To the South v2
With a splash of heading back to Auckland in between, I finally got to make the mish down to Christchurch over my summer break. It has been too long. I miss my friends.
I haven’t been back since I left at the end of 2009 and as you could imagine a lot has changed since then.
WARNING: Time to get a little moody on this rainyish Sunday…
It is a really weird feeling being in Christchurch and seeing first hand the city, the roads, the houses and the people. Having not been there for the quake but having this unworldly pull of sorrow. Lucky for me, no one was lost that I really knew and the rest are only buildings but it is the day to day life that always kicks me when I think about it.
Four years of my life were spent wrapped around all of those fallen buildings. I was also living in one of the buildings on Hereford St that ended up looking like a dolls house. Honestly it was the weirdest feeling in the world being there and seeing the left overs of what was once my life. Knowing that two years earlier that could of been me, out getting my lunch like always.
With all the sadness and destruction comes the chance to rebuild. To make the city better, safer, greener, happier. It is home to some of my closest friends so for them I want Christchurch to become a better place to live and be.
Latimer Square used to be a place I would avoid. Always in fear of the creatures of the night and the crazy lady on the bike with her glue bag that used to follow me home.
Stepping into the park just straight up felt wrong, but this time it wasn’t out of fear, it was out of respect. You could feel the loss around you. This affected me more than seeing the cathedrial not standing, seeing all empty sites and more than seeing my Mumma cry.
For those of you that do not know, the day of the big quake and the days following during the recovery process, Latimer Square was the make shift morgue. Without even knowing that, I know that my body would not let me near it.
Against all my spiritual instincts to not walk through, I just wanted to see my old home.
My 2008 flat after the earthquake
That’s my room on the left, my office/studio in the middle and our lounge on the end.
That there orange digger is sitting in the site of 202 Hereford Street. A student flat/loft/I HAD 2 ROOMS/hang pad/my old home.
It was home for only a year but it still makes you think. For me I could of been sitting on the fire escape on a sunny day eating lunch like I usually would and boom, nudda, see ya later.
I know this is all a little “could of” and “if”ish but that is why I balled my eyes out for a good while. Not that I am wishing I got to experience it all, sometimes I feel that because I wasn’t there I do not have the right to react in that way.
But it was my life. The city was my life. And to see and hear and watch it in that state for those first few days just ripped me in two.
Time for a spot of happiness talk.. The new container shopping area is awesome! Colourful, happy and a sign of the new. As I said before with all the sadness and destruction comes the chance to rebuild. To make the city better, safer, greener, happier and I think this is a great step in that direction. Yes, on both sides of it you are reminded of the situation but you can feel that people just want to move on and start a fresh but with still remembering the reason for change.
The Bridge of Remembrance now seems like it has a whole new meaning and life.
Other than this massive chance to reflect, it was also a chance for me to catch up friends that I haven’t seen since I left. I am so proud of them all for sticking it out and not being too crazy through all that mother nature has thrown at them. It was so good to see such happy faces and see the people that made my Christchurch years, years to remember. So sorry it wasn’t for longer but the mad life was a calling me back. It was great to see you all and for some to be there to help share Robbie and Kylie’s wedding day was awesome. Love you all more than you could ever know. Keep up the smiles, keep up the laughter and keep up being the tough guys that you are.
Here’s a couple of my photos from their big bay.
I was just on back up digi duty while our old flattie and DAC buddy Amelia was being a super photographer and was busy at it..
My hands (and neck) were very tied up for most of the day.. I was using five lomo and film cameras. Heaps of fun!
Hope you all had a great weekend :)
I magically have another week off work so heres to THAT..
Time to get some stuff done!
L.S.H
★
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My Art Room – Part Two
Time for the second instalment!
Incase you missed out on part one..
I have been reading Justin Paton’s How to Look at a Painting and there were a couple of sentences that I haven’t been able to get out of my head..
“The art room that matters the most exists in memory. This is where you hang the paintings that changed you.”
I think it is really important to flick back through my noggin and see what is stored up here so here are a few more artists/photographs that have changed me.
