KEY POINTS:
A jarring combination of found objects and handmade components influences artist Rachel Walters' work, which will feature as part of the Bombay Sapphire Botanical Bar in Auckland this week.
The Auckland-based artist is known for her whimsical and somewhat spooky sculptural works, and a preoccupation with animal figures and mythology. Her one-off ceramic sculpture for the special pop-up bar will examine the botanical elements of pan-cultural folk stories.
The Botanical Bar will also feature one-off design, furniture and art pieces from fellow artist Billy Apple, furniture designer Simon James, photographer Chris Sisarich and more. Interior designer Katie Lockhart will style and curate the space, which will be open to the public in Auckland from August 7 until August 15 at the corner of Commerce and Custom Streets, before moving to the Simon Fisher Gallery in Christchurch from August 28 to 29. All the design pieces, including the bar, lighting and seating will be auctioned, with proceeds going to the Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt.
Ten favourites
1 Tessa Laird's ceramics
These have a special place in my heart - especially this piece as I get to enjoy it every day.
2 My antique painting
This painting is in my lounge. I found in a Whangarei antique store. It is a softly coloured, almost impressionist, landscape with a carved Maori figure gazing out to the sea. I've never seen anything like it and I love it.
3 Antoni Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia
You enter through the new (unfinished) part which is pretty amazing, and continue through to the middle, which I love for the juxtaposition of scaffolding and spectacular stained glass. But the truly breathtaking moment is at the back when you look back on the earliest construction of the building. It's beautiful. Love it or not, you should visit!
4 'She told me smiling; we live on the other side of the ford. On the other side of the ford lies Kupe's Kumara patch.' by Layla Rudneva-Mackay.
I love Layla's photographs for many reasons but this one in particular because it makes me think about being a kid and visiting special places.
5 Hot water bottles Because they are so simple and effective; they help you into a cold bed and when you get too hot you can just kick them out the bottom.
6 Japanese handsaws
They're not only good to look at, but the pull-back cutting motion, thin blade and fine teeth will improve your skill amazingly.
7 Ongiri Sushi
A great semi-healthy meal on the run with ingenious packaging that separates the rice and seaweed, keeping the nori crispy and fresh.
8 Holga disposable medium format cameras
A plastic toy-like, non-digital camera that brings great surprises when you pick up your film.
9 Peter Gossage illustrations for the Maui children's books
Bringing great memorable images to the legends of Maui. I have a terrible memory but when reading these stories to my nephew I remembered both the stories and the images.
10 Te Taonga o Kaitaia
This totara carving dates from the 14th-16th century is a great example of early northern Maori art. An important reminder of the diversity and development of Maori art - it wasn't all koru patterns.
