Space Odyssee

It's come up a lot in conversations recently, and may be one of those age old questions. But let's throw it out there anyway. Why are there so few Artist Run Initiatives in Wellington? One, c'mon we can do better than that...(!)

There are plenty in good ol' Auckland, hell even New Plymouth had one for a while there - Just Art on Devon St. Surely, in fact without doubt there is room for an extra project space, or three in the windy city.

It's no co-incidence that Massey SOFA and Enjoy are celebrating ten years, within a stone's throw of each other. It's the no-one-is-showing-the-work-we-like-so-lets-just-show-it-ourselves kinda buzz that art schools foster, which provides the genesis for ARIs, isn't it? 

So I put it to the students: Anything on the horizon?

Helen Mitchell speaking at Enjoy last week.



The youngest member of the arts community, and a keen contributor to any discussion; Janine with little Raffi Schroth.

A goodie, and a not-so-goodie

Well first I need to congratulate myself on finally making it to the Film Festival this year. Previously, the only film I've ever caught was a French vampire flick - Trouble Every Day - in, I think the 2003 offering (you know a film is truly grotesque when half the theatre empties itself). This time 'round I've made it to two: 'Van Diemen's Land' and 'The Man in the Hat.' 

The Tasmanian 'Van Diemen's Land' was an excersise in waiting for something - even meaningful character development - to happen. It captured the grit, hardship and emptyness of antipodean penal life, and the austere beauty of the deepest of forests; but for me became a progressively violent and albeit frustrating portrait of sheer stupidity. These men it seems, were doomed from day one: couldn't catch a cold if they tried, rather resorting to cannibalism. A quick read of Robert Hughes' chapter of the events in 'The Fatal Shore' should suffice.

'The Man in the Hat' on the other hand was a real treat. A morning's walk from Thorndon to Cuba Street set the scene for an honest portrait of McLeavey, of Cuba Street and of Wellington; the city that McLeavey says has allowed him to be himself, and to get away with a few things: 'I would've been dog tucka up in Auckland' he admits. Most enjoyable I felt were readings of correspondance between the dealer and his artists, typed and heart-felt; something that seems a bit lost nowadays. Apart from a few scenes that felt misplaced towards the end, a real gem.

Email me reviews and I'll post. Posted by Jeremy 

The 8 Fest

Great opportunity for those working, or having worked with 8mm, super-8, 9.5 or other small gauge film.

floor talk this Wednesday

As part of the Urban Workshop: Cuba St Portraits, photographic practitioner and lecturer Helen Mitchell will be giving a floor talk in the Gallery this Wednesday July 15, at 6pm. With 13 artists in the show, Helen will bring the astute comment of an outside party looking into the project, and the resulting exhibition, with responses from some of those involved in the project. Amongst other things, she will be talking to issues of contemporary portraiture-based photographic practice in the urban arena shared by photographer and subject - as apparent in the exhibition - and the way that this exchange influences and informs the work. 

Image: Helen Mitchell from 'The Kaimanawas' series, 2003.

hot off the press from Enjoy

Vacuum Idle Adjustment:
Robert Hood and Tahi Moore

Hot off the press, Enjoy's new catalogue Vacuum Idle Adjustment: Robert Hood and Tahi Moore is published subsequent to the eponymous exhibition curated by Siv B. Fjaerestad, exhibited at Enjoy Public Art Gallery 7-21 June 2008.

"It's going to have videos. And cars ..." The pairing of Robert Hood and Tahi Moore promised something slightly boyish, coupled with the deadpan, creeping, dry wit both artists are known for.

Edited by Paula Booker and featuring essays by Kristen Wineera, Harold Grieves, Tahi Moore and Rudolph Hudsucker, Vacuum Idle Adjustment looks critically at the exhibition described as 'brilliant minds gone amok' – and more widely at the artists' practices and the ideas raised by what is now a critically acclaimed body of work.

Grab your copy for $9 from Enjoy, or order it online here, yuss!

give the people what they want

opening of The Urban Workshop: Cuba St Portraits at Enjoy; with Chris Brady & Vivien Atkinson in front

Siv, with Wayne Barrar & Caroline Mcquarrie

contributing artist Matt Queree with the beverage of the evening

Laura Preston & Christoph Muecher

some of the artists, including Andrew Beck, Nick Buckley & Nina Van der Voorn

John Lake and Arlo Edwards

speeches by Christoph, Siv and Jeremy Diggle

Re - development

you can now watch the Auckland Art Gallery's construction without putting up with the dust and noise...