Lattitudes

Christchurch-based sculptor Graham Bennett recently presented a new exhibition called Latitudes at The Arthouse, here in Christchurch (Sept 16 – October 4). The show is theoretically over but when I drove past the gallery last weekend, his works were still in situ, still glinting in the sun, still casting small and miraculous shadows across the inside and outside of the building. I HAD to stop and take some long distance photos – little fragments of detail, slithers of shadow and reflection, a tangle of components and ideas. I’ve written about Bennett’s work on this blog before and he also features in my Artist Studio Series, which you can see by clicking on either name in the label line below. It’s been a busy year for Bennett. In 2008-2009 he’s had solo shows in Japan, Hong Kong, and Waiheke Island; and he’s created stunning collaborative works with Dunedin fashion designer, Donna Tulloch, which were shown at Dunedin’s ID Fashion Week and also later exhibited in Japan to coincide with Yokohama’s Triennale of Contemporary Art. (I’ve also featured these stunning smaller pieces on this blog – “When Sculpture Meets Fashion”). The year has also seen Bennett show large works at Waiheke Island’s terrific ‘headland – Sculpture on the Gulf’ and in Sculpture in Central Otago, another large outdoor exhibition staged at Rippon Vineyard in Wanaka. In addition to the interior works at The Arthouse’s new show, Bennett also created a new work – Orbit – which, at eight metres high, has been installed outside the gallery. You can find out more about Graham by checking his website: www.bennettsculpture.info www.thearthouse.co.nz

Bennett Reflections

Christchurch. August 2009. Ajr

It’s been a while since I brought you any works by Christchurch sculptor, Graham Bennett so here’s one that I snapped at The Art House as I biked passed the gallery last weekend. I was captivated by the shadows as much as the work – no slur on Graham’s sculpture, that’s just the way I am. If you click on Graham Bennett in the label line below this post, you’ll be able to see other beautiful Bennett sculptures and he also appears in my Artist Studios series. www.bennettsculpture.biz www.thearthouse.co.nz

When a Bridge Becomes Art

Melbourne 2008 Ajr

There are few things I like better than brainstorming and creative collaborations - for myself and in others – so I was always going to warm to Melbourne’s Webb Bridge. This collaboration between Melbourne-based architects, Denton Corker Marshall and senior Australian artist, Robert Owen crosses the Yarra River, providing pedestrians and cyclists with an imaginative crossing from Docklands to South Yarra. It’s sinuous, snaking form can be read in any number of ways – as a cocoon, a web (no pun intended), a fishnet stocking – although sculptor Robert Owen in fact, referenced a koori – a traditional Aboriginal eel trap – for his inspiration. On both my previous visits to Melbourne I have spent a great deal of time wandering around Docklands photographing its prolific public art and architecture and Webb Bridge has given rise to more photographs that I care to own up to. I love it – by day and by night. These photographs are less impressive because of the inclement, grey, overcast conditions on the day, but by night it comes alive. The Arup engineering team – in addition to creating the 6-metre high steel loops of the bridge’s spine – also developed a lighting system that highlight’s its ‘rib-cage’ and it night it almost takes on a caterpillar-like character. Not everyone likes the bridge but there’s nothing new about new art and architecture creating a controversy. Wherever there are people there will be disagreement about the merits of creative projects of any kind. I’m just glad this one actually became a reality. You can see photographs of the complete bridge on the Denton Corker Marshall website – www.dentoncorkermarshall.com

I of course, can’t help myself – I have to have my own creative play, patching different photographs of the bridge together in crazy panoramas that present a whole new range of (im)possibilities.

Sculpture on the Gulf

Images Supplied by McManus Tourism Communications

Today marks the start of headland Sculpture on the Gulf on Waiheke Island – a fantastic exhibition of large scale sculptures by 26 leading artists along a very pretty 2 kilometre coastal walkway. Waiheke Island, just a short ferry ride from Auckland city, is one of my favourite places in all of New Zealand so I’m disappointed I won’t make it to this event. But that shouldn’t stop anyone else. It’s on for three weeks this year and if you want to check out the terrific works from past exhibitions check out www.sculptureonthegulf.co.nz and their blog gives details about participating artists. The works shown here are Top: “Ship of Fools” by Fletcher Vaughan and bottom: “Gulf Cross (road) by Leon van den Eijkel.

Artist Studios - 9

Graham Bennett, Christchurch. July 2008. Ajr

One of my favourite artist studios belongs to Christchurch sculptor, Graham Bennett, who in fact spreads his creativity over two big studios – one in his house, the other a large warehouse space given over to the necessary machines of large scale sculpture making. But it’s his home studio that inspires me most. There his ideas and inspirations spread all through an upstairs studio that sneaks into every available inch of roof space. It’s filled with drawings, models, marquettes and the quirky collectibles he surrounds himself with. It’s a hive of activity just now, as Graham works towards two exhibitions at Galerie Paris in Yokohama, Japan in September – one a collaboration with Dunedin fashion designer, Donna Tulloch of Mild Red; the other a solo show of his sculptures. From there he makes a hasty visit to Shanghai before opening his solo sculpture show at Gallery Koru in Hong Kong in October. He’s also been accepted for Sculpture in the Gulf 2009, the biennial outdoor sculpture exhibition placed along a 2-kilometre long public walkway at Matiatia Harbour, Waiheke Island. And that’s just some of his current projects – projects that can be as small as a piece of jewellery (see here) or as big as a sculpture that reaches 18-metres into the air (see here). www.bennettsculpture.info