Leaf Light

David Trubridge sculptures, Hastings. June 2008. Ajr.

This is another series of works in central Hastings - "Leaf Lights" by Napier-based David Trubridge, commissioned as part of the Stage Three re-development of the city centre.

Ranging from seven to nine metres in height, the green leaf-form lighting poles are grouped in clusters throughout the central plaza area and serve as both pedestrian lighting and works of art. www.hastingscity.co.nz www.davidtrubridge.com

Artist Studios - 8

Leanne Culy. Napier, June 2008. Ajr

Leanne Culy spent most of her working life in Wellington as a graphic designer and stylist in the film industry. Now she works out of a fabulous studio in her Napier home creating her artworks on old oars. She has a passion for nostalgia, the way things were and much of her imagery is based around familiar New Zealand icons – the tiki, flax, shells, plants lace and teapots. She loves to mix European and ethnic symbols and colours. More recently she has also created Home Base Collections, a range of fabrics printed with her designs. www.homebasecollections.co.nz

Maori Weaving

Woven Flax Pattern

Weaving Stories

Flax kete. 2007-2008. Ajr The traditional Maori woven flax basket – kete harakeke – is more than just a craft. Weaving of any sort is full of symbolism and meaning for Maori and from the simple food basket to the elaborately-decorated woven feather cloak, it is imbued with spiritual value. The kete is perhaps the most common form of Maori weaving present in contemporary culture and it finds expression as both an art form exhibited in galleries and as a purely utilitarian article. A kete may be used as a general carry-all or it may be sold as a tourist souvenir. Either way, they’re as diverse and as colourful as the people who make and use them.

Small Moments of Beauty

White roses

Illuminated

For Winter

Self-Portrait 5 - On a Beach

Napier. June 2007. Ajr

It's tall, thin shadow time again!

On Napier's foreshore.

That's Cape Kidnappers in the background.

Night Lights

Christchurch Art Gallery. July 2008. Ajr I stopped to take this photograph as I drove by the Christchurch Art Gallery last night. A colourful show of night lights that goes by the name of "Didn't Get Much Sleep Last Night." Illuminating the gallery's Oriel Window, this light-box work by Jim Speers combines gorgeous colours with geometric forms. It's made up of a series of acrylic boxes covered with coloured vinyl, which are then illuminated by fluorescent light. It makes for a very attractive visual punctuation to the blockish southern side of the gallery. www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

A Playful Eye

"Gadget" Ben Pearce. Photo Supplied.

Napier Sculptor Ben Pearce draws on the toys and memories of his own childhood in the creation of his contemporary sculptures. I find something innately joyful in his works, something that effortlessly unlocks the pathways to my own childhood memories. As far as I’m concerned, that’s what successful artistic communication is all about.

A Turquoise Jewel

Lake Tekapo. Central South Island. 2007. Ajr

Summer or winter the Lake Tekapo area is a photographer’s paradise. The lake itself sits like a turquoise jewel in the middle of the barren, brown, tussock-covered landscape of the McKenzie Country and in winter, huge, heavy skies loom overhead. It can be bone-chillingly cold but so, so dramatic and always worth a stop. www.tekapotourism.co.nz

Suntrap

"Suntrap." Neil Dawson. Hastings June 2008. Ajr

It was overcast when I visited Hastings in Hawke’s Bay to check out the sculptures that have been installed there as part of the Stage 3 re-development of the central business district. That was a pity because Neil Dawson’s “Suntrap” lost some of its colourful brilliance to the grey day. Erected in 2002, this huge sphere – 3.6 metres in diameter and hoisted 6 metres off the ground – consists of six parasol-like shapes with negative spaces forming leaf shapes….as Dawson says… ‘if you want them to.’ Its brightly-painted surface changes colour with the changing light of the day and the angle of observation; and like most of this Christchurch-based sculptor’s work, it rarely fails to impress. A Dawson sculpture is seldom less than enormous as you’ll see if you look here or here. www.ferns.co.nz

A Goose on the Loose

Having a Gander

Design Spot 6

Sandi Reefman, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

Meet Sandi Reefman, the Napier creator of the fabulous and rapidly-expanding Esther Diamond Collection – a quirky, colourful range of homeware products that incorporates the designs and artwork of several leading New Zealand artists including Dick Frizzell, Para Matchitt, Fane Flaws, Martin Poppelwell and Ben Pearce. I LOVE the idea of drying my dishes on a tea-towel emblazoned with a Dick Frizzell design or a witty work by Martin Poppelwell; or, in a loose moment, wiping dribbled food from my chin with a table napkin that really looks as though it ought to be framed. It’s all about getting contemporary art out to a much wider audience says Sandi, and I’m all for that. I think it’s a brilliant concept that deserves all the support it is currently getting. See here for more of this gorgeous range. www.estherdiamond.com www.eon.co.nz

