The Adlington Post

peace within

2012-01-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

For some 40 years the writings of Lao Tzu have been an inspiration for my life and underpinned much of my artwork. Here is a particular favourite:

The Power in Needing Less

Which is dearer:

Name or life?

Which means more:

Life or wealth?

Which is worse:

Gain or loss?

The stronger the attachments,

The greater the cost.

The more that is hoarded,

The deeper the loss.

Know what is enough;

Be without disgrace.

Know when to stop;

Be without danger.

"Zen Circle" - an original artwork by Martin Adlington

Screenprints on kozo paper

$US30 + postage

"In the Taoist view, individuals who are materially orientated - who identify themselves with their possessions - have no real purpose in the universe other than moving matter from place to place and reproducing other life forms. Materially-orientated individuals cannot evolve because their attachment to, & hoarding of, matter trains the mind to view reality as fixed & unflowing.This worldview is in harmony with death, not growth; and the larger meaning behind consciousness remains hidden.

Those who follow the Tao (Way of Power) realize that they are in a more powerful position when they are mobile, unburdened, & independent. For the Taoist, excessive possessions are treated like ballast - their release gives greater buoyancy. Just as air rushes in to fill a vacuum, more things will come into, and pass through, such lives.Most importantly, the capacity to need less & pass on things brings evolved individuals closer to their true nature and closer to the continuous unfolding of Reality." - from "The Tao of Power" by R.L.Wing

a dumpster dive

2012-01-25T20:13:00.000-08:00

I found a dumpster today & dived in!
My main finds of interest were:
- a film camera ( Agfa Silette)
- 2 jandals to make into art
- a 1954 copy of "William & the Moon Rocket" by Richmal Crompton (I used to read these as a kid)
- a satellite navigation kit for the van
- a retro table lamp
- a metal strainer to make into a clock
- a hand-crocheted blanket

See my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

See my youtube channel for dumpster-diving & recycling videos
www.youtube.com/martinadlington www.youtube.com/martinadlington

the end is nigh - the recesion hits browns bay

2012-01-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

This is the first of a series of posts documenting some the changes in the community where I live. As the economic situation worsens, business here in Browns Bay are closing their doors. When the mall opened at nearby Albany in 2007 the fall-off in trade, visitors & traffic was immediately apparent in this beach-side suburb.Then the recession began in 2008, & the rot began with the closure of the Woolworths Supermarket.
Although the 2011 Rugby World Cup was touted as being a potential financial bonanza for business of all types, in fact the only ones to benefit were the RWC itself & the grog merchants who sponsored the whole thing.
Trade for most retailers declined as any disposable income people had was spent on expensive tickets for the games.Christmas sales were subdued - people are paying for all the toys houses & batches they bought when credit was readily available. So far there has been very little summer weather to bring people to the beach - so trade has suffered another blow.
Here is an example of how bad it has been - one business owner told me that his takings for May 2011were 20% down on May 2010.
"That's bad" I commiserated.
He gave me a wry look & continued: "And my takings for May 2010 were 50% down on May 2009."
The business closed at the end of the next month when the lease expired.
The owner predicted that as leases ran out in the village, other business would not renew, & would close down.
Rents for a small shop here are $1,000 a week.
In the past few months Video Easy has closed, as have Hannahs Shoes, Vodafone, the TAB, a hairdresser, a long-established interiors store, a Kiwi gift shop.
Watch this space for updates.....

steve robs retires

2011-08-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

Today Steve Jobs (aka Steve Robs) announced his retirement from Apple.
According to the media he is regarded as a "god" by some in the industry.
Somehow I hardly think that the people who slave in the Apple factories to produce ipods "Now In White" (gosh!) for some .50c a day would agree.

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

just another commodity

2011-07-26T01:38:00.000-07:00

Microsoft received much Twitter flak after a small PR account for Xbox encouraged followers to remember recently deceased musician Amy Winehouse by buying her last album on the company's entertainment marketplace, Zune.
After about an hour of retweets - with comments such as "classy", "crass much?" and "Microsoft – failing at social media" - the account tweeted a follow-up.
"Apologies to everyone if our earlier Amy Winehouse 'download' tweet seemed purely commercially motivated," it said. "Far from the case, we assure you."
Microsoft is not the only company that has seemingly attempted to capitalise on the star's death.
Apple posted an image of Winehouse on the front of the iTunes store with the caption "remembering Amy Winehouse".

Her breakout album, the Grammy winning Back to Black, has subsequently become the No.1 album in the store.
Amazon also posted a brief obituary that linked to a page where shoppers can buy the singer's music.
Sales of Back to Black increased 37 times immediately after Winehouse's death.

What do you expect? She's simply a commodity- like everyone else.

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

passports?..what passports??

2011-07-26T01:08:00.000-07:00

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

murdoch bullshit

2011-07-20T00:43:00.000-07:00

.....from "The Telegraph": Phone hacking: David Cameron tries to move on from hacking scandal
David Cameron is to attempt to bring an end to the furore over the phone hacking scandal today so that he can address the issues that “really matter” to Britons.

Speaking on the final day of a visit to Africa, the Prime Minister indicated that he needed to soon focus on creating jobs, tackling immigration and reforming the welfare system.
Mr Cameron will today announce the terms of reference for a judicial-led inquiry into the phone hacking scandal.
The inquiry, which will begin work within weeks, will focus on media ethics, and the relationship between the press, politicians and the police.
However, the Prime Minister is now understood to believe that the intense furore over the scandal should subside and the inquiry - and police investigation - should work in a less “frenzied” environment.
Senior Downing Street sources believe that the coverage of the scandal has lost a “sense of perspective” this week, amid calls for the Prime Minister to resign."

What really matters here, David, is the inference that the Murdoch press has influenced the election and policy of historical British governments. In fact, it seems to be more than an inference...it is increasingly apparent that Murdoch has manipulated the "democratic" system to his own ends.
Murdoch's predatory approach will have made him many enemies, & son James appears to be arrogant beyond belief. We are seeing splits in the Murdoch family - which may well lead to the demise of the "dynasty" Rupert had so carefully established.
There's an old saying "You can run - but you cannot hide"...

