Shore to Shore Newsletter – New Pacific Studio
California and New Zealand

October 15, 2007

Kia ora, greetings everyone, from a cold wet spring day at NPS Mount Bruce. I have been back on this shore since the beginning of September, and am delighted to report a very full winter of creative activity (and roaring fires) was enjoyed here by five artists: Elizabeth Alexander, Glen Spencer, Anastasia Zielinski, Susan Holmes, and Michael Reardon. The house is full of their new art work in the form of donated oil paintings, pastels, and painted loft trapdoor. Board members Marjorie Gillespie and Chris Peterson generously provided support, as did house manager Jude Guthrie, as always. My warmest thanks to each of you. Sadly, family illness prevented Hinemoana Baker from taking up her acting directorship. Heather and Patrick Burnett-Rose also had a last-minute change of plans and could not come to NPS. We wish them well. Another year, perhaps.

In Vallejo, artist Servando Garcia completed a residency in July, while having a show at the Togonon Gallery. NPS Vallejo has not yet found a buyer, so has been rented out again through April 2008, when it will be placed back on the market. It works so well as an artist residency, I shall be sad to say goodbye to it for good. We hope to start studio to studio exchanges between New Zealand and Californian artists from 2008.

Jason and Kimberly Wallengren are currently in residence, and writer Ana Maria Rodriguez will be arriving in two weeks. A full house of artists and writers is expected in January- May. We have also launched a new program (Kaiparoro Historic House) enabling people to come for a short working retreat for five days or weekends. By a combination of residencies and retreats, we hope to carve out a sustainable future for NPS Mt Bruce.

Best wishes to you for the remainder of 2007. Look for an expanded NPS website soon, redesigned by Dean Teicheira of Napa, with more images of our unique spaces as seen through the eyes of Jason Wallengren.

Aroha,

Kay Flavell, Director

Current Artist in Residence

Jason Wallengren, Boston-based photographer and art director, and his wife Kimberly Wallengren are currently beginning the second month of a three-month residency. We are looking forward to our next Open Day on Sunday October 28, 1-5, when Jason will be exhibiting work in progress called A Day in the Country. This will include photographs and mixed media, all dealing with his studies of the working life of people in the Wairarapa and their relation with the land. Kimberly is using these months to explore a variety of fiber arts: knitting, upholstery, and felting (with Tracy White), and cheese-making with local cheese-maker Biddy Fraser-Davies.

On Tuesday October 30, 7pm Jason will also give a presentation and artist talk with Tracy White at her studio (Old Post Office) at the corner of Main Street and Vogel Street in Woodville. Work by Jason Wallengren will also be on display at Te Manawa in Palmerston North towards the end of the year.

Summer 2007 Residency at NPS Vallejo

Servando Garcia completed a two-week residency in July. This month, Servando and his wife Jenna celebrated the arrival of their first child, daughter Chloe Lilith. Servando writes:

My time at New Pacific Studio occurred shortly after completing my MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and in conjunction with my solo exhibition at Togonon Gallery in San Francisco. The peaceful living quarters and private studio provided by New Pacific Studio enabled me to clear my mind from the pressures of graduate school and my exhibition, and begin a new body of work.

Typically, I woke early and began work in the studio, drawing, painting and writing. After jogging in the neighborhood and eating lunch, I would go back into the studio without distraction. This pattern allowed me to find answers to old questions about my studio practice, as well as ask new questions. I feel that my perspective as an artist matured during my stay at New Pacific Studio, and the transition to life after graduate school has been made easier.

Fifi Colston at NPS

Wellington artist Fifi Colston spent her time at NPS as Anzac Bridge Fellow working on many things including a World of Wearable Art (WOW) entry (she was a finalist in her section, congratulations), a current children’s book, an Anzac Day performance with local children, and painting and drawing. For a vivid day-by-day account of Fifi’s days at NPS, read: fificolston.blogspot.com.

On leaving, Fifi wrote:

This month has been a time of complete immersion and pleasure in my creative pursuits. It has also opened my eyes and senses again to the New Zealand that is around us in the land and rural community, so often forgotten by city dwellers like myself. Thank you, NPS; it has been such a gift—an experience I shall carry in my heart, and my art forward and into the future.

And this month, she added: -- I came home from NPS and handed in my 3 month notice- figuring 'This is ridiculous, we have a perfectly lovely 1910 villa in Hataitai to work in, why am I at a fluorescent-lit office in town? Coming home, I feel complete.’

Susan Holmes at NPS

Auckland artist and designer Susan Holmes, creator of well-known WOW costumes Winged Warrior, Blue Lagoon, Cage of Thorns and Dragon Fish, spent the month of July in residence at NPS working on an entry to WOW specially commissioned by Montana. This was displayed in the Dominion Post and is featured in Montana’s sparkling wine advertising. Susan also visited a number of local members of Creative Fibre in Wellington, Pahiatua and Feilding, assisted by Marjorie Gillespie. She was delighted to find we have such a wide-ranging library at NPS, especially in the fine arts and history. Susan wrote: ‘Many thanks for a wonderful stay at Mt Bruce –a very affirming and productive experience.’

From Former NPS Fellows:

Anastasia Zielinski: I am back in Brooklyn looking for a studio space. I've found one about fifteen minutes away from my house that would be affordable. I think I am going to start painting the beaches of Brooklyn. At the moment it's as close as I can get to leaving the city, I'll be painting my escape. My work is currently up at Warwick Henderson Gallery in Auckland in their summer preview show. tasia8@hotmail.com

Jim Vecchi: As many of you may remember, earlier this year I posted on my website

photographs that I had titled Sky Line Elegies. This work is now part

of The Sunset Trilogy - three separate but related series of images

I shot last year in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Lines

(formerly titled Sky Line Elegies) are photographs of the telephone and

power lines. Markings are photographs of the colorful markings on the

sidewalks. Interstices are photographs of the space between

buildings. You can view The Sunset Trilogy on my website: homepage.mac.com/jimvecchi

I would love to hear any and all of your comments, thoughts, and impressions. jimvecchi@mac.com

Klaus Fruchtnis: I just wanted to let you know that my project In transit [composed at NPS] has been adapted as a contemporary dance performance. The opening was last week and people loved it.

If you get a chance to check this link you will see images and videos: www.klaus-fruchtnis.net/intransitperformance

email: klaus_fruchtnis@hotmail.com

Brooke Holve: I just completed an installation in response to Ray Bradbury's book "Fahrenheit 451" entitled, "Those Who Don't Build Must Burn" as part of the NEA Big Read project. If you get a chance, please visit; it is located in the University Library Art Gallery at Sonoma State.I also currently have a piece on display at the "Sometimes Book" exhibit in Pt. Reyes Station.

New Pacific Studio Mount Bruce, RD 1, Masterton, New Zealand: 64-6-375-8441; fax (06)375-8461