Being surrounded by forest makes for a wonderful peaceful setting, with verdant vistas and myriad birdlife. However, having these larger tree species within the garden can pose a bit of a problem. Like any living being, they have a life span and some had been shedding bark and limbs at an increasing rate with the potential to damage outbuildings. We called in the Tree Doctor to diagnose diseased, dying and dangerous specimens. A huge Eucalypt was deemed to be failing (I don’t miss cleaning up the frequent sheets of bark on the driveway).
A second Eucalypt, with a distinct lean away from the prevailing westerlies, was displaying the same symptoms and awarded the same fate.
A healthy Tasmanian blackwood just needed an amputation of a rather large limb overhanging the studio
but another blackwood we thought in need of a trim was actually slowly dying.
A few weeks later the team arrived and wasted no time tackling the first blackwood.
The smaller branches were picked up and fed into the chipper
which was then emptied into an ever increasing mulch pile.
Before long, only a stump remained and a substantial stack of timber for future firewood.
The razing of the leaning Eucalypt was a little more involved. A precise landing was in order to prevent damage to buildings, fences and established plants in the garden beneath. With ropes attached to guide the downward trajectory,
a hefty chainsaw took care of the rest and the giant was felled.
I was pleased to see the rhododendrons still upright on either side of the enormous trunk.
The mulch pile continued to grow, along with the firewood supply for the next few years.
A quick trim of a wayward branch from a pine tree on the neighbouring property
and the final Eucalypt was tackled.
Proximity to the fence was problematic but the skill of the experienced team overcame the hurdles for another successful outcome.
Continuing our circuit of the World of WearableArt Museum, we entered the Transform Section. Designers were challenged to create a work that changes in form, nature and appearance. I only captured two of the five pieces, they don’t translate too well to static visuals. Meg Latham (NZ) was inspired by the paper dress-up dolls she played with as a child. Using polyethylene, canvas and acrylic paint for her version of Dress Up Dolls, the models change costumes as if turning pages of a book.
Tara Morelos, Ahmad Mollahassani and Nelia Justo (Australia) have employed electronics, along with acrylic, cardboard and fabric for their homage to Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. They describe Infini-D as, ‘a meditation on geometry, dimensionality and cinematic post-modern gothic’.
The Aotearoa Section draws on the deep sense of place New Zealanders have and celebrates who they are as people and what makes them proud. Ocean beauty comes to life with Sacha Mail’s (NZ) Fatal Attraction. 30,421 hand-dyed cable ties and foam remind us to protect it before it turns to plastic pollution.
Dylan Mulder (NZ) combined 100% merino wool and 3D-printed jewellery to merge Artificial Intelligence and Māori design. He claims the garment, Natural Progression, intuitively designed itself.
Te Kotuku Rerenga Tahi is a Māori whakatauki or proverb, which means ‘a white heron’s flight is seen but once’ and is indicates a very special and rare event. Jenny Sutton (NZ) used paper, plastic milk bottles and weed matting to depict the lovely spirit-like bird.
The Crux and the Long WhiteCloud marries the Southern Cross in the heavens with the anthem of New Zealand. Autumn Minnear (NZ) chose gold, wood, wool and harakeke (flax) to complement the oil on linen images.
Stephanie Cossens (NZ) has honoured the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat, Pekapeka-Tou-Poto, using ceramics, faux fur, Dacron and aluminium.
Fabric, plastic and elastic have amalgamated to form Erica Gray’s (Australia) Echinoderm, a monochromatic representation of the colourful sea creatures.
The title says it all, Our History? It’s Complicated… Lynne Dunphy (NZ) worked with woollen blankets, calico, silk and brass to share the message that there is more to Aotearoa than blankets and guns.
Lisa Vanin’s (NZ) depiction of Kaitiaki, a Māori term for a guardian or protector of the environment, is an understated combination of bamboo and copper.
An interesting conglomeration of tulle, rattan, shells and modelling clay make up the intricacies of Shelley Scott’s (NZ) JAFA (Just Another Fabulous Aucklander).
The colour white (yes, I know, there is some controversy as to whether it is actually a colour) is often associated with peace, light, love and purity. In some parts of the world it can represent death and mourning. The White Section incorporates the entire spectrum of emotions in spectacular fashion.
Renee Louie (NZ) has shaped PVC pipe, fabric and nylon string to create Symbiosis, her message that, ‘Alone they are great but they are even better together.’
Intricately woven aluminium wire and white wire make up Dreamcatcher, a fairy of the night by Tsao Chien-Yi and Lu Pei-Hsin (Taiwan).
‘The incarnation of an ethereal soul, protected by many different, textured layers’, describes Integumentum. Marine Arnoul (France) used 3D-mesh, spandex, foam and 3D-printed glasses to achieve the image.
A sterile white armour attempts to fight disease, but it is flawed. Hanna Smith (Australia) shaped Faulty Armour from Tyvek, cork and surgical masks.
This gorgeous garment by Galina Mihaleva (Singapore) is fabricated from polyester, plastic and sequins. Losing Touch? represents the uncertainties facing nature.
