MIÉRCOLES, EL VIENTIDOS DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
I FINISHED CARVING THIS FRAME FOR A PAINTING PART OF THE THERMOSTAT EXHIBITION, SPIRITS, GHOSTS AND GREMLINS. THE EXHIBITION OPENS ON THE 1ST OF AUGUST. THE FRAME IS A SPANISH-COLONIAL REPLICA, BASED ON AN EXAMPLE FRAMING A CRUCIFIX IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN AUCKLAND. THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS OF THE DIAGONAL SLASH MOTIF AND HOLES WHICH I WILL USE IN FUTURE FRAMES. THE DECORATIVE ELEMENT AT THE TOP, I CARVED OUT OF CUSTOM-WOOD AS I HAVEN'T CARVED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I'LL NEED TO BUILD UP MY CONFIDENCE TO TACKLE CARVING WOOD WITH GRAIN. I'VE STAINED THE FRAME PRIOR TO ANTIQUING IT, A FEW METHODS I LEARNT WHILE LOOKING AT FORGED RETABLOS AND ARTWORKS OVERSEAS. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT MEASUREMENTS OF THE FRAME BUT I MADE IT TO HOLD A CANVAS, 1000mm x 800mm.

LUNES, EL VIENTE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE

NOW THAT I'VE FINISHED MOST OF THE WORK FOR SOLO AND GROUP SHOWS THIS YEAR, IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT NEW WORK AND MOVING ON IN MY WORK. BELOW IS A DRAWING THAT WAS DONE FOR THE A WORK THAT WAS SHOWN AT MARK HUTCHINS GALLERY THIS YEAR. I'M THINKING I MIGHT DO A LARGER VERSION OF IT, USING TECHNIQUES LEARNT FROM PAINTING MY AMBASSADORS, 2008

EL CRUZ DE DOMINGO, EL DIECENUEVE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
I BOUGHT THIS GERMAN CRUCIFIX IN ABOUT 2006. A GREAT EXAMPLE EXCEPT IT'S MISSING THE GLASS FONT AT THE BASE. I'M ON THE LOOK OUT FOR ONE, BUT KIND OF A RARE OBJECT TO FIND ON ITS OWN.

SABATO, EL DIECEOCHO DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SORT OUT ALL THE EPHEMERA (TAXES, FILING, SORTING PHOTOGRAPHS AND CORRESPONDENCE) IN MY LIFE. TAXES WAS THE MAIN FLY IN THE OINTMENT (DUE TO THE 6 MONTH TRIP OVERSEAS LAST YEAR) BUT THAT'S NEARLY DONE. NOW, I'VE GOT TO SORT OUT MY PHOTOS FROM MY LAST SHOW IN GISBORNE AND EDIT THEM FOR THE FILES.
THE WORK HASN'T TOTALLY STOPPED, I'VE STILL TO GLAZE TWO CERAMICS FOR THE RAYNER BROS GROUP SHOW COMING UP IN A FORTNIGHT AND ALSO FINISH THE FINAL TOUCHES ON A BIG CANVAS PAINTING FOR A SHOW OPENING AT THERMOSTAT IN PALMY THE DAY AFTER THE RAYNER BROS SHOW. ALSO, NOT FORGETTING THE GUSTON ANNIVERSARY RETABLO IS STILL IN FLUX.
I DECIDED TO MAKE A FRAME FOR THE BIG PAINTING GOING INTO THERMOSTAT, SO I'VE CARVED A WOODEN, SPANISH COLONIAL-STYLE FRAME FOR THAT, TAKING TIME TO AGE THE FRAME SO IT COMPLIMENTS THE PAINTING.
ALSO NEXT WEEK, I START TEACHING A STUDIO DISSERTATION AND CONTEMPORARY ART HISTORY PAPER AT UCOL TO HELP OUT A FRIEND. I HAVEN'T TAUGHT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW I GO AND HOW THE STUDENTS RESPOND (OR DON'T...)

VIERNES, EL DIECISIETE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
SPEAKING OF LOUISE CLIFTON, I FOUND A SITE THAT HAS MORE EXAMPLES OF HER WORK HERE. IN 2004, JO AND I PURCHASED AN IMAGE OFF LOUISE AND HER THEN COLLABORATOR, DANE TAYLOR CALLED CASEY. YOU CAN SEE THE WORK HERE (YOU NEED TO CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO OPEN A POP-UP AND ENLARGE IT).
THE WORK WAS INCLUDED IN OUR COLLECTION SHOW, PROLOGUE, AT THE SARJEANT GALLERY. JO WROTE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE WORK: ...they include some quite quirky images, such as Louise Clifton and Dane Taylor’s photograph, Casey, depicting a hooded figure sitting on a kitchen bench. This work often stopped people in their tracks when visiting our flat in Wellington, and prompted much discussion...

