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Artists I have worked with:
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DES HELMORE
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MICHAEL SHEPHERD
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Sunday February 12th at 3 for 3.30 pm – Guest speaker C.K. Stead Exhibition preview and poetry book launch in association with Auckland University Press |
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Whether one dips into a Gregory O’Brien poetry book or gazes at a painting we are reminded of where we are – living on an island surrounded by sea – and how memories are rich with both small & large moments; be it the swim at a local beach, time spent with friends, or a voyage to a new place. Histories are made from encounters and experiences and when seen through the enquiring mind of O’Brien we find our place is well worth exploring. O’Brien wrote in the Afternote of his book, “After two decades away, I have lately found myself returning to the city of Auckland and environs. The Waitemata Harbour is the ‘octagonal pool’ in this book’s title ... I’ve often wondered what shape Auckland Harbour occupies in my mind. It is definitely not a rectangular, but neither is it round; ‘octagonal’ feels about right.” The book is structured in 8 parts, “remembered vistas, predominantly from an Auckland youth; other poems travel widely in space” and bring the reader up to date with O’Brien’s recent voyage to the Kermadecs. “It was staring into the glass eye of a nautical compass on the bridge of the Otago that I recognised another ‘octagonal pool’ – N. NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, W, NW – one that led off in all directions, as indeed these poems, of their own accord, seem to have done” In May last year O’Brien and eight fellow artists were invited by PEW Environment Group to visit the Kermadecs; an area National Geographic describes as “one of the last pristine sites in our oceans”. The experience resonated with O’Brien and the results can be seen in this stunning new suite of paintings and works on paper. These will be accompanied by a suite of original drawings, which feature, alongside O'Brien's poems, in his new collection. A number of other recent drawings, paintings and etchings of a littoral nature will also be on show. |
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