Interview with the Em Ess Aye...

As part of Marnie Slater's Free Tours, MSA presented HOW TO EXPLAIN ART TO MY PARENTS: Unscheduled, covert meanderings (yes, i guiltily ripped that one straight from the scape website). Lucky old me was able to scab a bit of the ol' "Q and A" time. Here's what he had to say...

Name: MSA

Superhero Power: To be able to read my own mind with an amazing amount of accuracy.

Occupation: Artist / scientist (depends on the day)

How did you get involved with Scape?: Through a friend

Fill us in on what your tour's about: It differs from a conventional tour, whereby the viewer actively enters the tour, How to explain art to my parents offered tours to a passer-by with tours consisting of little more than a conversation. Asking strangers to take a photo of myself standing in front of an artwork acted as an entry point. The dialogue after the photo took on many forms- coaxing the stranger to comment on the art, or a simple comment from myself for the person to dwell on.

Why did you choose this format?: I wanted to move away from the idea that a person has to actively enter a tour, and maybe the tour it self had to seek out the viewer. Also I was really busy at the time and this format didn’t require a lot of preparation- and I could do the tours when I felt like it, this seemed to coincide with sunny days and trips to C1 (café).



What do your actual parents think of 'all of this'?: Haven’t actually tried to explain this one to my parents, they’re still recovering from the last explanation on an art work I gave them, have you got any suggestions?



How do you think the public have reacted to Scape08?: Here are some of the publics comments:

I thought that was a window display ( Billy Apple).
That’s an artwork.
It’s a giant tadpole.
Is our tax paying for that? (See change, James Oram) .
Is that a radio prank? (See change, James Oram).
This grandstand has been built for a band, not sure when or who it is though. (Re-public Park, ZUS: Zones Urbaines Sensibles).

Best tour encounter: The story of a giant and how he was going to place the Wheat (Regan Gentry, sculpture 'Flour Power') and that poppy (Phil Price’s Nucleus) into that huge vase (Neil Dawson’s Chalice) , but accidentally dropped them on the way into town.



Worst tour encounter: People in a hurry.

Strangest?: Encountering a really nice guy who seemed really into the whole talking about sculpture in public places, but then managed to turn the conversation around and tried to convert me to some new religion he had just started.

What's your favourite work in Scape and why: Tatzu Oozu’s Endeavour, the whole surprise element and the security guard made the work, and I got to sit on the toilet- I felt I really got to know James.



What will you do when Scape is over?: Continue to read my mind



Yusss, thanks for that one MSA (don't you love the mystery of this guy? sexy). As i have said earlier, if volunteers make the world go round, this guy is the sun of which we orbit.

Now, *do* watch this scape, lovely photos of Lyttelton to come...x

Q & A's with the [day] night rider...

Ann Veronica Janssens' work in the gallery is so kick arse for two reasons- firstly, because it gives you a great work out (your buns will be able to crack walnuts), and secondly, because it is awesome. WTS were fortunate enough to catch up with the resident gallery rider...



Name: Emma

Superhero Name: Turn-Big-Objects-Into-Small-Ones Girl

Occupation: Student

Ultimate Goal in Life: To be so happy I need replacement cheeks.

Short Term Goal in Life: At the moment I'd really like some bookshelves.

How'd you get involved?: Through the Court Theatre. Definitely one of the cooler jobs I've had!

What's life like on the bike?: Great! It's been really fun meeting the people coming in to the gallery. There've been a lot of locals and tourists through, and it's fun to be able to introduce the bikes to them. Most people have been very enthusiastic about trying them.

Your thoughts on the work?: Such a good idea. They look beautiful and have received endless compliments. It would be cool to have them as a permanent installation.

How do/will you feel now/when the project is over?: Lazier, probably.

Strange encounters?: A violent toddler.

Favorite work in Scape?: The bikes!

Favorite person in the world?: Most come first-equal.

What's for dinner?: I suspect it'll be tofu and beans again.



Thank you Emma so much for giving up your time to answer our questions.

Now, the question on *everyones* lips is...WHO WON A BIKE? Yes, thats right, you could *win* a bike. Who won?

Well, I don't know, maybe you could tell me. If you won a bike or a voucher, tell me all about it. I can plot my revenge later...

Wha huppun?