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

"we are not not corrupt" - yeah right

2011-05-31T23:46:00.000-07:00

"There is nothing wrong with ministers accepting hospitality from the Government's banker Westpac, and it won't have any bearing on the decision that will follow a competitive tender process for the contract, Prime Minister John Key says.
The Green Party today released the results of a series of written questions to Government ministers over their relationships with Westpac.
Nine ministers said they had accepted corporate hospitality from Westpac in the past year, including box seats at the rugby sevens, dinner at the White House restaurant in Wellington, and tickets to rock concerts.
Thirteen ministers said their staff had accepted similar hospitality from the bank."
source - radio nz

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

waste not want not

2011-05-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

Last week I began collecting aluminum to cash-in at the scrapyard. I picked up these three cans across the road from my house - all are full! Are these people so out of it that they can't tell a full can from an empty one?...anyhow cheers guys!.....
PS I already collect electrical wire, every six months or so I have a banana box full - which nets me $25 at the scrapyard.

“Although nearly 66% of Australians say they cannot afford to buy everything they really need, they admit to spending $10.5 billion a year on goods they do not use. That is $1226 for every Australian household - more than the total government spending on universities, pharmacuticals or roads. They threw away more than $5.2B worth of food & drink in 2004. 35% of Australians admit to discarding more than $500 worth of fresh food a year, with 14% throwing away more than $2500 worth."
from "Affluenza - when too much is never enough" p103-104
by Clive Hamilton & Richard Dennis

See more of my dumpster diving activities on
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

FREE TO SHOP

2011-04-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

"...research shows that most compulsive buyers have histories of depression, anxiety disorders & substance abuse. Yet 'shopping 'till you drop' is seen as a sign of a happy-go-lucky disposition rather than a meaningless life."
from "Affluenza - when too much is never enough" p.16
by Clive Hamilton & Richard Dennis
....for more altered barbies see my blog alteredbarbies.blogspot.com/

NORTH SHORE TIMES 23 FEB 2011

2011-02-22T14:54:00.000-08:00

PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR

2011-02-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

Last week protestors in Cairo donned innovative headgear to protect themselves from flying stones:

This chap has placed a lot of trust in his lunch - a BLT & 2 baguettes!

A real dish!

"Take this tuna-fish sandwich - you bastids!"

The block-head

"What do you mean by 'square-head'?"

The real thing - classic anarchist street-wear!

"Mohammed! where's the xxxxing chamber pot?"

KIWIS IN LINE FOR PRESTIGIOUS DARWIN AWARD

2011-02-13T22:53:00.000-08:00

Charles Darwin: "Two things are infinite - the universe & the human capacity for stupidity".

The Darwin Awards honor Charles Darwin by commemorating those who yield to natural selection and "remove" themselves from the gene pool...

...thereby ensuring that the next generation is smarter by one.
"Safety Last!" Of necessity, the award is usually bestowed posthumously.

NZPA - A witness has described how darkly dressed figures, apparently drunk, were stumbling along a dark Northland road before a teenager was hit and killed by a police car.
Rawiri was hit by a police patrol car on a straight section of State Highway 1 at Ohaeawai on July 25, 2009, while walking home with a friend late on a cold and dark night after attending a social function.
Several witnesses including two Kamo firemen, Denis Hewitt and Stephen Gurnick, who were also returning home from a social evening, told the coroner of figures "dressed in black ... stumbling ... appeared drunk" walking along the road with their backs to approaching vehicles.
They were on the grass verge but one veered out over the fog line waving his arms.
Mr Hewitt, who was driving, said he had to swerve over the centre line to miss the figure. Luckily no vehicle was coming the other way. Mr Gurnick recalled shouting "they'll get hit if not careful".
Another witness, Joanne Davis-Cooper, said she was following the police patrol car when she saw its brake lights go on suddenly and then the red and blue flashing lights. She said they were doing about 80km/h in the 100km/h zone.
She stopped to help and a police officer said "something like `they came out of nowhere'."
A figure was lying face down on the road and a young man was screaming, swearing, kicking the police car and punching the constable.

see further idiocy at

www.darwinawards.com/

...breaking news - with this incident & the outflow of Kiwis to OZ, the average NZ IQ is said to be approaching room temperature - Muldoon would be proud...

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

SUNDAY STAR TIMES 13 FEB 2011

2011-02-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

CRUNCHY ROAST POTATOES

2011-01-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

My roast dinners aren't bad, & everyone enjoys the dark gravy I make, but truely crispy roast potatoes have always eluded me - until I found a recipie by Delia Smith. This method uses fat/dripping drained from previous roasts & bacon breakfasts - this makes the potatoes even more flavoursome.
* there are two essentials: the potatoes need to be par-boiled, & the fat needs to be really hot.....
- Wash the potatoes cut into pieces [say twice the size of a walnut], & simmer for 8 minutes, drain well.
- Put the lid back onto the pot & give the potatoes a good shake. This will roughen the edges, making them floury & crispier. The small broken bits will go extra crunchy!
- Meanwhile, preheat a sturdy roasting pan with 50g [2 oz] dripping per 500g [lb] potatoes to 220C/425F. If the roast is still cooking, move it to a lower shelf. If done, remove it from the oven & cover - relaxing the meat will allow the juices to soak back into the joint.
- Turn on a stovetop element to medium, remove the roasting pan from the oven, place over the heat, & add the potatoes. The fat needs to be really hot at this point so that the potatoes seal. Baste & turn the potatoes, then return the pan to the oven on the highest shelf to roast for 45-55 minutes. Turn at half time.
- These roast potatoes are best served as soon as possible.

*Whilst I realize that using dripping is not PC at present, animal fats have, however, been an essential part of human diet for a very long time, & the body needs fats for many metabolic processes. Vegetable oils are great for frying & salads, but for a true roast potato flavour, you can't beat dripping. My parents grew up in England during the depression of the '30's [we're in another one now], when bread & dripping was a meal. My mum kept a tin of fat saved from roasts & frying in the 'fridge & so do I. The brown jelly at the bottom is delicious! Try some on toast with a smear of Marmite...

