Pattern recognition

This terrific book, Disruptive Pattern Material: an Encyclopedia of Camouflage, came as a gift from our friends et al. If there is anything that has ever had camouflage on it not represented we can't find it. Essential reading for anyone who likes playing Hide and Seek. One interesting change has been the way the armed forces have turned to digital style camouflage. It seems that the old style was too easily recognised and able to be picked up by electronic scanners - another victory for photography. For an interesting article connecting camouflage with art check out Roy R Behrens on the Tate Gallery site.
ADDITIONAL INFO FROM DM: During WW1, Norman Wilkinson promoted a new camouflage scheme. Instead of trying to conceal the ship, it broke up its lines and made it more difficult for the U-boat captain to determine the ship's course.

Tied up

Peter Peryer has sent us this image of the photograph he took of David Mealing. It was shot in the library wing of the Auckland Art Gallery before it became part of the gallery. The image appeared on the catalogue for a performance that David did at the Manawatu Art Gallery called Crucifixion in April 1978. It may have been in response to Andrew Drummond's performance of the same name which was performed in Christchurch in March. That performance ended with Drummond in court on a charge of offensive behaviour. The case was eventually dismissed by the judge who although he found the work "ill-mannered, in bad taste, crude and offensive" decided the nudity was within the bounds of community standards.
Additional Information: Luit Bieringa tells us that the Crucifixion work David Mealing (search Mealing for posting) had planned for the Manawatu Art Gallery in Palmerston North was in fact cancelled by the gallery director.

For the Nation

For everyone who has not received a copy of Te Papa's latest Annual Report here is a list of the paintings (New Zealand and international), drawings, sculptures, installations and photographs purchased in the 2005-2006 year.

Paintings New Zealand
5 x Tony de Latour (includes 3 donations)
Paintings International
2 x portraits of John Greenwood and 1 of Admiral Sir Edward Hughes (both donated)
Drawings
8 x pages from Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks
Sculpture
3 x Judy Darragh
1 x Francis Upritchard
1 x Derek Cherrie (maquettes of the Supraluxe Suite)
4 x by Jason Hall (3 x brooches and 1 x necklace)
Installations
1 x Sara Hughes
Photographs
1 x Yuk King Tan
1 x Anne Noble
16 x Gary Blackman
12 x John Fields
9 x Gary Baigent
5 x Max Oettli
3 x Lisa Reihana

Enjoyable?

29 November. At the Enjoy opening last night one of the exhibits was a table with memorabilia (catalogues, posters and clippings) of David Mealings work from the 70s. We have seen David on and off over the years, in supermarkets and on the street, and for a long time he was the director of the Petone Settlers Museum. In fact he got the museum going which, although very small, was a model community museum letting locals look up genealogy information and participating in the exhibitions and the growth of the collection. In many ways the museum was a continuation of his seventies work which looked at the interaction of social and museum structures. Also noticed a reproduction of a poster for a performance Mealing did at Palmerston North (possibly) with a photo of him gagged and bound on the floor, it’s a terrific image that was taken by Peter Peryer. At the opening there was a circle of chairs occupied by some Massey staff who were deep in conversation and behind them a stack of benches of the kind you used to see in church halls. There was probably more but will need to go back to see it.

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