#auckland art week

[happywebdesign]

Sam Hartnett

[quillofspirit]

We've come to the end, week 5!

Would you believe I hadn't actually planned to go to New Zealand? For a good few years, I had talked about visiting Scotland, and then my friend went to South Korea to study and on one of our 2 am catch up calls, I said to her jokingly "haha, I could visit you during my two week break in summer!" "... would you?"

And then a month before my friend was due to leave for New Zealand I said "God I can't wait to travel, I have my passport freshly made, and I have funds" "... it would be nice to have company"

Anyway- to that little girl, in her bedroom two decades ago who learned that Sagittarius yearn to travel and like spontaneity, and didn't know what it meant -- you figured it out

Visiting the art gallery was a recommendation from someone who had visited it a few times, and I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. The exhibitions were thoughtful, the themes intriguing, and we were happily surprised to find a few of the Guo Péi dresses on display.

I'm usually the type to respect animals (and their instincts) enough to keep my distance, but Emus are some of the few animals I would keep a safe distance with out of fear. I am not terrified, it's not a fear, but I think it's what some could call "self-preservation." Anyway, this one is named Elvis and I didn't dare laugh about his hairdo in front of him, but now that there's an ocean between us, I feel safe.

We visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty of the same name was signed in 1840. This single Norfolk Pine was planted by Agnes Busby, the wife of the man who helped draft the Treaty. It's highly interesting history, and my sociological self was fully invested. I recommend a good read! (there are most likely better and more nuanced resources out there for those interested, but it does give a nice broad introduction). The tree is imposing, and I took a few moments to think about the generations it has seen pass by, and the conversations it has heard.

When I left, a month earlier, my brother - way further north than I am - had been dealing with waist-high snow for about a week. We finished our travels in Auckland, in December, where there was, of course, no snow. But, there were the beautiful blooms of pōhutukawa, and I was enamoured. They are these tall and large flowering trees that only bloom in December. They form these wonderful baubles of red threads, and I can see why they are loved.

Thank you for coming along on this journey, I hope these pictures can brighten up your day!☀️

[alexzalben]

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH RETURNS ON OCTOBER 5

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH returns for Season 2 on October 5, with three new episodes. Max will stream two new episodes a week until the season finale on October 26.

Teaser trailer, key art, and more info below!

The eight-episode second season of the Max Original comedy series OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH, from creator-showrunner David Jenkins, Emmy®-nominated executive producer and star Taika Waititi, and Emmy®-nominated executive producer Garrett Basch, debuts with three episodes THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 on Max. The season continues with two new episodes weekly leading up to the season finale on Thursday, October 26.  

Season 2 logline: OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH is based (very) loosely on the true adventures of 18th century would-be pirate Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby). After trading the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede became captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes changed after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). To their surprise, the wildly different Stede and Blackbeard found more than friendship on the high seas…they found love. Now, they have to survive it.  

Season 2 cast: In addition to Darby and Waititi, season two stars returning cast members Samson Kayo, Vico Ortiz, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Matthew Maher, Kristian Nairn, Con O’Neill, David Fane, Samba Schutte, Nat Faxon, and Leslie Jones. New additions joining the ensemble cast include recurring guest stars Ruibo Qian, Madeleine Sami, Anapela Polataivao, and Erroll Shand, and guest stars Minnie Driver and Bronson Pinchot.  

Season 2 credits: OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH is executive produced by Academy Award® winner Taika Waititi, alongside creator-showrunner David Jenkins. In addition to his duties as showrunner, Jenkins directed the first two episodes of season two. Garrett Basch, Dan Halsted, Adam Stein, and Antoine Douaihy also serve as executive producers. Season two was filmed in Auckland, New Zealand.

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

04/29/24 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Samba Schutte; Wendy & The Mocats; FibreArtsBrigade; Gentlebeard Wedding Week; Fan Spotlight; Cast Cards; OFMD Colouring Pages; Our Flag Means Fanfiction Minisode; Never Left Podcast; Schadenfreude; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Today's Taika

= Cast & Crew Sightings =

= Samba Schutte =

Samba doing more voice overs! Is there anything this man CANT do?

Img Src: Samba's IG

= Wendy Andresen & The Mocats =

I can't help but adore how much we're getting to see the kittens Wendy (a member of our Red Flag Crew) and the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland AoNZ have taken in. I'm a sucker for cat content. I figure we could all use more kittens on our timelines.

Need more kitten content? Visit Wendy's Twitter

== Fibre Arts Brigade ==

Reminders from the Fibre Arts Brigade that donations are still being taken for the charity auction on June 14th! Link to the Donation Form

== Gentlebeard Wedding Week ==

Just a reminder all! with MerMay Fast approaching we also have Gentlebeard Wedding Week May 6-12 being run by the lovely @roughwinds! If you haven't seen the prompts already they're listed below! To keep up to date with the week please follow @gbweddingweek on tumblr!

== Watch Parties ==

= Palm Royale =

Palm Royale WP May 2 via @LCWebsXOXO with the lovely @/dominicburgess approx. 4pm EDT/9pm BST/1pm PST!

= Wrecked Season 1 =

Another week of Wrecked Season 1 is on the docket! Don't have access? Reach out to me on @gentlebeardsbarngrill on tumblr, or @aspirantabby42 on twitter.