Soft Landings

June 2008. Ajr This is just a tiny taste of the terrific cushions from the Esther Diamond Collection. Top: two from nationally acclaimed artist, Dick Frizzell; Bottom left; a witty offering from Napier-based Martin Poppelwell; Bottom right: a new take on the stag’s head from Napier artist, Leanne Culy. You can see a whole lot more of this creative take on household comforts by tuning in to: www.estherdiamond.com or www.eon.co.nz

A Visual Climax

Catholic Basilica, Christchurch. May 2008.Ajr I know I have yet to present the exterior of Christchurch’s magnificent Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament - acclaimed as one of the finest examples of church architecture in Australasia – but while I’m waiting for a sunny afternoon, I think you should all be suitably impressed by the interior of its fabulous dome. While the cathedral style is Roman Renaissance, based on the old Roman basilicas, it has several unique features - this dome for instance. By placing it above the sanctuary, architect Francis William Petre created – and I quote – “a visual climax” to the interior. My tiny camera barely does it justice for this is a truly inspiring place of looming colonnades, embellished capitals, spacious arcades, gorgeous stained glass, stunning mosaic tiling and ceilings of embossed zinc. The cathedral took four years to build and opened in 1905. www.christchurchcathedral.org.nz

City Art

"Nikau Vessel," Hastings City June 2008. Ajr I’m a big fan of New Zealand artist, Virginia King and this work, “The Nikau Vessel” is one of a number of public sculptures by well known New Zealand artists commissioned for the Hastings City Centre in Hawke’s Bay. King’s 3-metre-high aluminium and stainless steel sculpture makes a terrific focal point at one end of the city mall - and I love the way kids feel inclined to play around it. Water flows over images of grapes, olives, stone fruit and ferns that appear among the 108,000 holes cut into the stainless steel interior – an obvious reference to the edible bounty the region is famous for; and the “very Deco radiating nikau” reflects the area’s Art Deco heritage. www.virginiakingsculptor.com

Going Home

Madras Street, Christchurch. June 2008. Ajr

Rush hour - as we know it!

Everyone eager to get home

After work.

Still Waters

Takamatua, Banks Peninsular. 2007. Ajr

What can I say about two canoeists

Enjoying a scene as pretty as this

At Takamatua

Except

'Wish you were here.'

Writhing in the Rain

"Diminishing Returns - Eels" Bing Dawe. Havelock North 2008. Ajr It was pouring with rain the sleepy Sunday I visited the small Hawke’s Bay town of Havelock North but Bing Dawe’s eels looked perfectly at home in the wet. This work – “Diminishing Returns – Eels” - was commissioned from the Christchurch sculptor by the Havelock North District Council. It’s from the series “The Draining,” which explores our destruction of our native habitat through, in this case, the draining of our wetlands. You can see another of Bing’s eel works – located in Christchurch - here; and from the same series, a fabulous rug he designed for Dilana Rugs.

It's a Sign!

Banks Peninsula. February 2008. Ajr

Hardly a sign to inspire confidence in an unending supply of much needed fuel

but

when you're miles from anywhere in the Banks Peninsula hills, it's worth a shot

Dairyland

South Waikato, 2007. Ajr

This is exactly the sort of Waikato landscape I grew up surrounded by.

Grass so green it seems impossible.

Cows chewing and chomping their way through it.

The sound of dairy farmers' dogs and the rattle of milking sheds

Firmly entrenched in my memory.

Dreaming of Warm Places

Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. 2007. Ajr

It’s just 4-degrees here and when I’m cold I like to scroll through my photo files remembering warmer places. I found this image – taken on a fabulous road trip down South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula almost a year ago. The rolling hills were covered in swathes of yellow flowers and dotted with clusters of the iconic Australia eucalyptus trees. Lovely! I feel warmer already. www.fleurieupeninsula.com.au

Meet the People - 15

Jo Heaton & Red Panda. Photo supplied.

Another in the series Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things. Jo Heaton is a self-confessed culture-vulture and a firm believer in the fact that Wellington does it better than anywhere else. Jo, who is the International Marketing Manager for Positively Wellington Tourism and chair of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail marketing group, is like most people in tourism – she gets to do all sorts of terrific things in the name of work….. feeding a red panda at Wellington Zoo for instance. It’s her job to attract international visitors to Wellington and that’s never difficult. “I arrived here many years ago during the International Arts Festival and the buzz was so infectious it’s kept me here,” she says. Food and wine are also a passion – “and you can’t beat Wellington’s bars, restaurants and the nearby wine regions. The fact that Wellington is such a walkable city is also a big plus. I love the fact that I can walk to work in 20 minutes and then go home on one of our most iconic tourist attractions, the Wellington Cable Car.” She’s also quick to point out the capital’s natural attributes and the fact that Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is doing amazing things to protect New Zealand’s endangered species – “and I get the benefit of that at home because birdlife is spreading all over the city. Come and see for yourself – and don’t stay for just one night because there’s way too much to do.” www.wellingnz.com www.classicwinetrail.co.nz

Small Moments of Greed

A Feast

of

Orange Cupcakes

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 25

"Exec 1"

Another whacky world created by one of New Zealand's leading printmakers.

