This is now a Christian blog

Having given up on the world saving us, I have decided to turn this into a predominately Christian blog, wth a mostly Christian flavou. I am going to do less of the politics, news etc, and more of a Christian perspective. A learning curve of love. I am fairly new to this, but will persavere. I realise now that the pollies can never ever save us...nor can we save ourselves. Jesus Christ is the only saviour! Well, of course, I did realise this before, but have decided to apply it far more to my life...my work, my family, my study...every aspect of my life in fact. Academia is of the Left, university only takes one so far, and the agenda is liberal. The real world is far more me....

by the people, for the people, yeah right. Democracy a truly dead duck...

I will be a non voter in the future, I an fed up with how undemocratic New Zealand's Parliament has become. So a handful of MPs think they know better than the population of NZ on social issues, and once again have rushed through thoroughly bad law.  Gay marriage is now legal. The debate has been minimal, and the consequences will be far-reaching. No wonder a million enrolled voters every election, are not bothering to turn out to vote.  It seems that those representing our Parliament are not interested into listening to all of the voices of the people they are supposed to represent, but just its own progressive and frankly, anti Christian agenda. There were a few MPs with the integrity to want a binding referendum on the polarising issue. This was the only fair way. So, traditional marriage has been unsurped and man's law rathe rthan God's law is the order of the day. They harped on about equality and tolerance, but were not open to those opposed having an equal say. This is not the true meaning of tolerance.

The average Kiwi was left voiceless and powerless. Colin Craig or Winston Peters are now the only viable options for a truly Conservative vote. Just like with the anti-smacking bill, a bunch of we know best politiicans have run roughshod over Kiwiland. Why am I not surprised. So much for serving the people. More like serving the hard left agenda. Hope that National truly get punished at the polls next year, Key is an absolute sellout. Why is National stepping ever more to the Left? Next yar may many more people not bother to vote, it has become a farcical, empty exercise. No, the House of Representatives do not know best.

A toast to the Iron Lady

It is always sad when an icon passes, and Margaret Thatcher was undeniably an icon. The only female Prime Minister in Britain's history, but really, that is incidental. Respectfully known as the Iron Lady, she transformed Britain from follower to leader. She was steely when she needed to be, but also a mother and a wife and came from a humble background. A grocer's daughter, who knew the value of a pound, and the value of Conservatism. She is for me, on the right side of history, someone who achieved great gains for her country and the people she served,  and someone who deserves to be toasted and remembered for her wit, steel and courage.

Rest in peace, Margaret Thatcher.

from worker to student

Undertaking a three year, full time degree, is just like having a full time job. With practical work to be done daily, from drawing to painting to back again, to research, to lectures and then to essays on artists of interest, it is not dull. You are excepted to attend full time, axcepted to be fully researching, exprected to be in your studio space often. Fair enough, and what I want to do, but it is quite a big mouthful to chew., I can see that the course is going to stretch me, stretch my work, make me look at my painting more objectively and with added/ altered interest. The research side is fun, as it is a subject I love, and am excited about. An looking at the workds of Cezanne, Miro and Pollock at the moment, then will move on to more contemporary artists. Loving it, love the challenge, and love feeling satisifed at  the end of every day. A creative blessing to be there!!

an essay in progress.

Article for a magazine on Colin McCahon's painting, entitled Rocks at French Bay.

Painted in 1959   this work is from one of Colin McCahon’s most producitve and creative times as a painter. This pre-dates McCahon’s most infamous paintings, the groundbreaking works that incorporate text. This was a relatively new concept at the time..The subject of the painting, a seascape, is rendered in gorgeous browns, ochre, black and cream. The placement of line and shape is crucial to the overall impact of the work, and the muted hues add to this. The painting has warm tonal values,  adding to the feel of push and pull, which creates tension and  a feeling of illusion and space.

The depiction of both linear lines and geometric shapes produce a glimmer of subtle underlying tension. French Bay, West  Auckland, was where McChaon lived . This work is atypical of McCahon throughout his painting career, in that he rarely used bright colours. A common theme he explored was the abstracted New Zealand landscape. . The loose, expressive brushstrokes render the subject even more atmospheric and strange, as do the muted colours.

McCahon was very influenced by the German Expressionists and Cubists, both of which are evidenced in his entire body of works.. That is also true of this work, with its abstracted shapes and earth-tone colours. Another common  thread  McCahon  looked at was religious motifs, especially that of  Judeo-Christianity. McCahon employed text in his latter paintings as a response to the fact that both the wider public and the academic art world had failed to respond to the religious subtext and motifs of his earlier works. He explored these personal themes,  through paint, of the New Zealand landscape, a landscape acclaimed  for its natural  beauty. The overall impact of McCahon’s paintings are enhanced by this fact, with the painter creating a new vision,  via his finished paintings, to a traditionally beautiful, if somewhat bland, landscape.

Rocks at French Bay could be read in a scroll-like or religious way. The linear work for text, the landscape itself as religious motif,, especially that of the painter’s own background, and personal beliefs. Is McCahon commuinicating The Crucifixion with this work?  Or a similar Christian theme?  Perhaps he is exploring the paint itself. Or is he merely depicting an abstracted view of a traditionally beautiful landscape?  With no direct text on this work to clarify his intent, McCahon has left it for the viewer to decide.

Bibliography:

Rocks At French Bay, Chartwell Collection of Contemporary Art (from the Auckland City Art Gallery

 How the Light Gets In: The Christian Art of Colin McCahon, article in the CS Arts magazine, date unknbown.