by Amber on February 26, 2010
A little while ago I was lying in bed, having a nice daydream (probably about having a pet narwhal), when I abruptly remembered that somewhere in my boxes of ephemera I had a letter from Keri Hulme. I dug it out.
Hulme is the author of the bone people – winner of the Booker Prize in 1985. It tells the story of 3 characters, shifting perspectives and weaving their dreams, aspirations and fears together. From Amazon: “[It] explores the potential within families for both destruction and healing, as well as the great personal costs of the disintegration of individual connections to traditional communities and cultures – in this case, the indigenous Maori culture of New Zealand.”
the bone people has been a a bit of a contentious book over the years, garnering both good and bad reviews. I recently reexamined it and found while the non-traditional shape of the book is deliberate decision, it would have perhaps benefited from a thorough edit. Positively, I found the exploration of Maori spirituality and language to be absurdly refreshing. (That said, it shouldn’t be, why isn’t this expression more common in the literature of this country?)
In any case, the letter my younger self received is so nice and generous I thought I’d share (and yes, I love the astrology references):
My request was for a barely remembered school project – an illustrated calendar with a different literary figure for each month. I also found it hilarious that I had clearly said to her “I want to be a writer”. Funny how things turn out.
My mother is a big fan of ‘reaching out’ to people, so as a kid I also had correspondence with British poets, a builder based in Antarctica and other amazing people. Have you ever connected with someone you admire?
by Amber on October 24, 2009
This day was marked by a visit to the Museum Of Natural History, where I had a grand time, wandering the halls for hours.
There was an epic dinosaur and “extreme extinct mammal” display, unlike anything I’ve ever seen before… They even had an ancient narwhal skeleton!
Flocks of taxidermied owls and packs of stuffed beasts…
I was a little disappointed to miss out on an epic maritime battle (as seen in the film The Squid and The Whale) but nonetheless they were both to be found:
And finally, on they way out, more fantastic subway mosaics – including this little New Zealand fellow:
It’s details like this that make my heart beat faster for the city, I tell you.
They had an ancient narwhal skeleton! It was so much bigger than I imagined.
by Amber on October 23, 2009
Day 3: Visited an awesome design/innovation studio, and left feeling incredibly inspired.
“Anything else you want to know?”
“Why yes, a lunch recommendation would be brilliant!”
“Joe’s Shanghai then. Make sure you go to the original, not the poser Joe’s.”
So off we trotted in a round about way to Chinatown, taking in the sights/sites and sounds of a new neighbourhood. Here’s some of what I saw:
Afterwards I was too stuffed with dumplings to move, let alone raise a camera to my eye!
by Amber on October 22, 2009
by Amber on October 21, 2009
Touchdown to the greatest city on earth. After finding our sweet little apartment and snoozing for 12 hours Emma and I headed to Times Square. The very first thing that happened? A woman gave us free cupcakes!
From there we headed to Union Square and schlepped around a giant (to my teeny Kiwi eyes) Barnes & Noble. Novel. There I found Domo, preparing for Halloween:
Talk about making friends with the subway maps. A + E + 1 + W + ? I adore all the station mosaics. They’re like Pokemon, I want to capture them all…
Food summary of the day: Ordered an amazing pizza and sipped some truly disgusting “coffee”. Desperate for a good one, I have been coffee free for about a week – this is truly abnormal. If you know where to find some let me know! xx
<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/teststrip/4029365063/” title=”subway by Amber P., on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/4029365063_384405a666.jpg” width=”500″ height=”334″ alt=”subway” /></a>
by Amber on October 20, 2009
San Francisco. I took the BART to downtown, after finally making it to SF after 3 flights, one day and a whole lot of stale airport air. I met Katy at the appointed place outside GAP by the street cars, after talking to several street hustlers – “I love your flowers!” – they all adored my shoulders… which were exposed because it was freaking hot.
After meeting up with my lovely friend, I had a terrifying experience on the street car; clinging to the side with my luggage hanging off the side, precariously balancing on a step. [Also after 8 years apart, within our first moments together, some elderly people told us off for 'cussing'. Rad. Just like when we were kids!]
Finally we made it to Katy’s beautiful apartment and I settled in by drinking Mexican beer on the rooftop. After getting ready there was a wild taxi drive, up and down hills, to the Mission – where I met the burrito of my dreams. It was the size of a baby. Not joking, see:
We headed to the Financial District, and up a tower to the Carnelian Room for a rather fancy cocktail and a look at the view. It was so high my ears popped! K. pointed out all the sites and we gossiped. We also discovered a carnelian is a reddish/brown gem… thanks iPhone!
Chinatown was rather lovely – we stopped at a dive bar where everyone was playing dice… Followed by a visit to the bakery where one day in July 1996 Bill Clinton also sampled pastries between 5 and 5.30pm. Mm, we gorged ourselves sticky sesame seed and black bean buns – they were so greasy, but perfect.