So off to Ballantynes I went, doop doop dee doop.


Aghhh! Wha huppun!? Chanel No. 5?

Well, I *told* you folks, *Go* and see Scape before it closes. So, some works decided to go home early. Well, you shouldn't have left it to the last two weeks to see stuff! *Tsk*. So, these pictures are mearly to jog the memories of those who *saw* the Billy Apple work in the window of Ballies, "as if it were the first time"...

And I guess, for those of you that *didn't* see it...


We always look for *you* Mr Sign. You is what tells us it is art.


Teh Window. How many Ballantyne patrons offered to buy the work? "Aye wood laik to bai thee eeples en thee shoep windoo"


"Aye downt supohz aye cood taek thee gowld wun fo a dinaa paartay aye em howsting- yew know, centa pees fo the tayble?"


"huw maach fo thee red wunn?"

Look at me! boldly using crude stereotypes of people that shop at ballantynes. smack my wrist. Im sure they dont talk like that at all. *they*. tehe.

Now, go out and see some art.

Utha waiz Aye will punsh yew en the Oh-varies. x

A twip to the Catheeedwil...

Ah yeeees, the holy place. The beeeg chewch. Lonnie, dwawing attention to the cultuwal and spiwitual place. Creeping into the back of teh Cathedwil, I looked for her work. Relieved, it was sign posted by the *big Red signage*.


For all the morally corrupt (yes, that especially includes you art folk), seek refuge in the place of Gawd.


Ah ha, here it is. Now to view it, without being accosted by a bible...


So close...


Oooo, pretty moving pictures.


Sort of reminds me of Johnny Five from Short Circuit. Those eyes...

And finally, a spoiler...

I suggest tilting it up to look at the seiling. Oooooo.

To my surprise, I was left to view the work without engaging in any sort of Gawd talk. The nice man I talked to was very enthusiastic about the work. Liked it alot. Had a lot of nice things to say about Lonnie too.

Nice people make the world go round...x

Oh, um, youre, in the bath, im...terribly, sorry, Ooo, this is awkward...

So, as promised, a trip to see Tatzu Oozu's work in Victoria Square was definately in order. This one didn't make it for the Opening Weekend, but was very much worth the wait.

As always, a pictorial journey (because words always escape me)...


What is this!? i went to the square to see a statue and insted I get *this*!? what *is* this!? (that was me pretending to be a person who fears change. pretty good huh)


Oh, I see, one of those 'red posted' art works. I see, tell me more...


Oh stairs. i love a good stair climb. But wait, a sign...


Confusion- do I wait down below for someone to get me? or do i call out to so called *security*? so many questions. why is there restricted access?


Oh, thats a nice couch, i wasn't excpecting...ooo, great lamp...


TV!? what, is this *really* an art work? come on guys, seriously... (again, person who fears change. like?)


Book case. With your usual bookcase things- vases, visitors book, paper, scapefeedbacksheet *ehhhm*...


A Canterbury Tale. hoo hoo hoo...


Mitre10 Changing Rooms. I think my lungs and bowels spontaneously squeezed together and a tiny little fart laugh came out.


WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!? Wow wow wow wow wow wow wow Mr...James...cook? big fan. wow, um, didnt expect to see you here. where do I start- autograph?


I see you're in the bathroom, ehmm, sorry I... what nice toilet you have, and loverley toilet accesories...


And of course the sink. Soap anyone?


Detail of James (yes, we'r ona first name basis thankyou verymuch) up close. Quite wonderful to see it at this distance. Extreme. Not unless I got very sloshed and scrambled up this statue at night time could I ever see it like this. Thankyou Scape and Tatzu. You made it so much easier.


One more for the kids at home...


How can i forget RAY- the man on the Left. Best Security Guard Ever. So. Much. Love. This man made my experience of this art work so pleasurable I wanted to burst into song. GIVE this man a christmas bonus. Pu-lees.

So. Awesome Work. Go see it mofos x

Closing down sale...

Yes, it's that time of yeaar folks, *sniff*, when all volunteers of Scape must come together, for one last time. *I promised myself i wouldn't cry*. So all the lovely people at the Scape office put together a really nice thankyou party.

Now, there weren't any hotel rooms or orgies this time round (well, none that I know of), but a nice event none the less.

And as usual, the pictures are loaded backwards, so we start with my journey of leaving the party...


