Obsession

Recently, the book Obsession: Sestinas in the Twenty-First Century was launched in the USA and sold-out on the night. It's an anthology through University Press of New England, and my work is included in this publication.

hwww.amazon.com/Obsession-Twenty-First-Carolyn-Beard-Whitlow/dp/161168529X

The sestina is a form of poetry which fell out of favour for a time but it's now gaining more interest. The rolling effect of the repetitions suited my poem, which is set on board a cruise ship with someone watching a lightning storm at sea. Then they relate this to the beginning of what they see as a tempestuous love affair. In order to freshen this rather cliche idea, I took a few twists and turns with the language as you will see if you read this excellent publication.

Poems are like spells, or supernatural experiences, in many ways, they take people into interior human places that we usually think of as mysterious, hidden or difficult to explain. Poets also arrange words in such a way as to contain more than what at first appears obvious. This magical quality can relax and engage a reader, makes some perhaps feel at certain points as if time and space and possibilities expand beyond whatever we could possibly know. The unsettling effects can put a particular reader off reading verse; the more practical and surface-focussed may find poetry too strange or disturbing. But feel assured that usually the effort of stepping out of one's comfort-zone to explore poetry is always rewarding, and often joyous, at the least emotionally releasing in some way, informative, inspiring and healthy.

It is for instance surely poetic how I like to plant trees to cover my carbon output (from driving a car, flying in planes, and so on). The world is better off due to these eco-actions. It seems to be the arts encourage this generous and thoughtful action, and then a kind of poetry continues in the action itself. We are planting the verge here soon near my place, as well. More greenery growing, and it will produce oxygen after soaking up carbon dioxide. This verge won't be planted with trees, there is one large pohutukawa there already. No. We are instead taking plants from pots which have almost out-grown them and creating a garden on the verge. In time we hope to place a bench there as well, for people to sit on.

The more evidence of human habitation on a street, the more likely it is motorists will take care driving along there. This is a busy road and many children walk to and from school along here. Then there are all the other pedestrians, too. We like to think our verge planting could enhance not only our own experience of this property and area, but also that of others passing by. Encouraging healthy, enjoyable community activities is a revo lutionary act in many ways, it is a step towards decency and fairness and away from anything like the zombie apocalypse, (which is what I call cor porate capital ism).

Our city council recently decided not to mow the grass verges of Aotearoa New Zealand's largest city, Tamaki Makaurau Auckland. (Our city rates charged for service do not go down, but our services do disappear or become separately-charged-for items). The city council's mismanagement of our rates is, however, another issue. Meanwhile what to do with these overgrown verges? They're in various states of unsightliness now in some cases, (although a gone-wild verge may be replanted and grow rather pretty. It will need noxious and dangerous plants to be taken out, at times, but otherwise can be a lovely patch). 

Ours shall get the 'install garden' treatment, providing an extension of what is already a flourishing garden on the property here. Also, our front lawn shall gradually be planted with other vegetation. A pathway shall be made down the middle probably with cedar chips (they halt growth of anything underneath them), because mowing is yet another carbon-producing expensive exercise we can do without.

Gradual transformation of our world towards better ways of living, kinder behaviour towards each other, and choosing healthier alternatives in diet, clothing, housing, education and health could gradually turn around what we have now as far as impending, and immediate disasters. 

A natural swimming pool in a garden in Europe

I suggest you also start your own personal programme of transformation of lawn now. Or choose some other area to change. Perhaps install solar hot water heating. It could be good to make a fresh water pool in the earth on your property too, kept healthy with the proper plants and so on. No concrete or tiles are used for these natural features, I gather.  http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/natural-swimming-pool-zmaz02aszgoe.aspx

It's great exercise, gardening, feels healing to be outside and planting or tending vegetation. Beneficial actions may improve a neighbourhood. The more pleasant surroundings then may affect many people, producing happier people, better attitudes, finer behaviour and perhaps the ability to make better choices. 

Small actions like replanting grass verges properly may have long-range beneficial effects for a whole community. The world is made up of those, interconnected, and surely the more a community is well-off and eco-friendly then the more likely they will happily affect others around them?

Let us flourish with eco-awareness and so well affect the world within and beyond us.