From there the night is a blur… A quick peep (!) at the iconic City Lights Book Store, making friends with nice people in a bar, cabbing home, drinking more beer, yelling on the roof top and taking photographs – long exposures of SF city.
An excellent effort for 24 hours, if I do say so myself. SF, you’re so nice!
by Amber on September 14, 2009
COME TO OUR SHOW! If you’re in Auckland on September 20, pop along for an evening of scientific education and enthrallment. It’s going to be incredible and I would love to see you all there!
The Happening is MOTAT on crack – featuring collaborative works from 10 of Auckland’s best video, sound and installation artists.
The Happening was born in summer 2001 as part of a series of interactive multi-media events, coordinated by Scotland’s The Forest arts collective. Featuring artists from around the world The Happening encourages its participants to transform the purpose and appearance of each venue into an experience best described as “Ultra Fuck”.
8 years and 7 Happenings on, original members Krumins and Boyd have gathered sound and video artists, performers, sculptors and assemblers from across the city to take part in the Auckland Happening at Cassette Number Nine in September.
The event will involve artists working for and against each other with the sole aim of flipping Cassette over. They’re yanking the tape from its belly and reveling in the opportunity to fuck with the space in ways you’ve never dreamed of.
Auckland participants include: Genista Jurgens, Jonas Besson, Josca Craig Smith, Mikel Krumins Timothy Boyd, Amber Parkin, Melissa Jenkins, Damian Golfinopulous, Sophie Watson and Imogen Taylor.
Previous participants include: Stefan Pavlakis (Athens), Dan Meth (NYC), Aaron Mcloskey (Vancouver), Miroslav Mitrovic, (Bosnia i Herzegovina), The Arctic Circle (Bristol), Dirk Markham (Berlin) and Ryan Van Winkle (NYC).
September 20 is your chance to experience the delightfully interactive Science Museum of Nothing.
by Amber on September 6, 2009
It’s Father’s Day today. Here’s a couple of reasons why my dad rocks:
He has excellent taste in music, introducing me to the likes of the Moody Blues, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull. Like all good dads seem to do, he sparked my interest in photography (look at that beautiful Yashica). Ron is always 100% forgiving of me, despite my utterly surly teenage catastrophes or a recent unladylike meltdown in the middle of Beijing. He’s the nicest, most extreme (snowboarding! surfing! motorcycles!) father a girl can have.
And with that I must be off to cook dinner for him and the rest of my little rambunctious family. It’s the least I can do.
by Amber on July 26, 2009
Twas a perfect sunny day – smack in the middle of winter. Considering the month, what more could you hope for? How about going to the beach and watching whales! I spend half my time at a little place called Omaha, and for the last few days there has been a Southern Right whale mother and calf hanging about the bay.
This afternoon I strolled down to the beach and watched the little-big-family frolic for a few of hours – they were hanging out just off shore. There was lots of wave slapping and sunbathing on their behalf. Um so, this is what I wore when I was watching those gorgeous creatures. I had the hugest grin – marine animals for life!
+ Twin Rivers zip up jumper
+ Merino turtleneck (it’s sunny but not that warm!)
+ Cotton peasant skirt of unknown origin with glitter embellishments
+ Dotti black leggings
+ Vintage lace up boots
No whale photos sorry. If only I was in a boat, sigh. In any case, I consider myself seriously lucky to live such in a beautiful place, plus I had an icecream! Yup, a brilliant way to spend a Sunday. I hope your weekend was just as swell.
This is my latest greatest bag! A sparkling black sequin tote. I bought in Yangshuo, China, mostly thanks to the deadly haggling skills of my Irish shopping companions. I’m totally in love with it – despite how hard it is to photograph. It’s a disco hobo sack!
What’s in my bag? To my surprise, not that much – and it’s all orderly! The only thing missing from the picture is a well thumbed copy of Anne Lamott’s Bird By Bird – my current squeeze read.
Clockwise from top left:
- Moleskine year by day diary. My life is crammed in there!
- Writing instruments.
- Beauty supplies - Lush Jasmine temple balm, Loreal lip gloss, Palmer’s Lip butter, Mac Plush Lash mascara, Copper Eyeshadow from the Body Shop.
- Purse, also from Yangshuo.
- Functional cellphone. I’m not allowed fancy phones until I can stop leaving them under pillows at backpackers and dropping them in glasses of water etc.
- New 50mm lens.
- Moo Flickr cards that I use as business cards.
- Earplugs, in case I ever get stuck in a club or bar with amplification aimed at destroying my hearing. Sadly after a Flying Lotus show earlier this year without plugs it might not be the same again.
- My watch – a 25 year old fake citizen watch from Hong Kong via my dad. I need a new battery for it.
- Violet lighter, in case of fire emergencies. People are ALWAYS going to ask you for a light.
