Chains on the brain… These three photos were taken consecutively on my camera.
{ 0 comments }
auckland
You may remember I recently attended the Auckland Zinefest. Here’s a little review I whipped up for the Sticky Institute in Melbourne:
“A rainy Saturday didn’t stop hordes of zinesters and DIY enthusiasts heading to Auckland’s 2010 Zinefest. Held in the gorgeous Neo-Greek surrounds of St. Kevin’s Arcade, the festival featured numerous stalls upstairs selling crafts, paper goods, and art; while downstairs the Wine Cellar hosted a zine library, workshops, and talks on a variety of subjects.
Presiding over the whole shebang from the volunteer-run info desk was a sneaker wearing Tyrannosaurs-Rex. Lovingly cast in glass, the Jurassic Zine Of the Fest trophy was a sweet carrot for a whole lot of zinesters to get their paper babies finished for the day. And finish they did! Zine highlights included: Health Wealth and Happiness (a great collection of local AKL found ephemera) and literary/art journal Potroast, with a resplendent full colour cover of hydrangeas. I also loved issue 11 of Cupcakemonsters and Radio As Paper.
Tes Clark’s screen-printing workshop was a winner with crowds of people learning and printing all afternoon long. Bryce Galloway of Incredibly Hot Sex With Hideous People’s talk on a Massey University zine was an insightful look at 20 or so zines made by curious fine arts students. It was interesting to hear him talk about the requirement to focus on distribution a central part of the ‘art’ process, which resulted in makers leaving zines on buses, pegging them to trees and anonymously mailing missives to high school art teachers.
In the evening the after party rocked into the wee hours downstairs at the Wine Cellar/Whammy Bar. Revellers were treated to fantastic performances from local bands like Hold Dear, Ghost Wave, Mothers Of Darkness and spoken word artists The Literatti. Resident postie Nich presented the ‘zine of the fest’ award in full friendly postman regalia, cycle shorts and all. The triumphant winners on the day were Ya-Wen Ho and Simon Fletcher for their mini illustrated zine.
Thanks must go to all attendees and the organisers for a great day out. Here’s hoping next year will be just as awesome; in the words of New Zealanders everywhere, and an apt response to zines – A++, would trade again!”
And here’s a terrible picture of my great collectible Zinefest tee! Love it.
{ 0 comments }
1. Line and shapes on Cross Street.
2. & 3. Crossing the motorway into the neighbourhood of Grafton.
4. & 5. Newton street art by one of my favourites, B.M.D.& some macro spray.
{ 1 comment }
The posters for the four books we’ve read so far at Book Club For Drunks! This is a mostly-monthly book club I host for people who enjoy the fine combination of reading and drinking. As this combination sometimes impairs memories, we provide notes for each meeting detailing the author’s life, cocktail recipes, how the book starts and key liquor infused quotes. (If you’re interested in reading a PDF of these notes please email me.)
Up next is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age novel, The Great Gatsby:
F. S. F.’s a bit of a babe, don’t you think?
{ 4 comments }
September 1st. A beautiful day, even in the belly of the city. I took these snaps while walking to meet a friend at Coco’s Cantina, where we drank rosé on a sidewalk table. I can feel my spirit lifting with the temperature. Life is good.
{ 1 comment }
Oh, hello! I haven’t done a week in review for a while, I guess I overload with the photos when I’m traveling and when I’m back I just want to leave the camera at home for a while… I can’t believe how much has happened, Europe feels like so long ago.
Let’s start with evidence that Auckland does have some secret architectural gems. Also, I took this photo from a lane… Durham Lane! Lanes, alleys and little nooks are what maketh a city.
The Auckland Zinefest a couple of weekends ago was a pretty fun day of small press, bigger and better than last year. {Ooh, look what I was doing in August 09}
It was the lovely Meg’s birthday on Tuesday night, so we ate lots of yummy Japanese and drank from a large can of beer at Tanuki’s. The tofu steak there is delicious!