It will help with establishing where I have come from and where I am now at. I have also found it is already reigniting past loves that I had lost.
2006
First year studying Contemporary Photography
at the Design and Arts College of New Zealand
Robert Frank b. 1924
More known for his documentation of The Americas, Franks collection in Hold Still…. Keep Going turns proof sheets into works of art.
Love the use of text and also the final composition with the use of multiple images.
2007
Anne Noble
From the book States of Grace, I took inspiration from in 2007 for a commercial image I was trying to create.
I really enjoy the way Noble captures an intimate section of a person or place, in this case her daughter with a bubble beard.
2008
Christine Webster b. 1958
From the Black Carnival series.
Webster’s large scale, dramatic and theatrical portraits allow the model to take on a role that they do not usually play.
Ah the magic of masks and make up to make people become someone else for a day.
I love the way the black background seeps around the model.
These guys are huge, like over 2m tall huge and they are highly glossy so you can see your own real life character being reflected within her images.
The third and final instalment is just around the corner..
Have you thought about what might be stored in your noggin of an art room??
L.S.H
x
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Time for a Refresh
It’s NOW 2012 so as they say.. Out with the old and in with the new.
For 2012 things may change again down the track as I am going to be using this blog more and more for my art with my postgrad studies. I hope to share with you ideas, inspiration and of course everything else that brings me love, sunshine and happiness. I am really happy with my new layout and look so I hope you guys like it too.. Nothing like a bit of a refresh to help start the next journey!
Incase you are not too sure where my inspiration for the overall idea of my blog comes from, it is from one of my longtime musical faves and a longtime fixture in NZ music, the mighty summer staple – Salmonella Dub.
No one wants to loose some of themselves when the water gets dry…
No one wants their love, sunshine and happiness taken away-e-ay…
I constantly think about the people that bring me love. The moments that are drenched in sunshine. And the times where happiness is the most euphoric feeling in the world.
Those moments of
LOVE
SUNSHINE
HAPPINESS
Are all that I need in my life.
xxx
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YOUR Art Room – Part One
Helooo everyone and a massive HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What a crazy ride 2011 was and boy was I happy to see the back of it.. Although I do have a lot to be grateful for. As a very wise friend of mine said to me over the hols – “With every negative, there has to be a positive. So every time you speak or think negative, follow it up with a positive thought”. Simple stuff really! That is how I now look at all the poos that last year just kept throwing at me. Sometimes its hard to maintain a positive out look when you feel your soul constantly being smashed by people you only helped, thought the best of and by situations that are completely out of your control. But thats all apart of the game of life, we live and we learn and for us artists, well I know it is the case for me, it is those visual memories of love, sunshine and happiness that get you through the bad.
NOW back on topic.
While I was away for the first time I took a book. Yes a book. Those that know me, know that me and reading are not very good friends. I love to read things that inspire me and relate to what I am up to. I cannot get enough of art books. I love the way artists and art lovers write and how they paint the picture without cluttering it with babble, waffel, crap. Well some do, but for some reason most art books I have read have hit my button. It is when it gets cluttered with babble, waffel and crap that I get lost. For instance not a fan of novels and stories books, I start to imagine too much and then I am lost, normally reading the same page five times over before realising I have read that page haha..
ALRIGHT back to the point!
So I took away with me Justin Paton’s How to Look at a Painting. Back when I was studying it always came up in reading lists, tutors always mentioned it so when I cam across it at the Boarders closing sale I snapped it up.. and for $9 how can I go wrong. So far it has been a great way to get my mind back at thinking about art. I love making art that people enjoy looking at, or at least art that stops people. I am really into what the f***k art at the mo. So it has been really interesting relating it to where my mind is at before I embark on my masters.
Before I even got into the book fully, the first chapter had me thinking.
“The art room that matters the most exists in memory. This is where you hang the paintings that changed you.”
I started to think about all my fave pieces of art that helped change me, create me and inspire me. I thought I would share a few that have been so instrumental at creating who I am as an artist. I think I will do it in stages so for today here is where it all began for me.
