a portrait of these of communities and the landscape they inhabit.

When: 3-30 November 2007
Where: McNamara Gallery, 190 Wicksteed Street, Wanganui

15/10/07