Wrapping presents with tissue paper printed with a small mouthless cat.
A present for me! My friend Tessa gave me this cute narwhal badge. I offered to give everyone stick tattoos with it. Thankfully, they all declined. Easier to wear it, right?
I have been going to Revel a lot. I really like their bagels with pesto, and their dinosaur table numbers. I always feel like a winner every time I get it! They also have Space Invaders, which is a nice way to while away a Monday morning with a cute boy.
And finally, from Saturday night: me before a wonderful party, and my friend Mon in situ at the party- hanging out on an awning!
❤
{ 3 comments }
A new snapshots of my new place and new neighbourhood:
Fish on the gates of a church and the home of some bad Santas…
Coffee from Alleluyah… I’ve been rotating between 3 cafes, no favourite as yet.
My front door…
A selection of fine New Zealand publications…
Magic carpet… It’s been circumnavigating the globe for more than 20 years.
My friend Tess made me this scrumptious banana cake, mm lemon zest icing. She is a goddess.
Still working on the overall “look”… For everyone who’s been asking – still under budget!
{ 1 comment }
I spent quality time with my mother last weekend. Excellent quality. Instead of playing scrabble or shopping or something like that we caught a ferry to Waiheke Island, in the middle of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.
Once there we jumped on a wee bus, then toured around the island enjoying a day of tasting at three beautiful vineyards (Stonyridge, WOW and Mudbrick) and an olive grove. It was a perfect winter warmer for the soul.
Aside from the many glasses of red wine, my favourite part was visiting Rangihoua Estate for an education on the olive oil industry and tastings. Three interesting things I learned about choosing olive oil:
- Light. Olive oil deteriorates when exposed to light, so opt for a brand that has been packaged in dark green glass or a tin. 75% of olive oil on supermarket shelves is not offered this way – so sometimes you might have to buy a clear glass container, if so don’t sit it on the bench top – put it in the cupboard.
- Expiry. Olive oil only has a life span of two years, so look for bottling dates.
- Quality. Extra-virgin olive oil comes from virgin oil production only, contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and is judged to have a superior taste. The less acidity the better, as free oleic acid will oxidise the product. Good brands should tell you on the label what their % is.
Follow those three guidelines and you’ll be getting the good oil. Go to Waiheke and you’ll have an amazing day out.
{ 0 comments }
My friend Tessa is running Auckland Zinefest again this year and thought you might be interested in getting involved:
Auckland Zinefest is a non-profit community event that celebrates and promotes DIY and self publishing in Auckland city. Previously it was held at Cross Street Studios in 2009. Before this, there was a zinefest about 4 years prior that was put on under the name “Small Print”. (Check out some photos from 2003 – friends, you all look so young!)
This year Zinefest will be held at St Kevins Arcade and Wine Cellar in Newton, Auckland. The after party will take place at Wine Cellar and Whammy Bar. Zinefest is run by volunteers who have a passion for community arts projects and zines.
AN A TO Z OF BAD CRUSHES
In the spirit of DIY and getting involved, I’m putting together a zine for this fine event. Some one very wise once said, “Write what you know”. While I am obviously an expert in the proposed topic, I do need some help. I’m looking for written pieces/lists/musings on hopeless romances, failed Facebook stalking and other examples of melancholic modern love. Bad crushes, oh yeah.
For example: C could be for Crabby Bartenders (oh, there’s been a few) or I, as in I Want Amber In An Iron Maiden under the sea (this story obviously needs publication)…
Deadline: July 1, 2010 – so lots of time!
If you’re interested: email me – amber@codeforsomething.com
One last thing: Anonymity is offered, should you require it!
{ 3 comments }
Just in time for Mother’s Day… Post-it (in conjunction with Whitcoulls book store) staged this clever ambient piece in Auckland: I Love Mum.