Going Solo

South-west Queensland, Australia. April 2008. Ajr

This single tree in a flat plain of crisp, golden grass somehow sums up the vastness of the South West Queensland outback in Australia. I took this photo as I shuffled across this spectacularly endless landscape on the Charlotte Plains Camel Wagon Safari, which progressed at the perfect pace for considering the grander scheme of things. www.charlotteplains.com.au

Graffiti Art Opens Doors

Mr Mod, Christchurch. July 2008. Ajr

In some quarters it’s hip to associate with graffiti artists. I love the way Christchurch’s Ross Morrison of Mr Mod has hired Christchurch graffiti mural artist, Jacob Ryan, to give creative heft to the roller doors that secure his classic furniture business. Oh that more people would have the courage to give credibility to the more creative sectors of the graffiti art movement. www.mrmod.co.nz

Meet the People - 14

Mark Dillon. Photos Supplied.

Another in the series Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things – Mark Dillon will be super busy this spring – picking elderflowers! When most of us are sitting back admiring the daffodils Mark will be shepherding his team of flower pickers in South Canterbury, gathering as many of these tiny white flowers as he can. Freshly-picked elderflowers form the core of his thriving new business, Aroha, which produces a rich elderflower cordial and a tasty range of aerated elderflower drinks in flavour-partnership with old Kiwi favourites like rhubarb, feijoa and vanilla. Based on his mother’s elderflower cordial recipe – given to her 30 years ago by some Danish visitors – the drinks are a big hit…. especially with me. They’ve also caught the eye of big players like 42 Below, one of New Zealand’s most successful drinks companies on the international market in years. Mark has had discussions with the 42 Below team about the possibility of an exciting new drink. That should be something worth waiting for. www.arohadrinks.com

Dreaming of The Farm

It’s snowing here in Christchurch – right now – snowflakes are fluttering into my garden as I write. So I have distracted myself with dreams of being tucked away in the luxurious comforts of The Farm at Cape Kidnappers – one of New Zealand’s newest luxury lodges. The sister property to Northland’s spectacular Kauri Cliffs, The Farm has been designed to reflect the region’s farm buildings and sitting high above the golf course, it has amazing views all the way back to Napier. The amazing par 71 golf course, designed by Tom Doak came first. It opened four years ago and even if you’re not a golfer, you should visit The Farm’s website and take a look at this incredible feat of construction. Located on the cliff tops of Cape Kidnappers (the ocean surges 800 feet below), “it has been hailed as one of the great modern marvels of golfing and is currently ranked 41st best golf course in the world by Golf Magazine.” I took the hilltop view of The Farm when I visited Napier last week. The interior shots are supplied. www.capekidnappers.com

When Art Goes Public

Brisbane, Australia. April 2008. Ajr And speaking of public art, (I was yesterday), I have returned (in spirit) to Brisbane in Australia … if only to have a change from Napier. These were two contemporary works that caught my eye as I wandered the streets. I have yet to discover who created them - watch this space!

Self-Portait 4 - In a Street

Napier. June 2008. Ajr I’m not a shopper – not in the browsing-social-pastime sense at least. I rarely do it, so when I looked down and saw myself wielding what looked suspiciously like ‘a shopping bag’ I was almost startled.

Ugly Art

Napier waterfront. June 2008. Ajr

Am I the only person who finds this sculpture

on the Napier waterfront

supremely ugly?

Art & The Law

Napier. June 2008.Ajr

Here's another example of Napier's colourful mural art.

This time decorating the walls of the city's police station.

I rather like the irony of 'street art' - organised or otherwise - defining the police precinct.

The Spaces Between - 12

Napier. June 2008. Ajr

One elegant tiled corridor between buildings.

