Jodi Ruth Keet

two new shows this weekend

2010-05-25T18:16:00.003+12:00

I have two new openings this weekend. The first one is part of a fund raiser for the braveheart youth trust and is curated by Liz Caughey. It runs from the 28th - 30th of May at the ASB show grounds in Auckland. It should be a great opportunity to purchase some great art for a great reason as all commission goes to the Brave Heart Youth Trust.
Click here

The other up and coming show this weekend is at Thermostat in Palmerston North...

MFA work over, new show in MElbourne

2010-03-26T11:35:00.004+13:00

So December 2009 I passed my MFA from RMIT in Melbourne. Great to have it over and done with and I am really pleased with the work that I produced out of it too. My assesment show in Auckland looked great, and the photos of it are here:

Tonight, in Melbourne at the Brunswick street gallery a show of my work from my MFA opens up. It's my first solo show outside of New Zealand. It runs until 8th of April and the gallery is open from 10am - 10pm 7 days a week. Find it in Fitzroy at 322 Brunswick street if you happen to be in Melbourne during this time.

There is plenty keeping me busy at the moment. As per usual. One of them is another baby on the way.

I understand it is going to get much busier afterwards, with a toddler and a baby, but somehow I seem to find pregnancy a bit time consuming. ( I found it easier doing my masters after Jai was born as opposed to the first year of it when I was pregnant with him)

brother and sister

2009-11-29T22:57:00.002+13:00

Here is another work as part of the super-impositions developed through my MFA. Assessment is this coming weekend.

100% pure NZ

2009-10-23T12:40:00.002+13:00

examining notions of purity in New Zealand

examining notions of purity in New Zealand

Maori and Pakeha (3)

2009-09-01T10:45:00.002+12:00

And here is another of my new works. From the body of work Maori and Pakeha

enjoy

And don't forget to pop in to see the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Awards show that is opening this Friday night (4th of September) at 5.30pm. The exhibition runs till January 2010 so you should have no excuses as to getting in there at some point.

show in melbourne - THE WORK

2009-08-12T09:06:00.002+12:00

Here was my contribution to the show in Melbourne. It is from another body of work from my MFA.

On another note, my piece, Husband and Wife is a finalist in the TWNCAA (Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Awards) The exhibition of all the finalists is on at the Waikato Museum, from Sept through to Jan 2010. I will keep you posted with the info about the show closer to the time.

show in melbourne

2009-06-16T13:54:00.003+12:00

We are off to Melbourne this weekend to hang the show for the students enrolled in the NZ MFA at RMIT (which includes me). For those of you who don't like the acronyms that is the New Zealand Master of Fine Arts at RMIT University. The invite to the show is below, feel free to pop in if you are in Melbourne!

confusion

2009-05-27T08:10:00.002+12:00

This image is titled Pakeha and Maori with Moko
I went to my last tutorial thinking that this was my new favorite image. It was soon made clear to me that this was most peoples least favorite image out of my recent work, and of course, that the image I had liked the least, was everyone's favorite. How confusing. I'm still coming to terms with it. I can see how the ethical and political issues of this image could be potentially problematic. But regardless of this I was interested in pursuing the use of it in my work. Now I am having to step back and weigh it all up. Feedback is always appreciated.

great-grandmother, granddaughter, and great-grandson

2009-04-02T18:26:00.000+13:00

sisters

2009-04-02T10:43:00.004+13:00

On this journey of superimposing images together, it strikes me how two images could be combined so differently.

Here we have sisters

And sisters (2)

They are the same sisters

mother and son

2009-03-25T16:37:00.002+13:00

a notion of transmutation of relationship and culture in New Zealand

This is perhaps a more apt description of what it is I am looking at in my current work... I'm yet to nut it out completely, I'm getting there though, slowly.

Here is an image titled mother and son, it's of my son and I

Here is the image I took also titled mother and son. I made this image first, and felt that there was something else that I could gain by repeating and changing the image. The new one above is much different than this earlier version, and I don't know if much can be gained by directly comparing them, but here they are anyway.

mum and dad

2009-03-17T09:43:00.002+13:00

In continuation from my recent work, here is an image titled - mum and dad
it's my mum and dad, hence the title.

And here are my new refined (and verbose) research questions for my MFA -

In what ways are notions of identity influenced and altered by intimate and family relationships, by cultural background and relationship to other cultures (in particular the relationship and effect on Pakeha by
Maori), and how can these complex ideas of identity be explored using photography?

In what ways has (family) photography as a historical tool aided and influenced ideas of ‘self’ and how can this be explored through photographic montage and the use of layering to generate ideas of an accumulative ‘self’?

In what ways does (family) photography aid and influence the development of our understanding of who we are and how can photography be used to explore the notion of an accumulative/evolutional identity?

In what ways are notions of identity influenced through genealogy and how has this been aided by (family) photography?

back onto it again

2009-03-02T13:27:00.000+13:00

I've taken a bit of time off over summer to enjoy myself, and to swim, sit in the sun and read and such like. However, my second and final year of my MFA is underway now, so I am busy today procrastinating starting on the presentation I need to have competed in a few weeks by posting on this blog, and other such time wasters. You'd think since I can only work on this when our baby is asleep or when he is being looked after by my Mum or Owen I wouldn't procrastinate so, and certainly I do it much less than I used to. I have one more task on my list of things to do before starting MFA work after this post, then I better get on to it!

My recent revelation in my work is that I am interested in accumulative identity or (for want of a better word) evolutional identity. This enompases the range of questions I have been asking in relation to how identity is effected and in turn perceived by family heritage, our race and race relations, our closest relationships and by our own perceptions. I am yet to clarify this statement (this is what I have been putting off doing) so I hope once I start I will have sorted it out with a bit more eloquence. As one of my tutors calls it, it is our 'punch line' that one liner answer that you can give when some one asks you that dreaded question at a dinner party, "So, what do you do?"

two little boys

2009-02-07T21:09:00.002+13:00

I am a sucker for sentimental songs, poetry, and old fashioned music amongst other things. I remember hearing this song when I was a little girl and loving it then, I think it brought tears to my eyes way back then when I was only 4 or 5 years old. I have been tuned into national radio recently, and this evening they played it. I haven't heard it for so long and it brought tears to my eyes again. And just so it's not so random, here is a picture of my boy and another little boy playing together today.

Two little boys

(Morse - Madden arr. Braden) H. Darewski Music / EMI / Redwood Music (P) 1969
Cond. Alan Braden - Produced by Mickey Clarke

Two little boys had two little toys
Each had a wooden horse
Gaily they played each summer's day
Warriors both of course
One little chap then had a mishap
Broke off his horse's head
Wept for his toy then cried with joy
As his young playmate said

Did you think I would leave you crying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Jack and don't be crying
I can go just as fast with two
When we grow up we'll both be soldiers
And our horses will not be toys
And I wonder if we'll remember
When we were two little boys

Long years had passed, war came so fast
Bravely they marched away
Cannon roared loud, and in the mad crowd
Wounded and dying lay
Up goes a shout, a horse dashes out
Out from the ranks so blue
Gallops away to where Joe lay
Then came a voice he knew

Did you think I would leave you dying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon be flying
I can go just as fast with two
Did you say Joe I'm all a-tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys

Do you think I would leave you dying
There's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon by flying
Back to the ranks so blue
Can you feel Joe I'm all a tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys

skeleton

2009-01-19T19:08:00.002+13:00

I just can't help myself when it comes to skeletons and the like. There is something very intriguing about them, about how they look, their loss of identity, the break down of life and what is left behind, and of course and about death itself and how hard it is to comprehend such a concept.

husband and wife (2)

2009-01-13T20:10:00.002+13:00

As part of the work of my MFA I have been looking at the merging of identities and the varying perceptions of identity. The image above is one of the images I have been working on to explore this.