Days: Apr 29 - May 3

Times: 3:30 pm PT / 6:30 pm ET / 11:30 pm BST

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

Thank you @melvisik! "Tonight is another director/the Spanish Captain who was canon blasted for trying to hang Stede."

Img Src: @melvisik's Twitter

= OFMD Colouring Pages =

@patchworkpiratebear has made a new colouring page for today! Check it out below!

= Our Flag Means Fanfiction =

A new minisode of Our Flag Means Fanfiction is out! This time featuring: Ready for Anything by Unapposablethumbs Minisode! Spotify link Visit @OurFlagMeansFanfiction on Instagram for more episodes!

= Never Left Podcast =

A new Episode of Never Left is out! This time the discussion is on all the different ways the characters refer to Ed! Find your favourite listening route/follow their socials here on their linktr.ee!

Art by @AmysBirdHouse on instagram

== Schadenfreude==

Thank you to @MrButtons284266 on Twitter for bringing this to our attention this morning!

Oh look 7.73% down today. Hm.

== Love Notes ==

Lovelies! Do you know what today is?

TODAY, is a new flipping day! Today has so many possibilities! Today has so many new things that can happen! Outside there is new wind blowing through, and newly formed clouds, and new light energy from the sun! The flowers are blooming in various parts of the world-- and leaves are falling in orders! Today is a new day we've never experienced before!

Even if things seem like they are stuck in a cycle, look outside, feel the air on your face, it's all new. There are so many opportunities for things to go so many different directions. I hope they go in a positive one for you today... you deserve a break, and a smile, and a chance to laugh and to love and enjoy life for a little while.

Remember to take a deep breath, drink some water, and keep on keeping on. Love you crew <3 Hope your Taika Tuesday is a wonderful one.

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

Today's theme is just seeing these two gorgeous greying buggers happy. I need it, I figured everyone else did too. Gifs Courtesy of @ofmd-ann today!

[pynkhues]

To your beacon in the gloom. Interview with the Vampire. Lestat x Louis. NC-17. 13k words.

A year after Louis and Lestat reunite, they're still figuring it out. Daniel calls it out, Louis tries to move them forwards, and maybe they just fuck instead.

-

If Louis were to muse on it, which he does, despite himself, often, he’d say there was something carnal to the act of it. Something to harvesting your life, reaping your memories, threshing those moments of significance, of truth, of honesty from the thick crop of day-to-day mundanity, to pass on to a man who intends to make something of it. Off it. To take these things that have spent more than a lifetime growing in the fecund soil of you to cut, to cook, to plate up and serve for a ravenous public to devour.

Fruitage, preparation, consumption where Louis found himself both deft handed with Daniel, and deftly handled by him, a part of the art for once, instead of the purveyor of it, something neither Armand nor even Lestat had been able to give him. The businessman in him shed for the first time in what felt a millennia to leave only the man – brother, father, lover, vampire, and for a short while, simply human.

Which is all to say he perhaps should’ve expected it – Daniel’s newly assumed authority on the subject of his life. The space those two weeks in Dubai, those 15 sessions of remembrance and revelation created between the two (three? Four?) of them. An intimacy Louis finds to be both shallowly presumed and deeply, startlingly real.

“No,” Louis replies as the question Daniel has just floated into his head cuts across the music playing in the other room, closing the book in his lap. “There’s nothing left to bury but the memories of her, and I ain’t interested in doing that.”

“Don’t think of it as a funeral then, think of it as a memorial, hell, a vigil - - these things are ceremonial, they’re symbolic, and most importantly, they’re for the living.”

“I have my time with her,” Louis says, rising to slip the book – Robert Stalnaker’s seminal Mere Possibilities: Metaphysical Foundations of Modal Semantics – back to its place on the shelf in his newly renovated reading room, his interest already having waned.

Instead, he briefly wonders where Daniel is �� still on tour for the book, that much he knows, a string of literary festivals across the South Pacific. He vaguely recalls mentions of Ubud and Auckland – but that thought passes too. Distance seems fleeting when they can close it now so simply after Armand’s petulant punishment.

“You know that. You’ve seen the room I’ve made for her and Paul here.”

“The difference, Louis, is a service is a place to share grief, not internalize it, and if you and Lestat are living together again - - ”

“We’re not,” Louis says quickly, too quickly, maybe, because Daniel somehow manages to scoff through the mind connection.

“You know I can hear both of your thoughts, right?”

Louis rolls his eyes, running a taloned finger along the spines that populate his bookshelf. No more philosophy tonight, he thinks. It’s trying his patience. 

“So he comes over sometimes,” he says, plucking out a copy of Paul Beatty’s The Sellout, and turning it over to read the blurb.

“He’s playing a piano at your penthouse right now, and correct me if I’m wrong, Louis, but you never had the musical acumen, which means not only is he playing it, but one of you moved an 800 pound upright past a swarm of pissed off vampires, building security, and up 83 floors to put it there.”

Read it on ao3 here.