On a similar theme, Erica Gray (Australia) has used plastic and fabric for Face Coral, reflecting the underwater species stripped of vibrancy and colour.
Although many of the pieces on display are stretching the concept of ‘wearable’, I feel this would be particularly challenging. Ruth Arkless (NZ) has used cotton, tulle, mesh and sequins to create Cultural Peak, expressing the strength of the country’s heritage, casting large shadows and reaching new heights.
Taking ‘wearable’ to the extreme, the Bizarre Bra Section showcases some outrageous examples that have been entered in the competition over the years.
Paying homage to a typical Kiwi breakfast, Fried Eggs made from rubber adorn toast formed with painted sponges. Kelsey Roderick and Rhys Richards (NZ) cleverly added straps constructed from cutlery.
The oldest recorded ‘National Flower’, the Scottish thistle, inspired Lyndal Linton’s (NZ) EdinBra.
A less sedate, carnivorous tropical plant motivated Leon Vaz and Noel Braganza (India) for their colourful Venus Fly Trap.
Alexa Cach, Miodrag Guberinic and Corey Gomes (USA) combined hand-painted Cicadas, brass leaves, Italian leather, faceted crystals, epoxy and wire for their golden Renewal entry.
Stainless steel was the material of choice for the arachnoid creation, Miss Muffet, by Bikramjit Bhowmick and Sangeeta Patra (India).
Mark Crocker (NZ) found a use for teapots, bicycle parts, egg cups, kitchen utensils, leather belts, fabric and rivets for his painfully titled Grinder Bra.
Equally uncomfortable is Jantar Mantar by Khadimul Islam (India). I would think those parts made of iron, plastic and reflective sheets would pinch a bit.
Sebastian Denize (NZ) created Re-Decked entirely from recycled skateboards.
I’m not convinced that Tanya Marriott’s A Pair of Spitfires would really take off.
Denise Laurie (NZ) had to learn taxidermy to present Lunar Duo. A tribute to the possum, the unfortunate pair of road kill have been joined together with rubber from a car tyre.
On the outskirts of the city named after the great scientist and naturalist, Charles Darwin National Park is full of surprises. Created in 1997, the five square miles provide a natural recreation area as well as protection for significant vegetation, Aboriginal and World War II history. Developed as an Explosive Ordnance Storage Area during World War II,eleven of the bunkers that housed the explosives during the war are still standing. Nine were set into the contours of the hills, the barrel vault constructions are covered with vegetated earth.
There is a display of memorabilia in one of the bunkers and a fascinating insight into Darwin’s role in the Pacific War.
Bomb trolleys were used to move bombs weighing up to 1,000 lb (that’s about 450kg) to be loaded into aircraft and were common at bomber bases in the 1940s.
There are two free-standing storage sheds, one of which is now adorned with a magnificent work of art.
One of Australia’s most important wetlands is also protected by the park. The Port Darwin wetland comprises undisturbed mangrove forests, with 36 of the Northern Territory’s 51 mangrove species within its system of inlets, islands and bays. The vista from Charles Darwin Lookout is spectacular.
We weren’t sure whether we would be hosting a slithering summer squatter this year, considering the absence in 2021. Our question was answered one evening in early December when we spied the familiar form from the kitchen window.
The Tasmanian tiger snake (Notechis scutatus humphreysi) has an unfounded reputation for being aggressive. Although one of the world’s most venomous snakes, they are actually very shy creatures and would rather retreat than attack, saving their venom for important things like their next meal. This may not be the same snake as previous years but she certainly had the same habits and was very comfortable with our presence. Mornings were spent warming up on the eastern side of the pond,
seeking shade when too hot
and stretching out when cool ,
then back to shelter.
Tasmanian climate isn’t the easiest for temperature regulation, even for humans. Sometimes a little creativity is needed to warm up,
but usually a good stretch against the rocks is the best way.
There were some mornings we couldn’t see Snakey (as she is affectionately known) and assumed she had gone off hunting for the day. Complacency is not recommended as she can turn up where least expected.
I much prefer her presence to be obvious.
In the afternoon, she would often be lounging on the rocks above the pond
or returning from adventures for refreshment
before relaxing in contented contemplation.
I like to think there is a subliminal connection between the tiger snake and tiger lilies, they seem to complement each other.
While staying inNelson, we relished the opportunity to visit the World of WearableArt (WOW) museum. Local sculptor, Dame Suzie Moncrieff, instigated the World of WearableArt as a means of promoting a local co-operative art gallery; by taking art off the wall and displaying it on the moving body. Each year, the competition culminates with a spectacular show where the works are brought to life on stage. Since the inaugural show in 1987, the competition now attracts entrants from around the world. The museum dishes up a visual feast of which I will share a tasty portion.
The adventure begins just after the ticket counter, with the vibrant colours of Escaped Pods delivering a promise of things to come. Lynn Christiansen (USA) used felt and fabric for her depiction of Castilleja seed pods that have escaped captivity at the seed bank to live for today.
