Jo Russ’ photo diary

On a recent visit ex-Wellingtonian photographer Jo Russ used her artist’s eye to snap a set of images which share a certain group characteristic; I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I feel like I’m looking at the mundane and the familiar from an outsider’s fresh perspective.

More after the jump.

Crafting at Pataka

Saturday June 9, 10am – 4pm

CRAFTING is a part of THE BIG LOOK-SEE at Pataka this weekend, which is an open day event for galleries and museums in the region.

CRAFTING will also celebrate one of Pataka’s exhibitions called Arts Society by Judy Darragh. The exhibition is an art installation that celebrates ‘craft’ and the handmade.

There will be a stunning range of fun and funky jewellery, art objects, cushions, toys, clothes, accessories and loads more cool stuff.

You can also play a little game of ‘Spot the Wellingtonista’, as there will be no less than THREE of us there. Come and say a big “hola”, and buy us a gin. Man, there’d better be some gin.


Webstock Mini

The handy pocket-sized version of Webstock returns to Wellington on Tuesday next week. You might think it’s all for uber nerds and super geeks, but you would be wrong.

In fact, research just in has shown that attending Webstock Minis has been scientifically proven to make you more interesting, better-looking and all round more desirable. And, honestly, that’s regardless of how much you drink!

For your ticket price you can learn about some cool things like Second Life, the upcoming version of Firefox and all you can eat and drink.

The whole thing winds up with a debate entitled “Web 2.0 is all fizz and no substance”. Mike Brown, Sandy Mamoli and
Mark Cubey will uphold the proposition against Philip Fierlinger, Brenda Leeuwenberg and Che Tibby.

We are fully in the negative camp, because the team features one of our newest Wellingtonistas, Che Tibby.

Register for Webstock Mini:
http://www.webstock.org.nz

Hamish McKay Gallery reopens

(via White Fungus News…)

The new Hamish McKay Gallery is now open at Level one, 39 Ghuznee Street.

More info after the jump.

Why Science Fiction is the only legitimate artform of the 20th and 21st centuries

Local artist, writer and intellectual David Cauchi is giving an address at the Film Archive on Saturday afternoon.

David is a right old character, and also the painter of one of my favourite works of art — entitled The fab four (Tasman, Cook, Du Fresne, De Surville) (above).

More info after the jump.

Ukes at lunch

Two events at the libraryWe love the library. We do. And many of us are in there at least once a week, and not just to admire the architecture. (For some of us it has something to do with those kid’s pacifiers DVDs having just a seven day loan period. But we digress.)

Like the Wellingtonista, the library too is celebrating NZ Music month – they’re hosting a quiz that always ends with the chance to win a well known brand of MP3 player. Nice.

But even better, there’s a performance by local Super Group The Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra this Thursday 12:30pm at the library.

If you are feeling brave enough to visit MySpace, check out some videos here. And should your immersion in the Wellington music scene be as pitifully shallow as this sad individual‘s, then you should consider your attendance on Thursday to be compulsory.

Pop Levi

Hey I’m excited. Liverpudlian nu-glam and ex-Ladytron bassist Pop Levi is bringing his hyperactive T. Rex-isms to the Bathhouse.

More info after the jump.

Food! Show!

Hurray, it’s finally here. You know how we feel about the Food Show, so really, nothing more needs to be said except for what better way to drink off your hangover from Country Club: England?

Flight of the Conchords: HBO Premiere

A little late today, still recovering from last night’s bowling…

But worth the wait! The first episode of the Flight of the Conchords’ HBO show is now online for your viewing pleasure.



(Hat-tips to the various people who were kind enough to point this out to us. Tobin, Jessie, and someone else who’s name eludes me now.)

Wellington Music Month 6: a shameful secret.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketSo alone among the Wellingtonista, I have a terrible secret: apart from an early album from the Black Seeds, I have no current Wellington Music in my collection.

None.

Not even Fat Freddy’s Drop.

In my major period of buying music, Wellington music for me was a bit fringe and wacky, and worst of all, not on Flying Nun. There were occasional songs that caught my attention: Bill Direen & the Bilders’ Do the Alligator; that amusing Elephunk song; one or two songs from the Six Volts… and that’s about it. Wellington was full of arty jazzy stuff that frankly I despised.

Time has moved on – about 20 years in fact – and somehow Wellington’s musical renaissance has passed me by. This is not good.

So I need help!

What are the top five albums by Wellington bands in the last five years? Answers please: I must remove the shameful stain of my musical ignorance!