CLARE CALDWELL
THE ART OF LIVING
So often, with all this Rugby World Cup fever currently around us and for weeks building up to it, I’ve heard the phrase, ‘rugby is who we are’ from the mouths of daily news readers, leaping out as newspaper headlines and as a generally unchallenged statement that purports to define who we are as New Zealanders. I, for one challenge this one-dimensional assumption! While I acknowledge sport’s a huge part of our way of life here and have admittedly really enjoyed all the fervent flag-waving and patriotism lately, sport’s not what defines me as a kiwi. So what does? My love of opera is one thing that does. On Friday 7 October Placido Domingo, one of the world’s greatest opera super-stars of all time came to Christchurch to give a one -off charity concert as an altruistic gesture of empathy and support. It was an instant sell-out raising over $300,000 for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the earthquake devastated Court Theatre. The radiant faces of people who’d experienced the concert spoke volumes. I’m unashamedly jealous!
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The date of 3 September this year saw the opening of the new, revamped Auckland City Art Gallery. I joined thousands of other kiwis from all walks of life, cultures and age groups to celebrate, explore and experience the promise of something wonderful. We were not disappointed. The transformation and extension of the old Gallery into a world-class, people-friendly, utterly inspiring piece of architecture where the old is seamlessly and tastefully blended with the new is a triumph of vision and tenacity. Taking ten years to complete and costing $120 million, it wasn’t without its ‘moments’, says Gallery director and driving force behind this upgrade, Chris Saines. Thankfully he persevered! I’m sure I speak for many when I say I’d rather my rates helped fund this endeavour than yet another sporting event or stadium. Looking round at all those excited faces as they explored the priceless collections of art the new Gallery now houses, I saw awe, inspiration and sheer joy. Completion of such a wonderful and exciting venue for Auckland city, for New Zealand, indeed for the world, as a celebration of the fine arts, in all their subtlety, intelligence, diversity and beauty, connects deeply to what is meaningful to me and to thousands of other kiwis. It’s time to revamp this clichéd national and international image that equates New Zealanders only with sheep, dairy, nice landscapes and sport. It’s time to encompass a new, more sophisticated and expansive definition of ‘who we are’.
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Hey, one day we might even get an arts segment as part of the morning news...I can but dream! CLARE (CLAUDIE) CALDWELL is a Creative Arts Therapist who runs a small private practice from home. She is Voluntary Team Leader of Creative Therapies at Mercy Hospice Auckland, College Hill where she has worked for the last ten years. She is also a Freelance Artist. PN Enquiries: T: 09 836 3618; M: 021 293 3171 clare.e.caldwell@gmail.com
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