5th Form/Year 11/2002
Francesca Woodman - 1958 – 1981
I will forever be a lover of black and white, slow shutter and layering.
And I will forever will be inspired by the body of work that this young lady created during her short yet beautifully artistic life.
Pat Steir – b.1940
Night Chant Series, Number 3 Dawn, 1973.
For my 5th Form boards I made a photographic version of this. Not too sure where it is now but this painting sparked my love for the darkroom using it to create more than just a developed image. Painting with developing, flicking fix, scratching the paper, using OHT paper are all major loves of mine.
I managed to find this tester. Still so proud that I made this.
Doug and Mike Starn – b.1961
The masters of large scale photographs, collages and all round beautiful creations.
Layering, scale, handmade in some way. Love everything they do!
Well that is all for today, hopefully I get the chance to put together some more pieces form my art room of a noggin. There are so many!
What is in your art room??
Have a wee think, it is awesome to find out whats stashed up there!
xx
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FESTIVITIES!
Ho ho ho and away you go, you silly 2011!
Over the last week I have been non stop, it has been utter madness! Trips to Gisborne, looking for a new home, visiting whanau and getting ready for the big adventure to the land of sunshine and landslides. And of course how can I forget joining the madness of Christmas shopping!!!
To be honest it’s good to go out with a bang after all this year has been nothing but balls! The quicker it is gone, the quicker 2012 can get on with being awesome.
First up I want to share some wicked pickies that my good friend Kylie sent to me. They were taken on her film camera that does half frame 35mm shots.. which too all you film lovers means more goodness in film form! The way they come out is super cool and I just love the way they look. They were taken at the start of the year when she came up for a visit and we went up north with one of my flatties and his mates for a bit of sun, swimming and surfing (in our case surf watching hehe). It was such a magic day.
And now for more recent events.. I spent my weekend down at the beautiful Gisborne. The purpose was to make sure bf got back home safe and sound, along with catching up with some good mates, having an early christmas with his fam, soaking up farm life and also getting tones of puppy cuddles from uber cute Mr Paki and his new friend Mr Beau. It was a perfect getaway despite it being the biggest holiday tease ever!
Introducing Paki. He knows he’s cute.
These cute Kune Kune Piglets are the creation of Colin and Honka. Colin was a bit lonely and had one too many acorns last year, so we were gifted with Honka to keep him happy and healthy. Amazingly enough they made babies! And the are super cute and are all waiting to be sent off to their new homes. I like how they like lying in daisies too.. good to know I am not the only one!
Now there is too much cuteness in this pickie! EEEEEEEEEE
This tree is the stuff childhood stories are set around, it is just beautiful. My mind wonders to a magical place every time I sit under or in it. And yes the farm is THAT green!
PJK”s Mum is obsessed with CHRISTMAS! She loves the day when she can finally go crazy and decorate the house with everything CHRISTMAS. It’s rather lovely and you feel the festive season is well and truly in full swing. We had a family dinner on Sunday and she had made these cute present boxes that she filled with Favorites. Such a cool, easy idea and re-cycling is always an added bonus this time of the year! These are made with unwanted Christmas cards. CUTE!
Time for a day out and about. Since it was a rather nice day we hit the beach and got some ice creams while we were at Wainui Beach.
This was the “Marvellously Medium Scoop”.. I would hate to take on the large…. BOYSENBERRY GOODNESS!!
When I grow up I am going to have a Pohutukawa Tree for a Christmas tree. They are so darn pretty. Imagine that in your lounge with Fairy Lights. Simple and perfect!
Looking over to the start of The Bay and Young Nicks Head from the top of Kaiti Hill. Thank you Mr Sunshine for sneaking out!
And last of all sunrise on the plane, the clouds were so fluffy. See ya later Gizzy.. It was such a pleasure, just make sure you look after the BF for me!
While I’m doing this whole see ya later 2011 thing I have to add this picture up. Even though it is from 2009 it is just so meaningful and at present makes me reflect on my life every time it pops up.
This is me with a few of the main ladies in my life. They are my blister Nicole beside me and above us, my cousin Toni, her Mum and my Aunty Jan and last is my babe of a Mother.
