I like routine. My mind can become easily fragmented and routine provides a framework, a foundation that helps settle the often tumultuous thoughts in my head. Most mornings I’m up and walking before the sun rises, then back for exercise, then that “green” drink.. Rinse, repeat and keeps me sane!
I was talking to friends Daniel and Tim about it this week and likened it to a rope with knots that you follow along, eyes closed. Gets you out of the dark. Daniel had a good point and suggested that sometimes you need to let go of that rope, get your rollerskates on and go! Vanessa must have felt this too because, unbeknownst to me, last week she surprised me with a weekend away in Auckland for Father’s Day.
We decided early on to dedicate the weekend to art, synchronicity and being playful. Friday night we had tickets to go watch Paul Kelly, one of our favourite Australian songwriters, who was playing at the town hall. There is a reason Kelly’s songs resonate. He manages to put into words stories of ordinary people with big hearts. His big heart comes across in his presence on stage and, at seventy years old, he still has some spring in his step and the ability to launch off the stage.
There at the Town Hall was the largest single piece of heart Kauri in existence. A 30000 year old tree from Thames. I took a picture with Vanessa to show scale. It is a real shame to cut down such a majestic tree, especially just to put councillors names on it.
With Friday night over and the whole of Saturday to ourselves with “no jobs” to do, we set out on foot, in search of what makes Auckland, Auckland. I feel the best way for discovery, for synchronicity and for a gay old time is just to walk. That’s what we did. Up and down the Auckland streets popping into galleries along K road and Ponsonby.
Paul Kelly sang a song with words written by New Zealand poet, Denis Glover, a song called “The Magpies”. During our walk, we happened upon a bookshop in town and Glover’s book was staring me right in the face, along with the very poem Paul Kelly sang the night before. This is the synchronicity that comes from walking.
I had to get a photo in front of LLOYD house.
Around the corner was Grey Place Gallery, where my new friend Lyzadie Renault was curating an exhibition of New Zealand makers. It’s called Ngahere, “an immersive exhibition honouring the sacred bond between nature and art”. Lyzadie is doing a fantastic job of linking up New Zealand makers and I hope to be a part of that change too. (More on our ideas next year.)
You can view Lyzadie’s beautiful designs here: https://lyzadiedesignstudio.com/
There were some stunning works on display at the Ngahere exhibition. https://www.thegreyplace.nz/exhibitions/ngahere_lyzadiedesignstudio
We also met Whangārei sculptor Amie Redpath, who was teaching a jewellery workshop. Her work is stunning: amieredpathartist.co.nz
We stopped in at the march for Palestine to offer our support. The crowd was immense and very well organised. We were both moved and inspired to see such a collective, all standing in solidarity against the horrors of war and displacement.
All riled up and full of emotion, we stepped into Auckland Art Gallery, where we encountered the largest carved sculpture I’ve ever seen: a monumental work by Brett Graham.
It explores the customary relationship of Waikato-Tainui peoples to the Waikato River. Synchronicity abound again, and fresh from the Palestine march, this sculpture is itself a protest against the displacement of indigenous peoples as a result of war, this time the Waikato War (July 1863 – April 1864).
Standing before it reminded me of the power of scale in furniture, how a curve or carving can carry presence, not just decoration. It was indescribable. Nearby, a painting by his father, Fred Graham offered another dimension of the same lineage. Inspiration was everywhere.
By chance, we stumbled upon the modern art exhibition and bore witness to some of the greatest painters that have ever lived. Monet, Picasso, Breton, Signac, Cezanne…
(PS: Auckland Art Gallery. Your bench seats could use a tidy up. I know a guy.)
I’m again inspired by carvings spotted both at the gallery and the hotel we stayed at. Vanessa and I collected snippets of inspiration wherever we went.
Back in the workshop, I spoke with my friend Chris about decision making. His view, which I share, is that tools and workshops matter less than the decisions you make. I asked him how to make good decisions. His advice is to go away for a while. Well that’s exactly what we did and have arrived back with an ocean of inspiration.
I believe good art gets “in” you, lives within. But it has to be real, the screen won’t cut it, you need to get up close and see the brush strokes. I’d encourage anyone in need of a bit of zip to step out into some wet paint and just walk. Take in what’s around you and let the subconscious do the rest.
Vanessa and I returned with notebooks full of ideas and a renewed sense of play. My furniture isn’t made in isolation, it’s always in conversation with the world around me. If you’d like a piece that carries this same spirit of story and inspiration, I’d love to talk.
What I’m listening to:
Paul Kelly – Post
Quote I’m pondering:
“I would like to paint the way a bird sings” – Claude Monet