[lara635kookie]

Red Crackle Week Day 4: Valentine's Day

Headcanons on their first Valentine's Day:

• They went to Auckland

• Like come on

• It's basically their city at this point

• They own Auckland

• And that is not arguable lol

• Valentine's Day was just the excuse they needed to tour around New Zealand

• They would spend Valentine's Day in Auckland

• And then travel around New Zealand for a week

• A month max

• On Valentine's Day they started their day at the beach

• After lunch, they went to museums and art galleries

• At night, typical candlelit dinner

• Where they exchange gifts

• They end the day watching a movie with popcorn while cuddling

• And their extended Valentine's Day continues

• With photos of them all around New Zealand

• In tulip fields and with different types of animals and flowers and overall plants

• Doing all kinds of things

• Like parachute jumping (one for each this time)

• And after that New Zealand became their confort country

[charlesandmartine]

Saturday 2nd November 2024

A much better night has passed without the orchestra of unknown players turning up. It was entirely peaceful with no interruptions. Having said that, we had just watched a TV documentary covering the murder a couple of years ago of the British girl, Grace Millane in Auckland NZ.

So after breakfast, much more refreshed than yesterday, we followed signs for the Hot Springs on the outskirts of Katherine. These are naturally occurring warm water Springs, although as far as I can tell, they are not thermal Springs, just warm ground water from a high water table. Well, hey, they are very popular with the local non-indigenous population and with the added attraction of a pop-up cafe, what's not to like? Martine had a little dip before finding what was not to like. The Springs followed a bending course, and just around one such bend was a tree absolutely full of fruit bats! Well, you can't have everything I suppose. There was a very nice signboard at the top of the steps which read: "Time is like a river. You can never touch the same water twice because the flow that has gone by will never go by again."

Let's just leave this as sentimental philosophy and not go down the Carpe Diem route. Just an interesting reflection of life. It's hardly Socrates, Seneca or Thomas Aquinas after all. Move on from there. The coffee was good in the pop-up cafe. The cafe will only be there another week and then there will be the wet season. The cafe uses a converted shipping container. The man told us that in a couple of weeks the whole thing will be shipped out. The wet season has produced floods which came pretty much to the top of the container before now. We find this all very hard to imagine, but it does explain why, even in such manicured grounds and springs, there are crocodile signs up. Flood conditions permit crocodiles to swap locations and move house, Love it or List it style.

A storm was brewing at 2pm but it just missed us, passing slightly to the west of us. Our next appointment this afternoon was not until 5pm. We had been told the Ghan train would be in Katherine Station this afternoon, so we very much wanted to revisit the service that we have travelled on a few years ago. In the meantime, Martine managed a couple of episodes of the Archers. As soon as the title music came on, a cow mooed in appreciation. Martine is about 2 weeks behind, so no spoilers, please.

Well, once again, best made plans and all, we showed up with plenty of time to spare at the Katherine Passenger Rail Terminal, and no Ghan. Had it gone, you ask? Well, we didn't know the answer to that. I mean, it is not easy hiding a 30 coach train after all. We shall investigate the return train for later in the week.

Big excitement tomorrow. We have a 2hr riverboat cruise on the Katherine Gorge, but an early start, so we are hoping the orchestra doesn't show tonight. Back to the little apartment and SB with rubbery chicken.

ps. We met a Timorese Art Teacher doing a pastel painting of the pop-up cafe. Nice bloke, and really interesting talking to him about teaching art to year 10 and 11 students.

pps. Although it was over 40 today, it dropped later on to 34. People around here put a jumper on if it drops much more than that!

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.25

Holidays

Accounting Career Day

Angram Day (Day of Fulfillment; Nauru)

Armed Forces Day (Romania)

Balaclava Day

Basque Country Day (Spain)

Battle of Agincourt Day (UK)

Beet Root Day (French Republic)

Cartoonists Against Crime Day

Chucky The Notorious Killer Doll Day

Council of Elrond Day (Lord of the Rings)

Customs Officer’s Day (Russia)

Day of the Basque Country

Disabled Ace Day

Dioscuri (Shoemaker’s Day)

European Day of Justice

European Lawyers Day

Gormanudr (Old Icelandic)

International Artists Day

International Butterfly Skin Day

International Hoist the Colours Day

Know Your Classmates Day

Larry Itliong Day (California)

Longbow Day

Lung Health Day

MDS World Awareness Day

Military Chaplain Day (Ukraine)

National Danielle Day

National Dog Adoption Day (UK)

National Fine Art Appreciation Day

National Gospel Day (Cook Islands)

National Hay Safe Day (Australia)

National Hope for Henry Day

National I Care About You Day

National Kick Tall People Day

National Merri Music Day (a.k.a. Reggae)

National No Workplace Drama Day

National Shoe Lover Day

National Skinflammation Day

National Yasmin Day

Northamptonshire Day (UK)

Occipital Neuralgia Awareness Day

Pharmacy Buyer Day

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome Awareness Day (UK)

Punk-For-A-Day Day

Retrocession Day (Taiwan)

Say "Hey" Day

Thanksgiving Day (Grenada)

World Dwarfism Awareness Day

World Karate Day

World Opera Day

World Spina Bifida Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Feta Cheese Protection Day

International Crisp Sandwich Day (UK)

National Greasy Foods Day

Sourest Day

World Pasta Day

World Pizza Makers Day

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Lithuania)

Hawke’s Bay Provincial Day (New Zealand)

Lienish Sovereign Republic (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Republic Day (Kazakhstan)

