Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The aftermath here at Toi Poneke

First, our thoughts at Workspace go out to all in Christchurch.

Right now, Toi Poneke is acting as an evacuation center for the Civil Defense.  Tourists who have evacuated Christchurch gathered here today to rest and make arrangements for themselves.  The evacuees were provided with food and drinks as well as some medical attention for those in need.

We do not yet know for how long Toi Poneke will remain in this capacity.

I will post more studio news in a few days when everything has calmed.

cheers,
a somber wild minion

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

What's on

Some of you may have been wondering from where Annie and Vaune get their inspiration for the shockingly brilliant designs.  Well, you are in luck!  Today, I am prepared to share with you one of the many secrets to their success and good looks.  It ain’t nothin’ but a groove thang. So to what fine music are we listening these days at Workspace?  Glad you asked.  Right now our stereos are crooning the lovely voice of Madeline Peyroux, whose album, Careless Love, has been graciously left at the studio by one of our permanent bench renters.  Ms. Peyroux's soothing voice makes you want to glide effortlessly across the floor – a process made considerably easier by the coating of wood and cuttlebone dust which is beckoning to be cleaned.

Cheers!
the wild minion

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Swimming with the Cuttlefish

It is a beautiful day.  The sun is glaring down on us through the gaping hole in the ozone layer conveniently situated above this fair island nation, and I have spent the day deferentially hiding my fair Irish skin under the cover of whatever awnings and shadows I could find.  All I need now to make the day better is a quick dip in the ocean.  But wait!  A small snafu on the horizon.  It seems that contrary to popular belief, the water here is less than balmy.  I have a bone to pick with all the people over the years who clumped all of Australia and New Zealand into one, warm, sandy beach filled with surfers and people calling each other "mate."  So swimming is out.  Instead, I'll vacuum my apartment.  It's a real gas and good practice for next week when our Thursday visitors attempt cuttlefish casting.  There will be a lovely coating of smelly toxic fish bone to clean up after the day's work.

Cuttlefish casting is the process by which one carves a mold into two pieces of cuttlebone and pours molten silver into said mold in the hopes of producing something worth looking at.  It's a great introduction to casting and a fairly cheap process at that.  Unfortunately, it smells awful, and the cuttlebone dust is actually made up of microscopic burrs that will lodge themselves and their carcinogens in your lungs most unpleasantly.  So wear your mask!

The real fun in cuttlefish casting comes from the unique texture of the cuttlebone which leaves an imprint on the cast pieces.  Take a look:

The cuttlebone has an asymmetrical striation that can produce very interesting casts.  The visibility (depth) of the pattern varies depending on how the carving is finished before it is cast.  This mold was likely cleaned with a brush in order to expose the natural texture of the bone.

The principle difficulty in cuttlefish casting arises in   pouring the silver.  When the carving is more complex, with multiple appendages, it can prove difficult to pour successfully.  In some cases, the silver will not reach all corners of the mold.  Success requires the right sprue and often a bit of tweaking.

Hopefully, next week's attempts will prove fruitful for all.  They will certainly be messy!

Cheers,
the wild minion

Monday, January 31, 2011

Rivets and romance

I'm not sure why, but I seem to have a few verses of "Annabelle Lee" floating about my head this morning. Perhaps it's all the talk of weddings.  In any case, the lyrical words of Edgar Allen Poe have stuck with me since I first read them years ago in school.

"It was many and many a year ago
In a kingdom by the sea
That a maiden lived there whom you may know
By the name of Annabelle Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
...
But we loved with a love that was more than love

I and my Annabelle Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me
...
For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabelle Lee
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabelle Lee"



There's something intoxicating about the idea of giving oneself over completely to a single thought.  The experience is almost liberating. I think this liberation is another reason I have been thinking of Annabelle Lee today. There is an unmistakeably Romantic quality to Vaune and Annie's work in the Wild. It's the marriage of fancy and feeling: the lightness of a feather cast in weighty copper; the majestic antler of a stag hung gently from the nape of the neck. It has a kind of feral delicacy, just like the love that Poe mourns in his poem.

 

Well, back to work.

Cheers!
the wild mignon

Sunday, January 30, 2011

First impressions of the fish head

It's been ten days since I arrived in windy Wellington, but surely it feels like more.  Perhaps that is because the atmosphere here is so intoxicating as to make you feel at home within days of your arrival.  I've already adjusted to the ever-fresh air and blazing sun, and I think my standards for bacon have risen considerably.  Seriously.  New Zealand's pig products are very tasty.

As for my internship at Workspace - all is well. The studio is abuzz with nuptial blissterics, as both my bosses are engaged. Vaune and Annie have shared a lot of excitement with me as I settle into the studio rhythm, and it has been much appreciated.  My routine around Workspace really has not been settled yet.  So far I do a little of everything, and I love it all.  I've cleaned some castings, prepared the studio for classes, worked on a wood carving, and familiarized myself with Heaven Pizza, which already holds a dear place in my heart. Or my stomach.  Hard to tell.

Generally speaking, the food in Wellington is excellent.  Cuba street is home to all sorts of delectable treats.  The eggs benedict at Fidel's cafe are definitely the best I've ever tasted, and you can grab a lovely scone from Floriditas further down the way.

The arts scene here is equally well developed.  I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Truth and Light photography exhibit at Toi Poneke last week (choice spring rolls at the buffet table!) and saw some creative photos on display.  Today, I ventured down to Avid gallery on Victoria street.  I poked around the jewellery show room for a bit and saw some amazing pieces.  I was really blown away by Matthew von Sturmer's diamond and red sapphire ring as well as Joanna Campbell's shibuichi silver ring.  I found the manipulation of such a small canvas very compelling.  It's been nice to meet and see the work of other artists at Toi Poneke and at galleries such as Avid.  The exposure really rounds out my experience working here.  When I finish my days at the arts center, I have the busy city of Wellington waiting for me. Tonight, for instance, I'm off to meet the vertically inclined members of the New Zealand Alpine Club at Ferg's for an evening of climbing.

Til next time,
the wild mignon