How do people see you? Does what you do (or what people think you do) affect how they percieve you? What about your relationships? How do they affect the perception of yourself that others have of you? Do these major things in our lives (what we do and our relationships) really change who we are? When you are married, are two now really one?

me myself and I

2008-11-03T11:04:00.003+13:00

Not much time for procrastinating on the internet what with a Masters project due and with bubs to balance too. But here is a quick post with a couple of my latest images

Jai Felix Keet

2008-09-30T18:44:00.002+13:00

The waiting is over
I have met
Our little Alien
Our little one
The Bump
The Parasite
Our little angel

baby journal 39+5 weeks pregnant

2008-09-12T10:46:00.002+12:00

i get the
feeling
that
you are
that
i am
that
we are
going to meet
very soon

baby journal

2008-09-10T14:44:00.003+12:00

As part of my attempted commitment to stay in touch with my art over the last period of my pregnancy and the early stages of the baby, I decided to do something that I find very difficult at the best of times: stick to a routine. Well, to be precise I decided to write and take a photo every day in relation to the changes happening in my mind and body around the baby. I have a journal and from 35 weeks pregnant and for the first weeks of the babies life this is my aim. It doesn't take long to do, some times it's just a line of quick thought and a quick snap.

Here is the image and the line from 37 weeks and two days pregnant

I fluctuate between feeling ready
and
feeling overwhelmed
the idea of the birth
and breast feeding
and
nappies
and sleeplessness
is all so much

Grandma and I

2008-09-02T13:20:00.002+12:00

Thanks to some scans of some old negatives by Andy here is an image of my Grandma when she was about 19, and myself with her, at 28.

excuses

2008-08-21T15:35:00.003+12:00

Why I have not posted for a long time
excuse 1 - moved house
excuse 2 - been in Melbourne
excuse 3 - been writing an essay from the lectures I attended in Melbourne
excuse 4 - moved house again
excuse 5 - pregnant and nesting (only 3 weeks till due date now)
excuse 6 - new owners of two bengal kittens known now as the little devils
excuse 7 - internet only just up in new house
excuse 8 - i am good at doing things that I am not meant to be doing

Above however is the latest husband and wife image. An image I started working on some time ago and have just redone. I would love to know what you think, if you still pop in here that is as I haven't been too regular at posting have I!

Alien

2008-06-17T11:53:00.005+12:00

I'm off to Melbourne this weekend for two weeks of lectures for my MFA. We are also and at the same time, moving house, again. I've attached some completely unrelated words and an image. The image I took, and will likely never be used for anything, but I do like it anyway. The words, are by my all time favorite band - Lamb- , both for their music and their lyrics. These words are, I am assuming, about being pregnant. They are perfect.

"alien"

this was a body
now it's a home
for you my little alien
i feel you moving
it's oh so strange
do you like the music?

and i'm a happy home
what's it like in there?
yeah i'm a happy home
i hope it's cosy in there

if home's where the heart is
that's where you are
my heart is right there
so long i've waited
to be quite so occupied
mysterious being by you

self

2008-05-21T13:57:00.002+12:00

Anyone would think I am self obsessed. I see that many of the photos on this blog are now of me. For some reason I have some kind of distance from them though, I'm not sure why. I just don't feel as though they are purely just about me and me alone. There is something bigger that I am trying to get to. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly that is though. Here are two more images, a self portrait and an indirect self portrait.

OJ

2008-05-12T13:30:00.002+12:00

Well, all my promises last time of posting the image that I was taking up to Auckland has turned out to be lies.

Only because, I've left it there to get reprinted, as I felt the quality wasn't quite right. So you will get to see it, but not right now. Instead you can see this one -

This is my husband and I. I joked that it is what our baby is going to look like. Ha ha ha ... very scary! Let's hope not!

Self portraits

2008-05-05T13:58:00.002+12:00

Time is flying, as usual. Here is a self portrait taken a few weeks ago, at about 19 weeks pregnant. It's quite a lot different than a lot of the other self portraits that I have been working on recently! I'm off to get one printed quite large now, it's a tad weird, just the way I like it. I'm going to be installing it for a group critique this weekend in Auckland as part of my MFA. It'll be very interesting to hear their interpretations of it. I'll be taking a photo of it while it is on the wall, and will post it here too.

While I'm writting, I'll put a little pip in for one of the latest blogs that is dealing with art photography in a NZ context - photography matters

images that almost work

2008-04-10T13:17:00.002+12:00

Thanks for those of you who tried to help me on my last plee for inspiring artists. I agree with Microphen that work is much nicer in a book or real life rather than on a screen. I do find it interesting that I find it hard to find work that really inspires me when I get told that my work reminds some people of other photographers.

Anyway, here are three images that almost but didn't work. None the less the are still interesting.

more excuses

2008-04-04T14:39:00.003+13:00

well here I find myself without internet again, as the mobile broadband we had was anything but fast, and rather expensive. So now to post I need to go to the library, not such a bad thing, as New Plymouth has a fantastic library. But it's still not quite as easy as posting from home.

As part of my MFA I have been looking at artists that produce work that may be inspiring to me. My tutors have given me a list, and though some of them were interesting none of them grabbed me and made me love their work. One of the ones that was rather interesting though is Catherine Opie

However if any of you bloggers have some good suggestions of artists whose work may inspire me, please do let me know! I am on the hunt!

playing without care

2008-03-18T12:56:00.004+13:00

I've been playing around, without really caring about how the images may finish up, and whether or not they are actualy something I may use later on. It's quite fun, and refreshing to do this.

Here are a couple of these playings, I have some others but they'd need to be photographed with a digital camera so you could see them, however, my digital is away being repaired as we speak. So you'll just have to wait.

the morning after

2008-03-11T09:38:00.004+13:00

After a weekend of new people, new stimulation and new encouragement, I am excited about some experimentation, and playing around. Auckland it self was much less inspiring as I have always had a fearful aversion to stop start traffic and people whose dress style can only be described as overtly poncy. However I DID make it from where I was staying to where the tutorials were without too much concern, and I didn't ever get lost without being able to find myself again pretty easily. However I was somewhat confused as how to get from page 2 on the map book to page 48, especially when it was only a five minute drive, maybe I should invest in a slightly bigger map.

Anyway, here is another pairing that I played with earlier this year.

I'm back!

2008-03-05T16:03:00.003+13:00

I am in a new house (third move in as many months) and we have finally got the Internet up and running. Although it is rather slow, not much faster than dial up really, so posting images will be interesting, but none the less, will be done. This weekend I go up to Auckland for the first of the tutorials for my MFA. It is quite exciting, I am looking forward to being in an education and critiquing environment once more. I await the sleepless nights. And also on that note, I am pregnant, so yet another reason for sleepless nights. I won't bore you with the details though, but I'm sure I won't be able to resist self portraits of a growing belly.