This year has been a year of major reflection and re-evaluation of what I believe life is and how I want to live mine. I have had a few scares in my fam relating to health and after visiting one in hospital last night it all kind of came together. With my family, me and my siblings are the youngest of our generation meaning we have a major separation between our cousins and their kids. This never really bothered me or effected me until last night, when before me was a lovely lady I have known from day dot. I felt like I have never really had the chance to fully get to know her or spend more time with her beautiful boys and be apart of her family. This year I set out to figure out Auckland. Well as it turned out, Auckland figured me out! With this stuff and work crap and the ‘ you have to move out, oh no you can stay, oh wait we’ve sold’ balls, it all seemed so small when I was struck with the FAMILY reality. After talking to this lovely lady, it gave me that definite answer I was looking for.
At the end of the day life is about LOVE, SUNSHINE and HAPPINESS! It was in front of me all along! The reason why I reformatted my blog during this year was because I was in a rut, the rut of a full time job with no time to spend soaking up the world. I was worrying about having money to live a lifestyle rather than making sure I can get by while having the time to enjoy life and family and friends and art and flowers an sun and trees and just everything that goes by everyday. But when you are so busy and wrapped up in the world of making $$ for others you are get so tired that these little things do not even capture your attention. Life is far to short to be wasting years away in dead end jobs that do not lead you to a goal. I will say it again for the last time. I will NEVER work full time EVER AGAIN in my life. It is not worth any of the material gain. We only have one shot, so why not LIVE IT!
LOVE those around you and LOVE the life you live.
Soak up every ounce of SUNSHINE and enjoy every moment that it provides HAPPINESS .
and
be HAPPY. HAPPINESS is my ultimate feeling of success. HAPPINESS means you did/are doing good.
I honestly cannot wait for 2012. I am going to reformat my life and bring change to everything that has brought me tears and WTF’s. I am going to enjoy it and enjoy those around me.
I know 2012 will bring nothing but..
LOVE
SUNSHINE
HAPPINESS
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a safe and awesome New Years.
Keep outa trouble, stay safe and enjoy every moment.
xxxx
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Twenty Four Hour Fun
Few and wow! I have had the most fantastic 24 hours with the pretty darn cool Spring.
Spring and I first met back at the D&A. Our love and passion for arty awesomeness brought us together back in 2006 and forever which reason, we always end up in the same place.. I think we were destined to be besties hehe. She is one of coolest, loveliest ladies I have met. Just such a magical soul, and with a name like that she matches it PERFECTLY! She’s a true friend.
She lives out west at the beautiful Muriwai Beach and since I managed to russel up a Saturday off I made the mission out to finally check out her pad and just chill. It was awesome, like being back home. The air is fresh, the people talk bro, the pohutkawa’s are flowering up a storm and the sand.. GAH the SAND and the smell of the sea.. Home sweet home.. or As I purchased today – Whare, sweet whare!
First stop DINS
And eating it with this view..
Wakey, wakey and off down to the beach for an explore
Found this babe down the beach..
And then we made our way in to Dorkland for the Auckland Art and Craft Fair. We were so shocked but in a good way. So much amazing hand made goodies up for grabs and such a laxed out vibe compared to what I could only imagine as Christmas madness begins in the malls. I love markets, well being from Nelson it’s hard not too.. again it’s like home, sweet, home!
We were not prepared for the amount of stuff that WE wanted to buy rather than being the sharing and caring people and buying for others. Sorry family, Spring had more restraint than me.. Looks like you will all be getting hugs and one wrapped up scorched almond… SORRY! x
We spent a good almost three hours in there, did the rounds.. ahhhh… three times. So much cute, pretty, sweet, creative and mad stuff to just look at.. Highly recommend going to the next one!
Introducing Wolf Cub.
These zomg headbands, rings, necklaces.. All my fave things, are just the cutest and prefect for the little hippy/flower child in all of us.
By the end of the day we were pretty much locals at the stand since we made a good three visits that took up most of our time.
Will def be purchasing more in the future and maybe something for Miss Kylie’s wedding.
