Gallery 33 {Friday Finds}

While researching Ash Hilton I came across Gallery 33 and thought I'd do a quick spiel on them seen as they seem to be doing such a fantastic job supporting and promoting the work of New Zealand artists.

Based in Wanaka (South Island, NZ) the website is interesting, easy to navigate and (conveniently) offers works for sale online.  They can, and have, organized shipping of works, big and small,  to Europe and beyond...

A few that caught my eye were:

Lyn Kelly:

Flax Necklace

Silk and Flax. 250mm across

Bing Dawe:

 Detail - Head of a Curlew

Hand carved and painted Rimu

Ben Reid:

Old Yellow And Old Blue - The Black Robins Story

2009, drypoint and relief print 4/5

Annie Smits-Sandano:

Fantails on Kura Landscape

2008, woodcut, edition of 200

Richard Adams:

Vanish

2007, oil on paper framed

But there's lots of other amazing and beautiful works to gaze at!
If your in Wanaka Call in and check it out for yourself!
(all  photo's from Gallery 33's website)

*K*

Real Art Road Show

This is the kind of project I would LOVE to be involved in.  The Real Arts Roadshow is the brainchild of Fiona Campbell (see below) who combined forces with art director Garald Barnett, and artist & art teacher Rob McLeod. 

Together they began to buy art in order to deck out a truck as a travelling gallery and give school kids across New Zealand access to authentic New Zealand art! Genius! Art students can get up close and personal with the works, smell the paint, see the texture, appreciate colours and depth.  I wish it had been around when I was a student.

For more information, to check out the on board artwork, or to give a donation (as with all these types of projects every little bit counts) check out the links...  All photos from the Real Art Roadshow.

*K*

Ash Hilton

I got engaged one morning while curled up in bed, in the tiny flat we lived in, in Putney, London, while we were on our OE... It wasn't romantic (we'd been to Paris, Venice and Rome only months before) but hay sometimes that's just how it works out... We had had the moment but we had no ring - which was brilliant really because it meant I got to choose my own! Yay! I really, really wanted, and nearly, nearly got, one of theses by New Zealand jewelry designer Ash Hilton:

Image from Gallery 33, (The top one is my favorite) 

 But the logistics of getting it sorted from the UK seemed a bit much... in the end I found a beautiful antique gypsy ring - this exact one here:

Sapphires are hubby's birthstone and well diamonds are for forever.  We got it from this shop in Hatton Gardens in London - which is the craziest place to visit - jewelry shop after jewelry shop with many specialising in diamonds! Madness! I love it, and would not change it for the world, it speaks of that particular time in our lives so comes with many, many memories....

But that still doesn't stop me coveting an Ash Hilton piece... an eternity ring substitute perhaps, or just something because...  Here's a few of my favorites!

 

Etched ring with Cabbage Trees, Image from Gallery 33

Art Deco Rose Ring from Ash Hilton's etsy shop

Perfect Pear, Image from Ash Hilton's Etsy Shop

And the double Koru one at the top of course! Check out his website here, his etsy shop here, and you can also find him here at Gallery 33 in Wanaka (which incidentally stocks an impressive range of other very talented local artists and jewelers, and is worth a look on its own merits!!)

*K*

Boy

Mum and Dad said this movie was brilliant! I've just checked out the trailer - it looks hilarious, and its always fun to see something set in the area I grew up, (Whale Rider was filmed in, and its corresponding legend comes from, our little region too).

The film is written and directed by local lad Taika Waititi, and is already the highest grossing New Zealand film - which hopefully means we'll see this 'comic drama' in mainstream cinema's in Aus soon!

From Here to Eternity

In the last few decades the antipodes have come in leaps and bounds in creating their own unique niche in the international food sphere.  We are proving to ourselves and to the the world that our products are equal in quality and sophistication to anywhere else on the planet.  And often our most successful enterprises started off as someones passion and just grew, proving that little ideas can become big dreams.

Cyclops Yogurt, for example started in kitchen in suburban Christchurch, NZ, with a family recipe, hard work, and self belief, and grew into a product you can find in stores across the country. I've lived in the UK and Ireland and have never  encountered the creative and delicious combination's Cyclops specialise in - coffee topped Greek yogurt anyone? Its sounds random but it is incredibly good... and the berry flavours! Bliss!

Likewise Nudie Juice started with great idea - brilliant combinations of real fruit juice conveniently packaged.  They started in Sydney and 7 years later they can be found in stores nationwide... Their website has a very cute story about their founding - check it out here. If you haven't come across them yet you'll know them by their uber cute labels and yummy yummy flavours.  The website is super sweet too! And  their next big thing is coconut water - I'm intrigued...

Its folks like these, companies we take for granted as we peruse the shopping isles that really prove great ideas, a bit of luck and a lot of self belief can make dreams into realities!!!

Have an inspirational week
*K*

Search for meaning - Viktor Frankl

I recently discovered TED, and now check up on it from time to time when I feel like having some inspiration... This speech from Viktor Frankl made me laugh but also think, and believe...
Viktor Frankl: Why to believe in others Video on TED.com

Its nearly the weekend so...

Lets talk about beer!
Have you discovered Jamieson's Raspberry Ale yet!

If not track it down.  The label design is really cute - its a raspberry grenade! and it is really really really tasty... you get the initial flavour of raspberry goodness but it rounds out into a smooth ale that's not to sweet.  Perfect!
I found it at Ritchie's Liqueur, but my local has run out and their taking their time to bring in more stock... Grr! So if your looking for something new to drink this weekend - and you can stumble across it - Jamieson's Raspberry Beer comes highly recommended.
I'm a fan of trying something new, I'd love to hear others suggestions!!
*K*