The Blog Masters

Overthenet (OTN) have just made their 1500th posting. I congratulate Jim Barr & Mary Barr most sincerely. It is a remarkable achievement. Not only does it take discipline and stamina to sustain this output but they are almost a lone voice in the New Zealand art scene. Few others ask such important questions of art establishments and in such a prolonged way, most of us wouldn't dare. Or, if we worked in a university or a civic art gallery, we probably wouldn't be allowed even if we secretly agreed.

I started blogging just a few weeks before they began, if my memory serves me correctly, if not I apologise, and I am only just in reach of 600. My blogging stamina has seriously fallen off in recent months, I'm worn out, and going through a demoralised phase in my life so I particularly appreciate what they do. I haven't taken a new photo for many months although I am trying to view this as an incubation period.

The posting that I have linked to today is one that they have chosen to mark the occasion of their 1500th. That is me on the left in this image taken more than 20 years ago. The photo is from the Barr's extensive archives.

I have observed them building these archives since about 1975 or 76, when Jim was director of the Dowse and I had my first public gallery exhibition there. Don Driver was also exhibiting on that occasion.

PS the photo of the quail I took last year at Henderson House where I was artist-in-residence. I fed the quail and they became so tame that they even came inside, a practise I had to discourage quite promptly as two or three tried to take a shortcut to the outside and killed themselves on the window panes. There is always a member of the group, who stood up on a high perch, acting as a sentinel. This is one of those. Sometimes there were about 30 in the groups. We need more sentinels.

Whites

One of the greatest photographic influences on me during my early life apart from Life magazine were the photographs that Whites Aviation produced. It seemed that there was a time when every home had one, along with a George Chance.

This print was originally a black and white image but subsequently hand coloured. I bought it a year or so ago in an auction at Art + Object in Auckland. I think for about $300 framed.

According to the label it was taken at Kaikoura. I would say in the 50's or 60's. The photo probably has a negative number that would provide me with the exact date if I was to dig deeper.

Alexandra

Here is the landscape I lived in for a year before returning to Taranaki. Today, the forecast said that the maximum there was going to be 1 degree Celsius. I'm missing these rocks, and the cold. It was the long dark nights that I struggled with.

The Almond Tree

Last year, when I was living at Henderson House high above Alexandra in Central Otago, there was an almond tree in the garden. It was the first fruit tree to flower, very early in the spring, almost in late winter but alone and laden. The apricots, plums, and apples were all much later so this tree stood out, alone and laden.

At the time I took one photo of the scene, this one. Very Pictorialist in feel I recognise, but then the Pictorialism movement in photography has never been anathema to me. I'm more of the opinion that great photography has been made in all styles and with all cameras ever since photography was invented and I don't like to miss out.

I've just returned from Auckland where I had ten of this small image printed . This evening I'm wondering if that is going to be enough. Judging the size of an edition is not a straightforward process for me. Frequently I've misjudged and printed too few, at other times, too many.

The Foreshore

It's been in recent months quite unusual for me to pick up a camera. Just don't seem to be getting the call. It is I hope, an incubation period.

A week or so ago I went for a walk along our fine foreshore here in New Plymouth and found myself hesitating before several views. I was surprised, it seemed like a start.

Rocks and dirt are always tempting subjects, even if just as a way of practising scales so to speak, a way of understanding and building upon what has been done by colleagues before but long gone, of limbering up the fingers and concentrating the mind.

Below are some Kaikoura rocks, from the top right of the South Island, this was taken a year or so ago.

Kangaroo Paw

My house was built in the 30's mostly of Rimu and Matai and fibrous plaster. It has some structures such as the alcove in this image which probably has a name. The Kangaroo Paw flowers I bought here in New Plymouth.

Magnetic Attraction

At home here in my studio in New Plymouth I have lots of magnets and iron filings to play with.

Holy Goldfish

Several years ago, in Bali, I saw these giant goldfish gathered in a pool created by a sacred spring. It seemed to me a remarkable place.
I've clung to this picture, there's something about the motion that speaks to me, calls my name, one could say. Puts its hand up. The swimming draws me in.
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P.S. A print of this sold at the Auckland Art Fair last night. That was uplifting news.