Thought for the day....

Salvadore Dali once said

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

Strong words to consider today, after seeing some Dali work and various other modern artists at the Auckland City Art Gallery this weekend at the  Degas to Dali exhibition (on loan from the National Gallery of Scotland). It was a pricey entrance fee but worth it - wonderful to see contemporaries of each art movement in the same room together rather than just one artist alone. Inspiring to see people who were often working together and producing there own ideas within an art movement. For example the spider below, with the obvious influence of Miro, Calder makes it his own, turning an image into a sculpture then having it move, slowly spinning in mid air. very cool. 

Alexander Calder, The Spider, c1935-c1937, Metal, painted

Joan Miró, Peinture [Painting], 1925, Oil and black chalk on canvas

A few more of my  favourite works

Roy Lichtenstein, In the Car, 1963, Oil and magna on canvas

Jacques Lipchitz, Figure assise [Seated Figure], 1916, Bronze (1/7)

Vincent van Gogh, Olive Trees, 1889, Oil on canvas

Where I live

Rangitoto Island, Auckland, New Zealand view from Mission Bay

I took this photo of  Rangitoto a couple of years ago and it always makes me feel happy.  I drive here when the toddler is having a naughty day and everything seems alot better.  It was even great here a few weeks ago when we stopped and it was howling wind and pouring rain.

I should also mention this is a live volcano that is in our very midsts, a slumbering destructor of worlds.  I really should not have watched that drama programme they made about it last year ( in an effort I think to scare us into preperation for WHEN it erupts - thats WHEN not IF)....have you got your survival kit ready Auckland??  Have you too noticed the alarming number of 'Are you prepared' ads recently, like they know something.  I've got some loo roll, tinned food and candles in a box . I'm not really sure I have anything in there that will deal with lava and ash.  Note to self - watch more Bear Grylls programmes.