For more on food see my site
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com

For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES

2010-12-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

Check out this UK website for all manner of incredible edibles:

"Edible Bugs, Bush Tucker Trials & The Worlds Hottest Chillis!
We offer an assortment of gourmet exotic delicacies from around the world.
Specialities such as Baked Scorpions & Fried Crickets from the North-East of Thailand. For centuries, these have been consumed as part of an everyday diet.
Some other popular delicacies include: Sea Urchin Caviar, Escargots (Snails), Sweden's *NOTORIOUS* Surströmming (Fermented Herring), Civet Coffee, Jelly Fish Slices, Sautéed Reindeer & so much more..Check out our Super Hot Chilli Sauces & Worlds Hottest Chillies!"

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

A FISHING TRIP

2010-12-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

On Friday my mate Johann took me fishing at the pier at the old Sunderland flying-boat base in Hobsonville. We were a bit late for the right tide conditions, but I did manage to catch this fish - twice! [he went back into the water]......

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

WILD HERBS

2010-12-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at Browns Bay market a stallholder gave me a bag of kumarahou leaves. According to my book on Maori herbal remedies, tea made from leaves of this native plant were drunk for turberculosis, asthma, & broncitis, as a blood purifier, & for their beneficial effects on the kidneys, as well as a remedy for colds & coughs, & as a tonic wash for the skin.
Kumarahou is also known as Gumdigger's Soap because the yellow flowers make a soapy lather when crushed in the hand.

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

BEETLE EMERGED

2010-12-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

Two weeks after the first mealworm pupae formed, a beetle has emerged. So far out of 50 larvae, 20 have pupated, & most of the others are lying still in the tub - getting ready to undergo their next stage of metamorphosis. After the beetles have mated, they will lay eggs in 7-10 days, which will hatch into larvae after 2 weeks - I will then have some interesting cooking tips for you!

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

PORK PIES

2010-12-05T14:02:00.000-08:00

The friendly folks from Col's Pies at Browns Bay market on Sunday. These pork pies are delicious, but get in quick, as they sell out fast! Col is a traditionally-trained English butcher, so he knows his stuff, & these pies are the real deal.
Are they as good as Melton-Mowbrays? - try for yourself!
www.colslarder.com

I ate mine with some "Karengo & Tamarillo Chutney" [seaweed & tree tomato], made by Pacific Harvest here on the North Shore. www.pacificharvest.co.nz

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

MEALWORMS PUPATE

2010-12-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

The mealworms I bought a month ago at the pet shop have begun to pupate. They seem to have been happy on their diet of bran, apple, & guava.

Their cycle goes: beetles hatching to laying eggs 7-10 days; eggs hatch in 14 days as larvae; larvae pupate in 4-6 weeks; pupae emerge as beetles in 2-3 weeks.
Mealworms are edible at the larval stage, so expect some interesting posts on preparing & cooking these insects in the early New Year.

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

DOG TUCKER

2010-11-30T18:26:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I met Penny Millen from "Naturallynz" who sells a very popular line of healthy dog food - www.naturallynz.com

A MORNING AT THE MUSEUM

2010-11-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

A few days ago John Early, the Curator of Entomology at Auckland War Memorial Museum, generously gave me some of his valuable time to discuss insects & their edibility, & 'extreme food".
Our conversation ranged over kelp flies, centepides, bee larvae, crickets, algae, unusual meals in our travels, huhu grubs, mealworms, snails....& much more...

Some incredible edibles!

Tiger slugs

Huhu grubs & beetle

When I asked John about the dangers of eating venomous creatures such as scorpions or spiders, he said that as their poisons are protein-based, they are rendered harmless by heat, tho he cautioned that tarantula fangs are best removed before consumption of the spider.
We had a fascinating chat about "what Auckland eats" - now that we have a very ethnically-diverse population here, there is far more on offer than there was even 15 years ago. There are English, South African, Chinese, & Indian speciality food stores here now, & we wondered if there are any Sudanese, Mongolian ones.
John showed me some freeze-dried specimens the Entomology Dept had in storage, including a bag of NZ seahorses [!]. He told me that female insects, especially when filled with eggs, are more nutritious & tasty than the males of the species "..testes are never as nutritious as ovaries" - brilliant!
John has written a book "Know Your New Zealand Insects & Spiders" which features excellent photos by Don Horne, which I have borrowed from the library, am about to order online.

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

ASIAN SEAWEED & NOODLE SOUP

2010-11-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

Check out my latest video - a packet of noodle soup combined with fresh seaweed from the beach & herbs & spices to make a delicious & nutritious meal....

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

SMOKED FISH

2010-11-23T21:40:00.001-08:00

The other day in the city I bought some salmon bellies [$4.00 a kilo!], & someone generously gave me a fresh schnapper on Friday [thanks Kerry!].
I scaled & filleted the schnapper & marinated some of it with the salmon overnight in a mixture of 1 teaspoon each of salt & raw sugar, with the juice of a lemon, & some dill.
On Saturday afternoon I set the smoker up in the back garden, with 3 handfulls of manuka sawdust inside. I laid the fish along with some fresh asparagus stalks onto tinfoil, put this on the grill inside the smoker, poured half a cup of meths into the burner - lit the meths, & placed the burner under the smoker.
The meths took about 10 minutes to burn out, I then turned the fish, added more sawdust, refilled the burner & let it burn out then sit for a while. The result was delicious! - eaten with refried beans & watercress salad.
The meths is a bit messy, so I have bought a small LPG cannister for my camping stove to use next time.

For more on food see
www.pavlovasdog.webs.com
For my cooking videos see
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

COMIX IN THE DUMPSTER

2010-11-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

Today I did a dumpster dive in the industrial estate around the corner, & came away with a few items - notably a 3D "Viewmaster" & a dozen slides for it, all Disney cartoons: Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Micky Mouse, 1953 & 1959. I just them before the rain came down, another 5 minutes & they would have been badly soaked.

