A visit to Christchurch, New Zealand

I have just returned from my first visit to Christchurch, in the south island of New Zealand, and am still stunned by the devastation that still remains in the CBD after the major earthquake after 3 1/2 years. 

 

 

 

It is hard to see that Christchurch can fully recover given the problems that face it, emotionally, financially and socially.   There is just so much to do and so many obstacles facing the inhabitants of the city that one can understand why so much of the current development is taking place in the suburbs, rather than in the CBD.

 

When we arrived at our hotel, I assumed that we were on the outskirts of the CBD, in a new development zone, because of all the rubble and the  security fences.     

 

 

However, a stroll around the block informed me that we were actually in the centre of the CBD, overlooking the partially destroyed cathedral.  Other tourists walked around the city too, looking as shell-shocked as we were as they took in the destruction. There is very little to do for tourists since so many of the shops, restaurants and entertainment have completely disappeared, but the locals must be suffering far more over the loss of their beautiful old buildings and their history, the steep decline in tourist dollars, the destruction of workplaces and jobs, and the disappearance of a symbolic heart to the city.

 

 

The art gallery has been severely damaged, but, as part of the ReStart program, the city has tried to inject some hope, creativity, life and  beauty through artistic additions to the rubble. 

 

These stencils are part of The Stencil Art Project, where students from Years 8 to 13 were asked to create a self-portrait stencil,and they are displayed in Cashel Street.

 

The Chalice still stands in front in Cathedral Square

 

 but, the security fences around the Cathedral  and other construction sites are decorated

 

There are also quite a few pieces of street art adorning the bare walls of various of the building walls which still remain

 

 

And, some buildings and images of beauty still remain.  The old museum has recoverd fairly well

and contains some interesting pieces of New Zealand's past

 

 as well as some rather fine examples of Asian art, including some lovely examples of snuff bottles.

Some of the old houses are very photogenic

and the one used by the dyslexia foundation has some lovely little sculptures in the front garden:

And, there are still craft markets in the city, with examples of woodwork, jewellery featuring paua shell and the New Zealand greenstone/ pounamu for sale.

Back home, I have decided to focus on my own work.  Here are the flat discs that I have been working on for some upcoming mobiles.

Winter art and a visit to sculptress Jessie McLennan

Winter has finally arrived to Melbourne, and when I can no longer garden comfortably with the wind, cold and rain, I have been multi-tasking in the studio.  I like working on several things at once.  It not only is more interesting, but each technique seaps into the next, making for more interesting work.

 

I have pulled out some of my dyed cotton fabric, and have been making more goldfish.,  There is a long way to go before they are all embroidered and sealed, but they are coming along.

 

 

I also pulled out some watercolour papers which I had treated with rust and iron and did this portrait using ink, conte, watercolour pencils and watercolours.  I like the effect so much, I am sorting through other old papers and photos for more inspiration

 

 

I used other watercolour paper that I had treated with inks to create this view of a sinister raven, using conte, ink and  watercolour pencils. (I think I have been watching too many episodes of "Vikings"!)

 

 

(I had to ban the kittens while painting as they thought it was fun to add to the patina of the papers.)

 

I am working on another piece of watercolour paper treated with rust and iron, but this time, using hemp, cotton and polyester yarns to embellish it.  Not sure how this will turn out in the end, but I am enjoying the process.  So is Smudge, one of my new Maine Coon kittens.  He loves chewing the thread and tried to chew the paper as I sewed.  Not helping!

 

 

On finer days, I have been dyeing cotton using turmeric, leaves, tea, coffee and leopard tree seeds.  I am preparing for another art quilt.

 

 

 

And, I finally finished my youngest grandson's little fox.  Rather cute, if I do say so myself!  I enjoyed the knitting so much, I am now working on a jumper for myself.  God knows when I'll finish it!  Probably in time for summer!  The new kittens are not making this process any easier either.  They love wool too.

 

 

I also was lucky enought to be invited to a Winter Solstice party at sculptress Jessie McClennan's property.  The weather was miraculously good, so I could wander round and admire the sculptures

 

( this is a portrait of writer, Hal Porter)

We were all agog at the size of this pumpkin she grew from seed and which she has used to cast a mould.