My new work is looking at culture, symbolism and self identity especially in a NZ context. Below is one of my colour pairings that I am playing around with. Hopefully there will be many more posts in the near future, now that I have no excuse anymore, so do drop in regularly! Feedback is welcome!

2008-02-04T12:58:00.001+13:00

The lack of images on this blog, and hence the lack of posts is something of a bad habit. However I have excuses! For those of you who are unsure of my practises I don't use a digital camera for my art, I most commonly use a medium format camera, and sometimes a large format. This is a much slower process than snapping away on digital, and also a much more beautiful process. I cannot see myself being convinced of otherwise anytime in the near future. I have rolls of film sitting around waiting patiently for development. However I have been waiting for a number to build up before I send them off (it saves on courier). This is all a bit boring though, but don't fear, there will be some exciting work appearing here shortly! Currently it's running around in my head only (and on film I suppose too).

Watch this space!

2008-01-17T10:40:00.000+13:00

We are ticking along nicely into the new year now. It still gives me a bit of a fright to see 2008 printed as our year though. Already some big events have happened in New Zealand, Sir Edmond Hillary passing on was a shock, but if someone was to leave this earth satisfied with his journey here, that is one man that could be! We were also here on the coast of New Plymouth last weekend to see the two Australian kayakers come to shore, that is a great feat, and it was awesome to see the last of their journey and be there to applaud them.

As for me, this is looking like an exciting year. I am to begin studying for my Masters of Fine Arts through RMIT in Melbourne. I will be doing it via distance which means I can do it from our new (as yet non existent) home here on the coast of Taranaki. Through my MFA, I intend to explore the notion of self-identity & self-representation, in particular interest are the symbols we choose to portray ourselves with.

It is fantastic to be in a small city that has resource such as a high quality museum, gallery and library. The council here has invested a good amount of resources into the culture here as can be seen with the work of the Len Lye foundation, the aforementioned amenities, and other great assets such as Pukekura park which is currently alight with music and lights for the annual festival of lights, and the coastal walkway.

I'm ticking along well with my work, but will wait to show you some of my recent pieces, here though is a bit of a tongue in cheek image for you to think over.

death

2008-01-08T13:35:00.000+13:00

Death is a strange thing. It will happen to us all one day, that is a certainty. As aware of this dim fact as we may be, it still is a strange phenomenon. That life as we know it can leave the body of whom we are so familiar with, is very difficult to comprehend. I speak of this as it is on my mind today. I woke up this morning to find Tweedle had died in the night, I wasn't expecting it as I had looked after him for a week successfully, and thought if he was to die, it would have happened sooner. Also today is the day of a friends funeral. I won't be able to make it, partly because we hadn't been too close over the last few years, but I saw only a couple of months ago, and he is my facebook friend. Facebook drives me crazy, and I don't really visit it much, however I popped into Scott’s page to see what had been said. His fiancée had written to him only a few days before he died, to say how much she loved him, and since his death has continued to write to him speaking of her loss and sadness. Hundreds of other posts have been put on by many of his friends also. Scott was only 29, and died unexpectantly.

Death is a concept that often comes up in my work, sometimes directly other times a bit more indirectly. Either way I am fascinated by the fact that it is to happen to us all at a date we have no idea of, and that it leaves an emptly shell of a body behind, the soul, gone somewhere else.

tweedle

2008-01-07T10:45:00.000+13:00

Here is a snapshot taken of the newest addition to our whanau. I have taken other images that include 'tweedle' too, I will post those in the near future. Tweedle is a baby whiteeye that was found by my sister in the carpark on the kaimais, he is so young that he needs to be feed runny food off a spoon every 15 minutes or so. Hopefuly he will grow out of this shortly as it is quite tiring. In he mean time, he is a good subject.

Merry Christmas from Tarnaki

2007-12-18T09:50:00.000+13:00

Merry Christmas! The above image is one I couldn't bring myself to not post. It has bifold meaning. I'm not sure if any one will get the second suggestion, however the first is very simple. These Keraru, are very rarely seen, execpt for in New Plymouth it seems. I have seen more in the week I have lived here than in my whole life. Pukarua Park seems to be the reason for this, an amazing park full of native trees and birds. This time of year it is even more spectacular in the evenings with the festival of lights on. Anyway, it's a great pleasure to see so many of them. I hope you all will have a fantastic festive season and I'll leave you with these words.

swing
this view
is lower than
the stars
grab at the dusty
life
close it in this
jar
i can
hear
bells from here singing of
life and death or could it be both
are they not the
same

what real work isn't

2007-12-11T13:15:00.000+13:00

real work is not staring at the computer screen waiting for a new email to come in
real work is not wondering why the water tastes so bad here then googling to find out
real work is not planning to tidy the house then getting distracted by the next question so going back to computer to google it
real work is not taking a bath or shower
real work is not trying to figure out how long it takes to drive to Wanganui/Wellington/Auckland from here by looking at the excedingly long driving times given on the AA travel times website
real work is not staring at the wall thinking about doing real work
real work is not writing about all the things I am doing in order to not do real work and publishing those things on my blog

In Taranaki

2007-12-10T12:13:00.000+13:00

Holiday is over. My to do list is long, and on it is to chill and take some creative time, make some new work. I'm really excited about it, and have my mind exploring different angles of an idea that I havn't yet explored properly.

I have an old polariod camera, it is a very simple one, one that I don't have much control over as I have now discoverd. But I made a few shots with it last week. Here is one of them. I was hoping that playing with the camera would give me some inspiration to use it, however it has just encouraged me to not use it. And it will likely sit forgotten about for a while again. But in saying that I have some film to put through it still, so perhaps some inspiration for it will pop up soon.

holiday

2007-12-07T10:30:00.000+13:00

I have been (and still am) on holiday for this and last week, hence the slack posting. This is partly because I'm on holiday, and also because I only have a very slow dial up internet to use. So I'm posting no images. Tomorrow, my husband and I move to Taranaki. It is a big move, and is exciting as well as a bit scary. Anyway, it means my holiday will be over, and I intend to get back to posting more often again.

In the mean time, pop into some other blogs that I reccomend - photoforum Edward Winklemans and also Andys.

my website

2007-11-18T13:26:00.000+13:00

This is now my official website. I did have another that was, but I have decided that this blog better serves the purpose that I wish it to.

I have been, in recent times, taking quite a few self-portraits. I always have, however I have done so more than usual. This one I made some time back this year, but didn't post. However, here it is now, it is quite intriguing I think.

tree

2007-11-14T18:03:00.000+13:00

It seems I havn't posted this image yet. It is from the same area as the rock and concrete images. I had thought that I had run out of the images that I had taken in this area, it seems there is this last one left.

I have been making quite a few more colour images than black and white images over the recent months. However you can't tell by looking at this blog can you!? I will have to get around to posting them too, however in my defence we are in the process of moving, very shortly this computer will have to get packed away, and for a few weeks we will be on dial up interent. Shock horror! So I will have to see how posting from that will work! So posting will possibly be a tad slower than usual, or maybe it won't be... we will just have to see.

pylon

2007-11-05T16:27:00.000+13:00

As I said in an earlier post, I was truly inspired in this area in The South Island, so much so that I think every image that I have posted in recent times has come from there! Here is yet another, don't worry, I think I may have run out of them now.

