Standing Room Only for Sunday 1 August 2021

12:16  A Turnbull-held painting gets unexpected help

The public was asked to chip in for remedial work on an historic oil painting of the iconic White Terraces.   It's held in the Alexander Turnbull Library collection, and the crowd-sourcing appeal has been so successful that more campaigns are likely to follow.   

Charles Blomfield made many paintings of what people called "The 8th Wonder of the World" - the tourist attraction that was destroyed by the Tarawera eruption in 1886.

Demand for his Terraces works continued long after they had disappeared - this one was actually painted in 1891. 

The original campaign on the Boosted platform sought around $5,000 to clean, fill and retouch the large oil painting.   That target was quickly reached - in fact it stretched to $12,000, allowing for important additional work. 

The Turnbull Endowment Trust is behind the campaign.  Lynn Freeman talks to the Trust's Paula MacLachlan, and also to the Alexander Turnbull Library's Chief Librarian Chris Szekely.

 

12:35  Two major grants to Māori arts organisations

 

The independent Māori theatre and dance sectors are overflowing with people wanting to create work.  But what's often holding them back is a lack of experienced producers, and somewhere to go for practical advice. 

That's changing with a new organisation Ngā Hua Toi made up of nine prominent Māori arts organisations - it's nicknamed the G8.

Ngā Hua Toi has received a  $628 thousand boost to its plan for a stand-alone Māori led arts body - money targeted by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage for capability-building in the cultural sector.

It's by far the biggest single allocation in the first round of the Covid-19 grants.

Meanwhile, $261 thousand goes to the Kāpiti-based Māoriland Charitable Trust, headed by Libby Hakaraia.  Māoriland is best known for its annual Film Festival.

Lynn Freeman speaks with Libby and with her and with the driving force in Ngā Hua Toi, Hone Kouka.  Hone was involved with the recent Kia Mau Festival.

 

1:10 At The Movies

This week Simon Morris reviews the thriller Old, a World War Two drama Waiting for Anya and a G I Joe spinoff, Snake Eyes.

 

1:32  The Kama Sutra offers help to the South Asian community

Playwright and director Shriya Bhagwat is tackling the taboo topic of sex in the South Asian community in her first full-length play The Kamasutra Chronicles.

The premise is simple:  can the Kamasutra, through its creator's muse Vasant, help a Kiwi-Indian couple whose marriage is falling apart?  

Patralekhika Productions, the company Shriya has co-founded, is presenting the work in Auckland.

The hope is that The Kamasutra Chronicles will kick-start conversations about sex and self-empowerment.  Lynn Freeman talks to Shriya, who's also a published poet and short story writer, and to one of her actors, Gemma Jayde Naidoo.

The Kamasutra Chronicles premieres on the 24th of August at Auckland's Basement Theatre. 

 

1:46  Artist Emily Parr is inspired by the sea

Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Emily Parr feels a strong connection with the ocean and specifically with whales.

At the same time she's exploring whale migration for her PhD, she's also presenting an exhibition of large-scale photographs and drawings related to the sea at the Physics Room in Christchurch.

Surfacing includes a drawing of a hoe parāoa (whalebone waka paddle), that was collected by Emily's great-great-grandparents.  It was later gifted to Te Papa's precursor, the Dominion museum. 

Emily Parr explains to Lynn Freeman why she feels such an affinity with whales.

Surfacing has just opened at Christchurch's Physics Room.
 

2:06 The Laugh Track - Dunedin performer and casting agent Cindy Diver

Cindy Diver is a Dunedin stage and screen powerhouse.  She acts, she writes, she coaches and produces.  But above all she's one of our top casting directors.   She's worked on films big and small...  local - like Scarfies and Out of the Blue - and international - like Jurassic World, Wolverine and The Power of the Dog.

Recently her focus has been on a community project called Random Acts of Art (RAA), which started during last year's Covid lockdown in Dunedin.  

Cindy Diver is today's Laugh Track guest.  Her picks include Robbie Ellis, Laura Daniels and Rose Matafeo, Black Books and Eddie Izzard.