One of my Inspiration Books - waywincraft my brand for these - this one is in The Sheffield Artist Book Collection in the UK. The book is made mainly from discarded things that would otherwise be landfill. They use a natural glue too. http://waywincraft.blogspot.co.nz/

Lies and Phrases

"If living in the past sounds fraudulent, try living in the 

future." - Ian Wedde



 Sometimes we say things meant to be amusing, like "we are

living in the future." The future after all keeps apparently 

arriving in the present, and turning into that, we could say. 

But then too we do always have only the present - to be 

pedantic about this matter.


Everything else is imagination or memory. Everyday life is 

nevertheless made up of the present, and memories, and 

and imagination. So our consciousness has an awareness of a 

kind of expansion of presence and possibilities.


The theatre surely demonstrates how we may create a world 

within a neighbourhood not like the play-world evoked. Any

audience willing suspends disbelief, and then countless 

possibilities are easier to accomplish.


Mumbai Monologues at TAPAC, so well attended with an 

attentive crowd. A busy city I have never visited appeared 

by magical theatric means, on the three stages in the 

extraordinarily pleasant cabaret-style theatre. I felt I was 

living in various new dimensions. Actors performed in the 

audience too.

The play made me sigh, gasp, cry and laugh, I exclaimed a 

few times, indeed. The music and especially the singing 

sounded extraordinary. I'd love to buy a CD of the entire

play as a recording, music, voices and all.


Excellent production.


We both hoped that the performance has a repeat season 

somewhere.


*


Beforehand, my friend and I discussed the TAPAC theatre.

We've seen some fine performances there. We also

wondered how the place could attract big crowds all the 

time. (The Mumbai Monologues certainly had a swag of 

people, but not every show is so well attended). 

Love the dramatic velvet drapes in the foyer, and the 

standard lamp, a long cream shade in the corner. Also the 

corrugated iron effect is amusing to a degree. Then we 

thought - why not bump up the irony and contrast?


Due to both of us having an interest in decor, we re-designed 

the foyer a little. Less school-ish, more dramatic, we thought. 

My friend has qualifications re property and a life-long 

interest in architecture, he's got quite a clever eye for detail.

I'm a writer and artist, and was a fashion designer for fifteen 

years. My degree in international communication also helps 

plan such things as interior decor. What message does the

theatre want to send here?


The bar for instance we thought needed a bit of schjuzzing 

up. It looks too utilitarian. Some kind of fancy grill across 

the top maybe and a more glamorous drop from the bar 

itself. The carpet could be dyed darker too. Then we thought

foyer music was played over a rather weak sound system. It'd 

be better with something more pleasing to the ear.

Only a few extra little touches like that could make the place 

even more appealing. Be good to see some sparkle.

Lovely staff, excellent shows, tons of parking, TAPAC's great.

Just be fun to see it grow and change, improve a little.

 
And the future? Oh it's a vision, a desire, a hope, sometimes 

we think and feel as if we're already living in times to come,

don't we? Perhaps more kindness to ourselves and others

could make this idea acceptable, giving the true pleasure such

experiences may seem to be a welcome dimension of 

acceptance. Make-believe - it's vital.

Around Tamaki Makaurau Auckland

So many enjoyable gatherings in our largest city, Tamaki Makaurau Auckland, to do with the arts this summer. Three or four or so that I was lucky enough to be invited to, the first a minarets reading. This magazine has now gone online, but they had a reading in public using studio space in New North Road. Various people, mostly around 20-or-30-something and a few others of various ages either side of that. A friendly, thoughtful crowd. In mild afternoon sun we walked towards the shop front where there was already a crowd gathered.  Some wine to drink, a few beers, much careful and enjoyable interaction.
We need these kinds of get togethers. They're fun, they help keep people in touch, and the arts alive.

Someone at the minarets event mentioned a man in Wellington who used to dress like Roy Orbison. This reminded me of the Prince impersonator who many used to see quite regularly on buses in inner-city Auckland. In purple, with a black lacy mask, he stayed completely in character. 
Sometimes he travelled with a quite ordinary young man as a companion, on the bus. They liked to try to get people to believe the man dressed up really was Prince. It was playful, not scary particularly.
Some of the minarets crowd thought he could've left our shores and gone to travel the world as a Prince impersonator, with a minder. perhaps he has?
This is the kind of fun conversation I enjoy.

http://theimcmagazine.com/prince-releases-new-song/

I look forward to seeing more of those Minaret readings held in studio spaces and so on, poetry conversation and pleasant company.