Pylons are another industrial image that I come back to time and again. There is something about them that really intrigues me. It is both their physical form as well as their purpose.

Rembrant and the agument of the value in art

2007-10-31T10:39:00.000+13:00

Here is a post in one of my new found art blogs that I posted about recently. After reading the post, looking at the picture and then reading the comments, I started to think, 'well this is very interesting'.

It's an argument (all though I'm not sure what side of the argument I'm on at the best of times) that I often have, sometimes just with myself if necessary. The argument is about the value of art and where it derives from. In this particular instance linked to above a painting of Rembrandt that experts have decided is not a self portrait by him, but rather a painting of him by one of his students has just sold for US$4.5 million instead of the predicted US$3,000 that would have been more appropriate of a painting of Rembrandt. So then the article and comments go on about how perhaps this buyer knew something no one else did, as a real Rembrandt can and does sell for US$25 million, in which case he got a bargain. And they say how it does look very much like a Rembrandt...

Well, this is the point of question for me. Should an art piece be worth something for who it is by or for its quality? If this painting was of a quality that it was almost impossible to tell that it wasn't a Rembrandt, then should it not be worth the same as Rembrandt? For what is it that made Rembrandt’s worth so much in the beginning, his talent, style etc?

The other side of the argument is of course that Rembrandt was the creative genus behind the style, and the copier of that style was just a copier. And of course the fame side of things comes in to play too; after all, most people would rather have a date with a famous person rather than someone that just looks like a famous person.

In reality, I would much rather have a real Rembrandt rather than a copy of a Rembrandt, but isn't it interesting, how much value we can put onto something and why!

rock

2007-10-30T08:12:00.000+13:00

After not being too inspired to make many images of landscape type images for a while, when we drove past an area in the South Island, to my own surprise my camera almost jumped out of its sleeping bag. This image and the last several before it are all from the same area. My attraction to a very industrial landscape is evident here. I'm not sure why I like industry aesthetically as in general I'm a bit of a hippy (so I'm told anyway). Nonetheless I always come back to it, perhaps it is the age old 'man vs nature' that I like about it.

dream home

2007-10-26T11:23:00.001+13:00

"As I progressed further with my project, it became obvious that it was really unimportant where I chose to photograph. The particular place simply provided an excuse to produce work... you can only see what you are ready to see - what mirrors your mind at that particular time.

-George Tice

Not too long ago I finished reading a book that I had been meaning to read for some time - Susan Sontags on Photography. Overall, it can be summed up to be a very good book on photography, written even though in the late 1970s it still pertains to today equally well. There were certain parts that I thought were overly verbose, and others that I thought were just plain opinion and not correct (according to my opinion anyway). But mostly, it had some good ideas and points, most ideas I had heard of or considered before, yet still really good to see it all worked through in words on paper. I will have to read it again, as it contains a lot of theory that can really only be absorbed upon repetition. The above quote is out of the book, and is one that I quite enjoy.

concrete (2)

2007-10-24T22:07:00.001+13:00

Here is another image taken a few meters further down from the previous post concrete.

I think I'm almost starting to think of myself as an application writer rather than an artist. Just when I thought I'd done all of the ones I needed to do for this year, one more comes up. But I'm almost done now, and I was thinking, well, what do I do now. Then I realised, oh that's right... take photos! Ha! Very exciting.

Edward Winkleman

2007-10-23T14:15:00.000+13:00

A new blog has come to my attention, I have found two posts that have caught my attention already, this and this.

Do have a look.

concrete

2007-10-22T18:24:00.000+13:00

This was a very spooky kind of place, concrete looked as though it was dripping off almost everything. Concrete dust settles over the environment, and when it rains, it sets. Spooky also becuase of the number of Do not enter signs I had to walk past to make this image.

The penis tree

2007-10-18T19:20:00.001+13:00

It seems that one of the recurrent themes on this blog has to do with phallic findings. I'm not entirely sure what this says about me.

2007-10-18T13:28:00.000+13:00

Here is an interesting statement from this blog.

"There is little in the world of art more deflating (aside from the news of another $100,000 plus auction for a Tim Storrier work) than hearing an artist tell you what a work represents. This ascribing of absolute meanings to a work of art by its creator really puts the kibosh on any of the allusive, associative detective work that makes art fun, dare I say it, worthwhile even. Indeed, the idea that an artist sits in their studio and decides that they are going to create a work that “stands for” something is vaguely nauseating. The language games of the art and text people aside, shouldn’t art be doing its best work when it stands beyond the interface of meaning and identity beckoning us instead into the deeper water, where we can stand no more? Where we might drown? Choking our last on the pure waters of a “meaning” beyond attribution, distillation or comprehension? Otherwise we could all save ourselves some time and have the artist email us their wall texts."

baby

2007-10-16T18:23:00.000+13:00

This is an image I took quite a while ago, but past over it, for some reason. I was looking through my files the other day and found it, it caught my eye. It's interesting how images can do that, some that I once liked, I don't, some that I onced ignored I now like. Time and circumstances can change our perception of what is good and what we like.

collectors special evening show

2007-10-02T11:29:00.000+13:00

NZCP and Photospace had a special opening at Shed 11, for a special show. The Shed 11 Collectors' Evening.

artists included were the likes of - Peter Peryer, Ans Westra, Peter Black, Anne Noble, Max Oettli, Robin Morrison, Andrew Ross, Andy Palmer, David Boyce and... me!

closed

2007-09-23T12:58:00.000+12:00

Well Religious Studies has closed at Thermostat now. It was really a great show and in such a nice gallery too. I've been looking for an image to post, but I really can't find something that I'd like to, so I won't. It has been that way for a few months now. Photo taking has taken second place to application making and concept development. Plus the few films that I have sitting around with photos on them, I haven't yet sent off to get developed - something to look forward to though as I think I'll send them off this week. I do think that the down time of photographing is a very important one, time to truly contemplate the ideas through and to rest as well. However, I finally have taken my 8 x 10 camera out of ‘lounge conversation piece’ and into camera operation, after I took the first images on it last week and processed the negs too. I am yet to contact print them, but when I do, I'll post them on here! A few early experiments on an idea, so it will be interesting to see how they've really turned out, especially on a new camera, and doing tray processing of large format film for the first time ever.

I have been busy reading some great books too, ones that I've meant to read for a long time, the current being Susan Sontags On Photography. Although it was written in the late 70's it's a great read on how Photography fits into the art world, its history and its philosophy.

I'll hopefully have some great images coming this way soon.

when the thousand years are over

2007-09-03T14:37:00.000+12:00

The Saturday just past was the opening of the exhibition Religious studies. It runs till the 20th of September, it's a fantastic show and well worth seeing.

luna rosa

2007-08-28T22:30:00.000+12:00

And for something a bit different... here is tonights luna rosa eclipse of the moon, this is taken a few minutes ago. My camera held up by a cat tower and a salman rusdie book as my tripod wasn't available.

religious studies

2007-08-17T07:20:00.000+12:00

This is my latest show, opening on the 1st of September in a great gallery in Palmerston North. I will be there for the opening night (which is a Saturday), as will Andy and David. This show has some great work to fill the void for those who crave both aesthetics and concept. I have two of the largest pieces I have ever created in my part of this show which is titled 'when the thousand years are over' an excerpt from a book, big points to those who guess which book.

a photograph never lies

2007-08-10T11:40:00.000+12:00

The word Photography or photographer has an interesting knee jerk reaction to it by most people. It leads people to think of many things, all it seems excpept what I (and other artists using it as their media) actualy use it for. I find this very frustrating.

