Adrienne Rewi Online

Scratched from Race One - Showtime 15

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

You can tell I’ve never been to the races…..I missed the first New Zealand Cup Meeting at Riccarton Park Raceway on Saturday….. because I never knew it was on. Great start! Even more ridiculous is the fact that I was actually AT Riccarton Park Raceway early on Saturday morning because I had been out at the airport and thought I’d just swing by to see what might be happening. There were men fussing about with marquees and traffic wardens wandering about the place (but no traffic) and still it never dawned on me….though at the time I did think they were making a devilishly early start to the November 14th NZ Cup Day meeting. Ho hum!

So that was my non-experience of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas. Let’s hope I can do better and actually get myself there on Saturday November 14th, for the Christchurch Casino NZ Cup Day. I’ll be foregoing the second meeting - Wednesday’s Ladies’ Day - as I’ll be going to the opening of the Royal New Zealand Show that day. Well….that’s the plan but after yesterday’s debacle I’m the first to admit that anything could happen between now and Wednesday.

And in a classic case of Dumb Meets Dumber I never even twigged when I saw all the horses at the stables. I just sat there wondering why they were bringing them a week early! BUT I think you'll agree though, that everything was looking spick and span and deliciously green for the first NZ Cup and Show Week event - and they did have a beautiful day for it. www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

Summer Green

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Christchurch Botanic Gardens. October 2009.

If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times - Christchurch Botanic Gardens and greater Hagley Park are one of the best things about this city. No matter what the time of year, they are a photographer's paradise. I love following the seasons in the gardens and when spring arrives - and it finally seems to have - everything turns the most incredibly vibrant shade of bright lime green. This laneway bordered by gigantic elms is one of my favourite spots in the gardens; the Archery Lawn, where the girls are picnicking is another.

Cool Cars - 60

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:29:00 +0000

One Pale Blue MkII Jaguar - Spotted in Sydenham in Christchurch

One Loaf or Two?

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:30:00 +0000

There's something immensely satisfying about photographing fresh bread and I was in my element at Riccarton Bush Farmers' Market this morning. There were at least four different bread stalls there, all handcrafting different tasty treats. For my own consumption I settled on something, sweet, delicious and Dutch - with a name that was completely unpronouncable!

StreetscapeNZ - 52

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:31:00 +0000

West Quay, Ahuriri

Napier, North Island.
May 2009. Ajr

The Drama of Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0000

I was out at Addington Raceway recently and couldn't help noticing the 'architectural punch' of the main entrance to the Westpac Stadium - made all the more dramatic by the gloomy, cloud-filled skies billowing up in the rear. Designed by the Christchurch architectural practice Warren & Mahoney, the stadium opened in 2000. It was the biggest pre-cast concrete construction job ever undertaken in the South Island and if you'd like to know more about the details, you can find lots of information on their website - www.westpacstadium.co.nz www.warrenandmahoney.com

It's a Sign - Showtime 14

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

It's just a few days now - Tuesday, November 10th actually - before the New Zealand Trotting Cup Day kicks off at Addington Raceway. As one of the key events of NZ Cup and Show Week, it attracts huge crowds - most of whom will know ten times more than me about racing and what goes on.
When I was out at Addington a few weeks back I picked up a small booklet called Racing 101 - I thought it might give me a few tips on form - for both the horses and myself. It tells me how I should pick a winner and how I should place a bet (should I succumb to a wild and impulsive gamble). Thankfully, it also provides a list of 'important tips for new punters' and 'a guide to racing terms.' I feel like SUCH a beginner, so knowing that The Jump is where the race starts and that it's NOT an actual jump (as in a fence or a hedge), could save me a few red-faced moments. I suppose if I were cunning I would have arranged to take an expert with me but I don't think my media pass includes 'guests.' So it's going to be trial by fire for me. But I'm up for it. From my experience, all of life is a gamble, so I should be in my element - and who knows, I might even beat the odds and pass myself off as someone who knows what they're even doing there. www.nzcupandshow.co.nz www.addington.co.nz

Opening the Vault

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The billboards are up and the anticipation is high: Tonight is the opening of Neil Pardington’s fabulous photographic show, The Vault at Christchurch Art Gallery – a collection of 40 large-format photographs that give us a privileged peek behind the scenes at museums and art galleries around New Zealand. It’s a brilliant ‘expose’ of the behind-the-scenes artefacts and collections in storage.

