‘Breathe’ by John Ferguson. Sculpture in steel; Sculpture in the Gardens, Auckland Botanic Gardens. Image; Su Leslie 2020
Wordless Wednesday
Art
The Changing Seasons, February 2020
Detail, ‘Contained and Protected’, sculpture in bronze, Marte Szirmay. Sculpture in the Gardens, 2019-2020; winner McConnell Family Supreme Award. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Humans are incredibly skilled at both making, and understanding symbols. Indeed, our cultures rely on it.
The symbols I respond to most are generally visual; paintings, sculptures, photographs — but especially sculptures.
‘Contained and Protected’, sculpture in bronze, Marte Szirmay. Sculpture in the Gardens, 2019-2020; winner McConnell Family Supreme Award. Image: Su Leslie 2020
I saw this piece a couple of weeks ago in an exhibition at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. I find its simplicity both beautiful and powerful. The judges who awarded it the exhibition’s supreme prize had this to say:
“This beautiful disk, fastened to its base by a bronze cord, acts as a talisman of guardianship in the garden bed of critically endangered native plants. It is a superb and accomplished linking of form to site, evoking both the preciousness of our botanical heritage and the idea of keeping it safe forever. The work is placed near the entrance to the Threatened Native Plants garden … ” News, Auckland Botanic Gardens.
I won’t pretend my response to the work was analytical or erudite. I just felt — and continue to feel — uplifted by it.
I had a similar experience with a painting I saw on Instagram. So much so, I bought it.
‘Little Cottage in a Summer Field’, Natalie Towler. Image; Su Leslie 2020
The artist is local (New Zealand) and also makes wonderful small sculptures of houses (you can see them here).
I didn’t fully realise it until I was sorting photos for The Changing Seasons, but the colour palate of the landscape around me right now, is the same as in Natalie’s painting.
I’ve mentioned a few times this month that parts of New Zealand, including Auckland, are in drought at the moment. It’s particularly noticeable where land has been cleared for animal grazing. On a recent trip to Raglan, we drove through mile after mile of fragile, brown grass; broken only by occasional stands of trees and irrigated fields of maize — presumably being grown as animal feed.
Girl in a field. Cornwall Park, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Sunset, Highway 22, Waikato. Image; Su Leslie 2020
Into the rain. The back roads, Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Farm land, Raglan, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill, Auckland. Image; Su Leslie
Storm clouds, back roads, Waikato. Image: Su Leslie 2020
At home, I’ve been incredibly grateful for our rainwater tank which has allowed me to keep my plants alive without resorting to “city water.”
I’ve managed to sustain “proactive hopefulness” largely by not engaging with mainstream news media and spending as much time as possible in my little garden.
Hydrangea paniculata flowers. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Hydrangea paniculata flowers. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Long-tailed Pea-blue butterfly (thank you Brian). Image: Su Leslie 2020
Monarch butterfly. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Bottled. Tarragon vinegar. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Hydrangea flower in decay. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Lemon bergamot flower. Image: Su Leslie 2020
As always, I end the month with a list of projects that excite me, but in which I’ve barely made a dent. I can partly blame a cold which hit me harder than expected and has clung on far too long. But I suspect that I perhaps need to take stock of my life and prioritize my time better.
And of course, in that spirit (NOT), I bought some lovely writing paper and envelopes so that I can send real, actual letters to people.
I could explain why, but I think it deserves a separate post … to come.
Got the pen, got the stationery, found my glasses and made a cuppa. Dear …. Image: Su Leslie 2020
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them.
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.
Update
Darren at The Arty Plantsman
Joanne at My Life Lived Full
Ju-Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful
Lani at Life, the Universe and Lani
Marilyn at Serendipity Seeking intelligent life on Earth
Tish at Writer on the Edge
Tracy at Reflections of An Untidy Mind
Sarah at Art Expedition
Ruth at Ruth’s Arc
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Brian at Bushboys World
Sculpture to enjoy and think about
Beehaven, Jane Downes. Exhibited at Sculpture in the Gardens, Auckland Botanic Gardens. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Wordless Wednesday
Detail: ‘Twig‘, Phil Bonham, seen at Waitakaruru Sculpture Park. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Finding red
Lang Ea, Pop! Boom! Bang! Sculpture in the Gardens, 2018. Image: Su Leslie
Red is a benevolent dictatorship.
— James Jannard, founder Oakley Inc.
Patti’s challenge was to ‘find something red.’ My personal challenge is not to go overboard with this. I love red; red clothes, red lipstick, red food, red cars and (I’m not sure I realised this, red art).
Long ago (and far away). Red as armor in the days of office politics and shoulder pads. Image: The Big T, 1991.
“My Luve is like a red, red rose” Robert Burns. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Dessert. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Pomegranate. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Pohutukawa flowers. Image; Su Leslie 2019
Seeing double. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Work in progress: The Big T’s cafe racer. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Chen Wenling, Harbour. Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, 2015. Image: Su Leslie
And I know I’ve posted the Anish Kapoor sculpture before, but surely this fits Patti’s brief very well. Red art on a monumental scale: it is 85 metres long, and each end is 25m x 8m.
Red, of course, is the colour of the interior of our bodies. In a way it’s inside out, red.
— Anish Kapoor
Anish Kapoor, Dismemberment, Site 1, 2009. Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, NZ. Image: Su Leslie
Anish Kapoor, Dismemberment, Site 1, 2009. Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park, NZ. Image: Su Leslie
A short wander
It’s too hot to move much at the moment, but I was happy to take a short wander up the stairs to this Japanese tea house.
Shame there wasn’t a cup of tea waiting for me.
The tea house is a new addition to the Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum, near Morrinsville, NZ. The park is privately owned, but open to the public to enjoy art in the beautiful setting of an old quarry that has been transformed into an arboretum.
Wordless Wednesday
Sometimes the frames are more interesting
Posted, belatedly, to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
Secret
“A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.” —
Diane Arbus
Images: Su Leslie 2019
Posted to Debbie’s weekly quote challenge.
Solace in the Wind
Detail, Solace in the Wind. Cast iron sculpture by Max Patte. Located on Wellington waterfront.
Posted to Silent Sunday
