PechaKucha night Whangarei

Wow- what a night!- PK on!!!! I knew it was going to be a winner- despite of the skeptics, the non-believers........the ones who thought it was going to dull. Not!!!! 180 peeps poured into the Old Library building- the tables and chairs all got used up pretty quickly so it was up to the mezzanine for standing room and a great view for the rest.

I started it all off with the overview of PK- the possibilities, the potential....and slipped in a few random Oscar Niemeyer pix in just for fun. I was totally nervous but now can’t wait to do another! It’s addictive!

Artist/Poet Vaughan Gunson then let us into his life with a commentary of his hilariously earnest art school years and the pursuit of painting one colour canvases in white, in yellow, in purple. Deep. Random. Very funny.

Carol Schiffleger then was a definite highlight as she shared her stunningly simple and sublime small artworks based mostly on her appreciation of everyday fruit and vegies. As Trinity Roots say, it’s the little things that really matter.......

The very lucky and onto it beach dweller, Mr Tony Coyle then showed us how important the ocean, his family, his boat, and fishing are to his life- again a reminder of our choices in life, how the simple things are the most precious and meaningful.

This was followed by local architect Felicity Christian showing us her designs for some local houses, her own house and the local kindergarten. She showed us how the buildings that we live in shape us, make us happier by using natural materials, seizing the sun and capturing the views.....Inspiring.

The final presenter for the first half was city Councillor Vince Cocurullo who wanted to share his vision for the Whangarei District which proved all much more entertaining than it sounds largely due to the fact that the crowd by this time was quite a feisty bunch and very happy to haggle especially about his substandard pronunciation of Whangarei- it’s not wong, it’s not gong, it’s far. I’m still not sure he learnt that one....

Needless to say the room at the Beer Break turned into a frenetic, loud, bustling excited mass. People couldn't wait for more.
And so..... there was more...

The very lovely Jules Reikel from Bloom florist inspired us next with her incredible flower arrangements that she made while living in New York. Having working at the Rainbow Room in the Rockefeller Centre, the Ritz Hotel, Macys Department Store, with Martha Steward and for Brittany to name a few, we all suddenly realized what a talent we had in our midst.

Architect and PHD candidate Ross T Smith is usually known as a photographer but here he shared with us the amazing work of the 2nd Year architecture students and their work at Rural Studio, a very progressive creative building and design project in Alabama.

Art teacher and event organiser extrordinairre Hayley Clark came theatrically dressed in theme as she told us and showed us about one of her favourite places she’s visited, the suburb of Harajuku in Tokyo where dressing up is taken to another level.

Another highlight was to follow in the form of travel agent David Moss who, dressed as Indiana Jones, almost bought the house down with his stand up comic lessons in how not to travel. Nice work David- hilarious.

The very nervous artist Juliana Hoogaveen almost forgot her nerves once she got into taking us on a journey of her latest paintings, complete with lace doilies as well as showing some of her beautiful older works.

The final presentation was perhaps the most flamboyant with poet and actor Peter Larsen’s performance that took us through the life and death of a certain Mr Frank Fortune, a life that was deciphered by a discarded suitcase of torn photos. Absolutely brilliant and a perfect way to finish our first Pecha Kucha Night!!!
Need I say there was much raving on, drinking, celebrating at the end and we all can’t wait for the next one.!!