Chris, Maria and Peter
This band was playing outside the Avondale Jockey Club a bit over a week ago. They had only just formed and have yet to decide on a name. Wishing them well!
Peter on drums
Untitled
September 30, 2015
September 29, 2015
Save the Kauri
Cleaning Station at Arataki Visitor Centre
Spray bottles of trigene await the visitor to a bush walk in the Waitakeres (and some paths are closed to prevent contamination). In combination with brushes (not visible in the picture) this is a measure to prevent the spread of the Kauri dieback disease, a soil borne disease (Phytophthora taxon Agathis, PTA) which is seriously threatening our remaining stands of kauri, an iconic native tree (agathis australis).
- Clean your gear: remove soil before and after forest visits;
- Stay on the track and off kauri roots.
September 28, 2015
HaaPoom (Seung Yul Oh)
HaaPoom (Seung Yul Oh)
The yellow balloon fills the main gallery and its light funnel to best advantage. Part of Seung Yul Oh’s current exhibition at Te Uru.
In more words than I can find (from the wall of the exhibition):
HaaPoom takes its title from the Korean word for yawn’. an infectious and often involuntary act The reference continues artist Seung Yul Oh’s interest in exploring creativity, expression and surprise. Working from the simplest of materials, he transforms everyday experiences into unexpected encounters that are activated by audiences. The title is also a nod to the wind as a defining characteristic of West Auckland, as well as Oh’s keen interest in expansion, growth, kinetic forces and latent potential through the lightest of materials: air.
Always playing with scale, Oh is an expert at creating big effects with the lightest touch, including huge inflated sculptures that can occupy large spaces but remain vulnerable to deflation. Through common motifs, like balloons or giant eggs, he references cycles of growth and regeneration, as well as the spontaneous processes and potential of cosmological forces. HasPoem proposes that the big bang is a giant yawn and provides a playful universe of wonder and primal experiences.
HaaPoom is Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery’s biggest exhibition to date. ead through four galleries and activating many spaces between. The exhibition ures new work made specifically for our new and architecturally distinctive spaces one of New Zealand’s most dynamic and internationally active contemporary artists.
The exhibition is curated by Andrew Clifford and is accompanied by edition artist blication, kindly supported by Starkwhite.
The exhibition runs until November 8.
More by Seung Yul Oh on this blog.
HaaPoom (Seung Yul Oh)
September 27, 2015
A Feast of Colour
Arboria Luminarium
Aotea Square is currently occupied by the plastic domes and tunnels of Arboria Luminarium (by Architects of Air). The light is filtered through the coloured plastic walls, resulting in a haze of unreal luminosity. Walk through from dome to dome, or rest in an alcove – or in fact anywhere – to soak up the atmosphere. Enchanting!
Dress lightly, it does get hot inside…
Until October 11 (closed Mondays).
Town Hall
Blue
Arboria Luminarium
Arboria Luminarium
Arboria Luminarium
Arboria Luminarium
September 26, 2015
Runners
Runners
Shop display at Rebel Sports, City.
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
September 25, 2015
Gateway
Gateway
This colourful gateway with tile insets greets you at the bottom of Atkinson Road, Titirangi. It marks the beginning of a walkway to Ceramco Park, along Waikumete Stream – an oasis of peace filled with birdsong.
Gateway
September 24, 2015
Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Fields
From the brand new roads around the Northwest shopping centre (counting down to open in 7 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes, ??? seconds as I write this – on October 1 at 9 am) you still get a view of the horticultural roots of the area. Strawberries in flower, counting down to a harvest.
September 23, 2015
Darts
Darts
The Avondale Racecourse contains a number of unexpected gems, only found when you are in the company of a knowledgeable guide like Vince. He showed me the way up the grandstand through an unlabelled door where we found a group of people playing darts: they belong to the Niue Auckland Dart Association and were happy to let us watch the proceedings. Some of their number were absent, playing a tournament in South Auckland. The premises are those of the Cosmos Dart Club and the Niueans have an arrangement with that club for their meetings.
Group Photo
Group Photo
September 22, 2015
Kowhai
Kowhai
One of my favourite kowhai trees is in full bloom, and I captured it in the light of the afternoon sun with a dark sky as backdrop. Atkinson Road, Titirangi.
September 21, 2015
Charity
Claudia and Louise
Claudia and Louise at Saturday’s NZ Spinal Trust Charity Race Day. We shared a table at lunch in the sponsors’ room, a beautiful view over the racecourse and interesting conversation. Claudia is CEO and Louise Special Services Manager Northern Region of HealthVision NZ, an award winning provider of specialised top quality home healthcare. So the work of the NZ Spinal Trust is close to their hearts, and when we met again at ground level, they sprung into action with collection buckets, sparing no one… Top team! Below is their first victim: Simon Bradley of Glover Real Estate in Titirangi. Who could possibly resist such a charming attack.
The slide show (“Avondale in Pictures”) which I presented at the event is now uploaded to youtube.
Simon and Claudia