*

Then recently when a friend was visiting, from Brisbane, Lana with her daughter Tay, we had a good long chat about important matters like drawing. (I hope it is okay to shorten Tay's name, I often do not mention children's full names online, it seems best). Tay drew an excellent Tweety Bird, then two snakes, and some background. Later, she drew the Tweety Bird in the background watching one of the snakes. The reptiles kind of floated in the air. 
 I explained that snakes represent wisdom, and this child took it all in.  Maybe Tay thought she was Tweety Bird watching her mother and I? What a compliment.
I am so pleased these drawings were in my notebook, now I have a remembrance of this delightful child. 

Also, we discussed various private matters and it was something like  Dark Gold Mistress of Perfection converses with Dooper-Sooper Word Woman. Fun times.
Perhaps ex-haust-ing, *said with a toss of the head* but what a lovely way to tire oneself out.

We met two friends of Lana and Tay's in a cafe, later. And I misheard something that their daughter said, I thought it was, "wit-wings."
I love how sometimes a new word appears in this manner, through an error or mistake. It could be fun to think of meanings for this new word perhaps? Maybe wit-wings are a quick wit's best accessory?


*

Only last evening, a beautiful, moving, and entertaining tribute to Lauris Edmond at the Music School, the University of Auckland. We enjoyed superb classical flute and piano interspersed with readings of poetry from Frances Edmond, (Lauris' daughter), and Riemke Ensing, (who was given the Lauris Edmond Award in 2012). 

Sometimes I am at an event as lovely as this and I think I must be one of the luckiest people alive. Such stellar performances help me to stay well, and take me outside of myself where so much wonder exists.

It was extremely difficult to find a park, however, and I am not yet used to the fact that classical music performances always start on time. As Bryony Jagger told me, "It takes such a lot of effort to get a classical orchestra together. They must start when they are scheduled. Waiting around would only tire them out."
Luckily I now have a mobility parking permit, due to my various walking difficulties, so I could park somewhat closer than before.

Later in the foyer people talked and we had various conversations about new projects and so on. A really good chat with Denys Trussell who explained I probably do not walk properly to start with which is why I injured my foot and got arthritis. Denys is a great walker. 

Also, pleased to see Mary McIntyre who is helping me with a tribute piece to her dear friend Jan Nigro, recently and sadly passed away. We so loved Jan.

War of the Roses - oil on canvas - by Jan Nigro

* 

Such riches available to us. Arts treasures. Sights, sounds, secret doorways....

Happily, Suji Park invited me to her latest exhibition and I was able to go. 

The last time I saw Suji's work was in an Elam graduate show some time ago now. Perhaps it was three years hence. I wandered the Elam halls and so on. A few memories of my own time there were surfacing. Then I noticed and moved quickly towards these delicately coloured pieces in the distance. Some vivid highlights provided a kind of miniature beacon upon them.
Instantly intrigued with Suji Park's ceramics. 

These somewhat abstract figures reminded me of pieces in a game of some kind. Suji agreed they could be in a game. Such a charming young woman, we had quite a conversation. The colour and texture on the surfaces gave the impression of life. It was as if the figures where in movement, then caught in a blur such as a photograph takes sometimes. But they were more substantial than that.

So it was with excitement I found out I could attend her latest exhibition, as mentioned, some years later. The work at the top of this webpage is from that exhibition.
http://www.sujipark.com/work/

Entering the Ivan Anthony G 312 K-Rd (Karangahape Road) Newton, there was ahead of us a tiny door about a metre tall which reminded my friends and I of Alice in Wonderland, a little. The stairs up to the gallery also have a beautiful art deco mosaic on the wall as part of the decor. This is from when the building was built around the early 20th century. Lovely curved bannister, dark wood. 

