Floriditas 2.

A Cafe Window Floriditas Wellington June 2010. Ajr

Moments in Fashion

Fashion Moments

Caught on Coathangers

In the Capital

June 2010. Ajr

Church Chairs

When I arrived in Auckland on Wednesday, my first stop was the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral. It seemed like a restful place to start my Auckland travel guide research and, always a sucker for stained glass and church architecture, I didn't need my arm twisted. The sun was up in Parnell and as I walked into the cathedral my mouth fell open. The sun was casting a million rainbow reflections through the nave - shimmering, glimmering 'despatches' from the magnificent stained glass windows. I did of course photograph the windows but they deserve a separate post, all on their own. Besides, I was equally bewitched by the rows of chairs and the beautiful colour casts that were dancing across them creating the most marvellous shadows. So that's where I've started.

The cathedral has a fascinating history too. Initially designed by architect, Charles Towle and started 1959-72, it was later modified when the money ran out and the original tower and nave were not built. Then, between 1990-1996, work on the new nave, designed by Richard H Toy, Professor of Architecture at Auckland University, was undertaken - complete with incredible stained glass windows by New Zealand contemporary artists - Robert Ellis down one side and Shane Cotton down the other. In addition to that, the lovely old, wooden Gothic church, St Mary's (1880-1888), located across the road, was shifted to nestle in against the rear of the cathedral. That alone, was a mammoth undertaking, beautifully documented in photographs in the church's entrance.

I spent over an hour at the cathedral - photographing the windows, the chairs, the general architecture and chatting with a lovely old lady of 84, who was the church's volunteer guide for the day. She told me she had been coming to the cathedral in that role every Wednesday for the last 20-plus years. She didn't mind a bit she said, she looked forward to it. "It's my spiritual home," she declared, as she lead me around the cathedral interior, complaining that she wasn't "what she used to be" now that she had to use a walking stick - and could I please walk slower. She asked to see some of my photographs and was perhaps a little bemused. "I've never seen anyone photographing the chairs before," she said. "But I'm a painter myself and now that I see your photos I can see why you were inspired." www.holy-trinity.org.nz

Random Visual Inspirations

Just Because

May 2010, Ajr

StreetscapeNZ - 86

Riverside, Kaiapoi

Canterbury

2009 Ajr

Last Leaf

A Lone Survivor

AUTUMN

In Christchurch

May 2010. Ajr

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 96

"A Cat and a Rat in the Museum of New South Wales."

One of New Zealand's leading printmakers remembers a museum visit. For other works in this now-lengthy series, click on Cleavin in the label line below this post.

Words in the City

I'm a word hunter - always on the look out for everyday words in unusual or unexpected places, juxtaposed with surprising surroundings. So I was a little delighted when I fell upon this row of Wellington buses and the word GO last week - like wise the billboard, larger than life on Lambton Quay. I am endlessly intrigued by the vastly different situations that people find visually stimulating - my thrills not necessarily anyone elses's. And why is that? -That's what I want to know. Why do I respond so strongly to words (other than for the fact that I'm a writer), why cranes, why trees, why the spaces between architecture? And if I knew, would it detract a little from the mystery and the unexpectedness of it all? [Perhaps I should have called this post 'A Morning for Thinking.']

Capital Cranes

Show me a crane and I'll show you a good time - or words to that effect. This to convey my delight in cranes I hasten to add, not to extend an unlikely invitation to the online universe. If you'd told me a few years ago that I would end up with a passion for photographing construction cranes, I would have laughed at you. But somehow it's happened. I suppose it's related to my enjoyment of photographing sculpture - for they are related....in my eyes at least. I could spend hours at a construction site with my camera - if I was allowed. I've never asked mind you - rather I take my chances on the street when they avail themselves. As here, in Willis Street, Wellington.....this crane hard at work, photographed from the slither of Chews Lane. If you're interested in my other construction photos, just click on Cranes in the labvel line below this post. There's a few there.

Guilty Pleasures

More From the Food Files

Peppermint Cake

(divine)

At Everyday Gourmet

Dunedin

May 2010. Ajr

In Shadow

Mall Fire Escape

Christchurch

Morning Shadows.