Along those lines, here is a self portrait, that I think looks almost nothing like me whatsoever.

dog in the graveyard

2007-08-02T17:31:00.000+12:00

Carrying on with my graveyard maker theme, here is a slightly different one. Yet again, it filled me with graveyard guilt as I tried to photograph it. I'm not too sure why that is, but I always feel bad about photographing a gravestone. Perhaps it is some kind of lack of ownership over it that makes me feel like a trespasser there. Alternatively, it could be some kind unspoken rule about forbidden territory.

leftovers

2007-07-29T21:25:00.000+12:00

Honestly this is a bit how I'm feeling at the moment. It's amazing how one moment I can be feeling like everything is going great and then in the space of a few hours it can all turn. It doesn't necessarily mean that things have changed, more that it's my perspective of things that has changed. But it makes me think of the lyrics of one of my much-loved bands tunes (Lamb)

"some people turn to pills and things
to help them through the day
to take them up or down or just
to ease the blues away
but me i really want to feel
the ups and downs of life so real
happy or sad emotions reign
my tears flow just the same"

Anyhow, for quite some time our Siamese cat would kill a bird, then leave it lying around, uneaten. It seemed like such a waste of a life to me, for something to be killed just to be used as play thing. All though I'd rather she didn't kill them at all, if she is going to kill them, I wanted her to at least eat it! So anyway, perhaps she does listen to me after all, as this was the gift I was left a couple of days ago. Quite beautiful, in a macabre kind of way.

The devil you know

2007-07-23T09:56:00.000+12:00

Here is the aformentioned image (as taken for me by Andy as I couldn't make it to the show) from the Dark exhibition which closed last week, titled the devil you know.

'sometimes I feel possessed
and the most dangerous thing around me
is me
why do I do
these crazy things
better I suppose
the devil I know
or do I really
know me at all'

angel -

2007-07-18T18:51:00.000+12:00

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, there is something about gravestone markers that I am attracted too, especially at present, or so it seems anyway. If I didn't feel so guilty about photographing them (with originality in mind that is not graveyard guilt) I would likely photograph them a whole lot more. Perhaps I should anyway? On the other hand, perhaps I'll move on, I'll wait and see. Here is one I am planning on printing, it has a very ethereal feel to it that I like.

The return

2007-07-16T15:31:00.000+12:00

Well I'm back in Aotearoa now, and I thought this was an appropriate image to celebrate being back in kiwi land.

Just a quick reminder that 'Dark' the latest show on at Thermostat gallery in Palmerston North is still on, it runs till the 19th of July. I have a nice peice in the show taking on my interpretation of the theme 'Dark'. A must see!

flowers and the angel

2007-06-30T15:53:00.000+12:00

I'm packing today, and ready to leave this cold weather for a bit of warmth in the pacific islands for a couple of weeks... but I thought I'd leave you all with an image, and a quick note about it. Gravestone markers, especially angels, seem to be quite highly photographed, especially by some well known New Zealand photographers, and this I am very aware of. However, I am still attracted to them regardless of this, I just can't help myself. There is something beautiful about them and yet quite disturbing at the same time, especially when they start to crumble or decay in some way, a symbol it seems of what it is they are representing.

So I leave you with this, and I shall be back in a couple of weeks

Dark (Vent 6)

2007-06-27T12:00:00.000+12:00

(click on the image to make it large enough to read)

Here is an invite to my latest show. It is a group show in Palmerston North at Thermostat gallery. Thermostat is a beautiful gallery and is well worth the visit if you haven’t already been there and worth the detour if you are heading out of or down to Wellington. This particular show should be great, with the theme Dark and each artist’s interpretation of that.

I don't think I can make it to the opening as I am meeting an early flight out of Auckland on Monday morning, but make sure you try and get there this Saturday night!

As I said, I'm flying away for a couple of weeks, I'm escaping this cold and heading to Tonga with my Husband for some relaxation and some warm water activities. So I may not be able to post again for a while, but I will as soon as I get back and I may even have some nice images to share with you.

Ranginui & Papatuanuku: The Survival of All

2007-06-20T10:58:00.000+12:00

Here are some images I made during Easter while going around the East Cape. And following also are some beautiful words that I found.

"To my mind, the Maori explanation of creation and evolution teaches me all I need to know to understand my role in life and attitude towards nature. My heritage teaches me about concepts such as the integrity and inter-dependency of living things. It makes me quite comfortable with the notion that as a human being I am but one part of a whole and that my generation is also simply one strand in the rope of humanity. It pre-determines that the relationship I have with nature is based on kinship and respect and that in order for me to survive in a culturally rich way, I depend on the survival of others, not just other humans, but also plants and animals in the sea as well as on the land. It clarifies, that both male and female elements, are necessary to create and sustain life, be it human, plant or animal. It provides me with a proven framework from which I can analyse and identify risks and benefits to the well-being of all those areas that form my cultural heritage and encourages me to accept responsibility that in my lifetime I will not contribute to, or allow others to cause, any diminishment to the cultural heritage of my ancestors and descendants, including those yet unborn.
Whatungarongaro he tangata; toitu he whenua
Man will always perish, but the land will remain forever"

SACRED BALANCE Aroha Te Pareake Mead

winter

2007-06-20T09:19:00.000+12:00

It always seems that winter is such a busy time in the art world, with many exhibitions being on, art awards taking place, and for photography, it is the best time to be photographing. Also, winter with its tendency to slow us down a bit, it is a great time to contemplate new work. So, I have been busy, although it seems, not with a camera in hand. As often, I find for myself, that the actual taking of a photo is such a small part of photography.

So what has been happening you ask!? Well, the Anthony Harper award just closed on the weekend, as did the group show in Auckland. A group show is opening up end of next week in Palmerston north, and another group show that I'm finishing work off for at the end of August. There are other awards coming up that I am preparing for... that is all without even picking up a camera! I spent a major part of the last two years preparing for my touring show "Whaingaroa", which showed in Jan to March this year around the North Island. This work took up a lot of my time and creative energy, with it over now, I can focus on some new bodies of work. So that is also what I have been doing - planning, thinking, contemplating, writing, drawing, taking some 'sketch photos' and experimenting. All very busy really, but not a whole lot of stuff to show for it really.

Nevertheless, for some proof that I am still taking photos, here is a snap I took of myself a couple of weeks ago while I was out on a photography walk.