YUM!
This are the peeps I got some sweet stuff off..
And these are the peeps I want to buy off…. Come’on BIG WEDNESDAY!
And this is my loot! SO naughty but HEY these things don’t happen too often. And as we heard two lovely ladies say.. “Merry christmas to ME!”… I like it!
Introducing: NZ Green Buttons
My new necklace.. I think of it as a gangster chain for hippyish girlies.
And this is my awesome new ring from Wolf Cub
FEW and that is that!
She was a big day.. But one that I would do all over again. I was also really excited for the market for another reason. I am looking into making stuff to be apart of the christmas market circuit for next year. I have spent a lot of time out of the loop with making and creating so I am really excited to give myself a goal and get there and do it. I can’t wait to start playing around with some ideas over summer so I can get into the swing of the creative life again. YAY!
With it being two weeks till christmas, life’s going to be pretty mad. We have a trip to Gizzy all locked in, work do’s, catching up with the northern family and then the festive day itself. First, more than three day holiday, in six years… YES PLEASE! It is going to be AMAZING!!!
Well today didn’t bring me much sunshine.. but I deffinatly did feel alot of LOVE and HAPPINESS..
All the best for the rest of the weekend, hope its a corker!
x
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Here, there and everywhere
Its been a good week of doing stuff and getting stuff done. It has also been a week of reflecting and blah stuff but I love the balance of madness and awesomeness it reminds me that after everything I am human (go figure!) and without the challenges I would never learn, grow and become a better Hayley.
So on Friday I got to head out to see the awesome Miss Kylie J Lloyd get her BFA! This sweet wee pea has been on the craziest journey since we met and it was such a privilege to be there with her for most off her BFA adventure but to also see her get that might piece of paper. As any good friend I was designated photographer for the day, which was a lot of fun and we got the chance to head to the Parnell Rose Gardens to take some cute pickies in the massive Pohutukawa trees. The poor darling is in crazy wedding mode, so will put up some of the photos as soon as they get in my hot wee hands.
Here is one that managed to make it’s way on to FB with her fellow Whitecliffe/D&A photo grads. So proud! Awww
I wanted to put up some pickies of the last few years with Smiley Kylie.. The D&A has honestly provided me with some of the best friends in the world, you are all AMAZING! x
Kylie I am honestly so proud of you and thinking back to when we first started and what you had just been though, you are honestly such a brave and determined person and that is what got you to where you are today.. AND of course your out of this world talent. I am so happy everyone thinks we are twins because you are one of the cutest, sweetest personalities in the world. xx
Now on to the NEXT…
FRIDAY was such a BEAUT day, so lucky for it to be filled with such goodness.. AND Mr WHIPPY! Oh that sweet sounds of the truck and THAT song. Who would of thought that it would make it down our wee one way street. So being the big kids we hurried out to get us a sweet treat.. I love desert before dinner! hehe
PLEASE NOTE THE SELLO-TAPED MR WHIPPY.. Def an official vehicle!
In between all the fun, stuff had to get serious and I have been busy working on my portfolio for my applications for a bit of postgrad study…
AND finally.. Today I got to eat a strawberry before the birdies! Look at what I found.. YAYNESS!
Life is AWESOME.
So is all the..
Love. Sunshine. Happiness.
..that I have been treated to lately.
Summer is definitely here and so far she’s got the goods!
Looking forward to my adventure with Spring this weekend.. EEEEEE!
x
So long Springle…Here comes SUMMER!
Wasn’t she just a magic weekend?? You could feel that summer is just around the corner.. YAY! And what made it even better for me was that it was my first weekend off in over two months! Well deserved, and definitely overdue.
As much as I had every intention to DO something with it, I did a bit fat pile of nothing.. GLORIOUS nothing! A few lazy days hanging with PJK was just what I needed.
Ok, not quiet nothing.
We went and had a geeze at the Auckland International Tattoo Convention.
I am the biggest scaredy cat. Even watching people get them done makes me want to cry..
