Red Hat on Barstool
I had barely glanced past the rim of my bowl of breakfast cereals, when I met the gaze of the woman in the red hat.
One thing led to another, and another …
Auckland - West
Mainly West of Queen Street - seen through my lens
Month: January 2010 (page 1 of 4)
Gazebo City
On the last Sunday of every month (except December, when it is scheduled on the second Sunday for last-minute Christmas shopping) Titirangi has its popular market: arts, crafts, produce, good music and food, make sure to be there tomorrow; from 10 to 2.
(And this year the April market will be on May 2.)
Watch a youtube clip about the market:
Plum Cake
Another consequence of our visit to the Avondale market last Sunday: Herta transformed our purchase of plums into a delicious cake: a yeast base with fortune plums on top, and almonds to boot! The picture is all that’s left.
Painted Boxes: Zeke Wolf
This telecommunications cabinet is along the road into Piha. Local potter and painter Zeke Wolf is the artist who has populated it with birds and plants of the New Zealand bush. The top is also painted, but you will have to investigate yourself…
At present (January 16 to February 14, 2010) West Coast Gallery in the old fire station in Piha has an exhibition “Kakapo Dreaming” of Zeke’s paintings in a similar style; they also stock Zeke’s amazing pottery.
In Auckland City and Waitakere City, many traffic control cabinets, roadside transformers and telecommunications boxes have been embellished by artists commissioned to do the work (usually sponsored by power companies, telecoms, paint companies, and the councils). For well over two years, I have ‘collected’ (photographically) many such painted boxes – I will present a selection over time. This art form, which is easily overlooked, but appreciated by many, has a rather transient character, as I noticed that some of my photos have no longer a counterpart in real life (replaced, repainted – in boring grey or overpainted with another artwork, or removed).
Riding the Wave
A picture from the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships, Piha. Taken on Monday. Unfortunately I don’t know the name or nationality of the surfer, would love to credit the performance. (Of course, he is the “white surfer” – they always competed three at a time: one white, one yellow, one red.)
When I wrote this last night, I also emailed Pablo Zanocchi, Media Manager, ISA, who promptly supplied the information next morning: “Thats Dane Staples from South Africa!!!”
Much obliged, thanks!
Looking
Piha is hosting the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships (surfing), and I went there yesterday, on a brilliant morning. Here is a lineup of spectators and photographers watching from the rocks at South Piha (map).
Avondale Markets: The Carver
Avondale Market takes place every Sunday without exception, from early morning to about 2 p.m. Fruit, vegetables, preserves, fish, bric-a-brac, clothes, plants and much more, together with food stalls, attract large numbers of people of all nationalities to Ash Street, Avondale. On our visit yesterday, I took this picture of a very talented vegetable carver with his wares. I also had to have his carving of a fisherman. This took pride of place on the dinner table in the evening, presiding over a fine meal with friends. Just admire the detail!
The Fisherman
Mathematics
Mathematics is dear to my heart. So I was thrilled to see this sign in the middle of Titirangi’s bush along Exhibition Drive (end of Shaw Road). Peter is an Engineer by trade, wishing to make a difference with young students. Right on!
Fishing at Muriwai
Muriwai has many attractions: birds, surf, fishing, parapenting, bush, geology, and watching people engaged with any of these. And I nearly forgot to mention golf. Flat Rock below one of the gannet rookeries at Muriwai is a popular fishing spot, but you have to know what you are doing, as the West Coast can be unpredictable and unforgiving.
Pou Whenua: Glen Eden
This pou stands outside Glen Eden Library (map), and a flyer about the library has this explanation:
“The Pou Whenua is carved from a single piece of kauri timber and stands 6 metres tall. The top figure in a strong haka pose represents the time when power to hold life and land was mostly physical. The middle and bottom figures represent modern times, one of them being a sports player, the other represents learning. The three figures represent the history of the area and connect to, and value, the library as a source of information and knowledge in the modern age.”
This pou whenua is by John Collins and Sunnah Thompson, Matariki Carvers, Te Kawerau A Maki.
More images of pou in the region will follow later.
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