Jennifer and Simon
Jennifer Lamm and Simon Misdale at Saturday’s Titirangi Book Market. Jennifer is the president of the Auckland Ex Libris Society, and Simon is in the process of making a linocut of her book plate. Their society is Australasia’s oldest surviving bookplate society, looking back over a history of nearly 80 years. They have regular meetings with discussions covering a wide range of topics, not surprising as bookplates are meant to reflect aspects of the backgrounds and history of their owners and their interests, and a great deal of technicalities and stylistic matters go into the design of these objects. In 2005, a book by Ian Thwaites and Rie Fletcher celebrated: 75 years of Bookplates: Auckland Ex Libris Society 1920–1960 (Puriri Press, now out of print).
Simon is also a jeweller of note (both his rings are his own creations, and he is currently guest exhibitor at the Mairangi Bay Arts Centre); he is also proud owner of a garden of bonsai trees.
The Book Market was one of the events under the auspices of the Going West Books and Writers Festival 2010, whose main activities will take place at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall from September 10-12 (next weekend).
Linocut
Simon
John and Margaret
John and Margaret Davy entertain the crowds at yesterday’s Titirangi market (last Sunday of every month, 10am-2pm). Their folk tunes of Irish, Scottish and other backgrounds are a splendid accompaniment to either a cup of coffee or a more vigorous shopping experience. John is the organiser for the performances at the market, and every now and again we get to hear him also in various combinations and styles, here with his wife Margaret, an accomplished player of whistles. A treat.
Left Hand
Right Hand
Both Hands
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The Artist's Hand: John Pusateri
Another study from Saturday’s Artists in Eden (see yesterday’s post). The event notes describe John Pusateri as “Recent graduate who has concentrated on figurative drawing and printmaking”. See also his website.
John Pusateri at Artists in Eden
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The Potter's Hands: Peter Lange
Yesterday (March 20, 2010) was the annual “Artists in Eden” event, a splendid community initiative by the Maungawhau/Mt Eden Community Arts Trust.
More than 40 artists are rounded up in the Essex Road Reserve to do their thing, plied with food and drink by the crew of volunteers, and amply distracted by curious onlookers and their curly questions. By 2:30 p.m. the works are finished and ready for auction – proceeds go to community arts projects.
I hasten to add, that I am not claiming Mt Eden as part of the West, however the potter Peter Lange has a strong foothold in the Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson. You can visit him in his studio next weekend (27/28 March) when many Waitakere artists have their open studio weekend. Last year when I went there, I got a ride on his brick rocking chair – he may have other surprises this year.
The notes to yesterday’s event describe Peter Lange as “A potter of 35 years who has worked with bricks for the last five”. That’s a pretty good summary for brevity, anything more would fill volumes – just google him.
The photo above shows Peter’s hands as he makes a cast of a weta, with the finished result shown below. Further down there is a sample of Peter’s brick art being used as props by a wedding photographer nearly three years ago (I just happened to be in the vicinity), and the last picture is one of Peter’s works shown recently at “Art in the Woolshed“, Tawharanui.
Peter Lange: weta casts
Peter Lange at Artists in Eden
Peter Lange: Brick Art
Peter Lange: Bollard
The Potter's Hands: Kairava Gullatz
WestCity Shopping Mall in Henderson had a weekend of art last weekend. One of the participants was the potter Kairava Gullatz, demonstrating here how to finish off a vase she had thrown on the wheel. She also invited young spectators to get involved:
Getting involved
Kairava has a studio at the Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson, where she teaches pottery classes for adults and for children.