The gallery spaces themselves are well appointed, contemporary, plain and simple. Good light in the galleries and the work well hung to show it to its best advantage. They are connected by a contrasting, charming hallway with original fittings and arches, dim yellowish light there. This makes the gallery experience all the more worthwhile.

So, after enjoying the ambiance, we took some time to admire, examine and puzzle over the art. I like to get to an exhibition early so I can see the work, without lovely people in the way. Hardly anyone was there. So we four took some time in our individual ways to discuss and examine and relish these much larger sculptures than I thought I would see.

I wish I had more time and energy to be able to go into detail about these quite different to each other, (although stylistically congruent), magical forms. Some appear to be natural objects perhaps found in the earth, initially, or something fallen from a building site. Others could at first glance appear to be broken or scattered. One is like a 21st century idol, strangely a little blue, on its own wall bracket of distressed wood. Their charm lies in this first impression, because they are not then intimidating. 

Suji Park - a piece from her latest exhibition

It is easy to approach Park's work and to see, in the 'inner eye' manner, whatever you wish. Inspired by the extraordinary surface detail, surprising elements like imbedded crystals, or large almost imposing forceful elements which surprised the viewer, (the way they are at the same time rather self-contained). 
These all reminded me of meditations and daydreaming while looking at shells on a beach, as a child, and then more profound ideas. The idea of mastery of thought, for instance, how when we master our thoughts we can use our emotions to assist us, but we are not controlled by them. This is how we work together within ourselves using imagination, dreams and their senses along with memory, emotion and so on in a kind of fabulous, however quiet or otherwise that may be.
 
Park's work has progressed from a smaller pieces, (which were every bit as accomplished as this latest work), to larger and more adventurous forms. There were two pieces I wish I had a room for at home, somewhere. If only I had my own wing as an art gallery, to house such wonders. I would've liked to have stayed longer and enjoy further this excellent exhibition.
 

*

Then for The Pride Festival, which opened last weekend we attended The Night of the Queer Cabaret. This quick-change-around format was cleverly used to showcase different shows, which are going to be then on this week.  Great shows, startling shows, fun shows, stunning shows, poignant and lovely shows. Showio Showity Show-a-la-la-la-whooo.

I always enjoy seeing excellence. An excited crowd, with some famous faces, the entire foyer packed. Stern drag, gushy drag, and some non-drag with their swag apparent.

Book for these Pride Festival shows at TAPAC they will be well attended.

Eight pages of notes, a few delicious Geisen wines, a full TAPAC house, a cast of millions, (well, it seemed like at times there were so many thoughts and ideas evoked. Queer Cabaret delightfully epic).  

Mumbai Monologues has its own beverage, chai offered before the show. First time we've ever seen a show with its own beverage, my daughter mentioned. 
Later, the excerpt ran for about ten minutes, Mumbai Monologues presents flavours, music, acting, poetry and dialogue. A stand-up piano with fine player, a singer with misty soul, (only way I can explain it), and three actors separately and together tell a story about somewhere known and yet not known, and those mysterious spaces in between. So glad I now have tickets to see the show in its entirety.

We sat at table three, my lucky number. Down the front, my favourite. On the stage a violinist in a black dress with her back to us and a man sat at a stand-up piano. This player wore a red shirt. We were surrounded by black walls and ceiling, floor too and the stage, we sat at tables with red tablecloths. Patrons and players stood out so beautifully.

 
          

                  



Ms Lola La Bomb singing, "I always get what I aim for..." our delightful and terrifying, gorgeous MC
 
Two players, men, read from a book, a diary, about unrequited love. An excerpt from Queen. The tension between the two players was well realised. Also, they showed the characters had obvious regard for each other, while one was in love though, the other was not. Or perhaps the one who "was not" did not know how to express it, and perhaps never would. Beautifully manifested, in any case, and it touched my heart, so I really want to know what happens next. If you go to the play, please tell me about it.

Sorry I do not have time to add lots of links. Please feel free to google these things yourself, they are at TAPAC.

MC Lola La Bomb whooo waahh wow introduced a Best Queen competition. People from the audience clambered on stage, and attempted a Best Queen Walk. Mine was flouncy and a bit uppity, the one who won however so did the strut and pout, one arm akimbo, hips leading, o my yes. All good fun laughing and clapping we were, true.