 

This smaller one is also impressive

 

 

All together, life is looking up!

 

Of birthdays, Maine Coon kittens and artistic presents

I have just had my first big ( as in the number of people attending, as well as in the number of years I have been alive) birthday party as an adult, courtesy of my family and friends, who organised it all, and I had the most brilliant time!  Great food, the best of company (ranging from just borns to nearly 90 year olds), freakily good weather, and held in my own home and garden.   Plus, all i had to do was tidy up the house and garden!  I am such a lucky woman!

I asked for no presents, unless they wanted to donate to the Asylum Seekers, but I still managed to get some lovely ones, from some naughty, but generous, friends  and relations.  So many of them are of an artistic bent!  Here are some of them:

a felted woman:

a cardboard dragon sculpture, courtesy of the artist, Kirsty Fletcher:

 

 

 

crocheted doilies:

 

a runner with embroidered birds:

and some brilliant books:  Betty Churchill's "Australian Notebooks", Alain de Botton and John "Armstrong's Art as Therapy", and Lena Corwin's "Made by Hand".  I am looking forward to sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea!

My husband and I also decided to spoil ourselves with some Maine Coon kittens for our birthdays this year.  They were amazingly shy at first, which rather surprised us after reading so much about them, but after staying  home 24 hours a day, and persevering in the face of sheer terror, they have finally settled in and are busily making the house look lived in.

Here they are recovering from a morning of mayhem:

 

This is Loki, who is the most timid, and who follows his brother everywhere, but who loves to snuggle under blankets

 

And, this is "my" cat, Smudge, who is very brave and has even sniffed the dogs.

Both are enjoying teasing our older cat Bridie, who hisses a lot but has not really tried anything vicious.

As well as partying, and playing with kittens, I managed to finish knitting the little fox for one of my grandsons,

 

and am in the throes of making it a little pair of shorts and a jumper.  This is taking longer than it should because the kittens are helping.

I also used some of the cord I won from Knotmore, as well as felt and embroidery thread to make these little pictures:

I am going to use the rest of the cord to make some embroidered felt pennies into mobiles.  Stay tuned!

A rabbit, a penny rug and a new project

There continues to be a lot going on beside art in my life.   Nevertheless, I am still working at creating, albeit slowly.  And I have great hopes that in June things will settle down, giving me more time to have fun.

 

This is another rabbit that I have made, diverging from the original pattern.  I had originally decided to follow the pattern, but inadvertently made a longer body.  I think I just kept knitting while watching television, instead of counting rows.  This meant that the top was too small to be a dress, so I turned it into a top and I invented a pair of bloomers. Then, I noticed that the legs didn't match (no idea what I did wrong!)and had to knit a third one and choose which of the originals to match it with.  Now, I have a spare leg. I wonder if I should use it for a one-legged doll!  After finishing the rabbit, I decided that the ears weren't positioned well and decided to  move them.  I had a senior moment and managed to cut the head badly while unpicking the ears and had to knit up another head and throw out the original!   No wonder it turned out to be an original rabbit!

 

 

As a result of this experience, I have decided to take a break from rabbits, and have started knitting a fox.  I'll let you know how it turns out in a later post.  Hopefully, it will be a less emotional experience.

 

And, I have finally finished my penny rug.  It took ages, because I was basically inventing as I went along (something which I am prone to do, as you may have gathered).  I decided to back it with cotton from Bustle and Bows in Surrey Hills and am very pleased with the result.  No idea what I'll do with it.  Keep it?  Sell it?  Give it away?  I'll decide later.

 

I am also very excited because I lucky enough to win this sampler from KnotMore.com.  I am now trying to think of how best to use the waxed polyester cord in my work.  The owner of KnotMore, Dawn Standera, is a knotter but this would be great for other crafts, like book binding, basketry, mixed media and macrame.  I am thinking of using it in some of my fabric art, but am not yet sure how.  Stay tuned!

 

 

 

Lastly, we have become empty-nesters, so I am rearranging the house.  I now have a sewing room and a seperate painting room.  It is so nice to have a dedicated space for the first time.  Now I can leave my projects where they are and don't need to clean up the dining room for guests.  The mess can remain hidden behind a closed door.  Can't wait to amke a mess!