Napier

Meet the People - 13

Another in the series, Meet the People - Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things - Ross Morrison has furniture in his blood. He served his antique restoring and wood carving apprenticeship with his father, well known Christchurch cabinetmaker, designer and art dealer, John Morrison and now, almost thirty years on, there isn’t much Ross can’t tell you about furniture. He’s just opened the doors on a funky new showroom and warehouse – Mr Mod – in what was an old gas station and hire centre in suburban St Martins, where he and his partner, Monica specialise in Modernist and Post-Modernist classics. From punchy decorative European antiques to big names from the 50s, 60s and 70s, Mr Mod has it covered – names like Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Bruno Mathsson, Oman Junn and Herbert Hirche are just a few of the many he has on hand. The chairs on the wall behind him in the above photograph are by Danish designer, J.L.Moller. www.mrmod.co.nz

In Love With Design Classics

Mr Mod, Christchurch. July 2008. Ajr This is just a tiny sample of the fabulous displays at Ross Morrison’s Mr Mod – a designer heaven that specialises in decorative European antiques and classic design from the 50s, 60s and 70s. I love it when creative people put a unique and striking stamp on things – and it’s not as if these enduring furniture favourites don’t deserve being shown off to their best advantage. I also like the way that Ross has incorporated many of the old building’s original features – pipes, old taps, the open rafters – into his contemporary displays. Three cheers for originality! www.mrmod.co.nz

Small Moments of Beauty

Three White Stones

Cast Ashore

Cast in Porcelain

Artist Studios - 7

Ben Pearce Sculptures. Top left:"Sam"; bottomleft:"Morris"; Bottom Right:"Hamish & Henriette."

In the making of his highly tactile, often toy-like wooden sculptures, Napier artist, Ben Pearce wonders if he might be “living out his frustrated childhood” – a childhood characterised by a fascination with the discovery of things and how they worked. In the absence of the toys he hankered after he often made his own. Today his silky wooden chrysalis forms are imbued with individual personalities, their little appendages, springs and ‘speakers’ swelling up with unspoken words and imaginings. And they have names – human names - like Sam, Morris, Hamish and Henriette, which doesn’t come as any real surprise when you learn that Ben has named the family cat Barry. When I visited Ben in his wood-filled home studio- complete with lathe, a craftsman’s tools, a million wooden off-cuts and sweet-smelling wood shavings - he was engrossed in the making of, what seemed to me, some sort of other-worldly fantasy city – an ever-expanding labyrinthine creation that threatened to take over his work space. www.cicadastudios.com

Portside Architecture

Ahuriri, Napier. June 2008. Ajr Beyond the restaurants, the boutique stores and the cafes, the Napier suburb of Ahuriri is a treasure trove of quirky port-side architecture, fabulous old bond stores, fishing boats and a million photographs just waiting to happen.

New Meets Old

Ahuriri, Napier. June 2007 Ajr

Many of the old warehouses, bond and wool stores are still in use in Napier’s suburb of Ahuriri; others are derelict; and some of the lucky ones have been given a modern makeover and turned into offices and apartments. This is one tiny corner of a new apartment block (in a restored building) I particularly liked.

Where Hills Look Like Teddy Bear Bottoms

Lindis Pass, South Island. 2007. Ajr

This is the Lindis Pass – a spectacular road pass in the central South Island that links the MacKenzie Basin with Central Otago. Characterised by brown hills that remind me of teddy bears’ bottoms, the landscape here is always dramatic – hot, brown and dry in summer with impossibly blue skies; and cold, harsh and snow-covered in winter. It’s one of my favourite stretches of road.

Meet the People - 12

June 2008. Ajr.

Another in the series Meet the People - Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things - Larry and Joan Blume are new New Zealanders – two Americans who decided this country offered the perfect retreat from big city bustle – and as owners of the very delicious Master’s Lodge in Napier, they’ve lavished comfort and hospitality upon hundreds of guests since they bought the historic property in 2003. Larry, a successful international lawyer who spent most of his adult life in Washington DC, San Francisco and New York, met Joan, a successful New York dentist in NYC. They married at the beginning of the new millennium and came to New Zealand on holiday in 2002. A year later they were back after purchasing The Master’s Lodge – a beautiful residence designed in the famed ‘Australasian bungalow’ style in the late 1800s. It was later expanded and retro-fitted in Art Deco style in the 1930s by New Zealand architect, Louis Hay for the wealthy entrepreneur, Johann Gerhard Husheer, founder and director of the National Tobacco Company. Larry and Joan’s joint passion for food and wine is good news for their guests. Larry is a great cook and wine connoisseur and Joan is an avid pastry chef and chocolatier – a combination that can only mean good things for everyone - and not surprisingly they’ve received rave reviews from around the world. www.masterslodge.co.nz

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 24

"Rome Wasn't Mown in a Day."

Ongoing witty ruminations from our top printmaker

Shadows and Reflections

Port Warehouses, Ahuriri, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

I'm back home in Christchurch now but I keep referring back to these fabulous warehouse buildings at Napier's port suburb of Ahuriri. I spent many hours wandering around the network of narrow streets there, taking in the utilitarian austerity of their corrugated iron architecture. The old bond stores, wool stores and shipping company storage sheds with their triangular peaked roof lines had a strange appeal that kept me going back for more.