Restoration Day (Taiwan; 1945)

Sovereignty Day (Slovenia)

Uantir (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

4th & Last Friday in October

Bring Your Jack-O-Lantern to Work Day [Last Friday before Halloween]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Education Communication Day [Last Friday]

Field Trip Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Finally Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Food Waste Friday (Canada) [Last Friday]

Frankenstein Friday [Last Friday]

Flapjack Friday [4th Friday of Each Month]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Flatbread Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Flirtatious Friday [4th Friday of Each Month]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Global Champagne Day [4th Friday]

International Bandanna Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

International Champagne Day [4th Friday]

Mokosh Day (Ukraine) [Last Friday]

National BETA Founder’s Day [4th Friday]

National Breadstick Day [Last Friday]

Nevada Day (Nevada) [Last Friday]

Red Friday [Friday of Last Full Week]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

World Lemur Day [Last Friday]

World Teachers’ Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 25 (3rd Full Week of October)

International Magic Week (thru 10.31)

Festivals Beginning October 25, 2024

Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races (Mountain View, Arkansas) [thru 10.26]

Armageddon Expo (Auckland, New Zealand) [thru 10.28]

Bram Stoker Festival (Dublin, Ireland) [thru 10.28]

Cedar Livestock Heritage Festival (Cedar City, Utah) [thru 10.26]

Czhilispiel (Flatonia, Texas) [thru 10.27]

Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest (Fredericksburg, Texas) [thru 10.26]

French Food Festival (Larose, Louisiana) [thru 10.27]

Georgia Gourd Festival (Griffin, Georgia) [thru 10.27]

Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival (Richmond Hill, Georgia) [thru 10.26]

Hawai'i Food & Wine Festival (Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii) [thru 10.27]

Lund International Fantastic Film Festival (Lund, Sweden) [thru 10.31]

Naples Stone Crab Festival (Naples, Florida) [thru 10.27]

Shrimp & Grits Festival (Jekyll Island, Georgia) [thru 10.26]

South Louisiana Blackpot Festival & Cookoff (Lafayette, Louisiana) [thru 10.26]

Taste Gala (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Feast Days

Akihisa Ikeda (Artology)

Ann Tyler (Writerism)

Antonio Ciseri (Artology)

Bernat Calbó (a.k.a. Bernard of Calvo; Christian; Saint)

Boniface I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Canna (Christian; Saint)

Carlo Gnocchi (Christian; Blessed)

Cockatoo (Muppetism)

Crysanthus and Daria (Western Christianity; Martyrs)

Crispin and Crispinian (Christian; Martyrs)

The Day To Be Named Later (Church of the SubGenius)

Elif Shafak (Writerism)

Feast of Forty Martyrs of England and Wales (Christian; Martyrs)

Fréret (Positivist; Saint)

Fructus (Christian; Saint)

Gaudentius of Brescia (Christian; Saint)

Goeznovius (Christian; Saint)

The Hallowing of Nestorius (Christian; Saint)

Ismail Gulgee (Artology)

John Berryman (Writerism)

Minias of Florence (Christian; Saint)

Mar Nestorius (in the Nestorian churches; Christian; Saint)

Munzipan Feast (Shamanism)

Nils Dardel (Artology)

Pablo Picasso (Artology)

Peter Ledger (Artology)

Requena Nozal (Artology)

Richard Parkes Bonington (Artology)

Selket’s Day (Pagan)

The Six Welsh Martyrs and companions (in Wales; Christian; Saint)

Tabitha (Dorcas; Christian; Saint)

Taiyō Matsumoto (Artology)

Tegulus (Christian; Saint)

Thaddeus McCarthy (Christian; Blessed)

Thesmophoria begins (Ancient Greek festival honoring the goddesses Demeter and her daughter Persephone; ends 27th; originally 11-13 Pyanepsion)

Tyrus Wong (Artology)

Victoria Francés (Artology)

World Pasta Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Adventures of Popeye (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1935)

Beat Crazy, by Joe Jackson (Album; 1980)

Better Than Revenge, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2010)

Billy Jack, by Honeyhoney (Album; 2011)

Camelot (Film; 1967)

Curly Sue (Film; 1991)

Daydream Believer, by The Monks (Song; 1967)

The Electric Company (TV Series; 1971)

A Fine Feathered Frenzy (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1954)

Frida (Film; 2002)

The Grass is Blue, by Dolly Parton (Album; 1999)

Halloween (Film; 1978)

Happy Holidays (Phantasies Cartoon; 1940)

The Housing Problem (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

Jackass: The Movie (Film; 2002)

Jolly the Clown (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1957)

Krush Groove (Film; 1985)

Meatless Tuesday (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1943)

National Ransom, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2010)

Newhart (TV Series; 1982)

No Plan B, 27th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2022)

No Woman, Not Cry, by Bob Marley (Song; 1974)

Otogizōshi: The Fairy Tale Book of Dazai Osamu, by Osamu Dazai (Short Stories; 1945)

Pal Joey (Film; 1957)

Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb Minor, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Piano Concerto; 1875)

Pink Arcade (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Poinciana, by Benny Carter (Song; 1943)

The Preamble (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1975)

The Satanic Bible, by Anton Szandor LaVey (Religious Text; 1969)

Seven Sinners (Film; 1940)