SEXY BACHELOR COOKING SHOW

2010-09-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

My new "Sexy Bachelor Cooking Show & Survival Guide" is on the web....activites, updates will be posted to the blog:
www.sexybachelor.blogspot.com
as well as the new website:
www.sexybachelor.webs.com - where there will soon be recipies as well
Videos of the show will be on my youtube channel:
www.youtube.com/martinadlington
The first two programmes are uploaded & can be found on the links below:

"How to Cut up a Chicken"

"Home-made Beer - the Micro-brewery"

Recycled Art Show and Tell Video - the trailer

2010-09-01T22:12:00.000-07:00

LATEST VIDEO

2010-08-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

I have just posted my latest video in the "Men Behaving Badly" series - another totally politically-incorrect dating guide with lots of sex'n' rock'n'roll.....

ZINE FEST

2010-08-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

On Sat 14th August I had a stall at the 2010 Auckland Zine Festival in St Kevin's Arcade in Karangahape Road. Attendance was steady thruout the day, & I met some nice people as well as selling some of my altered books.

See some of my collages on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

BEACH TRASH ASSEMBLAGES

2010-07-16T21:43:00.000-07:00

"BBBBBBBalls"......................... "Best By"

"Four Tui"..................... "Fcuk Me Shoes"

"Mortagee Sale"
Today I picked up some more stuff from the beach after the winds & high seas....I have been reading a new book about the surrealist artist Joseph Cornell, & was inspired to place some of my new & old finds into small boxes.

See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

FREECANNO

2010-06-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

After viewing an art exhibition of constructions made with Mecanno pieces, I have devised a 21st Century version : FREECANNO - an open-sourced educational toy made from found stuff.

This Freecanno is an educational toy is based on the familiar Mecanno set.
The kit includes a variety of plastic, wood, & metal construction components with holes drilled in them, as well as some hardware for joining pieces together - nuts & bolts, screws, & nails.
Further holes can be drilled & pieces can otherwise be adapted to suit - tools will have to be obtained separately.

As Picasso said: “Computers are stupid- they only give you answers”.
The Freecanno concept is designed to both stimulate the imagination & to instigate processes of enquiry:
“What can I make?.. how can I make it?.. how can I join these together?.. how can I cut/drill/whatever this?.. what do I need to make......?”
As the Freecanno system is open-sourced, there are not more bigger, more expensive, sets to buy. Instead, users are encouraged to expand their kit by finding & making further pieces for themselves. A wide variety of everyday materials can be adapted for use - simply by cutting stuff into pieces & drilling holes. Existing toys can be used for parts, & modular sets [such as Leggo] fit into the Frecanno system perfectly.
Further useful pieces can be obtained by taking things apart - one problem with electrical gadgets is that they are not easily nor mechanically repairable...which means that when a fuse or something goes, they end up in the trash. The skills of do-it-yourself repairs are almost history.
In my teaching of craft skills to people of all ages I have found that they often cannot use even basic tools – this system will encourage the use of tools including: screwdrivers, wrenches, drills, saws, hammers, wire-cutters, pliers, files, & scissors.
A main aspect of the use of Freecanno is to foster the interaction of children with adults - caregivers may be able to assist with the use of tools & with basic design & construction principles; otherwise the assistance of other more mechanically-minded folks may be needed. Either way family- & social-interaction are facilitated.

See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

RECYCLED ART

2010-06-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

A close-up of a work I made from beach trash with reflections in the window. Recycled art is fun, & when you get tired of the piece it can go straight into the recycled bin!

See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

GreenplanetFM 104.6 - mobilising consciousness with Tim Lynch

2010-05-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

LtoR - Mitch Santell, Dana Stewart, Mr News [standing], Tim Lynch, Prof. Garbology - Martin Adlington

On May 20 I was a panel guest speaker on radio GreenplanetFM 104.6 in "mobilising consciousness with Tim Lynch", discussing "Democracy, Governance & Sovereignty at Risk in NZ" along with Dana Stewart & Mr News.
Find the podcast HERE
From Tim : "As the pace of life gets faster and faster and days appear to rapidly recede behind us, NZers appear to be like possums at night time staggering in the middle of the road mesmerized and caught in the glare of headlights of a fast coming vehicle, not knowing what is happening and therefore not appearing to take any action.   Will the possums wake up in time and do the correct thing by taking action to control their own future, ... or ...?  
Plus, what is the table talk at cafes, restaurants, bars and lunch times around NZ? Is the populace happy and even ecstatic with how we the people are governing ourselves? (Yes or No?) Is there nothing at all to be concerned about, with our Democracy, Governance and Sovereignty? Can safely leave everything in the hands of the Act Party - who in this escalating drama of tension, play the bad cop in the National Party scenario of being the good cop?  
Listen to young independent voices talk about the need to be exceptionally alert to what is happening and the necessity to NOT get our news from mainstream media that is intent on jamming sensationalistic insular drivel into our homes 24/7.....be adroit and astute by accessing our own news via the web, youtube, videos, & DVDs.
This week's show stars:
 Vincent Eastwood ... Mr News and part of the NZ’s very independent alternative media.
http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz
http://www.youtube.com/MRNEWSguerillamedia  
Vincent has been doing this media for over 18 months and he is about to launch a syndicated radio show from New Zealand but also heard in America. He has a natural talent and can take complex issues and simplify them.
Dana Louise Stewart ... Researcher of raw food, our polluted food system, planting fruit trees and the future of New Zealand. She is very up on what is really happening in this country and is not afraid to speak the truth in an eloquent way.   Dana is the Producer of the independent film Real N' Raw and is also the founder of a charitable trust called Fruit for Our Children.
http://fruitforourchildren.com
Martin Adlington ... an environmental artist and fast becoming an expert on "consumerism" and on the massive waste of consumption.  "
http://martinadlington.webs.com  
Martin is developing his media presence, and is currently assisting Auckland University to make an independent film upcycling & sustainability, whilst continuing to make his own adbusting & culture-jamming videos:
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

NIUA SOS

2010-05-23T16:28:00.001-07:00

In late 2009 villages & the tourist resort on the remote northern Tongan island of Niuatoputapu were devastated by the Samoan tsunami.
The Australian & New Zealand governments supplied some initial relief assistance, but as so many personal possessions were lost, people on the island are still struggling to get by.
With the generous help of friends here in Auckland, I have begun to gather everyday items which will prove useful to the inhabitants of Niua.
If any yachties can assist us by taking some of the goods we have collected to Niua, especially from Auckland, we would all be most grateful.
Donations are most welcome, the main need appears to be for cooking utensils [especially cast iron pot'n'pans, & knives], & tools, towels & sheets, soap, toothbrushes, & first aid materials....
Children's toys are unnecessary [!], & there appears to be more than ample clothing.
The ferry only visits Niua once a month, so supplies are scarce & expensive, there is a mail plane - but freight costs are prohibitive.
My contacts are martinadlington@gmail.com ...(09)479 1808

MEDIA QUESTIONS

2010-03-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

With the 2011 Rugby World Cup approaching, some hard questions will need to be answered. Is the All Black coach up to the task?? Here he ponders some of the more curly media issues......

