Quarry Arts April 2020 News
Kia ora koutou katoa
As a nation, Aotearoa/New Zealand, we can count ourselves very fortunate in this global crisis. Our natural island isolation, wide-open spaces, abundance of social support and a sensible government that has led us into a timely lock-down to come through this with the best possible outcomes. We are all doing our best to keep our lives and responsibilities afloat while we isolate in our familiar "bubbles". For our arts community it is a time for reflection and perhaps an invitation for new directions.
Non-essential?
The arts are officially deemed as "non-essential" and so Quarry Arts Centre is closed, now occupied only by the curious wildlife of Pukenui forest. We know art is essential to personal and social well being, and now in many homes this is being expressed in a wealth of creative activity. Fortunately, a lack of options is always inspiring for artists. However, the lock-down is a major disturbance to our workshops schedule, exhibitions and planned events.
Events on pause
All our regular services and events are paused, with the hope to continue where they left-off later.
At this time, all our planned exhibitions must be cancelled for the year. When we get a better sense of the evolving situation, we can look at creating a new exhibition programme going forward, and include our existing exhibitors in novel ways.
Studio Artists Exhibition
The Studio Artists group exhibition that would have started now will be held as the first showing when the curtain lifts. It is with great pride that we can present selected works from our richly talented community of resident artists. We can't wait to announce the opening and look forward to seeing some of you there.
Great Plate
The Great Plate is going ahead for another great year. As we speak, countless plates are being thrown at home and we greatly appreciate the efforts those potters who have generously given their time and energy to help .When we can, contributing artists can collect a plate to make what they will for the Great Plate auction and showcase.
Clay and glaze supplies
To our ceramics art community; we encourage you to place your clay and glaze orders with us now.
Most artists will be running out of their favourite supplies while thinking about what to make next. Place your orders now and we will put them aside for you. Or we'll let you know we've ordered more and when to expect the next shipment.
Maybe this way we can "flatten the curve" of panic-ceramics-buying and gracefully sail into practice with a renewed enthusiasm.
Kiln service
Our kiln-service is also on pause and will resume when we re-open. To avoid overloading the waiting-shelves in the kiln room, we ask that if you have work to fire, please let us know before you bring it in and we will get back to you swiftly about when is a good time. Once the kilns are firing again, Israel and the team will be making haste to work through everyone's pieces.
Back Soon
Keep caring for each other while we isolate and keep the creativity and humour flowing. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon, re-emerging in good spirits.
Haere ra,
The Quarry Team
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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31.9% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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68.1% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Something we all seem to have forgotten
An Obituary to Common Sense printed in the London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated valuable lessons like:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge)
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death;
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason
He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights,
- I Want It Now,
- Someone Else Is To Blame,
- I'm A Victim,
- Pay me for Doing Nothing
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing…
This is a modified version of a text that is originally attributed to Lori Borgman. However, it is more true today than it was when first written. It is not the version I remember, but it still gets the point across. Enjoy and remember.
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