Shadow of the Moon, by M.M. Kaye (Novel; 1956)

Sneak, Snoop, and Snitch (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1940)

The Snoozing’ Bruin (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1971)

Still Crazy After All These Years, by Paul Simon (Album; 1975)

Speak Now, by Taylor Swift (Album; 2010)

Swords in the Mist, by Fritz Leiber (Short Stories; 1968) [Fafhrd and Gray Mouser #3]

Tour de Farce (The Inspector Cartoon; 1967)

Twelfth Night (Film; 1996)

Today’s Name Days

Krispin, Krispinian (Austria)

Darija, Katarina (Croatia)

Beáta (Czech Republic)

Crispinus (Denmark)

Raivo, Riivo, Veevo, Viivo (Estonia)

Sointu (Finland)

Crépin (France)

Daria, Hans, Ludwig, Lutz (Germany)

Chrysanthi, Hrysaphis (Greece)

Bianka, Blanka (Hungary)

Daria (Italy)

Beāte, Beatrise, Betrise (Latvia)

Darija, Inga, Švitrigaila, Vaigedė (Lithuania)

Margrete, Märtha, Merete (Norway)

Bończa, Bonifacy, Chryzant, Daria, Inga, Kryspin, Maur, Sambor, Taras, Teodozjusz, Wilhelmina (Poland)

Marcian, Martirie (Romania)

Aurel (Slovakia)

Bernardo, Crisanto, Crispín, Frutos (Spain)

Inga, Ingalillt (Sweden)

Denzel, Crispin, Crispina, Gavin, Gawen (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 299 of 2024; 67 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 43 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 23 (en-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 23 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 21 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 29 Orange; Eighthday [29 of 30]

Julian: 12 October 2024

Moon: 38%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 19 Descartes (11th Month) [D’Aguesseau / Montesquieu]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 4 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 34 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 3 of 30)

[gumnut-logic]

A little Virgil and Alan, and stupid mistakes.

Warnings: drug references.

-o-o-o-

It was a persistent beep that tore him from a weird dream of painting Two in Van Gogh style stars and suns. A swipe at his bedside table and something he had no care to identify crashed to the floor.

Blurry eyes found his clock and discovered numbers that shouldn’t exist. Four was one of them and immediately reminded him of Gordon, but it was the AM following it that hurt his brain.

“Virgil?”

John’s voice slapped clarity into his neurons and his body started moving automatically. Before he knew it, he was on his feet and halfway to his bedroom door.

“No incident.” John’s voice was sharp and obviously understanding regarding Virgil’s brain function at this time of the morning.

The words sunk in and Virgil wilted on the spot. “What?” One word was all he had.

“Sit down.”

That sparked worry. “What?”

“Sit down.”

Unable to really do anything else, he did what his brother asked as consciousness slowly seeped into awareness.

“I’ve received a call from Brandon Berrenger.”

“What?”

“Alan attended a party with Brandon last night.”

Virgil blinked slowly. He remembered dropping his little brother off in Auckland yesterday for his long-awaited award ceremony which then Virgil and the rest of his brothers had to miss because of the monsoon in the remains of Bangladesh yet again.

Virgil had been adamant that Alan not miss the event and had dumped him at his hotel which conveniently held Brandon as well. Security hadn’t been happy but Alan had been climbing the walls since the incident with Kayo. Virgil understood and talked Scott and Kayo down, giving his brother the space.

And trusting in Brie, Alan’s security specialist.

The award was for a video game design. Alan had spent quite some time putting his little Indie game together and it had become a hit in a very short period. Virgil was so proud.

His little bro deserved a little fame all of his own.

“What’s wrong?”

John wouldn’t be contacting him at 4am if there wasn’t something wrong.

“I’m calling in the debt from your first art show.”

Virgil’s eyes widened and he shot to his feet. “What? What happened?”

“You can’t tell Scott.”

“Fine! Tell me what happened and where I am needed!” He headed towards the door.

“Take Two, but leave her at the airport and pod out for minimum disturbance. Brief you enroute.”

Virgil was halfway to the hangers and his auxillary launch chute. “FAB.”

Two was in the air before John would tell him anything. During that time, every scenario that could possibly be linked to his blasted first art exhibition raced through his head.

It had been a low point in his life. College and his rainbow of hair colours and multiple piercings as he tried to discover who he was, struggling to conquer demons of his own. He’d fallen into the dark side of the college scene for all of two weeks before John dropped in unexpectedly; and Virgil had the shame of his little brother having to pick him off the floor because Virgil’s ‘friends’ thought it might be funny to ‘celebrate’ his exhibition.

It had to have been the shortest trip into the college drug scene ever. Virgil still had the scars from the piercings. Shortly after that, he had switched from art college to engineering.

His hair had been black ever since.

And no one but John knew of the incident.

Damn.

The dots connected.

“Aw, hell, Alan.”

Two roared into Aotearoan airspace and he was given clearance to land. He was of two minds whether to take the pod or grab a car. But he was still on call and as far as the family knew he was on a simple rescue…

���It will be a dud callout. Act grumpy when you get back.”

“You’re going to take flack for that.”

“Not the first time, Virgil. Go get our little brother.”

It took further clearance to launch into Auckland’s airspace, but John handled it smoothly and Virgil was quickly darting over rooftops and skyscrapers to reach the hotel.