A monologue followed, a male player announcing, “I told you I really like you...” He's reminiscing. Sad.
“Then he said nothing and I knew.” 
(Ah yes, that nothing that saves us and yet also, disappoints us).
He sang a song then, excellently. I'm not sure what this was from but perhaps someone reading this will let me know so I can pop in the name? I was still getting used to all the fabulousness.

There were a number of competitions throughout the night. A best pickup line competition, for instance. And Lola had a great line of savvy chat.
 
To the Jefferson Airplane song, White Rabbit, "...go ask Alice...," two dancers played the part of a man and a woman in a romantic and sexual relationship of some kind, but used words too. They also indicated stories about the parts of the body each touched at different times, relating those to themselves as dancers. This was energetic, scary, at times looked dangerous, but beautiful too, full of passion.
At one point the woman fell off the stage in such a convincing way we all gasped. Then she climbed back in apparent pain and described the time falling really did happen, and also what about falling in other ways? Daring, ambiguous, at times hilarious, and often a beautiful dance, even with violent undertones, overtones and the tension of the piece. Nathaniel and Daniel were the dancers, I think, if I heard correctly, if anyone has their surnames please let me know.

An opera singer sang La Boheme with the piano played too by another fine musician. This opera singer wore a black corset, green skirt with black ruffles, a blue flower in her hair and sang there before us. In ashort interview after this glory, Erica (her real name) explained she trained in opera and she likes to sing opera, "...out of place, in a place, and this is one of those places." Our good fortune to hear such expertise and beauty in an everyday, albeit excellent, theatre.

Lady Trinese, (please inform me if any spellings are incorrect, I was scribbling away frantically in the semi-dark and I do not get paid for this, so cannot spare time for extra research), yes, so Lady Trinese in a spectacular yellow polka dot dress to the floor with pointy shoulders higher than her hair, (which was a confection of wispy light red and the size of a small shrub), well she wore killer gold platform shoes. Lady Trinese lip synced with extra-oomph. “Better prepare for when I'm a lady fair.” “I want a real....” The comic effects and pathos were devastating, the effect being a mix of shock and humour. It was like somebody miming to a radio song from way back, a lovely distant crackle in the sound, her glitter lipstick and glitter eyeshadow under brow gave the whole performance a little bit extra, all that light sparkling. I felt completely absorbed and reacted the whole time. Mesmerising. We all were entranced and in action, the packed house in an uproar.

After intermission some people inflated a few condoms, festively bouncing them around. Condoms were provided free on the table. Love Your Condom. Anyone can catch AIDS who has unprotected sex. You have to truly trust your partner to have unprotected sex. Straight, bi-sexual, gay, everyone needs to.... Why are we still saying this? 

HIV and AIDS is increasing, please take care out there darlings.

Anyway, at our table we got so excited, also talking about the film Cabaret. O Liza was a sensation in that, wasn't she? Great story too. 

Hey Big Spender then suddenly booms through the system and two male dancers with bare brown chests and arms appeared. I felt sure I remembered them from Black Grace. Hula skirts to the floor made of white tulle and pink flowers girdling their waists. Their performance ADDED at least ten years to my life. 
They are life-giving, I swear it.
Akoranga Dance Company and that dance was Papatuanuku.
These dancers had just flown in from overseas, where they work lately performing.

The whole thaaang evolved into a fabulous poi competition, with audience members taking the stage. Attempting with long white poi to look excellent after a few wines, hmmm, it was hilarious and then miraculous. The winner a true star.

Next, poignant and poetic, Mumbai Monologues worked as a low-key rather deep piece. Piano provided a background, tinkly lovely, complex sounds. The others appeared to listen while one another spoke. At the end the applause was so loud it sounded like the ocean. 

Three men in suits sang beautifully “He's got a way…” “I can't live without him anyway.” Songs For Guy shall be on for only four nights. 
Go and melt and reform as someone else, better, more in tune, free of angst.
Glorious singing, lovely men, stylish dressers, relaxed, poised, generous with their voices. Loved them.

Then in my notebook I've written, EIGHTEEN BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORIES Why? No idea. But maybe the whole evening felt that way? We floated out of there.

