Thank you to PIPA staff and to the Cert class for making an awesome show and sharing it with the world.

The view from the Rendells Building on Karangahape Road in 1913
‘Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 1-W1569′

John Ward Knox‘s “Love Among Ruins” captivated us as an ever disappearing assemblage of portable and legible items lay in the middle of Ferari.

Botborg‘s live performance took us back to the 90s with these self-proclaimed “equal parts techno-boffins and psychic explorers”,  increasing volumes and pitch with scrambling visuals sent a handful of the audience outside Starkwhite.

Leaning against a wall in Artspace’s main room, we watched the bustle of an engaged crowd, two hours after the opening. It was only when we stepped forward did we notice the subtle play of scale of Lilo‘s roof with her property’s fence and its many attempted repairs, all made up of hundreds of digitally printed 5 x 7″ prints. Another striking component is the work’s placement in the space, seeing it placed around the gallery’s main entrance.

The works on show stimulated a lot of conversation, interest and most importantly, attendance. In our journeys to, from and within the shows, we witnessed, spoke to and chatted with a wide cross-section of art peeps and their  social milieux, which is exciting and what we reckon this triennale is all about: sharing the love.

Alongside dancer and choreographer extraordinaire Cathy Livermore, Louise has been making and rehearsing a show called Short Cuts.

You are of course,  warmly invited you to join us. Thanks to Sean, Letti, Oli, Paul and Lauren for all your support.

Details are all in the invite below xx

The performances, direction, singing and most importantly, stories which inform and fold into this work, remind us of the joys, passion and sacrifices that these Pacific Islander soldiers made for their descendants now.

The season is on for two more nights at the Basement which is selling out quick.

The cast have also been invited by Auckland Museum to perform as part of the ANZAC day commemorations this Thursday afternoon at 12.15pm in the Atrium.

Goodbye My Feleni gave us plenty to think about this Anzac Day.

Let it do the same for you.

It’s a place where people can fix, build, and learn about bikes in a safe and inclusive environment.

Tumeke was very busy in the time we were there, with a wide cross-section of people, coming in to learn more about how to fix their own bikes. This philosophy is right up our alley.

We had a blast, even though our bikes took longer than expected. But now we know how to take them apart should we have a flat tire, cable tension for gears, etc.

We were lucky to have Alex, the bike whisperer, who attended to our wheels and sorted us out.

They are open every Sunday from 11am-3pm at 27 Edinburgh St in Newton. So head down Edinburgh, PIC Newton is on your left and turn right. Tumeke is just there on your left.

They always need volunteers who can help peeps with their bikes and a whole bunch of other useful stuff so head there and check them out this week!

Events we highly recommend are Kerryn McMurdo’s Trauma, agency, new vision, whose exploration of three different sites on or near Rosebank Road challenged our definition of what, where and how the sacrosanct, quotidian and popular culture intersect.

Left: Jomac Place where Kerryn’s performance ended as a market garden and now, what remains.

Photos courtesy of http://timespanner.blogspot.co.nz/

We then checked out Kathy Waghorn’s The fluid city, where we listened to different perspectives and relationships to water and saw for ourselves with the guidance of an on-site microbiologist, sediment and protozoa from various Auckland water sources.

We finished our time, riding to the West End Rowing Club, who served up sumptuous slices, biscuits with tea and coffee for only $2 a pop. As we hungrily devoured our homebaked goodies, we saw the Flotilla Whau float by. So we didn’t get to every event but what we did get to, gave us a great idea as to how the rest of ROSEBANK was shaping up: fantastic.

Why do we reckon ROSEBANK is Auckland’s Documenta? Because it is a genuine engagement of Rosebank Peninsula from local artists and businesses alike, is accessible (we rode to every event and didn’t need our car), had free passenger shuttle vans and attracted curious audiences, made up of families and individuals, eager to learn more about one of Auckland’s oldest communities.

Here’s to this, becoming an annual event.

This show was one of many treats from ATC’s collaboration with an equal in length acronymed AUT (Auckland University of Technology) in association with the Auckland Arts Festival for the AUT Dominion Road Stories.

Thank you Les, Marianne, Derrick, Rex, Vincent, Kerry, Amo, Ben, Virginia, Harry, Whetu, Renee, Courtney, Ferooz, Heather, Rosalie, Joyce, Kerr, Ora, Kevin, Patricia, Kathy, Yvette, Karen, Robin, Ellen and to Lynne Cardy who invited us to the marvellous madness.

Here’s a slice of quiet times between shows…

Pros of going to see the exquisite  I ♥ Alice ♥ I  from HotForTheatre that premiered last night at the Auckland Arts Festival:

• True story
•  Moving
•  Makes one cry and laugh in equal amounts and then some
•  Fantastic, charismatic and understated performances from writer/director Amy Conroy and Clare Barrett.

• Cons: You are an eejit.

This beautiful show is only on for THREE more nights, including tonight. 8pm start tonight with forum afterwards and 5pm performances on Saturday and Sunday and closing on Monday at 8pm at Q Loft. Click here to book now!

Featuring the talented Tama Jarman and Justin Haiu, ably directed by Jarod Rawiri and produced by Dolina Wehipeihana, believe us to go and book NOW.

No, really. 2 more shows at 8.30pm.

LIMA Productions latest work, Mixed Nuts 3: Mythical takes its inspiration from various reworkings of Pacific myths, deities and figures and embodying them through dance, physical theatre and music.

The result is a series of wonderful vignettes, set in and around the theatre and interesting nooks and crannies that make up Mangere Arts Centre.

Standout performances were Nafanua’s Servants Michael Falesiu & Paula Uvea with their delightful and outlandish flitring and Hotness with Amanaki Prescott-Faletau and Darren Taniue, whose take on adultery almost made it seem venial.

We were also treated to a tantalising snippet of a new work with Gerry Murphy, Saipele Maika, Paulo Mohenoa, Tevita Vaka, Hanz Jackson and Rosalind Tui.

One more show tomorrow at 1.30pm so please pull out your notebooks and sunglasses to book here.