“You might want to hurry.”

John’s tone had Virgil landing the dragonfly quietly on the roof of the hotel and jumping out, medkit in hand. Everything was quiet and oddly un-emergency-like.

The rooftop door unlatched as he approached and Virgil was darting down the stairwell into the hotel. Fortunately, he didn’t have to go far. Perk of always renting out the penthouse.

The door to his brother’s suite opened before he could reach it, but this time it wasn’t John’s doing. Brandon, worry on his face, darted out into the hallway. The moment he spotted Virgil, he rushed over.

“Hey, Virg, I’m glad you came. Alan, well, he’s cool, you know, but not that kind of cool, maybe?” He was scratching the back of his head as if he had lice. He looked Virgil up and down. “You came in Thunderbird Two? Full-on International Rescue? Oh, god, Scotty is gonna kill me!

“Where is he?”

Virgil hurried past him. Fortunately, he didn’t have to go far. Alan was sprawled on the sofa in the main room, Brie beside him.

“Virg-il!” His little brother swung out an arm in greeting and nearly knocked Brie flying. Her reflexes solved the problem by darting out of the way. “Come and sit with me. Take a load off.”

Virgil blinked and hurried forward, landing beside Alan. An attempt to take his vitals was derailed by Alan suddenly throwing himself at Virgil and wrapping him in a floppy hug. “Virgie, big bro, smotherhen, I am so happy to see you!”

Virgil found himself almost choking with the enthusiasm strangling his neck. His eyes darted to Brandon and the mix of guilt and worry nesting there. A glance at Brie and he made it clear there was going to be one hell of debrief after this.

The security guard swallowed.

That and he hated the name ‘Virgie’.

“Alan, I need you to sit back for a minute. Okay?”

But his little brother was cuddling into Virgil’s shoulder and muttered something of the negative variety complete with a protesting ‘Virgie”.

Brandon was fidgeting where he was standing. “I think, but I don’t know, you know? That Al might have had one of the special pieces of cake.”

Virgil narrowed his eyes at Brandon. “Special?” He knew exactly what the boy meant, but clarity was important in all situations.

“Uh, yeah, I think there might have been some weedcake.”

Alan snuggled up more and muttered ‘I love you’ into Virgil’s uniform.”

“You think?”

“Um, yeah. But! I thought he knew, you know? And then he was super happy and dancing with all the girls, and well…” Brandon’s shoulders drooped. “He was having fun.”

Virgil unconsciously stroked Alan’s back.

“Brie?”

She straightened in her seat. “Mr Tracy began acting erratically.” She swallowed. “When he started taking his clothes off, claiming he was hot, I decided to remove him from public view.”

It was only then Virgil, focussed on the health condition of his brother more than anything else, realised that Alan was dressed in clothes slightly too big for him.

“We managed to get him back to the suite before he became entirely naked, but he did not want to leave the party.”

“Why was he at a party in the first place?”

“Hey, he won an award, bro! For creating the coolest game ever. The boy deserved a celebration.” Brandon tipped his head a little. “I know some people.”

Obviously the wrong people. Virgil frowned and Brandon took a step back.

“Hey, no, man! The people who did this weren’t my friends. Honest!”

Taking a deep breath and forcing himself to focus on Alan rather than the predicament, he used a little muscle to separate himself from his little brother. It was easier than expected as Alan had all but fallen asleep.

“Love you, Virgie.” His eyelids were drooping as Virgil yanked out the mediscanner and ran it over him. As expected, vitals pointed to intoxication, likely from marijuana.

He grabbed a testing kit and, with a swab from his brother’s mouth, activated it. It would take a few moments to do its thing, so he put the test aside to wait for the results. It wasn’t often they needed to test for drugs on a rescue, but since an incident that had nearly cost Scott his life, the tests had been a mandatory part of their kit.

“Virgie? Sing me a song? Like Mom used to sing you?”

“Alan, how are you feeling?”

Alan blinked at him. “Tired. Sing me a song?”

“Why don’t you lie down and rest?”

“I want you to sing.”

Virgil eyed Brandon, but surprisingly found no humour there, only honest worry.

“Okay, Allie, you lie down, rest, and I’ll think of a song.”

“Yay!” His little brother was immediately animated enough to curl up on the sofa, eyes hopefully staring up at Virgil.

The test beeped positive.

Virgil grit his teeth.

Fortunately, it didn’t appear to be a high dose, but he would be happier double checking with a blood test.

First he needed to get his little brother home. “Hey, Allie, want to go for a ride?”

Alan frowned up at him. “Do I get a song as well?”

“Sure.” Virgil packed his kit away, all the time running through possible symptoms for the inevitable crash his brother was likely to go through in the next few hours.

It was going to take so much to keep this hidden from Scott.

Virgil hated hiding things from his big brother.

But there were some things Scott was just better off not knowing.

Alan flung his arms out. “Carry me?”

A blink, but Virgil realised that there was no way he was prepared to let his high little brother attempt to walk out of here.

Without a word, Virgil stood up and scooped his little brother into his arms.

So much lighter than Scott.

Yet so much heavier than he used to be.