He got the idea for the photographic series while he was working behind the scenes at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and it has been a work in progress ever since as he has explored the vaults, archives and basements of museums, art galleries, archives, banks, libraries and hospitals – “my focus is on places we store those things that are precious to us and conversely, those very similar spaces we store the obsolete and unwanted,” he has said of his work.
Pardington’s photographs ‘expose storehouses of memory and places filled with mystifying treasure.’ They include my favourites, the stuffed animals and birds…all with cute little cardboard labels attached to their legs; paintings attached to sliding storage walls; specimens in jars; rooms filled with mannequins; shelves filled with rolls of film in tins; Maori artefacts; buildings filled with army vehicles; textiles, card catalogues and much more. It’s a scrumptiously voyeuristic peek into the normally unseen, off-limits world of the nation’s treasures and it will be on show at Christchurch Art Gallery until March 14, 2010. www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz www.neilpardington.com
Top Image: Neil Pardington Land and Marine Mammal Store #5 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 2006. Lambda/C-print. Reeproduced courtesy of the artist & Christchurch Art Gallery.
Bottom Image: Neil Pardington Taonga Maori Store #2, Whanganui Regional Museum 2006. Reproduced courtesy of the artist and Christchurch Art Gallery.

Taking Part in History - Showtime 13

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:02:00 +0000

It’s not long now until the eagerly-awaited New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 10th. I’ve never been to a trotting cup meeting so I’m looking forward to it; and it will be interesting not only from a race point-of-view but for the whole ‘cultural experience’ of race day. It’s a tradition here in Christchurch – a tradition that goes right back to 1899, when the inaugural race meeting was held at Addington, although the grandstand itself was not completed until 1900. A series of fires – in 1916, 1926, 1953 and 1961 - caused ongoing disruption but the ‘spirit of the race’ has never paled. Since 1981, there have been significant improvements and additions including the building of the Stewards’ and Members’ Stand in 1990. I took these photographs of the stands when I was out at the Raceway a week or so ago. I’m looking forward to taking the same shots again on race day, when thousands of people pour in for the frivolities. www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow.co.nz

Thinking Melbourne, Thinking Fed Square

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:01:00 +0000

Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia. November 2008. Ajr

This is where I was this time last year – spending much of my time slouching around Melbourne’s cultural centre, Federation Square, colloquially known as Fed Square. Designed by the Melbourne architectural practice, Lab Architecture Studio, the complex was built (2002-2004) on top of a concrete platform that straddles the busy railway lines below. Chief among its collected buildings is the National Gallery of Victoria’s newest and second premises, the Ian Potter Centre – the entrance pictured above, the rear of the gallery photographed from the riverbank, below. I love this whole area and last year was lucky enough to visit at the same time as a major sculptural award, with works scattered in and around the square. (If you put Melbourne of Federation Square into the blog index top left, you’ll be able to view many of those works). Quite apart from that, the place teems with people day and night and it’s a fabulous place to sit to get the feel of Melbourne as a city. It’s also home to one of my favourite restaurants, The Chocolate Buddha and I can't wait to get back there is a month or two. www.ngv.vic.gov.au www.labarchitecture.com www.federationsquare.com.au www.chocolatebuddha.com.au

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 71

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:01:00 +0000

"Untitled - 3"

Another from the very excellent Barry Cleavin print series, Homage to Max Ernst, which is loosely based on the Max Ernst book Une Semaine de Bonte (1933).

Coffee on High Street

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Loved the sign - of course!

That goes without saying.

But I also loved the laidback mood of Savoy Brown on Christchurch's High Street. Friends have been telling me it's their favourite for ages, so I finally called in last weekend. It was a quiet day but even so, I could see why it's popular. It's dark and moody yet bright at the same time - is that even possible I wonder? Well, yes, somehow it is. Dim lighting, chocolate brown walls, bright red accents and a whole swag of old records that have been painted - mostly portraits. Not the best art I've ever seen but it gives the cafe an imaginative punch that sets it apart and it all feels quite right. I also enjoyed one of the best blueberry muffins I've ever tasted there. The place is usually really popular with the nearby Polytech crowd but I've seen all ages coming and going. Well worth a visit.

Chasing Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:01:00 +0000

Perfect Shadows

High Street, Christchurch.

I often find the shadow of an object more enticing (photographically) than the subject itself. This is a perfect example - snapped last weekend as I wandered around Christchurch on a sunny mid-morning.

StreetscapeNZ - 51

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Main Highway, Mangaweka

Central North Island

April 2009. Ajr

Cool Cars - 59

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000

One Deep Blue Camaro Type LT - Spotted in Sydenham, Christchurch

Small Moments of Greed

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Custard-Filled Pastries

Arts Centre Market

A Sweet Pause

Advertising on the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

It's been a while since I brought you a little something from my 'bubble car' series. I love these little mini-cars - and the way they have been so readily adopted by such a diverse range of businesses to 'spread the word.' Personally, I'd love to get hold of a couple of these little vehicles and let loose with my own paint brushes. I have some ideas that might stop traffic.

