MIKE: Two exhibitions opened last weekend, varying greatly in content. Rena Star's Gallery on Guyton celebrates Puanga with Re-Creations, in which several artists, employing different media and re-cycled items, have produced works "re-purposing and so extending the life of the chosen objects".
One which appealed to me greatly was From the
Spoils of Motherhood, a chandelier made of wood, glass, chain and wire. Being the mother of a young child, Sarah Rosacker's belief that our environment, both physical and cultural, should be preserved for the future has been strongly reinforced. Inspired by her joy and sense of responsibility, Sarah created this attractive feature from re-cycled baby food jars.
A work by a Palmerston North based artist Ron Tekawa dominated one wall. A startling red dress, surrounded by remnants of bright material in orange, red and yellow, like leaves or feathers, represents the story of actress Frances Farmer, who served 10 years in prison for "punching a policeman". Frances Farmer will have her Revenge on Seattle is the title, taken from the Nirvana song of that name, written by Kurt Cobain.
Mystical Mushrooms and Gardens by Te Moana Henry consists of inverted glass bowls and tumblers placed in moss, thus producing the garden effect. Along with the other contributors - Rere Sutherland, Rebekah Blom, Tracey Young, Leonie Sharp, William Bennett, Snobby Goth (really?) and Rena herself - they have delivered a show that is eye-catching , unusual and well worth a visit.
Meanwhile, Space Gallery is displaying a series of new prints by Bruce Phillips. All Life Is One was three years in the making, according to his wife Cathy, and hampered by a period of ill health. It is a fascinating exhibition - 12 emphatic and colourful prints lining the walls, in circular, square and triangular shapes. During the several circuits I made of the room, I just jotted down words which leapt off the prints before me. Astrological, mysterious, serpentine, mandala, whirling wheels, starburst, mystic eye, Mayan, centrifugal, labyrinth .... strange , perhaps, but springing to mind from the compelling works. Quiet and self-effacing, Bruce told the large gathering that he would leave the words in his descriptor to speak for themselves. All Life Is One is a quote from Bill Bryson, and this series is based on the statement that "being connected is essential to existence".
The exhibition continues until June 5 and I would recommend it.
JOAN: A journey to Wellington amid the worst floods for 15 years followed by a return trip, where the gods threw chariots of water at the windscreen throughout, prevented us submitting our article last week. The trip to the capital took us five hours but, like the cavalry, we were determined to get through. The radio informed us as we left Whanganui that the coast road was closed. We were determined! After all, it was our grand daughter's second birthday and nature would not get in our way on such a special occasion! Nature did and it was only by sneaking round an unmanned barrier that we continued on past Paraparaumu, feeling more than sad for the numerous flooded houses we passed and the large slip on the railway line. Ironically, we left a mild, sunny day in Wellington on our return, only to encounter torrential rain for the rest of the journey.
MIKE: Since retiring more than a decade ago, I have scrupulously kept a diary, which has proved a valuable source of information when my memory has faded somewhat. Last week provided just such an occasion, when I dusted off my 2008 journal, after being invited to address the 60s Up Group about our trip to India. Much of it still remains vivid for me, but, on opening the diary, I was staggered by how much I had forgotten. Incidents or scenes which had slipped my mind were there on the page, recorded at the time with the impact they had made on us both. Crowds, colours, smells, noise -all came flooding back. A rickshaw ride, perilously close to passing cars, on a main street, then down a narrow winding alley, where a dentist was plying his trade on the footpath, a cobbler repairing sandals, a barber trimming an old gentleman's beard, and countless other examples of daily life in those teeming cities. It would have been impossible for us to negotiate the heaving, seething masses on Agra railway station on our own, and we were grateful for the brisk efficiency of our guide. Travel by car was slow, due to the poor condition of roads, with their regularly recurring potholes, as well as the constant braking and stopping to give right of way to meandering cows. Add to this the fact that most drivers took great delight in overtaking on blind bends and extremely narrow roads, and we were probably fortunate to escape unscathed. More than once we heard the mantra that in India drivers needed three things -"good brakes, good horn and good luck"! As both time and space are at a premium, I will continue this topic next week.
JOAN: My dear friend Murray Ware, of lighting and sound fame for all our Whanganui theatres, invited me to join him to see the latest production at Centrepoint. On Wednesdays the performance begins at 6.30pm which is tempting on wintery evenings as the ride through is in daylight and you are home at a decent time. This was a one-man-show, the latest offering by probably our best known playwright, Roger Hall. I am not a huge fan of his work but respect that he can recognise and reflect New Zealand life well in his characters and that there will be laughter with the recognition of this. The set consisted of the undulating curves of a golf course, the title being Golf: A Love Story. Behind the set were three large screens which showed us the angles and dangers of each hole to be encountered.
Stuart Devenie is a well respected New Zealand actor. Sadly, possibly because I am not a player, I was not gathered into the "in" jokes and his physical humour. Variations of voice, pace and delivery seemed lacking and I felt as if present at a lecture on the subject. I would have preferred more intimacies about the character rather than watch his progress around the course. The denouement depended on the screens' revelations rather than the actor's. I felt let down. However, there were plenty of chuckles from others and a night at the theatre is always interesting. There are some good plays coming up. And Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is in production for November at Amdram. May I welcome Colin Hedivan and Mel Hawkins to the cast.
JOAN and MIKE: The demise of Campbell Live is extraordinary. A programme that we never missed, a man professional, warm, funny, intelligent and compassionate are removed from our sight. Indignation is ignored and viewers are, once again, left bereft. ¦mjstreet@xtra.co.nz