- Asthma inhaler, in case of lung failure.
- 4GB USB stick – essential documents, songs, etc.
What’s in your purse, satchel or manbag?
by Amber on June 22, 2009
This is my last week at designworks. For something that started out as a stop gap, it’s rocked my life in a million ways I never could have imagined. I will miss working in the big beautiful studio, surrounded by some of the finest designers in the country. I’ll miss having raging arguments about where the city’s best ramen is served, why Muji is the ULTIMATE brand, the occasional kerning competition and all that karaoke.
A little bit of back story:
I has just finished my first year of university in Auckland, doing a degree in Film & Performing Arts. It was a challenging year of learning, surrounded by a group of amazing people from all walks of life. Unfortunately, I was 17 and my walk in life, thus far, had been to the mall and back. It was bizarre, I wasn’t old enough get into pubs, let alone reflect the full spectrum of life in scripts and performance. So I decided to take a break, get some life experience and see how I felt after a year.
I started a job at designworks as a studio assistant… meaning taking photos, sticking things together (hi, award boards) and making tea!
Yup, the cliche. I looked like this even down to the regrowth.
5 and a half years later… Thanks to some serious weaseling, I’m a full fledged brand geek, research whizz and the girl who whips your copy into either an alcoholic frenzy or a soothing bath time treat. Whatever you like, babycakes!
I’ve grown more than I could have imagined, travelled around the world with the proceeds and made some BFFs for life. Really, DW is my family and I love them very much. However, as with all families, the little ones grow up and must move on!
So what next? I’m not entirely certain, but it’s totally okay not to know. The best things in my life have come about because I’ve made room for them and now the time feels right to make a turn into uncharted territories. I’m keeping an open mind as to future directions, but in the meantime I will be doing some freelance writing/trend forecasting, personal scribbling and attempting some cake baking… without getting flour on my pyjamas. If you’ve got any ideas, let’s have a chat!
Anyway, thanks for sticking out this long, overly personal interlude – I really wanted to share this with you. Code For Something has rapidly become a big part of my life, so I’m excited to give it even more attention. Onwards and upwards!
by Amber on April 27, 2009
No rest for the wicked good! I’m back in AKL… while it would be nice to laze around and ponder my navel (expanded, too many dumplings) for a few days, it was never going to happen.
Instead it has been a whirlwind. Repacking my suitcase for a local version of my nomadic lifestyle, sorting out a warehouse full of junk, dates with friends, project work and 1am kebabs. This is the new normal I guess. Highlight of the week? Loads of people loving my new glasses, in fact one kid crossed the road to tell me they were cool. Bless ❤
Hope you’ve been wicked good too!
by Amber on March 25, 2009
Hello! How are you? I’m well, quite excellent in fact. That’s in part because today I had a good mail day, one of those fleeting moments where the universes of international postal services align and mail actually is delivered!
An example of a bad mail ‘day’: Once I ordered a book on zines from Amazon, which never showed up so I ordered a replacement, which did arrive. Seven months later, yes seven, the original package appeared, with postal marks declaring it had meandered around the world; from Portland, to India, via Australia and finally to New Zealand…
A fine example of good mail:
This package was from Pete – he’s quite handy with words (read his blog: Less Permanent) and an accomplished spoon hunter.
These are final pieces from London needed to complete my Alt Albion mission. Hurrah! Also enclosed was a copy of the magazine he edits, Art and Things. The rumours are true, send me silverware and I will pimp all of your publishing endeavours on CFS.
Item number two on this GMD was an exciting parcel from Moo:
My very own pint-sized name cards. Excellent! I love the ‘kit’ the cards come in – filled with friendly touches like discounts and a card declaring us best friends. It was a speedy delivery too, which is always pleasing. I think I ordered my cards about a week ago.
They’re so cute I almost don’t want to give them away…
My tax refund was also in the PO Box today, but it’s not so photogenic. Good Mail Day = smiles!
by Amber on March 9, 2009
It’s been a slow paced, watch-the-grass-grow sort of week, compared to the last few. A few books were read, a few coffee dates were had and more than a few hours of sitting at my computer were logged. Often typing until my eyelids drooped and my fingertips were numb! Ooh la la, the exciting life and times of a (sick, it’s tonsillitis baby) writer.
Humidity...
On the reading list: Stencil History.
One of the highlights of my week was on Friday night, when I went to the phenomenal La Clique to celebrate Felicity’s birthday. It was an amazing show and Booth 12 was very vocal in showing their appreciation.
La Clique at the Speigeltent! Photo by Amanda.
Lights! Showtime! Photo by Amanda.
If you’re in Auckland and you like circusy-nudie-magical-cabaret entertainment, do go along. You’ll adore it! If I had any sort of aptitude for theatrics, I would have left with a new dream career. Hm, the trapeze and some strategic sequins…
