I enjoyed my gallery tour although Jan the volunteer guide was a tad patronising. She specialised in asking inane questions with bleeding obvious answers, it reminded me of many a lesson observation conducted in my previous life. When I get back into the education game I'm gonna continue to experiment with pedagogical techniques that challenge without the use of a single question being posed by the adult(s) in the room. I know what Casper means when he complains about teachers who talk too much and ask stupid questions that he can't be arsed to dignify with a response. For those of you who don't know, Casper is the 16 year old son of my dear, dear friend Shobha. He is very bright and aspires to being Prime Minister; he will definitely get my vote.
Auckland Art Gallery has just won international building of the year 2013. The original building is French neoclassical and the extension modern but sympathetic. The architect has celebrated Maori culture by using wood from the indigenous kauri tree. The pillars and canopy simulate living trees and a seamless continuation with the parklands outside is achieved using large windows and an indoor water feature. Here are the photos.
So I will share with you things that caught my attention. This Victorian painting of a child's funeral is the most popular in the gallery, why? I have no fooking clue...
I was interested in the portraits of Maoris painted by Europeans. The portraits below are by Charles F Goldie, he believed the Maori people and their way of life would become extinct and so painted significant elders looking forlorn and defeated. The compositions were staged in his studio to fit with his perceptions, which of course were wrong didderly wrong.
These portraits were painted by Gottfried Lindauer. He admired the strength, dignity and entrepreneurial spirit of the Maoris, visited them in their homes to learn their ways and painted them in their own environment.
There was an exhibition called 'freedom farmers' focussing on local artists exploring fook knows what about the universe and everything. All I can say is it was very disturbing to this Adilady, I'm a simple soul and don't really get the weird shit. Here are some examples, answers on a postcard please...
This was my favourite painting in the gallery. It's by the NZ born artist Colin McCahon and is entitled 'On Building Bridges.'
After the gallery it was straight to the hotel to meet Maureen aka Machatarn, her friend Jodie and await Kirstypops' long awaited arrival. In the evening we went to an Irish bar for food and beerage and made a wild night of it. There were lots of Christmas parties going on, when did it get to be December? We got a lot of male attention which is always good for egotons, I think it was because we were drinking pints and dancing like demons (and we are sexy birdingtons of course). NZ is stuck in a time warp so Kiwi chicks tend to be more demure lol. Below is a photo of me sporting a lighthouse hat, the owner was either Captain Strange or come in fancy dress, I think it was probably the latter.
The bouncer tried to throw Kirstpops out for being drunkerly dunkerly and I had to go and rescue her from outside, what's that all about? In blighty they let you carry on until you are blind, dead or both. I explained to nice bouncer blokey that it was a case of jet lag and so he let her back in on the proviso she drank loads of water. Well I guess sambuca does contain a certain percentage of water lol. Hangovers all around the next day; sorry Bobs, I know you don't approve: D
The day after the night before, from left to right: Jodie, Maureen aka Machatarn, Adilady and KP.
The following day we picked up our camper, OMG it has a hot shower!!!! No more mouldy meat pie pits for me for the next 3 weeks. It's also the size of a fooking tractor and with zero spatial awareness I was a bit nervous about drivingtons. Kirstypops to the rescue! She drove us to Raglan with a hangover from hell; cheers lovely.
We freedom camped next to the beach and had tea and strolls for breakfast, total bliss. Our bubble was burst by the local sheriff who informed us that freedom camping is against local by laws and we were due a 200 dollar fine:( After playing the dizzy bird card we were let off with a warning and will have to be more careful in the future.
Today we are off to see Gareth Edwards, a local Middy boy last seen by me in 1986. In the afternoon it's a trip to Hobbiton, hip, hip, hurrah! I would like to come back as a hobbit in the next life and with the state of my furry feet I am half way there already ha ha. Thank the lordy lord that Kirstypops has brought her epilady. Muchus love, it is sooo lovely having a travel bud for the next few weeks. This is a very happy Adilady saying over and out xxxx
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