The pretty sign...so..shiny...must...look...at...the...road...whendriving...but...must...look...at...sign. I wonder, i *really* wonder, how many people crashed and almost died looking a Ayse's sign insted of the road when cruising down Montreal. Well, frankly, they died for a good cause.


Mike and Lauren. Mike is a clever photographer who snapped away alot during Scape- you probably didn't even know- bet he's got some unflattering ones of you. Lauren designed the Free Tours booklets and poster stuff for Marnie. *sigh*. talented young people aye? Note Bene- don't worry about Mike's wrists, it was halloween I swear, not post-art-school trauma...


What's a good party wihtout our old friend ESSENCE. Here is a haiku about Essence...

"Thou art bubbled love
My lips quiver at first touch
You are my Essence"

Not spiked with gin this time round.


More volunteers! these people make the world go round, and not in the aids-in-africa sort of way. in the lets-make-art-happen way! thats the *best* sort of way to have.


Chloe and Matt, who helped out on numerous projects. Chloe on Maider Lopez' stuff, and Ayse's bags, and Matt, well, this guy was alot of people's bitch (i mean that in the cool-working-with-artists-and-getting-involved way). If it wasn't for these two stunning people, im sure alot of stuff wouldn't have happened.

Ah, yes, a wonderful way to wrap up the whole event. BUT WAIT. Still two more weeks fool! get the hell away from this screen *right now* and go visit some work. NoW!

Where the hell have you *been*

I'm terribly sorry, I got stuck in a large rabbit infested hole for two weeks. Good thing I got out- SCAPE IS ALMOST OVER! Quickly- run to all the art works and make love to them before they get put back on a ship and crated away. Tell them your true feelings, or you will bottle up that emotion for decades to come and before you know it, it's Rose reminiscing about the Titanic all over again.

Now, on that note, here are some pictures of a large boat I stumbled over one night. It was a chilling Spring evening, and the ghosts of Girls' High were...um, going, "whoo whoo".


Run! Run, duck, for the love of Jebus. Actually, i think it was a Canadian goose.


See, Danger, Danger, High Voltage


Ahhh, yess, teh boat. Balancing, like a giant desk ornament. but definately better than those silver balls on string or that bird that always goes back for more water (when will he learn)...


See, this is the sign. Proof, that it is a *real* art work and not a person playing pranks on Cranmer Square.


Loverley Christchurch sun set. The grey thought of p, prostitution or somalian warfare does not haunt me one bit.

*sigh*

Moving right along, who would be keen to check some Lyttleton Phone Box Action?

Please raise your hand and say *ai*. I feel a bus trip tingly senation that only happens when catching the number 28... watch this scape x

YO: email from Sarah Pettigrew

All of us at the SCAPE office want to do a big shout out to all the fantastic people who through their volunteering helped us make SCAPE 2008 a success. We know that for many of you this was an already extremely busy time of year with submissions due, and we greatly appreciate the valuable time and energy that you put into contributing to NZ’s only biennial of art in public space. We hope you enjoyed the experience and are enjoying the exhibition. To celebrate the conclusion of SCAPE 2008 (as well as the school year) and to thank you for your support throughout, we’re having a bit of a party on the 31 October. For further details please contact Emma or Sarah at 365 7995.

Cheerio!

Free Tour of 424 Cashel...

Check out Roderick McKay's (or Rod, im sure he'd let you call him Rod) "Open Home at 424 Cashel". If you are thinking of penciling in these days i suggest throwing out that HB and getting out your ballpoints.

Sunday 19 October: 2pm – 2.20pm

Thursday 23 October: 12.30pm – 12.50pm

Sunday 26 October: 2pm – 2.20pm

All tours are 'weather permitting' so i guess if it's snowing, stay in.

Here's some stuff Rod has to say...
_________________________________________________

This property is one Sexy Beast.


Great site:
anchored within the city grid.
centred on defining dichotomies:
commercial centre – suburbs
city – sea
industrial – residential

Local focus:
evolving neighbourhood
local service through clothing, nourishment, entertainment, and comfort
repository of memories

Great potential
Build on the past? Or a new start?

