Painted Boxes: Lion Rock (Mandy Patmore 2007)
(Wednesday is for painted boxes.)
This transformer is at the corner of Henderson Valley Road and Corban Avenue in Henderson. Painted by Mandy Patmore, it shows a view of Piha’s Lion Rock from the South, together with gulls, rocks, starfish, and dune vegetation.
Gulls
Lion Rock, Piha
The view is from North Piha beach towards the south, with Lion Rock straight ahead (101m high), the rocky outcrop of the Nun to the far right and Camel Rock (Taitomo Island) just to the left of the Nun. In brilliant sunshine – absolute bliss!
Find more weekend reflections at James’ Newtown Area Photo.
More Piha pictures.
Pou Whenua: Te Piha (Lion Rock)
Lion Rock (te piha) is the dominant feature of Piha (picture below) on Auckland’s West Coast. It used to be possible to go right to the top, but the path has deterorated and now it is closed off about halfway up. At this point one finds a stone bench and this pou whenua. Catrin, a Piha resident, was up there taking in the atmosphere of the place and the sunshine, when she got disturbed by my arrival.
Below is a view of Piha with Lion Rock in the foreground, taken early this year. The pou whenua is just above the slip visible on the rock.
Piha Beach
A tiled information plaque contains the following text (explanations of Maori terms added):
“This carved pou [=pole] is a guardian. It symbolises the mana whenua [=customary authority] of Te Kawerau a Maki, the Tangata Whenua [=people of the land] and recognises the importance of Te Piha and the surrounding area. It was unveiled by Te Kawerau a Maki, Auckland Regional Council and the local community.
The pou is dedicated to the memory of Ngati Tangiaro Taua, as this was one of her favourite places.
Why not sit for a while like Ngati Tangiaro Taua, to enjoy the view and allow the wairua [=spirit] of Piha to wash over you.”
West Coast Mood (Piha)
Auckland’s West Coast has many moods. Here we look north from South Piha, past Lion Rock.
Lion Rock and Dave Clark
Yesterday, Queen’s Birthday Monday afternoon, we went to Piha to enjoy the sun and fresh air. Right where we parked the car, we found painter Dave Clark working en plein air on a beach scene with Lion Rock as the central feature. I admire anyone who can paint, and it is especially impressive when it happens in public, graciously engaging in conversation with nosy passers-by, yet not losing sight of the task at hand!
Painter Dave Clark
At Piha Cafe
There is his story, and there is my story, we’ll see if they match up!
His story (jb’s that is, storyteller extraordinaire) appears simultaneously with this post on Mainz Daily Photo.
Two City Daily Photo bloggers and spouses from opposite sides of the globe (in more ways than one), meet up in Titirangi, and click. Off to the Piha Cafe, where we arrived just in time before closing; but their staff were most accommodating, letting us sit and chat and they even recorded the occasion for us (Nikon in Mainz, Panasonic in Auckland). Eventually, chairs on tables signalled time to head to the beach for a walk in the late afternoon.
Could have gone on forever.
jb, Mrs H, Mrs jb and Lion Rock, Piha
South Piha Beach
Bluebottle (Portuguese-Man-o-War, physalia physalis)
On our Sunday walk along Piha beach yesterday, we encountered a good number of these bluebottles (Portuguese-Man-o-War, physalia physalis). The tide was way out, and they were left behind. These jellyfish-like creatures normally float on the surface of the ocean, moving as the wind catches in their inflatable air bladder and sail. They have long thread-like tentacles which dangle in the water and can inflict unpleasant stings. The bluebottle in the picture measured about 12cm.
In the background is of course Lion Rock, which featured on this blog before.
(Top image removed at the artist’s request; 05/01/2015)
Wellington ceramic artist Raewyn Atkinson kindly posed for me with her work “Wasters” at the Art Fair. A circular arrangement of millions of numerous cup handles, found at the beach in California (the mind boggles trying to imagine the scenes of mass destruction which led to such a serendipitous outcome — don’t they know how to handle crockery over there?).
[Subsequent to my flippant remarks, Raewyn explains: “The handles were gathered from a beach where the ceramics factory, Tepco, dumped their wasters for over thirty years.”]
Also by the same artist (and in one piece) “Deep Time #29”, a work in porcelain and glaze which surprised with the ever changing aspects of its cylindrical hollows.
Raewyn Atkinson is represented by RH Gallery, Nelson.
The Auckland Art Fair closes today.
Wasters (Detail)
Deep Time #29 (Raewyn Atkinson, 2012)
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