Shimmer Lyrics

2007-06-13T12:50:00.001+12:00

sharing with us what he knows
shining eyes are big and blue
and all around him water flows
this world to him is new
this world to him is new
to touch a face
to kiss a smile
new eyes see no race
the essence of a child
the essence
he's born to shimmer, he's born to shine
he's born to radiate
he's born to live, he's born to love
but we'll teach him not to hate
true love it is a rock
smoothed over by a stream
no ticking of a clock
truly measures what that means
truly measures what that means
and this thing they call our time
heard a brilliant woman say
she said you know it's crazy
how I want to try to capture mine
I think I love this woman's way
I think I love this woman's
way she shimmers, the way she shines
the way she radiates
the way she lives, the way she loves
the way she never hates
sometimes I think of all of this that can surround me
I know it all as being mine
but she kisses me and wraps herself around me
she gives me love, she gives me time
and I feel fine
I feel fine
but time I cannot change
so here's to looking back
you know I drink a whole bottle of my pride
and I toast to change
to keep these demons off my back
just get these demons off my back
cause I want to shimmer, I want to shine
I want to radiate
I want to live, I want to love
I want to try to learn not to hate
try not to hate
we're born to shimmer, we're born to shine
we're born to radiate
we're born to live, we're born to love
we're born to never hate

in canvas

2007-06-10T11:58:00.000+12:00

In this weekends New Zealand Herald's magazine 'canvas' I feature on the inside front cover. Just a quick blurb about me and the books I am currently reading with a note about the show I have on in Auckland at the moment. Click on the image to make it large enough to read.

Diesel

2007-06-09T11:59:00.001+12:00

Here are the photos as promised of our what we now know is a Juvinile Southern Giant Petrel. His name is Diesel.

on the wall

2007-06-07T21:15:00.000+12:00

Here are a couple of pics of my work from the group show at Aveia Gallery in Auckland. Don't forget the show is on till the 16th of June.

On a completely different note, we are often referred to as the Raglan Zoo, or RSPCA, or basically the place that stray animals come to when in need, some kind of secret message that animals send each other has gone out I think. In the space of two years we have helped 5 cats, 1 kitten, 1 rat, 7 ducks, 1 budgie all lost, stay or injured in some way. We now have a giant northern Petrel in our front porch sleeping after a nice feed of fish, warmed by the fire and scaring our cats as it is twice their size. It's making quite a mess as what goes in must come out I suppose. There is some very rough weather out now and it has an injured wing. I'm babysitting it till DOC can come and pick it up tomorrow. I'll try and make some images of it before then, and post some of them here.

Auckland show

2007-06-03T13:44:00.000+12:00

I got back from Auckland a couple of days ago, where I had gone for the opening of my group show In Our Backyard showing at Aveia gallery (Commerce Street). The show is on till the 16th of June so feel free to pop in if you are around to have a look.

The opening was great, and I enjoyed being in a different art scene to the Wellington one that I am so used to. Also was great to wander a few galleries with the Auckland festival of Photography on.

Two of my works sold on the opening night, including this image above - Tiko Tiko, however there are still two prints of it available. Most of my works are limited to an edition of three, with some being one offs. This one is of an edition of three, so number 2 and 3 are still available.

I'm going back to Auckland on Tuesday for my friends shows opening, and to wander more amongst the galleries.

in our backyard

2007-05-30T12:42:00.000+12:00

Tomorrow (Thursday the 31st of May) night in Auckland there will be an exhibition opening for In Our Backyard. This is a group show and is part of the Auckland Festival of Photography, I have some of my Whaingaroa work in it, and some new work (as seen on the invite above).
All are welcome to attend the opening for some drinks and nibbles, just RSVP (click on the invite to make it larger to see the details). If you can't make it to the opening, it'll be on till the 13th of June. Go to the gallerys website for more details. There are lots of other exciting exhibitions on at the same time, one of them being a friend of mine, Andy.... and since he mentioned my exhibition on his blog I thought I should do the same for him. Here is his invite -

Anthony Harper Award

2007-05-28T16:08:00.000+12:00

The Centre of Contemporary Art In Christchurch is the host to the Anthony Harper Art Award, of which my piece Tumult is a finalist. It runs from the 30th May – 16th June
Opening and winners announced 29th May

Here is the blurb!

"The CoCA/Anthony Harper Award for Contemporary Art is valued at $10,000 and in 2007 received more than 300 entries from throughout New Zealand. The judge for this year’s award is well-known New Zealand artist, Dick Frizzell whose work was the subject of a major retrospective, Portrait of a Serious Artiste, curated by Alan Smith at the City Gallery Wellington in 1977. The winner will be announced at a special function, Tuesday 29th June at 5.30pm. To attend please contact COCA for further details. (reception@coca.org.nz) This will be a ticketed function with wine and food and is available to members with a 20% discount ($8.00)."

If you find yourself in Christchurch on the 29th, attend the opening, it should be very good, and ensure you drop in to the gallery before the 16th of June to see the exhibition. The winner will be announced on the opening night, and you can also see a list of the finalists and as of the 30th the details of the winnner and judges statement on their website www.coca.org.nz

life and death

2007-05-23T14:00:00.001+12:00

This is one of my personal favourites from my 2005 show permanence that was shown at Photospace in Wellington.

I was intrigued at people reactions to it, many asking if it was just sleeping, others tentatively asking 'is it ummmmm... dead?'

How interesting, is it our optimistic sides coming out, or can we not comprehend death so easily in something so sweet and innocent as a little lamb. Or is it not obvious that this lamb is lying dead on the side of a gravel road, killed, i'd say by a car.

This image is of an edition of three, is a silver gelatin print and is still available for purchase.

in the sand

2007-05-11T17:37:00.000+12:00

in any spare time, i can often be found on the sand or in the water. It's in my blood I think. Whether it's for sport, or time out, that's where I'll normaly be.

In saying that though, I do go other places too, next week I'll be in Melbourne, I'm hoping that I may be able to get my toes in some sand there too though!!

2007-05-07T12:57:00.000+12:00

Nakedness and our reaction to nakedness

There are so many similarities in each of us, and yet we feel there is so much to hide. Why?

Here is one person's reaction to a naked female mannequin.

the phallic flower

2007-05-02T17:22:00.000+12:00

If you were browsing on this blog just before Christmas this year, you may remember my post 'one more before Christmas'. On it, I noted how I had just found a very beautiful yet phallic flower in my backyard. I posted a snap at the time taken on my digital camera. Here one of the photos I took on my 'real' camera.

four legged chicken

2007-05-01T20:23:00.000+12:00

A few months ago I got the privilege to meet a four legged chick (of the hen type variety). Most of my cameras don't appreciate close up work, that is unless you like it all out of focus, so it was hard to get a decent picture of it. But here it is, more for the unique value than the amazing image value mind you. Aparerently it is one of only two known to have survived. Yes it is alive in this photo... and don't forget you can make the picture larger by clicking on it.

more words on the norseweART award

2007-04-18T14:51:00.000+12:00

These words were on Creative New Zealands website about the NorseweART award... very nice!

17 Apr 2007
Seraphine Pick wins 2007 Norsewear Art Award
Wellington artist Seraphine Pick has won the 2007 Norsewear Art Award, worth $20,000, for her oil on linen painting, Phantom Limb, which was chosen from 466 entries by a panel of expert judges.

The work sold at Saturday's opening for $30,000. Chair of the judging panel, Sydney art dealer Martin Browne, described Pick's painting as "a rich and accomplished work by an artist working at the peak of her profession today".

Winners of the $4000 merit awards are painters Peata Larkin of Auckland, John McLean of Taranaki, and Wellington artist and jeweller Emily Valentine Bullock.