Alan once again curled into his shoulder as Virgil shimmied him into a comfortable hold. He eyed both Brandon and Brie. The former hurried to open the door, while Brie jumped up, cut in front of both of them, and peered out into the corridor as the security force she was supposed to be.

Virgil made his way up through the stairs and onto the roof to the dragonfly pod. It took some manoeuvring and heavy lifting to get his brother into the backseat as by this time he was drifting into sleep.

Hopefully sleeping it off would be the cure. In any case, Alan was grounded for the next couple of days at least until the stuff was out of his system.

Climbing into the front seat, he eyed both Brie and Brandon, who had scrambled up the stairs after him. “I expect a confidential report from you, Brie. Brandon, I believe John wants to talk to you again.”

The redhead went white as a sheet. “Okay.”

Brie stood as militarily straight as she could. Virgil was of two minds as to whether Kayo needed to be informed. Would she tell Scott?

That was something that could be discussed with John. Tomorrow.

As he launched the pod skywards, Alan shifted in his seat. “Love you, Virgie.”

Virgil sighed.

“Love you, too, squirt.”

-o-o-o-

[zigster-ao3]

Presenting the first chapter of my @ofmd-reverse-bang 's fic!

Title: Sway with Me Main pairing: Stede Bonnet/Ed Teach Tags: AU - modern setting, Dirty Dancing AU, if you squint, summer vacation, clothes sharing, fast burn, semi-public sex, sharing a bed, emotional support as a love language, gift giving, Stede is lowkey obsessed with Ed's hair, we don't blame him, Mary is the best wingman Summary: As a last hurrah to the end of their marriage, Stede and Mary pack up their sensible Volvo and take themselves and the children on a two-week holiday to an all-inclusive resort island just off the coast of Auckland. On their first night, Stede slips out the door of their suite to stroll along the peaceful shoreline and somehow finds himself in the company of a new friend.

A Dirty Dancing AU (if you squint) featuring the fiercely supportive, ex-wife goddess: Mary, the canonical experience of Ed and Stede falling for each other entirely too quickly, The Hands Twins, and a Fuckery finale for a touch of flare. Length: 40ishk - the 11 chapters of this story will be posted biweekly until the big finale and Mahnah's fab art masterpiece!

[happywebdesign]

Ne Geurra

[planetwaving]

tagged by @chicken-delight yippeee thank u erica these were fun 😁😁

1. are you named after anyone?

named myself after my favourite band of brothers character when i was 15 <3

2. when was the last time you cried?

umm a few weeks ago ? because it was the last night i ever slept in my childhood house 😐 ive been crying less lately i think its the testosterone

3. do you have kids?

no but maybe someday... id like to adopt or foster or something. maybe be a stepdad

4. what sport did you play/ have you played?

i played netball for 7 years from ages 5 to 12, and i played roller derby for a while in highschool until we ran out of coaches :(

5. do you use sarcasm?

constantly

6. what is the first thing you notice about people?

hair i think. and maybe chin/face shape

7. whats your eye color?

brown 😏

8. scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings. im a sucker

9. any talents

umm painting/drawing ? and my memory is good 👍

10. where were you born?

auckland, nz

11. hobbies?

painting & drawing, reading, riding the bus, hiking & camping

12. do you have pets?

yeas 2 cats <3

13. how tall are you?

5'4 or 5'5 idk

14. fave subject in school?

art design <33 and media studies

15. dream job?

i reeaaaally wanna be an archivist... maybe for a museum or city council but i'd love to work for a private collecter of like photos or magazines or records

i'm gonna tag @antiquesintheattic @imeminemp3 @transgenderbobdylan and @transneilyoung 😁😁

[sustainabilityandthecity]

Workshop Week (pt. 1): Te Rongo Kirkwood

My first official blog post - how exciting!!!! ^__^

Our first week of the Sustainable Fashion Design degree kicked off with a 'workshop week', featuring a diverse array of activities and guest speakers. In this blog post, I'll focus on our first guest speaker: Te Rongo Kirkwood.

Te Rongo Kirkwood, an Auckland-based multi-medium artist, specialises in kiln-formed glass and the integration of art glass with various other materials. Her work is characterized by meticulous craftsmanship and a holistic/spiritual approach. What struck me most about her work was not just its aesthetic beauty, but also the depth of meaning and connection she infuses into each piece.

I found myself captivated not only by Te Rongo's artistry but also by the challenges she has overcome to reach her current position. Her passion for her craft and the personal significance it holds for her were truly inspiring. Having the opportunity to learn from such an incredible artist and individual was an honour, and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to our course.

Te Rongo is of Māori (Wai o Hua, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki, Te Kauwerau a Maki, Ngapuhi, Taranaki), English and Scottish heritage [1] and this is heavily reflected through her works, both physically and spiritually. Kirkwood incorporates a Tikanga Māori worldview into her work by grounding her work in Māori principles such as Whakapapa “(or genealogy), a line of descent from ancestors down to the present day. Whakapapa links people to all other living things, and to the earth and the sky, and it traces the universe back to its origins. Through Whakapapa, Māori trace their ancestry all the way back to the beginnings of the universe. Whakapapa orders both a seen and unseen world, and shapes the Māori world view.” [2] 

This interconnectedness of all things serves as the foundation of Kirkwood’s work, inspiring me to explore similar themes in my own designs, despite coming from a different cultural background. Although I am of Pakistani and Afghani descent (and not of Maori descent) there are many shared ideas regarding community, culture and spirituality between our respective cultures that are of great significance to me that I would love to explore in my own work as a designer.