Artist/architect: Callum Morton
http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/27/Callum_Morton/profile/ http://www.australiavenicebiennale.com.au/content/view/38/121

Plans available for a future possibility: A Song in the Forest (1979), People of the Long Water (1985) and Time and the Forest (1986), a trilogy by Peter Hooper.

Further information: SCAPE 2008: http://www.scapebiennial.org.nz/

Acknowledgments: Canterbury Museum (image) and Kate Wishart, keeper of memories.

Disclaimer: These notes for a Free Tours event are unauthorised. They have been compiled independently of artists Marnie Slater, Callum Morton, or the organisers of SCAPE 2008.

Potential! ... Back to the Future?
_________________________________________________

Can't wait for Rod to do his thang.

And in other news, Endeavour, by Japanese artist Tatzu Oozu is now open. AHHHHHHHHHH go see it! Will post photos in the next day or two. Visit Victoria Square Mon-Sun from 10-4pm.

xxx

A General Rant or “Some Long Awaited Vitriol”

You know what? After a bit of thought and ponderance on our new big purple spermy in the Square, I've concluded that, on a couple of levels, I don't like it... I mean, sure it's funny and cheeky and accessible etc etc. but... aesthetically I just don't particularly like it. The fibreglass is shoddy and the figures squished by its purpleyness are beyond cartoon-esque - they're more like 3d stick men.

I don't know if this is just the artist’s personal aesthetic…

*and it’s geeky enough that I’m spending a Saturday night, where I could be out binge drinking with the rest of chch, writing my opinion on an international artists work so I’m not putting a hell of a lot of research in*

…and I do think that a really shiny clean finish would just make it look like a Durex ad... but surely, if it leaned just a little more towards that endearingly shoddy finish or the other way - I feel it may have worked out a bit better.

The fact that it arrived so late is a reflection on the over-all organization of Scape this year. Okay I'm sure I'm not gaining myself any friends by saying this but here goes: really, in an arts festival with multinational artists, should anyone get away with not having their work finished/set up/in the country for the deadline? There are people wandering the streets of chch, looking for art that it is SAID – written in pamphlets even - will be there and it's NOT. Way to get the public on side guys... all the secrecy worked more to alienate the public than get them into this biennial celebrating art in ‘public’ space... I’m sure that Tatzu Oozu’s work Endeavour will be fantastic, but why is it only nearing completion more than a fortnight after the official Scape opening? Wouldn't it have generated more interest in the biennial as a whole if the set up and construction of many of these artworks were to take place before the opening? I mean, why not get a couple of the construction people on side and have flyers on hand *Shock! Horror! Plebs talking about art?!*?

And another thing! The over reliance on volunteers – made up largely of art students nearing their end of year submission; therefore largely torn between their own work and the volunteer work doesn’t do much for the biennial either. Hey, fair enough, I’m a volunteer and a couple of invites to the opening with it’s free boozy goodness and amazing mini pies and dumplings (I will forever remember those delicious morsels) was more than enough of a show of appreciation for me. But I know of other students that have dedicated a large amount of time and effort to Scape and haven’t really received much back in the form of recognition. It’ll look good on their CV’s and all, but not so good if they also happen to fail or get lesser grades than expected due to the branching of their attention at such a crucial time of year…the word of the institution may be null and void, but wouldn’t you be pissed if you got a C instead of a B because you spent more time out helping successful artists than in the studio making your own work in the hopes of becoming one of them?

As much as I think that the biennial is a brilliant idea and really works to rejuvenate and animate our city (not to mention beings some great art directly to us), realistically, it could be done better. Our small-town-ness is showing through our lack of proper organization for an event that is meant to be on the world stage.

*the foam spewing from my mouth dies down and my horns begin to shrink back into my head, the panting subsides and my eyes return to their sockets*

Much love

Giddy Goat

[Thanks Giddy Goat, WATCH THIS SCAPE just got THIS much more controversial. Giddy Goat just emailed us. You can do likewise; if you have something to say and you want to say it here: watchthisscape@gmail.com. If the cats got yr hard-copy tongue, you can feel just as good about sending us pictures. Despite the fact we ARE SCAPE, we can't be everywhere. We look forward to hearing from you, pseudo, anon., or whatever yr on. XOX, W.T.S.]

ALL THE PHOTOS I COULD FIND OF BILLY APPLE BY TYPING "BILLY APPLE" INTO THE GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH ENGINE