My Weekend: Artist Chris Bailey

By Anna Lee

NZ Herald·

28 Nov, 2014 02:00 AM3 mins to read

Chris Bailey. Picture / Heather Arthur

When he's not carving up his latest creation, sculptor

revels in relaxing at his Waiheke Island home. After spending the past year exhibiting in San Francisco, Tokyo, Italy and beyond, Bailey enjoys spending his weekends exploring what the island has to offer. "I have been travelling a lot with my work this past year and being able to return home to Waiheke makes you realise how good we have it here in New Zealand," he says.

Take a look at some of his top weekend spots below, and check out Bailey's latest exhibition, Turangawaewae at the FHE Galleries on Auckland's Kitchener St until December 12.

Mornings... I've been a bit too busy for breakfast out these past few months so it tends to be coffee on the run at Rocket Fuel, the causeway coffee cart on Waiheke at the moment. The owner, Brendan Mooney, is great to have a yarn with in the morning before hitting the tools.

Shopping... They say to get a job doing what you love so it doesn't feel like you are going to work in the morning, and that's what I've got but it means that when I think of shopping, even for pleasure, I can't go past a great tool shop. A visit to Carba-tec for beautiful chisels and Diamond Edge for world-quality pieces to sculpt the hard stone I work is a day of retail therapy for me.

Dining... I love the passion that the guys put into cooking the meat at the Argentinian barbecue restaurant El Sizzling Chorizo at Ponsonby Central - slow and smokey - love it.

Loving... Waiheke. The lack of intense development and feeling of community we have makes it special. I just hope it stays that way.

Relaxing... If I'm not hanging with whanau or working on a piece I will often find myself down at Piritahi Marae on Waiheke on the weekend, either in the garden or the carving shed.

Anticipating... Looking forward to Sculpt Oneroa, which kicks off on December 12. It sees sculpture by Waiheke sculptors laid out through the main island village of Oneroa. It's great seeing the young and old interacting with art outside of galleries in a more relaxed way.

Unwinding... Jiu-jitsu at our local dojo, Tu Kaha Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, is my wind-down time. It's one of the fastest-growing sports at the moment in New Zealand and for me it's like physical chess with an all-round burn.

- VIVA