But we did pick up this awesome kete that PJK wants to take everywhere with him, including BYO dins hehe
I picked up the card for this talented lady at the stall, not too sure if she made it but props to who ever did, it is BEAUTIFUL!
Kete possibily/hopefully by Shona Tawhiao
Annnnnd on Sunday we mished up Mt Eden.
We still haven’t done a lot of things like this and we have been in Aucks since JANUARY!!
Lazyyyyy!
Wild flowers/plants/weeds are still so pretty..
I remember taking a picture of a gorse bush flowering when I was little, much to mothers disgust, but sometimes things that aren’t ment to be pretty are..
And below is a perfect example of that hehe
Bro, you’re pretty funny.. Funny looking! x
How cool are trees? They are actually one of the best things EVER!
So we actualy did a fair bit of stuff! However I did miss out on a few key events out of my chillness.. I really wanted to go check out both Whitecliffe and Elam’s graduate exhibitions. Congrats to all that participated in these shows and I am sure you had an awesome night after a year or few of hard work! Hopefully that’s me next year YAY!
NOW I need to acknowledge a wee milestone in the www world, today I hit 300 likes on the old FB which I think is pretty damn awesome.
Considering I haven’t made much art since I finished uni, it’s pretty awesome to have people curious to see what your up to.
For me this blog is a way to keep me active and constantly taking pictures. I really love making and creating and I truly believe that is my gift to share with the world.
So thank you to everyone that has stopped by my page, hit the like button or stalked what you think is David Hasselhoff’s missus. TUUUU MEKE!
AND I promise the next 12 months you will see change, progression and a constant upload of ART and also allll the things that bring me..
Love.
Sunshine.
Happiness.
Love from
Crazy Hayley
Roberto
Hayls
Girl
Hays
New Zealands Next Top Photographer! hehe
xxxxx
Super Saturday
Nothing like making the most of a day.
On my way to work today I decided to head to the Grey Lynn Festival for a bit of a nosey. I was in love… Rows and rows and rows of stalls of awesome arts, crafts and foods. I was so over whelmed.. No one told me it was that big/fantastico and with so many wicked vendors..
Thinking I had missed out on the fun and having to work the rest of the day, I made sure I headed back on the way home, for one thing, a hair braid. I had one last summer in Gizzy and I loved it and cried when it fell out! My hair dresser wasn’t as impressed when I told her to work around it…
Ah the hard choices in life… Which colour shall I be this summer???
Ahhh more hard choices.. BEADS!
I was very tempted to go with the bell option hehe
EEEEEEEEEE it’s finally my turn! Thank you PJK for being my waiting in line buddy YAY! It was well worth the wait.
While I was getting my braid my camera entertained the lovely ladies cute kiddies.. Check out their sweet pickies of each other
After hitting my first big market for the 2012 summer season, I have got the buzz to get into making and creating more stuff for you awesome folk to have.
I think I will be there next year selling STUFF. Well that is the aim and the plan next year.
SO EXCITED!
Can’t believe I have a Sunday to enjoy tomorrow… I am loving being able to enjoy life..
So much
LOVE
SUNSHINE
HAPPINESS
XXXX
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SUMMER HOLIDAYS!
CAPS LOCK IS ALWAYS NECESSARY WHEN TALKING ABOUT HOLIDAYS!!!!
SO EXCITED!
With working in retail for the last wee while I haven’t had more than a few days off to enjoy summer… Not to mention my summers in hospo. GAH honestly it has been a good 6 years of non summers.
Time to heal the soul with a little bit of twisting by the pool, star fish floating in the water, cloud watching, picnicking, catching up with the olds and friends… and witnessing Miss Minyle getting wed. So much awesomeness, the only thing that will be missing is the magic PJK..
BUT Mr Abel Tasman I am coming for ya! Can’t wait for a piece of home sweet home
With my beautiful friend Spring-a-ling after a hard day of missioning to
Anchorage, Abel Tasman National Park
If you haven’t already started thinking about what you might do make sure you do… One thing I have learnt this year is that even a short break away can heal the most broken of souls. No doubt you deserve it.
Love. Sunshine. Happiness.