The displays are separated into different sections with each representing a theme. The Open Section is unique in that it has no thematic boundaries, giving designers complete freedom to create, limited only by their imagination.
Synthetic scraps, Fimo (a clay developed in the mid-20th century that could be hardened in the oven) and floor insulation were used by Daniella Sasvári and Aaron La Roche (NZ) to create the monarchial Regnum Dei.
Peeling back the layers to reveal the real you, Mary Turner’s (NZ) Appeeling is made from Worbla (a thermoplastic resin), foam, fabric and paint.
Striking and hypnotic, the changing patterns and colours of Collide-o-Scope were composed from neon acrylic, lycra, aluminium and Worbla by Vicky Robertson (NZ).
Fabrics, hand-painted skulls and skeletons were used by Sheela Stoneman (NZ) for Memento Mori to illustrate that life is short, death is long, so we need to live life to the fullest while we can.
‘Nature, the hero warrior, transfigures forsaken giants of industry into works of inspiring beauty’. Jill Benson (NZ) used PVC foam board, brass and cotton to construct Derelict Beauty.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was obviously the inspiration for Carolyn Gibson’s (NZ) Rock Me Amadeus. Few materials are more fitting than velvet, leather, pearls and lace for a man who declared that love is the soul of genius.
Golf bags, clubs, tees and vinyl were used by Leanne Day (NZ) to relate the overwhelming feeling of having more ideas than time with Engolfed.
The Mythology Section features fantastical designs influenced by dark tales from other dimensions; monsters and creatures, gods and goddesses. Banshee of the Bike Lane shrieks her mourning of the senseless deaths of fallen cyclists. This howling spectre is assembled from bicycle inner tubes, chains, cogs and a wheel by Grace DuVal (USA).
The story of the thread of life – the beginning, middle and end – is told through shape and colour by Tina Hutchison-Thomas (NZ). Velvet, hand-dyed chiffon and embroidery were used to create the garments of The Moirai – the Shape of Us.
Feathers, silk taffeta, paint and crystals combine in the colourful Eden by Ian Bernhard (NZ), a portrayal of a creature of paradise, lost.
Xu Ran’s (China) 3D printed resin, nylon, rope and plastic, Feathers of theRoc, tells the story of giant fish that grow wings and turn into big birds to pursue freedom.
Based on the ancient theory of female hysteria, Louise Byford (UK) has melded latex sheeting, liquid latex and leather to present The Wandering Womb.
Although Nyx, goddess of the night, has the appearance of a multitude of feathers, it was actually created with plastic bags, metal wire and polyester by Dinh Hai Yen (Singapore).
A fascinating fusion of patent leather, beads and non-woven cloth form the convolutions of Chang-Yi-Wei’s (Taiwan) Soul Guardian, the god who guards the soul.
Wrath of Medusa was inspired by the Greek mythological creature Medusa, as sculpted by Italian artist Bernini. Edyta Jermacz (Poland) opted for vinyl latex, neoprene, jacquard and polypropylene padding for her concept.
Experimental, radical and unorthodox, the Avant-garde Section challenges designers to defy the boundaries of fashion and rebel against the norm.
Buddhist altar cloths and kimono obi lining merge to form Shinka (‘Evolution’ in Japanese). Christopher Davis (NZ) poses the question, ‘in a world of change and rapid evolution, will tradition still remain?’
With the stunning use of steel, silk and silk georgette, Thingamla Adrianne Keishing (India) conceived Oracles of Life, influenced by the aquatic world, especially the rhinopias and coral reefs.
The Lady Warrior embodies the toughest warriors in life – women – in their role of daughter, wife and mother. Rinaldy Yunardi (Indonesia) has brought his vision to life using metal and recycled paper.
Edyta Jermacz (Poland) features once again in this section, using latex, neoprene, fringing and buckles to produce Big Lips, inspired by a range of romantic emotions: desire, obsession, sex, love, intensity.
Silk, foil, foam and wire form the bold concept by Anna von Hartitzsch (UK), Clotho – the Goddess of Fate. According to Greek mythology, the youngest of the three Fates spins the threads of human life.
Baroque style and religion inspired Lam Hoi Man Kinki (Hong Kong) to create Holy Light using non-woven fabric, metal and satin.
Silk satin, taffeta and stone beads adorn Joan, Ian Bernhard’s (NZ) ‘armoured figure in liquid splendour’.
This armour is an interpretation of ‘power dressing’ and the illusory power of the stiletto. Louise Dyhrfort (UK) chose vegetable-tanned leather and plastic heels for Walk All Over Me.
Shantanu Singh (India) surmises, ‘we can’t even imagine the world or universe without black’. Velvet, lycra, crepe, pleated taffeta and cords compose Black – an Inner Strength.
The faceless, menacing Dearth Exterm represents a strong, powerful female version of the Knave of Hearts. Nicola Rule (NSW) has combined leather and taffeta for her mysterious character.
With a few more sections to share, I am planning a second instalment. Stay tuned…..
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