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

ALTERED BARBIE VIDEO

2010-03-07T19:13:00.000-08:00

Catch my latest Altered Barbie video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upJ_tq9ud30

"BUY MORE COKE OR THE BLONDE GETS IT!"

2010-02-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

It turns out that Barbie is just a pawn in the machinations of the evil military-industrial complex!
This is the latest of my on-going series of altered Barbies - see more at www.martinadlington.webs.com

See my Altered Barbie videos on my youtube channel:
www.youtube.com/martinadlington

PROPS FOR MY NEXT VIDEO

2010-02-15T20:05:00.001-08:00

Today I found a pink Cadillac on the red Cross Op Shop in Glenfield, & bought a picture of a NY street scene from the Great Red Satan [the wharehouse] - these are some of the props I am gathering for my upcoming video "How They Sank the World & Made a Zillion Bucks"....

BURKA BARBIE

2010-01-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

This from examiner.com
"Mattel has raised eyebrows everywhere with its rather interesting decision to auction off a Barbie doll wearing a burka as a collectors item.
With all due respect – what in Sam’s heck is Mattel thinking?
Mattel argues that the doll -- one of several special edition international themed Barbies up for auction -- honors Islamic culture and tradition – which is fine, except that this particular curio of Islamic culture and tradition also symbolizes radical oppression and violence towards women.
Islamic women worldwide are fighting oppression and demanding free lifestyles and real education – and they are paying a steep price for it as was seen the during feminized Iranian democratic revolts of this past summer.
Toy companies should not be promoting an oppressed burka Barbie at a time when the West desperately needs to support moderating and liberalizing reforms in countries tormented by despotic Islamofascist regimes.
What next? Beheaded Barbie? If you order in the next twenty minutes do you get the discounted stoning accessory kit with “honor killing” instructions for only $19.99 more?"

ALTERED BARBIE ON FACEBOOK

2010-01-16T21:23:00.000-08:00

I have stared an Altered Barbie group on facebook- feel free to join & post your images subverting the dominant Barbie paradigm!

ANIMATED VIDEO

2010-01-16T20:59:00.000-08:00

I have just finished my first animated video: watch Barbie do her thing - for a good cause

BIONIC BARBIE

2010-01-01T19:03:00.001-08:00

I have been experimenting with my new scanner to make this image. With genetic engineering in the news I am pondering some of the possibilities with my artwork.

BARBIE MAKEOVERS

2009-12-27T17:22:00.000-08:00

Today I gave some of my Barbie collection a make-over...from top to bottom: "Tattoo Barbie",
"Buddha Barbie", "Paper Bag Princess", "Breast Cancer Barbie", " Terrorist Barbie - happiness is a warm gun"..

KNITING NEEDLE MANDALA

2009-12-22T22:42:00.001-08:00

For a long time I have been inspired by the art of Andy Goldsworthy & Rosalie Gasgoigne.These artists have helped me find my own way of seeing & of presenting the objects I find.
This "Knitting Needle Mandala" is the first example of my own exploration of the abstract sculptural qualities of forms.

See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

MY FRONT ROOM

2009-12-10T12:32:00.000-08:00

The junk collection continues to grow! I have become more selective in my gatherings, bringing home mainly smaller items for future use, otherwise I would soon run out of space.

See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

NZ Landscape series - Karangahape Road

2009-12-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

I have decided to continue my "NZ Landscape" series again...am making the pix into brooches 3x4cm, glued onto rectangles of core-flute from real-estate signs. I took this photo on Monday in Karangahape Road in Auckland. The window of the army surplus store reflects the hoarding for the strip club across the road - a crazy chance juxtaposition!

See more of my adbusting and culture jamming activities on
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

First Thursday Event

2009-12-04T20:09:00.001-08:00

Last Thursday I was invited to have a stall with my recycled artwork at the inaugural "First Thursday" art event in St Kevin's Arcade in K Rd, AK. With free cider & loud music the crowd had a good time. Sales were slow - hopefully better next time.

See more of my trashion pieces as well as recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

ECO SPACE

2009-11-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had a stall at the annual Grey Lynn Festival. I was invited into the new "Eco Space" with other stalls of an environmental nature: Grey Lynn Farmers Market, Grey Lynn Waste Away, Grey Lynn 2030, 350, Oooby, as well as urban gardens.

See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

SCULPTURE FOR PRE-SCHOOL

2009-11-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

The children [& teachers] from the local Browns Bay Pre School have invited me to assist them construct a sculpture for the playground which the children have designed. Here is the "sculpture group" with their tentative layout for the work - comprised of pieces of pumice from Lake Taupo, & steel rods from an old fence.

350 & RECYCLED ART

2009-10-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

I made this nikau palm from plastic drink bottles.
On Saturday 24th September I will have a stall at the 350 environmental event at Mt Eden- where I will be demonstrating craft projects for recycling plastic drink bottles, as well as selling my recycled artworks & trashion pieces.
350 Maunga Action * 3:30-4:50pm
Join in with other Aucklanders on the Real Icons of Auckland to call out for change for 350. Bring your voice and instruments - tell every music group you know! Maungawhau | Mt Eden
http://www.350.org/node/5747
fb: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113834797830
3:30pm for karakia, ends 4:50 so you can amble along to:

350 Festival * 5pm-7pm
The key-stone in Auckland's combined action: Gather with the whole 350 community to celebrate the day http://www.350.org/node/8755
fb: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165945354531
Tahaki Reserve, at the base of Mt. Eden
5pm till sun-down around 7pm

TEXTILE SHOW

2009-10-11T14:04:00.001-07:00

Here is my dumpster-diving buddie Laurie with her daughter Hannah with the bags we made for the Textile Art Show at the Depot Art Gallery

JUNK2FUNK

2009-10-04T17:01:00.001-07:00

Here are the two major prize-winners from the Junk2Funk recycled art show held on Waiheke Island last weekend.
Sue Hunter's '50's-style flounced dress, bag & hat made from Vogel's bread wrappers & other plastic bags won Senior "Local Heros" as well as "Best Overall". Kerry Appleton's dress made from old entry tickets to past Junk2Funk shows won Intermediate "Local Heroes" as well as the "Supreme Sustainability" award.

