Wordless Wednesday
Sculpture
Not here today #2
My mum and I celebrate our birthdays three days apart, and in 2013 we gifted ourselves a wee road trip to the England’s north east.
Antony Gormley’s Angel had been on my must-see list since it was first installed, and close up it is so impressive.
I’m not sure when (if) my mum and I will have another road trip, so this is a memory to cherish.
Wordless Wednesday
Close-up. Michael Jones statue (artist Natalie Stamilla), Eden Park, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Michael Jones statue (artist Natalie Stamilla), Eden Park, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie 2020
Wordless Wednesday
‘Breathe’ by John Ferguson. Sculpture in steel; Sculpture in the Gardens, Auckland Botanic Gardens. Image; Su Leslie 2020
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
Gill at Talking Thailand
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.
Solace in the Wind
Detail, Solace in the Wind. Cast iron sculpture by Max Patte. Located on Wellington waterfront.
Posted to Silent Sunday
In profile
Bronze sculpture. Artist: Terry Stringer. Wallace Arts Trust, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie
“Sculpture occupies real space like we do… you walk around it and relate to it almost as another person or another object.” — Chuck Close, artist.
Detail,Bomber Command Memorial, Auckland Museum. Made by Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop. Image: Su Leslie
Detail; Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial, Melbourne. Artist: Peter Corlett. Image: Su Leslie
Detail; Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial, Melbourne. Artist: Peter Corlett. Image: Su Leslie
Frieze detail; ‘The Meeting Place’, St Pancras Station, London. Artist: Paul Day. Image: Su Leslie
Detail; Quotidanity “the brothers”.Artist: Fabio Pietrantonio. Seen at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, 2015. Image: Su Leslie
Seen at Sculpture by the Sea 2018. Visitor engagement with “Slovakia” Artist: Viktor Freso. Image: Su Leslie
Detail, marble statue, Auckland Wintergardens. Image: Su Leslie
Simplicity
‘Reflection of a Journey‘, Torild Storvik Malmedal (2015); marble and glass. Seen at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, 2018. Image: Su Leslie
New views and processes
Cooling off. Polymer clay doll form after baking. Image: Su Leslie 2019
When we look at a piece of art, it is easy to forget that in its making, it may have gone through many stages or forms quite different to the end result.
Polymer clay doll-making is an excellent example, often beginning with a wire and aluminium foil armature around which clay is formed — sometimes for the whole body, but in many cases just for heads, hands and feet.
Once the clay is sculpted and baked it must be cooled before the soft materials that will form the body can be attached. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Clay, especially small pieces, are extremely fragile and need to be properly cooled before the next stage can begin. Image: Su Leslie 2019
I have made dolls in the past, but these belong to students at a recent workshop held by an artist friend. I was there solely as the photographer.
I must say though, it did rather inspire me.
Posted to the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge | something different
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