JUEVES, EL DIECISEIS DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
FINISHED PAINTING THE LAST OF THE FOUR PLATES ON MONDAY. THIS ONE IS OF DARWIN WITH A DODO. I THINK THE PLATES WILLL BE FIRED AND THEN GLAZED NEXT WEEK.

MIÉRCOLES, EL QUINCE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
LAST SATURDAY, I WENT OVER TO THE FLOOR TALK FOR THE BLUE ROOM AT TE MANAWA (THE ART GALLERY PART) IN PALMERSTON NORTH. THE SHOW'S BEEN CURATED BY PIPPA SANDERSON AND FEATURES 13 ARTISTS LOOKING AT OCCULTISH OR SPIRITUAL THEMES, HEAVILY BASED ON VICTORIAN-ERA SPIRITUALISM, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO CONAN-DOYLE STYLE PHOTOGRAPHS OF CARDBOARD CUT-OUT PIXIES. THE WORK, WHICH IS ALL VERY CONSISTENT IN IT'S GROUPING, SEEMED TO BE A CONCERTED MOVE AWAY FROM THAT POST-COLONIAL AESTHETIC TO A SLACKER-CUM SKEPTICAL ART-VIEW OF THE VAGARIES OF THE ESOTERIC.
MY FAVOURITE GROUP OF WORK WAS BY 'EOS', WHICH REMINDED ME OF ASPECTS OF KENNETH ANGER'S LUCIFER RISING AND THE SYMBOLISM IN ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY'S HOLY MOUNTAIN, A FANTASTIC FILM WHICH INCIDENTALLY, WAS BANK-ROLLED BY ROLLING STONES AND BEATLES MANAGER, ALLEN KLEIN, WHO PASSED AWAY A FORTNIGHT AGO.

BELOW: e. l. august and l. a. clifton, channeling eos, 2008.

MARTES, EL CARTORCE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
PAUL MASEYK HAS A SHOW ON AT EVAN HUGHES GALLERY IN SYDNEY AT THE MOMENT. CHECK OUT HIS CERAMICS, GREAT WORK. THE IMAGE BELOW, WHICH IS FEATURED ON THE WEBSITE'S HOMEPAGE IS OF PAUL'S COROMANDEL STUDIO WHERE HE'S BEEN LIVING SINCE ARRIVING BACK FROM THE ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION RESIDENCY IN HELENA, MONTANA. ON THE WALL (IN THE PHOTO) IS A PAINTING OF MINE FROM 1999 OF AN H.M.V. DOG WITH GORDON WALTERS HEAD, PLUS A MIRRORED PHOTO OF ME HOLDING THE PAINTING IN QUESTION TO THE RIGHT OF THE PAINTING. IT'S INTERESTING LOOKING AT ARTIST STUDIO WALLS AND SEEING WHAT CONSCIOUSLY AND SUB-CONSCIOUSLY INFLUENCES THEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL SYMBOLS IN THIS PHOTO THAT I'VE SEEN APPEAR IN PAUL'S WORK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

LUNES, EL TRECE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE PIECE I MADE THAT'S MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST FIRING. IN THE BACKGROUND IS MARK RAYNER GLAZING PAUL'S FARAH FAWCETT MEMORIAL CERAMIC.

DOMINGO, EL DOCE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
STARTED SOME DELFT PLATES ON FRIDAY FOR 'GROUP HUG'. THE GLAZING SESSION ON THURS NIGHT AT PAUL'S WENT WELL AND I RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY TO SAY THAT THE FIRST FIRING OF THE PIECES CAME THROUGH ENTACT. I'M DOING FOUR PLATES, ALL BASED ON MY RECENT RETABLOS. THE LAST PLATE IS A VERSION OF MY DARWIN RETABLO. I'VE BEEN PAINTING THE PLATES AT HOME, GOOD TO HAVE A SMALL BREAK FROM THE STUDIO.

VIERNES, EL DIEZ DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
PROMO FOR 'GROUP HUG' FEATURING PAUL AND MARK RAYNER, MIKE MARSH AND MYSELF AT THE RAYNER BROS GALLERY, WHANGANUI.

