Painted Boxes: Fruitvale School Children
(Wednesday is for painted boxes.)
This transformer is found in Croydon Road, not far from the gates to Fruitvale School. It was painted by Judith Moore-Chisholm in 2010, depicting children’s scenes. As the artist told me, the faces are those of actual children at the school.
Painted Boxes: Fruitvale School Children
Pah Homestead from the Park
This is the Pah Homestead, the new home of the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre mentioned in yesterday’s post. Built between 1877 and 1879 for the Auckland businessman James Williamson as ‘gentleman’s residence’, it was one of the largest houses of the period. An impressive mansion, housing an impressive collection of contemporary New Zealand art. All this surrounded by Monte Cecilia Park.
(More information on the website.)
Pah Homestead, Detail
View towards East
Everyone's an Art Critic (Richard Wedekind 2008)
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
Last Sunday, the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre had its opening day at the Pah Homestead (72 Hillsborough Road). This grand mansion has become the new home for a remarkable collection of contemporary New Zealand art. Above is shown a sculpture by Richard Wedekind in grey painted steel, entitled “Everyone’s an Art Critic”. It is found in the garden outside the “Morning Room”.
The above shot seemed ideally suited for high contrast black and white treatment.
A picture of this sculpture in a different setting and in colour can be found in the database of the Centre. I am grateful to curator Nicholas Butler for pointing me to this page.
The picture below shows how the citizens of Auckland embraced the new amenity – a few more visitors than you would like for a gallery viewing, but just fine for a great celebration. The sculptures in the alcoves are by Paul Dibble, left, and Terry Stringer).
Go visit the place, it’s good and it’s free! Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 11 to 4, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays 10 to 5.
TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre Opening
Painted Boxes: The Patient (Doug Ford)
(Wednesday is for painted boxes.)
This traffic control cabinet is on Lincoln Road, Henderson, by the entrance to Waitakere Hospital. Painted by Doug Ford (who has featured here before) with great sympathy for the patients.
Sunnyvale Rail Bridge (Dan Mills)
In the course of upgrading the Auckland-Waitakere railway line, a number of big construction works got undertaken. The crossing of the Oratia Stream (two bridges, one for each track) incorporates pedestrian and cycle paths at the Sunnyvale station. The bridges are nondescript concrete structures, but the murals by Dan Mills (featured in this blog in connection with painted boxes) lift them a bit out of the ordinary.
The panel shown below has the inscription:
“Mural painted March 2010 by Dan + Bart, with assistance from … Hoani Waititi Marae … Sunnyvale Primary School … Bruce McLaren Intermediate School, and Waitakere City Council.”
Sunnyvale Rail Bridge (Dan Mills)
Painted Boxes: Playhouse Theatre (Mark Whyte)
(Wednesday is for painted boxes.)
The painting by Mark Whyte on this transformer was completed just recently. It stands outside No. 33 Glendale Road, Glen Eden, and the real thing (Glen Eden’s Playhouse Theatre which we featured earlier in this blog) is just up the road. The reverse side harks back to the history of the building when it was used as a movie theatre, the Star Theatre which closed in 1972.
Painted Boxes: Playhouse Theatre (Mark Whyte)
Painted Boxes: Titirangi Living (Heathermeg 2010)
(Wednesday is for painted boxes.)
This newly painted transformer was pointed out to me by our friends Ivo and Ingwor. It is near the top end of Woodfern Crescent in Titirangi and depicts typical houses, gardens and the bush of the area. The painter is local artist Heathermeg who we saw on last Sunday’s post, and quite appropriately she included a glimpse of her landmark Art Bunker in the design (the blue bit on the left in the picture above).
Painted Boxes: Titirangi Living (Heathermeg 2010)
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