This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 91, no 8, September 2019
Tramping for Art’s Sake
24 July 2019
We had to be careful not to get mixed up with the large Forest and Bird group also setting out from the Railway Station. It didn’t matter; we had a loftier (dare I say), more cerebral purpose in mind. Heading off, Paul set a cracking pace while I dusted off my bush-craft skills to keep an eye on stragglers at the rear.
Our first piece of art was huge - Colin McCahon's Gate II I (I AM) adorning a wall at Victoria University's Riddiford House. Then to the gallery at Parliament in Bowen House where we went through security screening (and pat-downs for those of us who set off alarms with our hobnails and metal joints) before looking at TV and film makers' personal art.
After fording Lambton Quay, we climbed to the summit of David Jones to peruse the fine china and glass department, making sure our backpacks didn't knock against the delicate displays. Gawking at expensive, gold-rimmed bone china tea sets we asked "Who buys these?" while thinking “You can't put those in the dishwasher or microwave.”
Then onto several small galleries before crossing to the Academy of Fine Arts, always a source of interesting paintings and arty objects in the shop. A sidle of the waterfront led us to the City Gallery where we sat in the sun for lunch, musing that it was the only building around not closed because of earthquake risk.
Our last stop was at the Museum Hotel, well known for its wonderful paintings and an intriguing WOW exhibit - a dress made entirely of dyed, dried teabags.
- Party members
- Alan Benge, Carol Haigh, Margaret Foden (scribe), Peter Nixon, Anne Bond, Lois Hope, Sue Fish, Barbara Ogilvie, Paul Jones (curator), Helen McNeil with new friend Kirsten.