Bring it on!

Wow it's all go here. I had a visit from an old friend above. She was one of my very first artworks and bought from me by my good mate Jimmy for a far too cheap a price (now that I'm famous Jimmy!). She has come home for a few minor alterations and leaves again tomorrow. I hope she enjoyed her stay!
Travelled down to the Maratoto quarry to select the stone for our sculpture symposium which starts on Monday. We have 16 sculptors from around NZ coming to work in the garden for a week culminating in an auction of the new works on Sun 6th Dec. with fun, food and live music. Five of them will be working wood and friend Roger and I have to carve up a 150 year old macrocarpa tree to provide material. Come on, don't be like that, the tree had to go and it's being made into artworks. Roger is going to carve a big fish hook in situ with what's left.
Three personal chef jobs coming up next week and lunches every day for the sculptors and working on my own piece. Bring it on baby!!

Form versus construction

Still painting away! I'm happy with the results because it seems to concentrate the eye on the form rather than the construction.
I've had good reports about my family group in Whitianga. They are becoming a bit of an icon at the entrance of the town. I'm sure when someone new sees art when they come into town it alters their perception of what Whitianga is like.

Empty

Why no blogging this past week? Ronnys' death has left me empty, with thoughts of why bother. We have been with Samantha and the boys every day to help them through this terrible time.
I am usually one that moves on fairly quickly but sometimes something hits you at a vunerable time and makes you reflect on the big issues of love, life and death.

R.I.P. Ronny

Lost a best mate to a car crash yesterday, 35 years old with a partner and three little kids.
Ronny applied for the job as our chef seven years ago and within a week we were best friends. He arrived with his partner Samantha in an old van with only the clothes on their backs, cooked for us for three years then started a landscape contracting business, bought a farm, built a house and did a hundred other things. Amazing man with such a zest for life, he gave me so much and I'll miss him terribly.
Every fish will be for you Ronny.

Artists intent

Interesting concept. Does the artist own the meaning of his/her art work. In the strict sense of the sentence of course not as the interpretation by the veiwer is tremendously varied. He/she (now known as et.al) would own some of the meaning and would own completely what they say the meaning is. I wonder sometimes when I read a critics long winded statement of an artists work whether et.al is secretly amused/disgusted because it has absolutely nothing to do with et.als' intention.

High on a Hill

Son Sam and I installed my sculpture 'Group Show' in Whitianga yesterday. It's in a marvellous, prominent position beside the main road into town but very handy to be assaulted. I had some trouble with a sculpture I put on the main street of Hamilton being rolled around and broken on a Saturday night. I don't think there was any malicious intent just alcohol and high spirits so we will see what happens. Maybe I can get some good press if it is attacked!!

Language barrier

I am learning French. Why? Mmmmmm. I guess when I had to learn the big part in the play in three weeks I was amazed my old brain still had the ability to retain knowledge so thought I would throw it another bone to see what it could do. And I love the sound of the language and France and French philosophy. Enough?? I enjoy travelling but don't enjoy not being able to hold a decent conversation.
I must dig out my beret, I wonder if that would help!

Machine art

Great video from Vvoi at New Art

Vortex Too

Another one finished, it will be nice when I've painted myself out of the corner.

Tap the rostrum

Does the sun orchestrate
The canvas
Every morning

Or is she lucky
She has a cloud
To throw her colours at

Podcast - one of mine


and the painted chair


Paula the gallery curator with ceramicist Ian Webster

Spent the day setting up the sculpture area for the opening of the Little Gallery of Fine Arts in Tairua on Saturday. It's small but a nice area with a good feeling.

Last Night Blues

Final night. Sellout season. Where to now!!
'12 Angry men' become pussycats over beers and songs after the show.
In the euphoria surrounding the success the drama, director Chris Carter said if she can handle being couped up with twelve men twice a week for three months then the sky's the limit for the next production. As the bleery night continued 'Tommy' was mentioned and they just fell short of 'War of the Worlds'. I think! With the sharp (ouch) morning light the 'Tortoise and the Hare' sounds good.

Group Show

Finished my family group. They look a bit like penguins with their splayed feet, I will dig them in when they are in their permanent place.

Sorry America (well those that are embarrassed about it) but Obamas' peace prize is the worst decision since Henry Kissinger was awarded it (cause a war + broker a peace does not = the most prestigious peace prize [used to be]). Here is what Hitler thinks of it via Exiles site

It's a matter of degree

The sun is rising 35 degrees closer to the east since our shortest day. OK I did use a small protractor on the desk so it is not an exact reading.. Spring has been good until the last couple of days when an antarctic blast caused snowy havoc on the roads (not ours, further south) and killed many new born lambs. It seems incongruous that we pull on sheeps wool jumpers to combat the cold. Heading out for a sail and a fish today before the weather closes in again tomorrow. And to get away from painted sculptures!!

Sand art

This video is of an amazing and beautiful story told through sand animation. Artist Kseniya Simonova was the winner of the 2009 Ukraine You’ve got talent. This one is well worth watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=518XP8prwZo.
From Arts Waikato

Tsunami

It's October already. The restaurant opened yesterday much to the relief of the locals who haven't had a watering hole for 5 months. It's the first time in 11 years we haven't been involved and my son and his partner have done a great job.
My heart goes out to our friends in Samoa (we were there last year). After the tsunami in Thailand, warning systems have been put in place here in all beachside communities and we had our first trial two mornings ago with sirens wailing and the fire brigade shepherding people to higher ground. We are 500 metres back and about 50 metres higher than the beach so felt safe enough and only a 40 cm wave eventuated but it was a good trial mid morning on a nice day for when/if the real deal comes along.

Painted sculptures

I've been installing my latest painted sculptures in the garden at Eggsentric It's starting to look like a fair ground, makes me smile though.

Guilty as charged

I like!!

click here for miranda's website, or see & take a pic of yrself standing on/beside/behind/next to the "eleven heavy things" @ venice biennale until november 22nd this year

From happy famous artists site

Leaving

Sure I've been out sailing. Couple of times in the last week. The sea is getting that sparkly, summer look and the fish are biting. I love the islands offshore, stacked up like pancakes ready to topple over. The penguins are cute in groups of two or three fishing in the swell and the horizon beckons like a siren on the rocks.

Why is it that I always get this leaving feeling?