Combing the area

While we were holidaying in Taupo back in April I saw this mural/painting of a rooster on the outside of a locked up utility box. Apparently it was painted by artist Paul Walsh and named "Ruapehu Rooster".

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Defining Horizons

Along Taupo's waterfront is this sculpture named "Defining Horizons" by Graham Bennett. Made from a combination of stainless steel, Cor-ten and mild steels it symbolises journeys of discovery in New Zealand.

The artist said he wants viewers to make their own interpretations of the sculpture, but for him it has many overlapping ideas.

He said "I was thinking of Polynesian migration, Cook's voyage of discovery and families ancestral journeys, but it could be interpreted as any form of way-finding".

The upper components of it which point in different directions symbolise the longitudinal divisions of the globe which divide the Pacific Ocean and the latitudinal divisions inspired the ribs which give it a nautical feel.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Totems + Milk

On our recent re-visit to the Symonds Street Cemetery right next to the Jewish section is this mural painted on the side of an old building. Named "Totems + Milk" it was painted by artist Reuben Winter who sadly was successful in committing suicide in 2020 with the dates "1994 - 2020" signifying his birth and death. 

Young Reuben suffered from chronic pain and fatigue illness, he also worked with many influential New Zealand artists. Such a talented young man will I'm surely be well missed.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Karangahape Rocks

I've been wanting to take a photo of this sculpture for ages, when I lived in Auckland many years ago I wasn't really interested in it but now I think it's just so weird and unusual. Here's what I found out about it:

Greer Twiss's bronze 'Karangahape rocks' (1967–69) sits in a park on the corner of Auckland's Karangahape Road and Symonds Street. It is a water fountain but the flow is modest – Twiss had the water trickle gently down the grooves in the large discs so it would not spray out in high winds. The water feature broke down in the late 1980s and was only repaired in 2012. 

It's like a focal point where it's located, at an intersection of Grafton Bridge and is easily seen if anyone is sitting in their car at the traffic lights. Greer is the Godfather of contemporary sculptures, for more than 50 years he has made them, exhibited, been collected, been commissioned, taught, been reviewed and written about. He has also been a pioneer of cast metal here in New Zealand and has also held exhibitions overseas.

 Linking up with The Weekend Roundup and  Weekend Reflections.

Ina Te Papatahi

In 2018 before we left Tauranga I spotted this mural along The Strand near the waterfront. Named "Ina Te Papatahi" by an artist named Owen Dippie who has painted walls in New Zealand, Brooklyn and Los Angeles. He is also involved in Suicide Awareness Outreach and Breast Cancer Research.

This one originally created by Charles Goldie in 1902 shows her traditional facial moko and smoking a pipe.  He painted 17 more portraits of this Ngapuhi Chieftainess and from 1902 until 1941 Goldie continued to immortalise the images of Maori Elders.  His work is featured in several New Zealand art museums.

How has your weekend been so far? As usual I've spent my Saturday and Sunday at work and I'm loving being able to spend alot of that time outside in the garden centre that employs me.  Earlier this week I spent one day cleaning our fishing rods, they were quite dirty and the rods were sticking and not running smoothly. 

I also made the boys a kiwi Pavlova which didn't last long and we have been planning our holiday next year to Napier by thinking about places we would like to visit along the way.

Arohanui to you.

Linking up with Mural Monday 

Dan Mills at MOTAT

Last Summer we visited MOTAT - the Museum of transport and technology in Auckland. You might remember previous posts I've written about this interesting place. Anyway one of the many murals  there are these ones. Painted by Dan Mills the above one is a tribute to the blacksmith, an occupation popular in the Victoria era (and older eras) but still around today here and there.

This one is a nod to New Zealand agriculture with a farmer holding a pig and a farmer's wife milking cows.  I can't remember which is where but one is on the back of the vintage tractor shed and the other is on the back of one of the tram sheds.

I hope you're keeping well wherever you are. We have another rainy wet weekend so we will be staying warm and keeping dry. Kia kaha.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Kaeo Spice Grill Mural

I was out at Kaeo a couple of weeks ago taking photos of some historical places and saw this mural on the side of the Spice Grill Indian Takeaways Restaurant. I've tried finding out who the artist is but all I can make out on the bottom left looks something like "Firka"?!? but it accurately says "we all have our own packets to bear" which I took to mean "burdens".

We were out in the boat today but we weren't too successful in catching anything worthy, the other half caught loads of baby snapper which he threw back and I caught what looked like a 1 metre shark which also got let go. Normally Winter is quiet with not many other boaties out there but today it looked like we weren't the only ones not having much luck.

Linking up with Mural Monday and Our World Tuesday.

Tane Mahuta Mural

Last time I was in Ohaeawai and opposite the hotel is this mural on the back of a shed also masquerading as a corner shop. Named "Tane Mahuta" it was painted by Sean Duffell.  Tane Mahuta is located in the Waipoua Forest, our country's largest Kauri tree. In most nature walks where there are Kauris there are also cleaning stations where people need to stop and disinfect their shoes before walking through to the pathways.

According to Maori mythology Tane is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku the earth mother. Tane was the child who tore his parents parental embrace and once done set about clothing his mother in the forest we have today.  All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tane's children.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Wings...

I've been going through some of my old photo folders and found quite a few  from 2017 of murals when we lived in Tauranga.

This one named "Wings" on The Strand has been painted on a modern toilet block and was created by 2 artists Tara Fowler and Millie Newitt. It was meant to be a "love note" to the people of Tauranga in 2018 and the 2 girls worked throughout horrendous weather (I took that to mean rain or storms) taking 24 hours to complete it.

Many people stop and take selfies in front of it so it looks like they have wings too.

Linking up with Monday Murals and Our World Tuesday.

Algies Bay Artwork

Last Spring we visited Algies Bay, a beach about 45 minutes south east of Mangawhai just to have a look around. On the toilet block building (which looked like it needed a bit of a do-up) I spotted these murals.

This one on one side shows a couple in their swimming gear watching a fisherman with seagulls next to them.

And this one on the front shows a pied shag, 2 oyster catchers, people fishing and some whales out at sea. After some internet digging I've managed to find out the artist is a local by the name of Leigh McIntyre Lomas. I've been unable to find much information on this person however i did find an article from 2015 which explains that Leigh helped an organization we have here in NZ called IDEA Services (who help people with intellectual disabilities).

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Opening up by Gina Kiel

This mural in Whangarei is located on the side of one such building in James street and is titled "Opening up, Sharing the Colours, Communication is is connection" and was part of the Manaia Street Prints Festival of 2019.

Painted by Wellington local Gina Kiel who has said it fits well with the "Tuia te muka Tangata" or "Weaving the threads of humanity" theme. It encourages the idea of peaceful communication being a connection with people everywhere.

Gina is an award winning illustrator who exhibits at group shows around the world, creating work in her home studio for clients nationally and internationally, tattooing and painting murals.  Judging by the work on her website I'd say she is one clever cookie.



Linking up with Mural Monday.