Fashion design, as Te Rongo emphasised, is about storytelling. It's not just about creating beautiful garments, but about conveying deeper meanings and messages through them, and this resonated deeply with me. While I want my work to be aesthetically beautiful, I want its meaning to be what takes precedence. 

Te Rongo urged us to use our art as a means of communicating something larger than ourselves, prompting us to consider, "What is my service to the world?" Her words left a profound impact on me, shaping my understanding of the role of art and design in society.

I had originally planned for this 1st blog post to be a summary of both of our Guest Speakers from the first day, but as I reflected on my notes for the day and worked on this write-up, it became apparent to me that the richness of the knowledge departed to us by Kirkwood required a post of its own. I genuinely can not think of a better introduction to this course and to my blog than Kirkwood’s guest lecture. Kirkwood instilled in us the importance of being clear, unapologetic and uncompromising when it comes to our values in art, and this is something I plan to carry with me for my entire life and in everything that I do.

Thank you to Te Rongo for taking the time to share her wisdom with us, and to Whitecliffe for facilitating.  

Signing off for now, Adam <3

References

[1]

[2]

Photos (in order of shown):

1:

https://coastalartstrail.nz/event/artist-talk-te-rongo-kirkwood/

2:

3 & 4:

5 & 6:

7 & 8:

9 & 10: Own

[head-post]

Australian and New Zealand Indigenous Policies: differences and causal links

At the Auckland Art Gallery this week, artist Vernon Ah Kee unveiled the largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ever seen in New Zealand.

The exhibition was dedicated to Resistance and Colonisation. Vernon Ah Kee presented there his 2002 work entitled If I Was White.

If I was White, I could wear a suit and tie and not look suspicious. If I was White, I could shop in luxury stores and not look suspicious. If I was White, I would not have to live in a country that hates me. If I was White, I would have a country.

Some visitors to the New Zealand Exhibition, such as 65-year-old Debbie May, spotted a connection to Australia’s Indigenous referendum called The Voice.

Talk of indigenous rights in New Zealand is increasingly popping up among the population, while neighbouring Australia has launched a landmark vote.

Read more HERE

[algds]

tagged by @alisoun for this book thing!

last read: percy jackson and the lightning thief. my girlfriend loves pj and it has a special place in her heart, having never interacted with any pj media apart from seeing the second movie (?) i promised i would at least read the first book before the new show comes out in december. i read all of it in february except for the last 12 pages and then didnt finish it until last week. it was a great time and as someone who enjoys seeing reinterpretations of old stories i think it was really creative taking these old myths and retelling them in a completely different context.

reading now: poor people with money by dominic hoey. reccomended by both my mum and gfs mum for a long time but told them i had to finish pj first, i read the entire thing in one sitting this morning. i really loved it so much. set in auckland and the far north of nz, two places i grew up in. nothing like reading a novel which namedrops the primary school you went to in the first chapter. the author and main charcter are dyslexic so its written in a way which is so accessible with zero pretense which i always appreciate in art as well. perfectly captures the experience of living in new zealand, the attention to detail is insane and i hope to one day have observational skills like his. i read this at the absolutely perfect time, will have to reread again to fully grasp some things.

up next: six of crows by leigh bardugo. fantasy heist novel. watched the netflix show which combined this and another series set in the same universe, thought this story seemed far more interesting so im excited to see what it has in store. will do the sequel after that.

also looking forward to reading a "human geography" textbook, the next PJ, and maybe some other random recs from mum.

i tag whoever feels like it!

[grad604kaede]

Week 3 SDL

VIsual map of my own work

More Examples

Peter Lewis

focuses on worlds and realities

Has an interest in dreams

Recontextualising familiar images by placing them in new environments gives multiple interpretations of the significance of the work. This allows the views to intemperate in their own ways.

Another key theme within his work in layers

Jane Blackmore

Based in wellington

Inspired by views of Wellington hills and harbour

creates ethereal and emotional work with spiritual qualities

Explores the cycle of nature

gives the audience a thoughtful space for reflection

Creates a timeless artwork that looks different every time you view it.

Haegue Yang

Focuses on sensory experiences

scent, sound, light and tactility

explores materials and their power in destabilising the separation between modern and pre-modern.

various media

staged theatre pieces, paper collages, performative sculptures

different materials

clothing racks, graph paper, Venetian blinds, plastic straws

fabrics are woven, lit, torn and hung

creative exploration comes from concerns around materials with political, philosophical and emotional through historical figures and events.

the work references literature, art and political history

focuses on migration, social mobility, postcolonial migration

This leads to her work relating to geopolitical context and records, which helps us understand our time.

Teresa HR Lane

MFA from Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland in 2017.

Exhibit visual equality through her work

Disrupting the male gaze with irreverent humour

looks into people, gender and identity

Inspired by disconnected Greek ancestry, myths that are influential but also contradictory and equality/inequality

Mixed media

Which creates an ethereal view

Philipp Igumnov

Russian artist

collage, photography, illustrations

dark humour

Inspired by vintage collages

speaks about political issues