Pick said her painting reflected her interest in concepts of memory and time - the "real" and "the unreal".

At Saturday's award opening at the Hawke's Bay Exhibition Centre, art critic Hamish Keith said he needed to correct Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, who had described the Norsewear Art Award as "a leading contemporary art award".

"The Norsewear is the leading New Zealand contemporary art award," Hamish Keith said.

Martin Browne echoed Hamish Keith's comments at Sunday's gallery floor talk, saying that the Norsewear was "the pre-eminent national award". The quality of the Norsewear had increased so dramatically over the years that many past winners of the show would not even be selected for the exhibition if they were entered today, he said.

The artists in this year's show were "working at the top of their practices", he said.

Perhaps the six-week exhibition period could be extended or the exhibition taken on tour, he suggested.

Hawke's Bay Art Gallery and Museum manager Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, who was also on the judging panel, said he loved the Norsewear.

"I love it. It's erratic, it's kooky, it's eccentric. It's full of passion and strong ideas. It's the one art award in New Zealand that has never been patronising to crafts people or object makers."

The Norsewear Art Award is on at the Hawke's Bay Exhibition Centre in Hastings, daily from 10am to 4.30pm until 27 May.

NorseweART award details from website

2007-04-15T10:51:00.000+12:00

Hawke's Bay Exhibition Centre
201 Eastbourne Street East, Hastings
(06) 876-2077 10am - 4.30pm daily

April 14th - May 27th 2007

Entry Fee $6
School Age children: Free

Selector's Statement

It is with a mixture of pleasure and sadness that I write on behalf of the Selection Committee of this year’s Norsewear Art Award. Pleasure reflecting the enjoyment Moyra, John, Douglas and I have had in choosing the 2007 exhibition – and the very deserving winners – from the exciting range of nearly 500 works in a variety of media that were submitted from throughout the country for consideration this year. Sadness because this, the 21st Norsewear Art Award, will be the last in its current format.

At such a defining moment in the history of the Norsewear, I would like to make a few observations about the way in which the Award has developed in recent times.

Well into its teenage years, the Norsewear Art Award retained its Central Hawke’s Bay/Hawke’s Bay focus – and with it a reputation as an interesting, often quirky but essentially regional competition. However in 2000 a decision was made by the organizing committee to accept the challenge of making the Norsewear an Award of truly national significance and importance. The last six years have seen the progressive refining of the processes and structure of the Award into what it has now become – a vehicle for exhibiting the best of creative arts practice in New Zealand. Singular in its inclusiveness and range, the Norsewear is unique in Australasia.

As a veteran of the past four years’ Selection Committees, it has been gratifying to see the improving standard of entries over this time. The message the 2004 Committee sought to send when it declined to award an overall winner in that year has been clearly heard amongst the arts community with the result that each subsequent year’s entries have reflected an ever higher level of creativity and professionalism.

It is a source of particular satisfaction to see the progress made by a number of artists whose work has demonstrated an increasing confidence over the period they have submitted entries to the Norsewear. Similarly pleasing is the subsequent success in the wider exhibiting sphere of several artists who first came to prominence in the Norsewear – Peata Larkin and Israel Birch to name but two.

Now, in 2007, we are delighted to have awarded the $20,000 first prize to a rich and accomplished painting by Seraphine Pick, an artist working at the peak of her profession today. Merit Award Winners Peata Larkin and John McLean are both regular Norsewear entrants whose paintings this year have succeeded in achieving the perfect balance in their respective fields of abstraction and figuration, while with her Mynah Collie, Merit Award Winner Emily Valentine Bullock has given us one of those wonderful quixotic creations which have become almost a defining feature of the Norsewear. As well as these four winners, the Committee is delighted to have been able to select an exhibition of artworks each of which demonstrate the enormously creative talents of New Zealanders from throughout the country.

I’m sure I speak for all those who have been involved in the Norsewear, whether as entrants, selectors or viewers, when I say that we will be keenly anticipating the direction the organizers will take this nationally important event in the future. In the meantime, we offer our sincere thanks and admiration to all those who have made this, the 21st Norsewear Art Award, the best yet.

Martin Browne (Chairman)
Moyra Elliott, Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, John Gow

Phone/Fax: (06) 870-6306
Email: norsewearart@xtra.co.nz
Help Desk: (027) 221-3761

2007 Award Winners

Winner
$20,000
Seraphine Pick, Wellington
Phantom Limb
oil on linen, 1500 x 1400mm

MERIT AWARD 2D $4000
John McLean, Taranaki
Farmers Wife Departs with Traveller
oil on canvas, 605 x 700mm

MERIT AWARD 2D
$4000
Peata Larkin, Auckland
I am Tuhourangi (The Pink & White Terraces)
mixed media, 1300 x 1800mm

MERIT AWARD 3D
$4000
Emily Valentine Bullock, Wellington
Myna Collie
mixed media with mynabird feathers
170 x 100 x 120mm

Floor Talks

As from Wednesday 18th April, Floor Talks will be held each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am during the Exhibition.
This is included in the $6 Entry fee.

This was my image selected for the awards exhibition

'uncertain journey'
every path that
you may choose
has its uncertainties
but here
lies
the beauty

NorseweART award

2007-04-13T18:39:00.000+12:00

Tonight is the opening of the NorseweART award exhibition. One of my peices has made it into the award exhibition which is fantastic.

So, if you find yourself in Hawkesbay in between the 15th of April and the 27th of May pop into the Hawkesbay Exhibition Centre. It should be a great show, as it consists of both 2D and 3D artforms and had a comprehensive selection panel selection the finalists work for the show.

There were 466 entries into the award of which 69 were selected, and the award is aiming itself as being New Zealands' contemporary art award.

I've tucked myself inside infront of the fire place in this cold wintery blast that has hit us over the last two days... hope you all have a great weekend.

Elva

2007-04-12T10:54:00.000+12:00

This is Elva, she is my Grandmother. She died before I was born.

This is a photo taken of her by a Hamilton photographer, date and name are unknowen to me. She is lying beside the Waikato River, the photo was apparently called river nymph.

This is a photo that would have been quite controversial at the time.

I think she looks very beautiful.

phew

2007-03-30T20:43:00.000+12:00

'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

2007-03-27T16:52:00.000+12:00

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

2007-03-26T20:30:00.000+12:00

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

2007-03-22T22:47:00.000+12:00

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

2007-03-13T14:15:00.000+13:00

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

2007-03-08T09:58:00.000+13:00

art

2007-03-01T16:06:00.000+13:00

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.

