Auckland – West                          Mainly West of Queen Street – seen through my lens

June 2, 2012

Hillsborough Bay

Filed under: Hillsborough,Manukau,Reflections — paul @ 7:03 am
Hillsborough Bay from Orpheus Drive

Hillsborough Bay from Orpheus Drive

This week there have been several occasions when the Manukau Harbour was ever so smooth. Not alway with blue sky, but with nice reflections. I was tempted to submit this picture for the monthly theme of tranquillity — adding that tranquillity also refers to what is excluded, as much as to what is shown. The excluded portion here is the relentless drone of the highway to my right, and if power pylons make your blood boil, you will have to exclude those as well…

For more weekend reflections, go to James’ Weekend Reflections site.

March 3, 2011

Roots

Filed under: Hillsborough,Trees — paul @ 6:53 am
Roots (Monte Cecilia Park)

Roots (Monte Cecilia Park)

Monte Cecilia Park is a superb space with numerous mature trees, and of course home of the Pah Homestead (TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre). I don’t know what kind of tree this is (the roots look a bit like a Moreton Bay Fig, but it is not one of those).

January 23, 2011

Cornered (Gregor Kregar, 2004)

Filed under: Art,Hillsborough,Smile — Tags: — paul @ 7:25 am
Matthew 12/12, and Dog (Ceramic by Gregor Kregar, 2004)

Matthew 12/12, and Dog (Ceramic by Gregor Kregar, 2004)

What we see goes as two titles at the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre: 72 items entitled “Matthew 12/12” and one entitled “Dog” — ceramics by Gregor Kregar, an artist who works in Auckland and Berlin. (In case you need help with cryptic biblical quotes: “How much then is a man better than a sheep?”) The colourfully attired sheep also appeared in various places (among them A&P shows) as an installation of 12 live sheep in knitted wollen jumpers inside a picket-fence pen.

Gregor Kregar is represented by Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland. Check out the gallery website and the artist’s personal website for an overview of his wideranging work.

(I did not count the sheep, I took the number from the label. Maybe you want to check if one has gone missing. Could be a case of Matthew 18?)

January 21, 2011

The Sky — Enclosed

Filed under: Art,Clouds,Hillsborough,Sky — paul @ 8:35 am
At the Pah Homestead

At the Pah Homestead

This silver ball had already caught my eye at the NZ Sculpture OnShore Exhibition in Devonport. It is part of a sculpture “Guardians” by Stefan Gerstmann consisting of three outsize “chairs” crafted from wild wood, and this additional bauble. Now it is gracing the lawn at the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre in Hillsborough.

Apparently, Stefan Gerstmann moved to New Zealand from Wassertruedingen (Germany) just a few years ago.

Myself in the centre of the universe, with the sky surrounded by the gracious Pah Homestead and the mature trees of the park.

More Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!

January 10, 2011

The Gallery Attendant

Filed under: Art,Hillsborough,People — paul @ 7:38 am
At the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre

At the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre

We had another visit to the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre (see other posts). This exquisite art deco reception desk is strategically placed at the top of the stairs. The attendant preferred to remain anonymous, but had no objection for the image to be used on my blog.

The (fraction of) painting is Pete Wheeler’s Painting out of Time (2007, 2.1×2.1m).

August 23, 2010

Pah Homestead

Filed under: Art,Buildings,Hillsborough,Parks — paul @ 7:28 am
Pah Homestead from the Park

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

Pah Homestead, Detail

 
View towards East

View towards East

August 22, 2010

Everyone’s an Art Critic (Richard Wedekind 2008)

Filed under: Art,Black and White,Hillsborough,sculpture — paul @ 7:22 am
Everyone's an Art Critic (Richard Wedekind 2008)

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!

TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre Opening

TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre Opening

May 28, 2010

Taylor’s Bay

Filed under: Hillsborough,Sky — paul @ 7:41 am
Taylor's Bay

Taylor's Bay

A calm and quiet morning at Taylor’s Bay, Hillsborough.

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