bookish

I spent Saturday sorting out an old collection of books.
What struck me is how distinct eras of human existence
are so well defined by their assembly of content and by
graphic design. Typography, paper stock, cover images
or embossing.
E-books will probably takeover as a convenient way of
conveying content in its pure form and I think books will
become even more precious objects than they are today.
Their musty smell and smooth surfaces. The sometimes
archaic form of language. The stories within. A re- edition
of a classic offers a form of time travel which remains linked
to the present - as it is repackaged for a contemporary eye.

What a revelation when one sets hands on a first edition.
It forces you to leave the comfortable context of 'today'
as time and place and enter into one of 'then'. Not always
interesting or easy to interpret at first glance.

Above, a picture of first edition Penguins found at Tivoli Gallery,
Waiheke Island. Paperback the fragrance captures the musty
essence of old books left to moulder in a summer house.

flora hauora

These were published in urbis magazine at
least two years ago. It was one of my favourite
features.
I had the idea that I wanted to do flower arrangement
story that only utilised native flora. I had this leafy green
and stark white vision in my head but actually when I
met up with Katie Lockhart - the stylist - all I said was
that it had to be a still life story featuring native flora.
I knew that Katie would come up with something beautiful.
Katie worked with Derek Henderson - the photographer-
to create these pictures. Katie took the idea further
and found native plants that have medicinal properties.
Derek kept it simple and played with light and shadow in
a very subtle way.
Looking at it again today I am struck by how crisp and
beautiful it is and I feel an interesting aesthetic quality
was uncovered.

groovy movie

Feature movie The Strength of Water filmed in the Hokianga a couple of years
ago has travelled the international film festival circuit and is finally about
to be shown to audiences here in New Zealand.

Trend Tracker

Trend Tracker Anastasia Potter checks into
the Outpost.

the wolf in athens

Just in from Athens - the work of Canadian artist
Stephen Shearer. Arch. Michael Wolf popped down from
Milan to work with the artist and get this art-billboard up
in 40 degree days. No work could be done between 11 and
4pm.

hair hat

sometimes your hair is your hat and sometimes your
hat hides your hair.

henderson home

This house is one of the original old homesteads in Henderson,
once surrounded by orchards it is now engulfed by suburban
sprawl. The garden defends it admirably and keeps the traffic
din at arms length.
The proprietor, inspired by a book depictingCezanne's home in
the South of France, matched the colours. Being here reminded me
of certain country homes in Italy, there was something faintly
Oriental too. It is so difficult to create a space that feels like
somewhere else without the final effect being kitsch. Staying in
this Henderson home felt like finding an oasis.

I urge you to click on the images and quench your thirst.