2009 Ajr

StreetscapeNZ - 85

Armagh Street, Christchurch

2009. Ajr

Making Way for Art

"Invisible Art"

Anton Parsons

Every time I discover another public sculpture in inner city Wellington, my heart gives an excited little leap. The Wellington Sculpture Trust, formed in 1982, has this fabulous idea that urban spaces can be enhanced by a widely diverse assortment of sculptures by New Zealand artists - it's an idea I wish more New Zealand cities would embrace more whole-heartedly. Christchurch is getting there but I always feel there's a decided lack of good public art in Auckland - an no, I'm not counting Waiheke Island or other private sculpture gardens. I'm sure many people and Wellington and Christchurch ignore the works that are springing up in their midst - walk by them everyday without considering their message, their beauty, their context -though frankly it's a little hard sometimes given the size and presence of most of them. The choices made are always interesting and usually not without their controversy (especially in Christchurch) but I always see large, contemporary public sculpture as a continuation of sorts, of a city's architecture - an important contribution to 'the scale of things,' a statement about who we are as New Zealanders and the issues that inspire us to creativity. Sculpture should be as much a part of the fabric of any city as the people themselves in my view.

University Art

On a recent trip to Dunedin I flew around the city like a spinning top, grabbing information and photographs as the weather allowed. I snapped this scene (and sculpture) in the grounds of Otago University. I didn't even have time to pause and find out who the artist is - so if any Dunedin readers know, please leave a comment.

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 95

"Making a Meal of It."

New Zealand printmaker Barry Cleavin returns with a witty 'meal' that some may not be able to swallow.

For Others in this series, click on Cleavin in the label line below this post.

It's a Sign!

Two Signs

One Stunning Jewellery Studio

LURE

One of My Favourite Dunedin Places

A Treasure Trove of Exquisite Contemporary New Zealand Jewellery.

May 2010. Ajr

Rust.

I know nothing about this building but it caught my attention when I was out walking around Civic Square in Wellington on Friday. It's located in behind the City Gallery - perhaps it's actually part of the gallery? I love the way its 'rusted' construction is reflected in the undulating glass of the Wellington Library next door and the striking contrast of rust against bright blue sky. This image does look much better full size and in detail - but I guess you had to be there.

Shadows & Reflections

On a recent tour of Otago Museum in Dunedin, I was stopped in my tracks by this wonderful - almost Zen-like - interplay of shadow and reflection.

A lovely upstairs space in an excellent museum.

Unexpected Bedfellows

I love it when words 'collide' in a city scape - unexpected partnerings that would never occur anywhere other than in massed city signage. I photographed this little collection on the side of a building in Wellington's Woodward Street yesterday.

Small Moments of Beauty

Rainbow of Colour

Cotton on Reels

Catching the Light

May 2010. Ajr

Phil Price - Another View

A Different Perspective on Phil Price's sculpture featured in the post below.

If you'd like to see more of Price's work click on Phil Price in the label line below.

Capital Sculpture

With yellow gingko leaves fluttering along Lambton Quay yesterday, I couldn't resist a stop to photograph this sculpture - Protoplasm - by Christchurch sculptor, Phil Price, July 2002, dwarfed by the splendid old MLC Building. I do love the way the Wellington Sculpture Trust and Wellington City Council have collaborated so conscientously to install sculptures all around the city. It makes for some delightful surprises as you wander the streets. www.wellingtonnz.com

From the Food Files

Lunch at Bacchus

Dunedin

A great spot to sit upstairs, overlooking the Octagon.

Excellent menu

Great Tastes

Lively Environment. May 2010. Ajr

Wellington Waterfront by Night

I'm currently in Wellington - and loving it - as always.

It's my favourite New Zealand city.

And last night, I went for a wander, just on dusk/nightfall, around the waterfront behind the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa The two shots above are details of Te Papa's architecture.

And of course, the classic night reflections.

www.wellingtonnz.com

More to come - Of course!

And Speaking of Wildlife ........

New Zealand Sea Lions

Photographed at Porpoise Bay (top) in the Catlins

and Sandfly Bay on Otago Peninsula May 2010. Ajr

StreetscapeNZ - 84

Cambridge Terrace

Christchurch

(The ACC Building)

2009 Ajr

Rear Lights

Once a display window for a department store in Dunedin's Octagon, this structure behind Dunedin Public Art Gallery was converted into additional exhibition space in 1996, when the old DIC store was transformed into the city's new art gallery. It's now a showcase for objects and images created by contemporary New Zealand artists. It's handily located right next to one of my favourite little Dunedin cafes, Mazagram, in Moray Place, who have set up some of their tables in front of the window. This work, which took my fancy in a big way on a grey Dunedin day, is "Jacob's Ladder," by Karyn Taylor - fluorescent lights, lighting gels and electronics, 2010. www.dunedin.art.museum

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 94

"At and Industry 2"

Once more for Barry Cleavin, one of New Zealand's leading printmakers.