phew

'dog and boy' from Whaingaroa

Today I took down the last show out of the touring work Whaingaroa.

I first thought of the project Jan 2005 and have been working on it since then. It's been a long process with lots of ups and downs and I have learnt a lot from both of these.

Bit of an emotional thing taking down the work... no I didn't break down and cry or anything. It's just a big thing and it's the end of a big project. One that has been very succesful, not forgetting that success comes in many forms.

And in lines with these thoughts, here is a quote out of the current book I am reading - 'the satanic verses' by Salman Rushdie
"..., Any new idea, Mahound, is asked two questions. The first is asked when it's weak: WHAT KIND OF AN IDEA ARE YOU? Are you the kind that compromises, does deals, accommodates itself to society, aims to find a niche, to survive; or are you the cussed, bloody-minded, ramrod-backed type of damnfool notion that would rather break than sway with the breeze? - The kind that will almost certainly, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, be smashed to bits; but, the hundredth time, will change the world.
' Whats the second question?' "

night

Recently I have been venturing out in the evenings looking for some slightly abstract icons of New Zealand culture in the landscape, here is one that caught my eye.

central reservation

I have to admit the complete and utter lack of photos to post you at the moment. I've been busy working on some new work, and also the last of my Whaingaroa shows is on in Raglan at the moment until this coming Friday (30th March). So I'll leave you with some more lyrics for now again from Beth Orton


Central reservation

Running down to a central reservation
In last night's red dress
And I can still smell you on my fingers
And taste you on my breath
Stepping through brilliant shades
Of the color you bring
But this time, this time, this time
Is whatever I want it to mean

If this is where memories are made
I'm gonna like what I see
And everything I ever took for granted
I'm gonna let it be
I step through every shade
Of the color you bring
But this time, this time, this time
Is whatever I want it to mean

And everything and nothing is
As sacred as we want it to be
When it's real
Make it real
Compared to what?
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah

It's like living in the middle of the ocean
With no future, no past
And everything that's good about now
Might just glide right past
I'm stepping through brilliant shades
Of the color you bring
But this time, this time, this time
Is fine just as it is

And everything is sacred here,
And nothing is as sacred as I want it to be
When it's real
Compared to what?
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Ba da ba
Ba da ba
Yeah yeah

God Song
- beth ortan lyric-

My house was built for loving not a theatre of war
I take the poison for the cure
But he's my man and I've been doing him wrong
Yeah he's my man and I've been doing him wrong
And I'm praying for the strength not to carry on

I've watched and learnt to lead a decent life
But meanwhile I'm dying inside
Cos he's my man and I keep doing him wrong
Yeah he's my man and I've been doing him wrong
But I'm praying for the strength not to carry on

I was built for loving not playing at war
And I leave justice in the good hands of the law
But he's my man and I've been doing him wrong
Yeah he's my man and I've done him wrong
But I'm praying for the strength not to carry on

words on paper

amongst the chaos and anger
through the misunderstanding
and the rush
we must stop
and look
no
see
really
and breath
and smile
and see
find beauty in it all
the blessing of the simplest thing
love
enjoy to just be
lay on the grass
listen to it all and nothing
but be blessed that you can
for happyness comes from your own smile
of which only you
have the power to evoke of yourself
so be
see
and smile
really live

subversion

art

While browsing some galleries websites the other day I came accross a quote on the Odipus Rex Galleries website - http://www.orexgallery.co.nz/ It is a statment that sums up how I see art, reading such things always put a smile on my face.

"Collecting art is more than putting something on your wall and waiting for it to increase in value. Artworks are about cultural learning and human achievement. They are tools for leading a deeper, more significant life."

Holly Solomon, influential art dealer, collector and early champion of cutting edge contemporary art.
(1934 - 2002) New York, 1990.

I have at times, from people, heard many interesting comments, mostly about art that perhaps makes them feel uncomfortable, or at least is something makes them feel that they wouldn't want it on their wall, not because it is not aestheticaly beautiful, but because of the potentialy contentious subject matter. I enjoy how this quote refers to art being about cultural learning and about leading a deeper life. Can we lead this kind of life without putting ourselves somewhere that is at times uncomfortable? I believe not, I believe growth comes from looking outside of our own understanding, accepting that other peoples truths are equally a truth as our own. I believe that art is something that can explore these concepts in a way that nothing else can. And our role as the veiwer of the art is to interpret it, contemplate it and attempt some sort of realation to it. (Of course this isn't always possible for a number of reasons, personal or otherwise, but I see so often people not taking the time to look at art as any thing other that a 2dimensional picture.) And of course the role of the artist is to explore these ideals through their chosen art form.

Anyway, these are my thoughts... and here is an image out of my recent explorings of abstract colour Aotearoa landscape.