BACON TRASH

2009-09-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

Last night I on my evening trash patrol I found these packets of bacon, still chilled in the skip behind the local supermarket. Date expired 29th September - bacon butties are on me!!

DUMPSTER GRAFFITI

2009-09-26T01:07:00.000-07:00

In my dumpster-diving activities I have begun to notice that some of the dumpsters are artworks in themselves...often far better contemporary artworks than some of the shite we see in the galleries in the city. Here are a couple I spotted recently....

Textile Art on Waiheke

2009-09-22T21:04:00.001-07:00

Waiheke creatives do their recycled art thing in paradise!

A WORRYING TREND

2009-09-15T00:37:00.000-07:00

The annual inorganic trash collection is underway in my area of Auckland. This year a sub-species of humanity is tagging perfectly good items so as to render them useless - & definitely destined for landfill - see image.
I considered notifying the media of this development, but decided that this would probably encourage other morons to do the same.

JUNK 2 FUNK SHOW

2009-09-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

I have been invited to be a judge at this year's "Junk to Funk" :
"After a year’s break, Waiheke’s recycling fashion show is set to capture the imagination of the island’s environmentally aware, as Gill Alcock finds out...All the fun of the island’s very own recycling extravaganza returns in spring after a year off.Waiheke Waste Resource Trust’s Junk to Funk, the fashion show with a difference, captures the imagination of budding fashionistas and adds a green edge, making it one of the most popular events on Waiheke’s calendar. As always, this year’s show, on 2 and 3 October, will be an opportunity for everyone to get creative while showing off their commitment to recycling, sustainability and environmental awareness.And while many enter the event from an altruistic bent, participants will be in to win cash prizes from a pool of $5,000, donated by local businesses.This year there are five entry categories under the titles of Junk to Funktional, Use Your Head, Flights of Fancy, Good Natured and Local Heroes Each of the five categories is broken down into three age groups – Senior (15 years and over), Intermediate (nine-14 years) and Junior (up to eight years). A winner and runner up will be selected by the judges for each age group within each category. Cash prizes are $250 for the winner and $100 for the runner-up. There are also prizes for Supreme Sustainability, People’s Choice and Best Overall Design. Garments, hats and objects need to be made of at least 85% recycled materials, and the Waste Resource Trust will be running after-school construction clubs in which construction materials and advice will be available. The Junk to Funk showcase evenings will be held at Te Huruhi Primary school hall with judging taking place on Friday, 2 October and awards night on Saturday, 3 October.Tickets go on sale on Saturday, 5 September from Shop the Rock, Lazy Lounge and the Waste Resource Trust office opposite the library, at a cost of $5 a seat.For more information phone Dorte on 372 2915 or 021 975 352 or email dorte@wrt.org.nz

About Junk to FunkThe first Junk to Funk event was in 2003. It was a wearable arts’ performance of garments and body sculpture created from recycled, reusable and natural materials, aimed at raising awareness of recycling.Clean Stream, the community contractor which ran Waiheke Transfer Station until 1 July, is a subsidiary of Waiheke Waste Resource Trust, and has worked alongside the trust to create the educational event.Previous judges of Junk to Funk are ex-Green MP Nandor Tanczos and Greens co-leader Russell Norman."

PROFESSOR ADLINGTON CLEANS UP

2009-08-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

Where I belong...in a dumpster!: expounding Post Modern Trash Theory to people from AK Uni - audio & video of the interview following shortly on mywebsite & Youtube channel...
On Thursday 13th August I will be talking with environmental guru Tim Lynch on GreenPlanet FM 104.6: "How Joe Six-Pack Can Help Save the World"...available later on podcast from www.greenplanetfm.com

e-waste collection

2009-07-12T00:47:00.000-07:00

I found these guys on the web...
www.computerrecycling.co.nz/e-day.html

Looks good - I will approach them about an e-collection day here in Browns Bay, & see if they are interested in some artwork to promote their business...

DROP DEAD GEORGOUS

2009-07-04T19:42:00.000-07:00

These gals have dresses made from printed strips of plastic tape about 18in [46cm] wide - what a great idea for recycled wearable art!!

TRASH ON THE BEACH

2009-07-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Last week there were high seas & strong winds which washed lots of plastic rubbish onto the beach here at Browns Bay. I took my blue bucket & filled it in less than ten minutes!

NEW ROBOTS

2009-06-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today I finished five robots made from biscuit, sweet, & tea tins. They all have a light as one of their arms.
Four have gone to the Salvation Army Store in Browns Bay - where they are stocking some of my work.
The fifth one will be part of a prize in a promotion for the SPCA Op Shop - watch this space for details.

E-WASTE COLLECTION

2009-06-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

Today I made contact with the guys from e-waste, & took some pix - here are some motherboards in a bin.

LOVE THOSE RED DOTS!!

2009-06-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

AT Queen's Birthday Weekend I spoke at a seminar ["Craft Plus"] on contemporary craft, at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery. My talk was entitled "From Barbie to Buddha, Paradise Regained - How Recycled Art Can Save the World".
Other speakers included Paul Kayser from www.cleverbarsards.com & Esther Lamb from www.toggle.com
The Gallery also held a recycled art exhibition - & all my works sold!!..see the red dots below.
...for the text of my talk see http://www.craftplus.blogspot.com

TV APPEARANCE

2009-05-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to see the feature on my recycled art on TV1 Breakfast earlier in May:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRcfeLfeNg

recycled clock

2009-05-09T17:53:00.001-07:00

Today my friend Horace Williams visited & bought this clock. The face is part of an old aluminum spool from a reel-to-reel tape recorder which I found in the trash last month.

