Table Art

Esther Diamond napkins. June 2008. Ajr.

Staying here at Esther's Place in Napier I am surrounded by stunning products from the Esther Diamond Collection. These are some of the table napkin range - with designs by top New Zealand artists like Dick Frizzell and Martin Poppelwell. http://www.esthersplace.co.nz/ http://www.estherdiamond.co.nz/

An Avenue of Trees

Clive. June 2008. Ajr

I slammed on the brakes as I drove through the little village of Clive yesterday.

Just to get a photograph of this striking avenue of winter trees.

Supermarket Art

Napier, June 2008. Ajr
There is a level of creative excitement here in the Hawke’s Bay that has both inspired and exhausted me. I find myself over-excited, over-stimulated and wobbly with enthusiasm. Even the local supermarket has taken on an art theme! Not high art I’ll admit but I always love to see art of any sort being integrated into a community. It makes for a much livelier sense of place.

Art Deco Shopping

The Art Deco Shop, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

It’s virtually impossible to visit Napier and not be drawn in to the whole Art Deco thing; and to get the best overview, you really need to start at The Art Deco Shop – which fittingly reflects its Art Deco neighbours in its front window. It’s from here that a whole set of terrific Art Deco Walking Tours set off – bus or vintage car if you’d rather, guided or self-guided if you’d prefer. Over 23,000 people do the guided Art Deco walk each year, learning everything there is to know about the massive earthquake that shook the Hawke’s Bay in 1931, destroying the heart of Napier, damaging over 200 buildings in Hastings and killing 256 people. Within two years of that disaster, Napier and Hastings had been rebuilt in the distinctive Art Deco, Spanish Mission, Stripped Classical and Prairie style architecture that it is now so famous for. The Art Deco here is unique for its inclusion of Maori motifs and the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Chicago School in the work of local architect, Louis Hay. www.artdeconapier.com

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 23

"Felis in Winter."

Another visual treat from our favourite printmaker

Art Deco Daze

Art Deco Detail, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

I'm still in Napier and I've now photographed so many Art Deco buildings I'm dreaming in pastel colours!

For the New Millennium

"Ecliptic" Napier June 2008. Ajr.

This photo looks a bit dull - yesterday's light was queer and temperamental - but I loved this sculpture "Ecliptic" by Napier designer, David Trubridge. It was placed on the Napier beachfront by the Napier City Council to mark the beginning of the Third Millennium. To find the point where the sun rose at the start of the new millennium, you follow the line from the rock in front (it looked ugly so I cropped it out), through the centre of the arch to the horizon. That's Cape Kidnappers you can see way off in the distance by the way.

Cool Cars - 10

One fabulous hot pink Imperial - spotted outside Te Pania Hotel in Napier

Sumner Revisited

Sumner Beach. June 2008. Ajr

Like any beach environment, Sumner provides a wealth of photographic opportunity.

In......'the Devil's Workshop.'

I visited the Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery this morning and was very taken with their giant word – museum (no surprises there) emblazoned across one side of the building. I could hardly use the excuse that I was late because I couldn’t find the place. No surprise either, that I wasn’t allowed to take photographs inside, which is a pity because I’d love to show the set of works that I was spellbound by. They were on display as part of “Idle Hands are the Devil’s Workshop” – and were a series of large suspended banners by the late Lilla Esam, a widow who lived in Hawke’s Bay, raising her family and running an orchard until her death in the 1940s. Beautiful in their subtlety and detail, they depicted a wide range of scenes and images and…wait for it….. they were made entirely of postage stamps stuck onto linen banners to create a mosaic of image and pattern. They give stamp collecting a whole new meaning! I adored them and a walked away wondering how many other ordinary New Zealand households are repositories for astonishing feats of creativity. The show is on until July 20 so if you’re in Napier and you fancy yourself as a philatelist – or even if you don’t – make sure you see them. www.hbmag.co.nz

The New Wave

Napier. June 2008. Ajr

And speaking of signage and art, I was immediately drawn to this window slogan for the Judith Anderson Gallery – a great addition to Napier’s art gallery scene. Formerly of Auckland, Judith has taken up residence in Napier and her terrific contemporary space is bound to shake up a few of the locals. She’s part of the new wave of bigger-city dwellers heading for the quieter life of the provinces and, fittingly, her current exhibition is called “The New Wave.” Works by artists Darryn George, James Robinson and Niki Hastings McFall were my personal favourites. www.judith-anderson-gallery.co.nz

Art Deco Gone Mad

Taradale, Hawke's Bay. June 2008. Ajr

In an idle moment this afternoon I found myself drifting out of Napier city and into the rather bland suburb of Taradale. I had free time and the sun was shining. I needed no other reason to wander aimlessly. And so it was with some surprise that I found myself parking outside McDeco McDonalds!! Yes, you read that correctly. If my memory serves me correctly, this is the only McDonald’s restaurant in the world (or was it one of two?) housed in an authentic Art Deco building – for which we can be truly thankful! Formerly the Taradale Hotel, it is at least a prettier setting than most of the chains eateries.

Art Deco Central

Glass Dome, National Tobacco Company, Ahuriri, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

Here I am in one of the world's major Art Deco centres - Napier, New Zealand.

I thought I'd tempt you with this glorious glass dome in the very beautiful National Tobacco Company building in Ahuriri. Now surrounded by warehouses and railway operations, it's nonetheless a stunning building - and when the famous-sun-I've-heard-about comes out, I'll take a decent photo of it.

In the meantime, there are other things to explore.

http://www.hawkesbaynz.com/

Aerial Geography

From the air - snow on the Seaward Kaikoura Ranges.

A few hours (by road) north of Christchurch.

The whole South Island had been hit by an icy southerly blast.

White Mall

Here's another in my 'Coloured Mall' series.

A little photographic exercise to prove that not everything about shopping malls is ugly.

To Sleep Perchance To Dream

Esther's Place, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

This is the gorgeous bed I am going to sleep in in Napier tonight!

At the very divine Esther's Place, a waterfront apartment stylishly put together by the Napier design company Esther Diamond, Millar Road, Napier providers of seriously stylish accommodation and Eon Design Store, Auckland.

Sleeping among these divine little rabbits - created by Napier artist, Martin Poppelwell for Esther Diamond - is something I'm very much looking forward to. www.esthersplace. www.millarroad.co.nz www.estherdiamond.co.nz www.eon.co.nz

Ice Cold

A sensible warning at Christchurch Airport this morning.

When I left the city it was 1-degree and my car doors were iced shut.

When I landed in the famously sunny Hawke's Bay on the east coast of the North Island, it was just that - sunny and 13-degrees.

And Napier is as lovely as ever.

But more on that tomorrow!

Winter Alps

Christchurch Airport. June 2008. Ajr

And this is the scene I flew away from this morning - snow on the alps viewed from Christchurch Airport

Window Shopping

Chirtschurch 2nd Hand Store. June 2008. Ajr

The weirder the mannequin the more excited I become.

(Photographically speaking that is).

Inner City Reflections

Christchurch. June 2008. Ajr
My camera is never far from an architectural reflection.