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These are fabric works made by French artist Louise Bourgeois. I think they are beautiful. They remind me of spider webs and umbrellas. Louise was known as "Spiderwoman" because of the giant bronze spider sculptures she made. I was lucky to see one in New York many years ago.
Apparently you can visit her townhouse - which has been preserved just as she left it - in Chelsea, New York.

The images are from the book Louise Bourgeois: the fabric works by Germano Celant. 

Further images of her work here.

Reading: The first bad man: a novel by Miranda July

easter in the forest

These decorations were inspired by Evie Barrow's easter garland. I cut out simple shapes (eggs, flowers, carrots) from my granddaughter's drawings, glued them onto card and hung them up with string. Although she did the drawings over several weeks and then I did the rest, it felt like a project that we'd done together. I'd forgotten how much fun doing arty things with children can be. I used to make stuff with my own kids all the time and it's so nice to be doing it all over again.

Reading: The life-changing magic of tidying by Marie Kondo

snapshot weekend

Waiheke Island on Saturday for lunch at Cable Bay vineyards to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday followed by a slow late afternoon walk to catch the ferry home.
Then on Sunday another ferry to see the sculpture on the shore exhibition. I gave my vote for the "people's choice award" to Subtlehack by Audrey Boyle - a wire and stretchy fabric sculpture reminiscent of supplejack.
And we ended our weekend in fine style with dinner on the beach - fish and chips and a glass of wine - with some good old friends.
How was your weekend?

Reading: The mad boy, Lord Berners, my grandmother and me by Sofka Zinovieff

bees in the city

 

If you live in Auckland and go past Victoria Park you may have noticed what looks like a mini wilderness near the skate park. It's actually a conceptual artwork called The park. It's a hexagonal garden planted with calendula, nasturtiums, borage etc with six horizontal beehives (the strange boxes in the top photo) at the centre. The idea is to inspire people to plant their own "pollen hotels" to encourage bees in the city. If you want to participate you can add your bee-friendly garden to a map here. At the end of the project you get to share the honey.

Today is Labour Day in New Zealand - a public holiday - so it's been a three-day weekend. Hoorah! I did my bit for the bees and worked in the garden for the first time in ages.

Reading: Birdman by Mo Hayder (page-turner crime)

round things

- a mobile by Renilde de Peuter that I bought from Mr Kitly when I was in Melbourne. I have long admired Renilde's mobiles and am overjoyed to finally have one in my house. There are more photos of her mobiles here or visit her blog At Swim-two-birds.

- a necklace I also bought in Melbourne from Craft - unfortunately I can't remember the maker's name.

- and an amazing acoustic installation by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot that I saw at the National Gallery of Victoria. It's a shallow pool filled with floating porcelain bowls that move on a gentle current. When the bowls randomly bump against each other they chime. If it is quiet in the gallery and you sit by the pool for a while to listen, the chimes become a strange music.

Reading Moving Miss Peggy: a story of dementia, courage, and consolation by Robert Benson