Salient review

2007-02-26T19:37:00.000+13:00

Whaingaroa by Jodi Ruth Keet

Showing from February 16 to March 12
Photospace is one gallery that doesn’t get the publicity that it deserves. With regular exhibitions that roll around every three weeks it consistently features photographs that deliver high emotional impact.
Jodi Ruth Keet from Raglan has her third Photospace exhibition in as many years with Whaingaroa, a black and white project about the area she grew up in. Intensely personal, her photographs are gritty and raw, with beauty and innocence jumping out from the frames.
The unique culture of small town Aotearoa has inspired Keet to explore the people and symbols of our culture and the land that defines us. Keet has tried to capture any changes to the surrounding landscape that communicate symbols of the old and new.
Her subjects are the local people of the Whaingaroa area in natural situations, such as swimming or just standing outside of their homes. This is a common theme for a lot of photographic journalism and exhibitions, but it becomes evident that Keet has avoided common cliches because the subjects look so natural, relaxed and in-touch with their surroundings. As soon as you view the images you immediately grasp the emotion of the situation. You are led at first to wonder how poor they are, as they appear to be dressed rather roughly. Without trying to sound too pretentious, the exhibition reminded me of photos of American Indians, another group with strong spiritual connections to the land. ‘Flying Boy’, an action shot of a boy diving into the sea, and the mysterious ‘Skeleton Tree in the Mist’ are photographs that communicate a real sense of kiwi identity. After absorbing the works you also get a good feel for the Whaingaroa area. This work is as much a study of quintessential New Zealand as it is a study of the land and people of a specific area.
As Keet herself explains, “while change is inevitable, looking at who we are today and where we have come from is an important part of understanding our culture. My project reflects this, and is a conceptual and personal artistic exploration of a town that is slowly changing along with the rest of our country. This work glimpses symbols of both the old and the new, and it reflects our relation, our interaction and our similarity to our surroundings.”
Photo exhibits can often be really pretentious. Alternatively, because Keet chose her home area and it’s residents as the focus of this work, she has produced a powerful and personal exhibit.
This exhibition will be the first in the reconfigured gallery. Photospace owner James Gilberd will be presenting more tightly-focused bodies of photographic artwork in two smaller rooms. This and future selections will represent a more personal approach to curation, a decisive move away from the gallery functioning as a public space, as has been it’s direction over the past eight years.
For further information contact Photospace gallery:
1st floor, 37 Courtenay Place, Wellington
Hours: 10am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm Saturdays
www.photospace.co.nz

whaingaroa in wellington

2007-02-20T20:24:00.001+13:00

I havn't long been back from Wellington where I went for the opening of Whaingaroa at Photospace. Photospace has done a bit of a change around of gallery space, this being the first show to go up in the new rooms.... and if I do say so myself, it looks pretty good. It was curated by a team effort, with Andy Palmer adding his touch to the hang, much appreciated, thanks Andy!

The opening went well, and all seemed to be impressed at the new look photospace gallery rooms...

So this show is on until the 12th of March, so get in and have a look if you're not sure where photospace is, Courtenay place Wellington, above the Saraha cafe... and here's a sneak peak of the show

Oh, and the work is all hand printed by yours truly, and selinium / gold toned

the raglan

2007-02-07T16:20:00.000+13:00

There’s nothing like a bit of phallic imagery every now and again I say... here's one I took of a memorial in Raglan. I had a friend come to stay a couple of weeks after I took it and without any prompting by me he took a photo of it too (admittedly he is doing some kind of thing on memorials). So anyway Andy, I'll show you mine if you show me yours!? Oh wait you’ve seen mine... oh well show me yours anyhow!

dreaming of mediocrity

2007-02-05T10:51:00.000+13:00

I never cease to be amazed at what people choose to live in. Suburbia is what really does my head in... I mean, how do those people remember which house is theirs! And the amount of money people will pay to own one of those small souless buildings! Anyhow, this photo isn't quite that, but it is still worth a laugh.

I

2007-02-01T15:40:00.000+13:00

About a week ago, I got my recent films back... Here is one of my favs from them. I am calling it simply ' I '

Oh and for those of you who don't know me, photoshop hasn't had it's way with this image...

the exhibition

2007-01-23T19:50:00.000+13:00

Now, i still want everyone to actualy come and see the exhibitions that I have on and coming up, but here is a shot of the current show on in Hamilton right now...
Also an article in the Hamilton Press about it in last weeks paper...

Mia and I

2007-01-15T19:11:00.000+13:00

This is a photo my sister took of my Niece Mia and I on Christmas day.

I like it, so I'm posting it. I had a new niece born on Saturday, Jessie Rose Edwards. I havn't met her yet, but I'll try to go and see her in the next few weeks.. she is my 8th neice and nephew. Mia is my eldest niece.

i stand i float

2007-01-11T13:56:00.000+13:00

i stand
at the edge of this earth
and see
the ocean staring back at me
its power
its secrets
the lands galaxy
it has been since the beginning
of time
if only its secrets i could
hear
i dive
the ocean engulfs me
embracing
its power all over me
oh tell me what you know
take me
where you have been
for here I am
at home
i float

I wrote this poem about my feelings as I stood on the edge of Te Toto Gorge about a year ago. An amazing place to go, despite it being the scene of a nasty crime recently. The image that I took while I was there was destined to go into my current series of work that opens tomorrow, it made it to the final edit, and into the darkroom, where it then edited it self out as I couldn't get it to print how I wanted it to no matter how many hours I tried. I'll print it one day though, as I love this image and I love this place.

the dark room meditation

2007-01-11T13:52:00.000+13:00

counting mumbling
christmas away
a meditation in the dark
orange light
waiting for the picture to appear
hoping praying
for perfection
counting away moments
concrete floor
& that evocative smell
of memories in the dark
time counted out loud
as a prayer
no
a spell
evoking my snapshot memory
to remember that moment
onto this paper
a spell
while christmas disappears

small towns

2007-01-05T16:55:00.000+13:00

I live in a small town, and for those of you who havn't done that before, it's not hard to get to know people and in turn to be known. In fact, that is one of the reasons I was so keen to leave the small town I grew up in and move to Wellington, especialy after a little embarrsing episode of being the kiwifruit queen. But has fate would have it, here I am living in an even smaller town than before, and loving it by the way. Anyhow, my latest set of work 'Whaingaroa' is based on this small town, and for sure that is going to cause a bit of a stir, so this was in todays paper in little old Raglan
(click on the pic to make it readable)
And not long after that came out today, while I was sitting in my three day a week job and listening to the local radio station I heard the phone ringing on the radio... and also ringing in front of me at the same time... now THAT is something to be concerned about, so I think, should I answer it?! I leave it ringing, then eventualy pick it up, and just then the phone on the radio also stops ringing - also very concerning. So anyway the bored radio presenters decided to ring me off the cuff without warning even though the radio station is only 2 meters away from where I work to chat about my exhibitions coming up. Huh!

Anyhow, I hope '07 finds you all well! And I'll leave you with one of my favorite lyrics from one of my favorite bands 'Lamb'.

"little things"

there's so many things that we miss in our everyday lives
we're so busy hustling bustling chasing faraway dreams
we forget the little things
like blue skies, green eyes and our babies growing
like rainbows, fresh snow and the smell of summer
we forget to live

give us eyes like children so we live each day as our first
we're so sure we know so much that we forget to listen
then we want the fickle things
like cheap thrills, fast pills and constant consumption
like CDs, TVs and cars that speak our name
we forget to live

there's so many things that we miss in our everyday lives
we're so busy hustling bustling chasing faraway dreams
we forget the little things
like blue skies, green eyes and our babies growing
like rainbows, fresh snow and the smell of summer
we forget to live

okay one more post before Christmas

2006-12-20T20:28:00.000+13:00

Well, I thought that would be it for this year, but then, I was in the backyard, and I saw this!

Now aint that the most phallic flower you have ever seen!

Merry Christmas!!!