Above is hundreds of Post-it notes, adhered to the glass panes of a CBD shop front, all a’fluttering in the wind and inviting you to write a nice note to your mother.
People really got into it, sitting on each other’s shoulders to reach blank squares, and respectfully taking time to read the notes. After 3 days, the stickiness was still going strong! The piece looked phenomenal at night too, with the Post-its back lit and glowing.
For once, a brand communication successfully meets street (he)art.
http://www.ilovemum.co.n
{ 3 comments }
All that glitters is not superficial. Last week with Laza, post ramen feast, I checked out Dear Beauty, Dear Beast; Reuben Paterson’s recent exhibition at Auckland’s Gow Langsford gallery.
The series began for Paterson as a reaction to New Zealand’s provocation debate. In the way that previous bodies of work have honoured his whakapapa and found basis in the emotional responses to his genealogy, Paterson views these works, in part, as a personal homage to the victims of murder cases which have successfully used the provocation or “gay panic” defence. The work suggests that in the same way that we have an underlying culture of racism, there is also an underlying culture of homophobia.
The result is a series of strong images representing a weak outcome for victims and their families. In person the works are dazzling – and had a depth that in no way can be replicated through a photograph. Paterson commissioned custom glitter colours for each individual piece of work in the exhibition. In an interview with Radio New Zealand he said: “Although the imagery may be familiar, you’ll probably never see it again because these colours will never be manufactured again.”
Reuben Paterson
b.1973, Auckland (Ngati Rangitihi and Ngai Tuhoe)
Lives and works in Auckland
{ 0 comments }
At the recent First Thursday I came across Ferrit’s pretty and precious handmade pieces. I did not buy anything at the time (mini dilemma – spend my pennies on cute or on cider?) but I picked up a business card. I’m so happy I did… look at how awesome her creations are!
From the cardboard frame brooches:
To the bouquets of flowers:
To Be Fri and St Ends declarations of love:
Everything is just really lovely:
“Once upon a time in a beautiful island called New Zealand lived a Ferrit. She loved to scavenge, search and fossick for interesting old things like fabrics, ornaments, books and clothing from around this island. Miss Ferrit loved collecting so much that her small home was filled with many piles of things she had collected over her years of fossicking. She had always dreamed of one day becoming a real crafty Ferrit and using all the interesting things she had gathered to create new things to share with others from around the island.”
You can often see the Ferrit scurrying around at Auckland’s regular craft markets; or for those of you a bit further away, perhaps you could get your paws on something directly from her.
Once upon a time in a beautiful island called New Zealand lived a Ferrit. She loved to scavenge, search and fossick for interesting old things like fabrics, ornaments, books and clothing from around this island. Miss Ferrit loved collecting so much that her small home was filled with many piles of things she had collected over her years of fossicking. She had always dreamed of one day becoming a real crafty Ferrit and using all the interesting things she had gathered to create new things to share with others from around the island.
{ 0 comments }
Things I love: watching my little crystal garden grow day by day, revisiting archived notebooks, when my friends exhibit and show off their hard work, super-energetic smiling people, feijoa cider at my favourite bar, making blackberry jelly (jellies are clear, jams have pips) and taking photographs that look black and white.
{ 3 comments }
‘Box Of Birds’ is the name of Seed Gallery’s latest exhibition. They’re releasing a new range of greeting cards featuring prints by some of their favourite artists and to celebrate they’re dedicating the gallery to both the cards and the originals.
The gorgeous work below is by artists John Pusateri (I have some of his birdy etchings hanging in my home), Annie Sandano and Aroha Lewin.
The gallery show is on till March 28, 2010, but the cards will be available to snap up beyond that. I can’t wait to go buy some… one can never have too many beautiful blank cards.
My pick of the lot? Annie Sandano’s Wise Owl. Naturally.
Seed Gallery, 23A Crowhurst Street, Newmarket, Auckland.
{ 0 comments }