No Parking - Showtime 12

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Always a sucker for a sign, it stood to reason I would have to photograph this terrific 'linking of horseshoes' at Addington Raceway the other day. I'd gone out to get a behind-the-scenes peek into the Events Centre kitchens in the lead-up to the New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 10th (scroll down earlier post below) but as you can see, I got distracted along the way. www.addington.co.nz www.nzcupandshow

Showtime 11 - On Show

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Need I say More?

Another ART Sign

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Same Day

Same Jet Stream

(as Below)

Different Art Gallery

COCA
www.coca.org.nz

Early One Morning.....

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:01:00 +0000

......well...Saturday morning actually....as the sun was caught glinting on Graham Bennett's "Reasons for Voyaging" outside Christchurch Art Gallery just after a jet had flown by. I liked the soft fluff of the jetstream against the sharp steel of the sculpture. www.bennettsculpture.biz www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 70

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

"Untitled 2 - "A Week of Avians" - Homage to Max Ernst.

And so to the second image in our new print series "A Week of Avians", printmaker Barry Cleavin's nod to the Max Ernst Book (1933) 'Une Semaine de Bonte' (A Week of Kindness)- and a nod perhaps to the 'birds-meet-people' activities within the New Zealand contemporary art scene.

Meet the People - 44 [Showtime - 10 ]

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Another in the Series Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things – Paul Goodwin is General Manager of Catering and Facilities at Christchurch’s Addington Events Centre and from today on, he’ll be working crazy hours in the lead-up to the New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday, November 10th. NZ Cup Day is the pinnacle of harness racing in New Zealand and it attracts around 25,000 people, all of whom require food and drink. It’s Paul’s job to oversee the large team making that happen. Luckily Paul trained as a chef and he’s spent over thirty years in hotel and hospitality management. Combine that with the fact that this is his 11th Cup event and you get the feeling everything is under control.

The fashion marquee is already erected in the car park for instance and Paul has a firm idea of just what’s required to feed the crowds. “We start preparing for the November event in February,” says Paul. “It’s important to make sure we have the marquees booked, plus all the extra catering equipment that we’ll require. The corporate menus have to be organised and by the time we hit August, everything is ramped up and we’re looking at how many staff we’ll require on the day, the security numbers (140 this year), health and safety issues – all the basic groundwork that needs to be done to meet our obligations…. all this, while we still cater to the many other public events that happen at the Events Centre. From today on it’s total madness.” On top of getting ready for the Cup on the 10th, Paul is also overseeing preparations for two other horse racing meetings, two greyhound race meetings and up to fifteen other functions.”

Paul in front of the two huge containers that will hold extra food outside the kitchens on Cup Day
Up to six large marquees are raised for the Cup Day and in addition to that, there are twelve main function rooms, seven corporate suites, 25 bars, 12-14 food outlets within the buildings and another eight outside. The centre’s kitchens will be cooking over 2 tonne of hot chips and over 2,000 pies. Over 80 kilograms of whitebait will be consumed along with 30 large salmon, 40 legs of lamb, 100 kilograms of crayfish and over 5,000 chocolate-dipped strawberries. Corporate menus will include everything from chargrilled king prawns and Moroccan spiced chicken to hot smoked salmon fillets and prime roast sirloin; and the public will be able to enjoy everything from a $2 hotdog to a $50 seafood buffet. Food preparation will start on the Saturday before Cup Day with 25 kitchen staff working 12 hour days. Then on Cup Day, 55 chefs will be on duty to keep the food rolling out.
Paul may have been doing this for eleven years but he says it doesn’t get any easier. “You do understand the process better though and I’m not as daunted by the enormity of the task as I used to be. But you’ve always got to be one step ahead and I’m lucky to have a terrific core of staff working with me,” he says. “You do get the odd problem but we aim to cover every contingency. By the time we get to the end of the day – and that’s usually a 17-hour day for the management team – there’s always relief in knowing we have another one under the belt.” “And even though we’re surrounded by all this food, I hardly eat anything on Cup Day. I normally only have a sandwich at around 8pm. We run on adrenalin for much of the day.” And of course it doesn’t end there – just three days later, Paul and his team are doing the same thing all over again for the smaller Show Day race meeting on Friday, November 13th – running on adrenalin and keeping the crowds ‘fed and watered.’ I can’t wait to experience it all for myself. www.addington.co.nz http://www.nzcupandshow.co.nz/

Considering Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Sept. 2008. Ajr

Like most people in Christchurch, I'm wondering what happened to spring. After a short, brilliant burst of early spring weather, we seem to have plunged right back into winter. It's now October 26th and it's freezing cold here. Which is why I have been sitting here fiddling about with my spring blossom photographs taken last year - just to remind myself that it does happen.

Shoe Shuffle

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Rewi) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

PINK ORANGE

For Summer

In Christchurch
September 2009 Ajr