See more of my clocks & recycled art at:
www.martinadlington.webs.com www.martinadlington.webs.com

JUNK CITY

2009-04-10T17:50:00.001-07:00

My front room at Glen Road is beginning to fill up with junk I have found. The walls on the south side are shown here. The Barbie Mobile is a work in progress...

FREE MONEY

2009-04-08T20:10:00.001-07:00

Last week I found a jar of coins in a dumpster. There are some 300 coins, the oldest a one cent piece from Ceylon dated 1925 & bearing the impression 'George V King and Emperor of India'. The other coins are from the Philippines, Fiji, Holland, British Borneo, Greece, Italy, Tonga, the Seychelles, France, Great Britain, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vanuatu, Canada, China, Panama, Hungary, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Cayman Is, Argentina, Cooks Is, & an unidentifiable Islamic country.

RECYCLE DAY

2009-04-06T22:05:00.000-07:00

On Mondays & Wednesdays the shops put out their paper for recycling. The local newsagent disposes of all their unsold newspapers & magazines from the past few days. Here my neighbour [Lily] is helping me sort out glossy magazines for collage & the Eco Games I make.

PEACE FOR ALL

2009-03-31T23:16:00.000-07:00

These toy soldiers came out of a skip on the North Shore, Auckland. I cut the “peace” charm from the lid of a Tupperware container - lets hope it works!!
See more trashion pieces on my recycled art website
www.martinadlington.webs.com www.martinadlington.webs.com

Robots

2009-03-31T00:51:00.000-07:00

I made two small robots at the weekend from hand-held fans The fan blades have LED lights in them & make the most amazing oscillating patterns - as shown! The first robot below has lego-style arms & legs, while the other has milk-bottle caps for feet. They both have a small LED torch strapped to one arm.
See mare recycled art at my website:
www.martinadlington.webs.comwww.martinadlington.webs.com

A HAPPENING!!

2009-03-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended a spontaneous happening in Ponsonby @ "The Soho Hole" - a large derelict building site in the heart of the city. Inner city Auckland residents lack a beach, so they improvised. The graffiti reads "I wish this was a swimming pool" - someone's wish came true!

18 KEYBOARDS

2009-03-12T18:42:00.001-07:00

My good friends from the local Salvation Army thrift shop just delivered 18 old computer keyboards to my door - they were otherwise destined for landfill!!
I make "leet" earrings from the keys, & necklaces from the cords & inner bits.
See my new website for more trashion & recycled art: www.martinadlington.webs.com

2009-03-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

On Sunday March 8 I attended an Eco Day at the Sustainable Living Centre in New Lynn, Auckland with my recycled artworks.
There were 50 other stalls all with an environmental theme. The event was a great success for all concerned & I look forward to attending again next year.
See my recycled art for sale at:
www.martinadliwww.martinadlington.webs.comngton.webs.com

WORKSHOP

2009-03-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

On Sat March 7 I held a workshop at the Lakehouse Arts Centre in Takapuna: “Using a Jeweller’s Piercing Saw”. Six people attended & after I had demonstrated the technique the class had great fun applying their new skills to cutting shapes from copper & aluminum sheet, LP’s, CD’s, plastic, coins, MDF, & paua shell.

ART @ BUANU SATU

2009-03-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

Helen & Yudi are kindly stocking my recycled artworks in their eclectic shop [Buanu Satu - "Number One" in Indonesian] in K Rd, Auckland, & they have made a display area for the pieces...as seen below. Thanks guys - its a great showpiece for me.
We see here a cross & a heart of "flowers" cut from egg cartons on real-estate sign, an eco-game, a clock - with more clocks below, 'fridge magnets on crosses cut from waste steel, 3 large robots made from tin cans, several small robots from sweet & mustard tins, a flying saucer from an old lampshade, a truck from an oil can, fish cut from jandals I found on the beach - mounted on more real-estate sign, & more clocks....see blog entries below for close-up pix of most of these works...& remember the 3R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - the most important being REDUCE!
See more recycled & upcycled work at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

SUSTAINABLE LIVING EVENING

2009-02-26T11:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I attended a fundraising evening at the Kaipatiki environment centre, the guest speaker was comedian Te Radar who talked about environmental stability & revealed some hilarious behind-the-scenes moments from his recent TV show “Off The Radar”. I was given the opportunity to display some of my recycled artworks.
This last week I have been making some new pieces in preparation for my exhibit the upcoming Eco Day on March 8th at the Sustainable Living Centre in Grey Lynn.
On the tables in these pix can be seen a new jewellery range made from bicycle & car-tyre inner tubes, computer keyboards, milk bottle caps, coloured plastic A$ binder covers, rubber bands, bracelets made from plastic knitting needles I bent in my solar oven, pieces af aluminum louvre blind, packaging labels, plastic soy sauce bottle fish, ice cream spoons, old slides from the ‘50’s& ‘70’s - all found on the beach or in the trash.
On the larger table is a robot, black’n’white screen prints of Asian calligraphy using thickened printer ink,, jandal fish, clocks from old records, bowls from more old records, prints of mine in wooden frames I found in a skip, a lamp made from an Agee jar, a cross from flowers cut from egg cartons on real-estate sign, ‘fridge magnets using bottlecaps, a skull print using thicked resene housepaint, collaged cards using waste card, an Eco Game, & some brilliant draw-string shopping bags made by my friend Laurie Santell from net curtains [to replace using plastic bags @ the shop].

FRONT ROOM GALLERY

2009-02-22T12:35:00.000-08:00

I have begun to turn my front room into a showplace for my recycled artworks so that visitors can see not only finished products, but works in progress as well as ideas formulating.
Currently my work is also on sale in "Buanu Satu" in K Rd in Auckland, & in "Island" in Oneroa on Waiheke Island, & of course on my website
www.martinadlington.webs.com

MINI ROBOTS

2009-01-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

From my collection of small tins I have made some smaller robots - these guys stand around 15cm/6in high. The fat round one is made from a good old Kiwi tomato sauce bottle!
ALL SOLD

See more of myrecycled & upcycled work at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

VARN THE ROBOT

2008-12-27T00:12:00.000-08:00

My name is “Varn”: my body parts came from the trash & a skip outside a garage in Wanganui. I have a fan on my head with LED’s - which makes the most amazing oscillating patterns when on.

