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
Zebras by Glenda Roberts
Corrugated iron sculptures by Glenda Roberts. Seen in Jervois Road, Ponsonby, on the lawns of the Villa, Smyth Galleries.
Whau Pod (Steve Woodward 2007)
Olympic Park in New Lynn (map) is home to a good number of works by Steve Woodward. This one is entitled Whau Pod, and if one thinks of these pods in terms of yesterday’s post (I certainly would), then one might well mutter about artistic licence and such like. However, the answer lies in looking at the pods after they have fully ripened, as in the picture below: one can clearly see the six chambers, filled with seeds of some pinkish coloration – the sculpture depicts their falling out of the pod.
One of the streams bordering Olympic Park is the Whau Stream.
Whau Pod with Seeds
Three Bush Markers
The Three Bush Markers on the Titirangi roundabout are a much-loved local landmark, often (ab)used as support for all manner of messages (see earlier post).
Yesterday we found it partially wrapped in cling foil. (Christo does it better.)
More about the bush markers.
Step Touch Stone (Steve Woodward, 2009)
This sculpture, made from Shanxi black granite, stands in St Patrick’s Square in the City. The artwork was commissioned by the city in the course of the refurbishment of this public space (officially opened October 2009). We have shown other works of Steve Woodward, and more will follow.
See a picture of Steve Woodward at work on this project.
Lachezar has a splendid picture of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the top of the square.
Another view of the sculpture:
Step Touch Stone (Steve Woodward, 2009)
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Pou Whenua: Olympic Park
This pou whenua, like the one next to Glen Eden Library, was carved by Te Kawerau a Maki carvers John Collins and Sunnah Thompson. It stands in Olympic Park (map), off Wolverton Road, not visible from the entrance to the park.
Self-congratulatory footnote: this post marks “100 days of auckland-west photo blog”.
The Oblivion Express Mk 3
“A salute to the West Auckland racing fraternity, past and present.” Local artist Frank Womble assembled this racing machine from discarded scrap. It is situated along the railway tracks beside Railside Avenue in Henderson (map).
The legendary Bruce McLaren (1937-1970) epitomises the West’s connection with motorsport. He owned a service station (Bruce McLaren Motors) in Te Atatu. Bruce McLaren Intermediate School (on Bruce McLaren Road) is named after him.
Read more about Bruce McLaren at the Bruce McLaren Trust.