“If there's a wrong way to lose….” “...nobody does it like me...” Lola La Bomb our MC's song finale. So rocking it felt like we lifted from the Earth and railed on into outer space.

Auckland Council sponsored this event. Good on them.

Some of the inflated condoms were kicked and popped as people walked out. These are delicate things in some ways so take care with yours, do. Always ensure the condom is not ripped or damaged or past its use-by date.

My hugely cheeky daughter told me that I should say something crazy now. What she said was far too over-the-top. Where does she get this behaviour from? It did make me laugh at the time, but now....

A woman with red wings is walking towards the house. This appears perfectly normal.

GO TO TAPAC and to PRIDE FESTIVAL events.  Glorious.

http://www.aucklandpridefestival.org.nz/

Any comments welcome. *hugs*

Circus Performer c. 1950

I was given tickets to review the Queer Cabaret. I genuinely did enjoy it, however, and anyone who knows me knows I usually have no need to pretend I like anything, nor visa versa.

Please plant Trees for Travel to cover your carbon cost.  Australia needs them, for instance.  Trees for Life are a fine organisation.

 *

Painting Trees

The fashion for murals has been in favour, arguably, since early people painted on cave walls. It's imagined now these cave drawings and paintings were to assist with story-telling, and developing hunting strategies. Some also marked sacred places or commemorated important events. I have to also think that sometimes people just like to make art, too.

Recently the beekeeper who inspired my poetry book, A Bee Lover's Poetry Companion, after seeing all the murals in my house, asked me to paint a mural in her garden.

This is the second day, still not finished but mainly sketched in with under-painting.

My house is full of murals. They feature birds, trees, native bush,

mermaids, trees, an elephant, Alice in Wonderland. I painted them 

because I love to paint and it was an effective way to decorate my 

house.  It was also a possible source of income, and the murals 

serve as examples of my work. Please come and see them if you

want a mural and need to see my work. Or you may see this one in 

Pt Chevalier, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand if you want to.

After five layers of paint where the foliage is detailed, the effect is quite realistic. But the lower portion was more impressionistic, which suits the mural's purpose and location.

The owner of this garden - my beekeeper friend who inspired my 

poetry book about bees - wanted something to 'grow' over the box

 on the wall there. So after consultation I copied plants from her 

garden. I can paint anything from a picture, or with any object to 

refer to. This took six hours, over three days due to weather and 

needing to wait for layers to dry. I quoted 270 $ for labour, and 20 $

 for paint. It worked out at 290 $ total. The quote is based on the 

area to paint, each square metre costs a certain amount.


The following pictures show the mural finished, details of it, some of the surrounding garden, and also my friend's bee-hives. 

Now the mural fits in with the garden, and the box on the wall is not so obvious.

 

One hive is new, it houses a swarm now until winter comes and it can be moved.  My friend has enough work to do as it is, she cannot take on more bees permanently.

The bees swarmed near her place so they were best kept there. Bees usually like to stay where they choose. In winter bees can be more easily moved, however, somewhere else. Now is 'the season' for bees, lots of flowers out for them to gather pollen.

I still have some trees to give away if people would like a Totara, or Kowhai tree. I have no more room on my own property for trees.  The old plum tree damaged in a storm has blossomed this year, thank goodness, after a hard prune. Some painted areas were to stop it getting disease. There is a special paint to use to cover where a branch is lopped off. Plums need to be pruned in summer, not winter or autumn, they are susceptible to a disease in wetter months. It has given us plums faithfully for years and is about 80 or 90 years old I think. It is such a wonder, even the lopped off branches cut up for firewood and left in the grass a while started to sprout. I put some of them in places where they could grow.

Now I am making plum sauce and plum chutney from the plums. These are a few jars of the sauce, with photos of illustrations from Mother Goose c.1916, as labels.

Any comments welcome and thank-you for reading my blog. 

Please keep buying trees for travel. In NZ we can buy trees for Australia, they really need them. Planting trees properly anywhere greatly assists human beings to live well. I consider we are symbiotic with trees, they give us oxygen we need, we make carbon they need. Please care for the places you live, and each other.

Happy New Year for 2014 - may our future improve by what we do today.