JUEVES, EL NUEVE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
MY BLOG'S BEEN LACKING COLOUR, I FEEL, SO HERE'S A FULL SCALE SCAN OF MY 1981 RETABLO. IF YOU CLICK ON THE IMAGE, YOU'LL GET THE FULL SCALE VIEW.
THIS RETABLO IS ABOUT MY PRIMARY SCHOOL TRAINING - MY TE MATA SCHOOL UNIFORM AND BLUE SATCHEL AT THE TOP, ALONG WITH MY VERSION OF WHAT I CAN REMEMBER FROM THE SCHOOL LOGO AND THE LOUD-SPEAKER (INSTALLED IN EVERY CLASSROOM) THAT BROADCASTED NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS BY PRINCIPAL, CYRIL HALL AND LATER, RICK RENDLE. ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER P.A.T. TESTS?

MIÉRCOLES, EL OCHO DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
STITCHED PANORAMA OF THE RETABLOS IN MY SHOW.
TODAY, I'M BACK AT THE RAYNER BROS GALLERY TO FINISH THE LAST CERAMIC PIECE FOR OUR UPCOMING SHOW, 'GROUP HUG'. WE'RE ALSO DOING A GLAZING NIGHT ON THURS NIGHT... PAUL'S RUSHED AHEAD AND JUST ABOUT COMPLETED ALL HIS CERAMICS FOR THE SHOW. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT HE'S MADE FOR ME. APPARENTLY SOMETHING TO DO WITH ANGELINA JOLIE, AS WE SHARE THE SAME BIRTHDAY.

MARTES, EL SIETE DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
YESTERDAY, I STARTED MY PHILIP GUSTON RETABLO AS MENTIONED HERE. I'M DOING A MORE DIRECT HOMAGE THIS TIME IN REGARDS TO THE IMAGERY, NOT ADAPTING HIS IMAGES BUT USING A PORTRAIT OF HIM, SURROUNDED BY HIS INFLUENCES (I'LL PROBABLY USE GEORGIO DE CHIRICO, LORSER FEITELSON AND PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA) AND A BIT OF TEXT REFERRING TO THE HOMAGE AND THE DATES. THE PHOTO BELOW WAS SCANNED FROM ONE OF MY CATALOGUES, OBVIOUSLY A VERY LATE PHOTO AS HE'S STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS GEMINI GEL LITHOGRAPHS WHICH HE PRODUCED IN THE LAST YEAR OF HIS LIFE

LUNES, EL SEIS DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
STUDIO SHOT TAKEN THIS AFTERNOON, BACK IN THE STUDIO

DOMINGO, EL CINCO DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
A PHOTO OF ME AT MAKARORI BEACH, GISBORNE BY JK RUSS

SABATO, EL CUATRO DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
PHOTOS OF THE INSTALLATION OF MY SHOW. WE MANAGED TO HANG THE BIG WORK 'THIRTY-THREE' IN ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF AN HOUR, THEN THE RETABLOS IN ABOUT THIRTY MINS.

TOP TO BOTTOM: START OF THE HANG WITH MATT NACHE; GENE PAUL COMING UP THE REAR WITH THE ERASER; LAST ONE, SANS WHITE GLOVES AND USING BOX-CUTTER AS MEASURING DEVICE - CALIDAD, PERO NO 'TE PAPA' EN ESTILO.

JUEVES, EL DOS DE JULIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
HERE'S THE FIRST OF A FEW INSTALLATION SHOTS OF MY NEW EXHIBITION, 'THIRTY-THREE' AT PAULNACHE IN GISBORNE. IN THE FOREGROUND IS MARK BRAUNIAS TOUCHING UP A PAINTING.
OPENING'S TOMORROW NIGHT- HOPE TO SOME OF YOU THERE.

MARTES, EL TREINTA DE JUNIO, DOS MIL NUEVE
HEADING OUT OF TOWN TODAY. I'LL PUT UP A LINK TO THE NEW WORK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
HASTA PRONTO.

LUNES, EL VEINTINUEVE, DOS MIL NUEVE
BELOW IS THE OFFICIAL INVITATION FROM PAULNACHE. AS PER THE INVITATION, I'M SHOWING WITH AUCKLAND / KAWHIA ARTIST, MARK BRAUNIAS.
THE RETABLO FEATURED ON THE INVITATION CAN BE SEEN HERE.