SOLD
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

LOATA

2008-12-26T11:33:00.000-08:00

.

Another tin can robot....named Loata. Made from items found in the trash, on the streert, beach & charity shops.Her earrings detach & can be worn, & her antenna lights up.
SOLD
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

FLIP FLOP FISH

2008-12-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

I found this flip-flop at Raglan. It’s mounted on a piece of core-flute from a real estate sign.
There's a piece of fishing line I found at Tangimoana [= "Ocean of Tears"] on the back - so the work can be hung on the wall.
SOLD
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

MORE CLOCKS

2008-11-14T22:43:00.000-08:00

ALL SOLD

See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

A TUI OR TWO

2008-11-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

I made this clock from two cans of Tui beer & a lid from a preserving jar - the essenze of NZ!
SOLD
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

BARBIE BUDDHAS

2008-10-31T19:32:00.000-07:00

I found these two headless Buddha statues during the inorganic trash collection a few weeks ago. Decapitating the two Barbie dolls was a bizarre experience!!
........if only Barbie could find the Buddah within herself.......
See more of my altered Barbies and recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

GARDEN ART

2008-10-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

My tomato plant on Labour Day 2008 - almost 6 foot tall & still growing!!
Over 60 flowers with five tomatoes so far.
Planted in a plastic bucket I got from the trash.
See more of my food adventures at
www.pavlovasdog.weebly.com

LOTS OF KNOTS

2008-10-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

Last May I spent a couple of weeks at Coromandel town touring the annual arts trail. I stayed at a beach-side campground in my van, & spent several pleasant hours beachcombing. On one walk I filled my carry-bag with these knots of plastic rope. They wash ashore from the many mussel & oyster farms out in the bay.
Here I have arranged them on a picnic table in the quintessential polynesian form of a lei.
SOLD
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

ECO GAME #2

2008-10-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

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The lady who bought my “Flip Flop Fish” assemblage commissioned an Eco-Game from me. This one is entitled “I can’t hear you” or “Communication Breakdown” - fans of ‘Get Smart’ may well recognise the episode depicted here!
SOLD
See more of my culture jamming and adbusting art at
www.culture-jams.blogspot.com

FOUND OBJECT - SIGNAGE

2008-10-17T18:40:00.001-07:00

Another readymade - I found this fantastic piece of signage by the local creek (Taiaotea = “ocean of clouds”). It has the most beautiful aged surface - the white paint has crazed revealing blue & pink beneath.

FISH HOOK REVISITED

2008-10-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

I decided that my copper fish hook was a bit boring in plain black, so I sanded off the high points then applied some verdigris chemicals.
SOLD
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

WILLOW-PATTERN PENDANT

2008-10-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

I found this piece of a willow-pattern plate on the beach the other day, & have made it into a pendant with some solder & a jump-ring. What a fantastic find!
See more of my trashion pieces and recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

RANNOCH VISIT

2008-10-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in the company of several other artists I visited “Rannoch” - the home of the James Wallace Arts Trust & some of its collection in Mt Eden. The house & garden are crammed with all sorts of works by NZ artists.
Of particular interest to me was the “crashed” aeroplane - it reminded me of the derelict Sunderland I used to play in as a child at Hobsonville Aerodrome, & of the haunting sights I saw in the Solomons of WWII aircraft wreckage in the jungle.

SELF-PORTRAIT

2008-10-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

EXHALATIONS

2008-10-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

These fascinating objects have been collected on the beach here in Browns Bay.
I am reading an 18th Century book on archaeology & found this description of “thunderbolts” which I feel suits my finds very well:
“After close scientific examination I have concluded that they are formed by an admixture of a certain exhalation of thunder and lightning with metallic matter in dark clouds, which is coagulated by the circumfused moisture and coagulated in a mass (like flour with water) and subsequently indurated like a brick”.
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

RECYCLED ART BBQ

2008-10-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

This is one cool BBQ - am taking orders!!

ANOTHER RECYCLED ART CLASS

2008-10-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I facilitated another school holiday class at the Lakehouse (www.lakehousearts.org.nz).
This time the children built marble runs from recycled cardboard & plastic. They all concentrated hard for the whole day & hopefully learned some skills. My next class will be an adult workshop on making art from recycled, found, & reclaimed materials, entitled “Let’s Talk Rubbish” in mid-November.

MORE FLIP FLOP FISH

2008-10-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Every year there is a competition for artwork for the cover of the telephone book in each city in NZ. Here is my entry for Auckland.
Entitled “Flip Flop Fish Family” I have tried to sum up the “feel” of Auckland - family life, beach fun, recreational fishing, our casual lifestyle (many people go barefoot or simply wear jandals), the tapa design border references the large Polynesian population, & the Chinese text (“Give Thanks for the Abundance of Heaven”) refers to the growing Asian influence here.
The backing is a piece of a real-estate sign - as elsewhere there has been a greedy property scramble - which has thankfully collapsed for a while.

SOLD

See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

RECYCLED ART - LANDSCAPE

2008-10-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

I entered this work into a major art competition here in Auckland last week - the North Shore City Art Awards 2008 -so far I have been accepted to submit the piece for the second selection round.
The theme of the exhibition is “Earth, Wind & Sky”.
My work is entitled “Headland” & is 36inx20in. It’s a section of a blue drum I found, cut to shape & flattened out. The blue is sky, the scratches are suggestive of land forms, & the white stripe which I have painted represents a yacht mast.
SOLD
See more of my recycled and upcycled works at
www.martinadlington.webs.com

Recycled Art Class

2008-10-02T01:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I facilitated a school-holiday workshop for a group of children at the Lakehouse Community Arts Centre in Takapuna. We made several objects from recycled materials: a clock, a fridge-magnet, a key-ring, a brooch, & a robot.