 

 

2:26 Trumpeter Isabella Thomas is very much in demand

Wellington musician Isabella Thomas originally wanted to play the saxophone, then the trombone, until finally she settled on the trumpet.

Since then she's had no regrets.   The 23-year-old has become one of the most in-demand young brass players around.  

She's a member of the National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand, the Wellington Youth Orchestra, the Wellington Brass Band, and she's now principal trumpet with the NZSO Youth Orchestra.

Isabella is studying classical performance at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music, and she's performing with a trumpet quartet at the upcoming Classical on Cuba in Wellington. 

Isabella Thomas tells Lynn Freeman she has brass band music flowing through her veins - though she didn't know it when she took up the trumpet as a youngster.

Classical on Cuba takes place next weekend (7-8 August).
 

 

2:37  Poet - and farmer - Janet Newman

Poems about farm life - both the harsh realities and the simple joys of living off the land - are found in a new poetry collection by Horowhenua farmer Janet Newman.

Unseasoned Campaigner touches on her memories of her parents, and growing up on the family dairy farm that she now works.  

The poems also explore the challenges farmers face - droughts, disease, and sending animals they've nurtured off to the freezing works. 

Lynn Freeman talks with Janet about her poetry and her doctoral thesis on Traditions of Ecopoetry in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Unseasoned Campaigner by Janet Newman is published by Otago University Press.

 

 

2:50  Nelson father and daughter film-makers

Father and daughter Nelson filmmakers Pete and Betsy Blasdale make a formidable team.  Their names feature in the credits of more than half a dozen films in the upcoming Top of the South Film Festival.

Pete's thing is documentaries - including one on the 375th anniversary of Abel Tasman's visit to Golden Bay,  and another that followed a bunch of vintage motorcycles and their riders around the South Island.

Pete passed on his love of film-making to Betsy.  When she's not filming for her Dad, she's out making her own music videos, and working for other film-makers in the region.  In fact this weekend she's working on an all-female actor and crew project for the Top Of The South Festival.

Lynn Freeman talks with Betsy and Pete, who tells her he started filming as a child, as soon as he could get his hands on his father's camera!

The Top of the South Film festival takes place in November.  Entries close on the 17th of August.

                                 

3:06 Drama at 3 - Only Sukkie Bubbas Use Laser Guns

Today's Classic Drama is a science fiction comedy, the story of an unholy love between man and machine set against an alien invasion.

Only Sukkie Bubbas Use Laser Guns is written and performed by Adam Gardiner, Brett McKenzie and Taika Cohen aka Taika Waititi.  It was recorded in front of an audience at BATS Theatre, Wellington, with all the music, sound effects and characters created live by the performers.

 

Music played in this show

Artist: Tijuana Brass
Song: The Lonely Bull
Composer: Lake
Album: The Very Best of...
Label:  A & M
Played at: 12.16

Artist: Beirut
Song: Nantes
Composer:  Condon
Album: The Flying Club Cup
Label:  4AD
Played at: 12.31

Artist: Winton Marsalis (and Shirley Horn)
Song: I can't get started
Composer: Duke-Gershwin
Album: Tune in Tomorrow
Label:  Columbia
Played at: 12.56

Artist: Sly and the Family Stone
Song: I wanna take you higher
Composer: Stewart
Album: Stand
Label: Epic
Played at:  1.07

Artist: Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
Song: Trumpet Voluntary
Composer: Jeremiah Clarke
Album:  Weekend Classics
Label: Decca
Played at:  1.44

Artist:  Louis Armstrong
Song: A kiss to build a dream on
Composer: Hammerstein-Kalmar-Ruby
Album: Jazz in Paris
Label:  Gitanes
Played at: 1.58

Artist: Peter Sellers
Song: Trumpet Volunteer
Composer: Hare-Sellers
Album: The Collection
Label: EMI
Played at: 2.05

Artist: Hugh Masekela
Song: Grazing in the grass
Composer: Elston-Hou-Masekela
Album: Still Grazing
Label: Bluethumb
Played at: 2.58

Artist: Herb Alpert
Song: This guy's in love with you
Composer: Bacharach-David
Album:  The Very Best Of...
Label:  A & M
Played at: 3.58