Thanks Mike, me too. I didn't realise apart from the passionate learning in his classes. I didn't realise how seminal it would be for me then. It was obviously a transitional time for him too as soon after I left he took up a teachers college position in Palmy....and the rest is history.
One day on a Vagabond journey I hope to call into the foundry, met his son and Fran.
And try to resist the temptation to smelt bronze lofi Nordi styles in the back paddock.
Will stick to welding...........sculpting suits my head space.
Thanks for sharing this personal part of your life. Some of it I didn’t even know and some I did. I feel grateful that you have shared this as it has filled some spaces for me and in your tribute to Paul Dibble you have told a journey that now I see how it has influenced your creativity.
That short video of Paul Dibble is amazing and so creative in the road he took here and the beauty of nature that he expressed. Great that you can reconnect with this time in your life and can attribute a passion of your own to this one year journey you took so long ago, the catalyst being a different reason but with a monumental outcome.
Good good words John, and glad you had some gaps filled in. I can remember the green Austin Cambridge parked outside 158 Hinemoa St. Dad helped me buy that car, and it was the last time I can remember using the 8" cresent Dad gave me, saying....this was my fathers. Man I wish I knew where that was now. Thanks for reading. And the comment. You need to start writing on your SubStack. It's easy, and you have a way with words too my brother.
And may I say Verity, it means a lot to me that you read and leave a comment. That is in no way an expectation, I just appreciate it. As you will have read I have become aware of so much silence in the world. I get that it's a busy world, even when I wasn't busy doing nothing....but working for the system, I always was naughty with the odd 10 mins and wasted it reading something or doing something that I let pull me out of the tractor beam I placed myself in.............so when people say thay haven't got time (and I am not thinking of anyone saying this...it's a general life admin thang people say living in the west with all the appliances that make their lives easier and give them more time)............when people say they haven't got time, like 6 mins to read something from someones heart or head..............what they could saying is ....................they are so wrapped up in their own life admin they can't extract themselves from the tractor beam (and that is fine........we all have choices that sometimes those outside can see the truth of differently to those within them...............and that's not in anyway negating how they see it).
The other thing that might/could be being said (inadverdantly) when when people haven't got time to read is........and this is again about people's choices and their absolute right to choose...........the message in not reading could be that the words or writer don't matter enough to them. And again that's totally okay, but it could be a truth maybe. People are free as. I write with no expectations, but it is nice when people read your words and heart and comment on words that you sweated over. There is very much a sense that I matter to them and they are interested in who I am and becoming and join the conversation. So when I say thanks V, that's what it means. :-)
thanks V, yeah, it was pretty special the more I think about that year. All years have special bits, I guess the finality of death hones certain years above others. Sorry to hear you have Covid. I am the idiot wearing a mask mostly on a rare out and about mission in town or beyond. Totally used to weird looks and smirks. It's out there and will do my bestus to avoid getting it. Tho friends will tell me masks do nothing......dumb or not, Iwrong or not, I will follow my gut intuition. Get well V. Nearly time to start swimming.......:-)
What a beautiful tribute! Alchemy indeed... I think sometimes the language we use to describe the things that happen to us in life - the sometimes uncanny choices we make for back-to-front reasons that somehow still affirm the path we're meant to be on, like this incredible opportunity to study and be inspired (and forever changed) by Paul Dibble, a man I had never heard of til now. God's work? Tupuna magic? The same!? What a gift this video is too, fascinating...!!! would never have appreciated before. I have such strong associations with tui and kowhai, too, that it felt personally relevant. My brother was not an artist, he was an inventor and an engineer, but i could imagine his curiosity being sparked by copper... the possibilities! The beauty! The imagination. Makes me realise that my brother was an artist by another name...thank yoU!!
Thanks for reading Nadine. I am blessed that these kupu were relevant to you and found you. Your brother sounds like a legend as well. So many are artists by other names. Paul Dibble was taken by Huia as well. We live surrounded by Tui.........amidst so many birds. Funny how I come from a metal working whanau and I took the arts road and am now returning to the metal and blending of all roads travelled. Appreciated as always e hoa ma!
Spectacular. I feel like I lived it all. And wow, to have such a mentor. To know, to love everything about those ethos, and to feel the exact moment of loss.
This has been a hard year. You brought me to tears. But such people cannot go further. There is no more here for them. The world is changing. They are not part of what comes next.
In fact, sometimes I don’t know how we are, either. I lost my Martin Davidson this last month. 80 as well. The King of the Mail Heap. No one affected our mail boxes more… like social media with stamps. There was no one expecting likes or follows. Just subscriptions and sign ups for contests. He was the man to put those Direct Mail pieces in our post boxes. History has swallowed him, and the Paul Dibbles of the world.
Warm thoughts and resonances LaMonica. Sorry to hear about that huge loss.
We will not be alone in that struggle with what’s rolling out, nor the thinking about them who have passed and how sleeping in the earth could be the best place to be…………..
and then we fight on for what we know and have lived as good……and the shoulders of all the resistance and artists and minds that we stand on.
This is a touching and heartfelt sharing of an artist I did not know. We keep those we treasure alive through continuing to tell their stories as and speak their names.
You do Paul proud by doing so again, and introducing him to a new audience.
Thank you Tracie……….it was lovely to meet someone who had worked with him both lecturing at Palmerston North Teachers Col. And someone who admired him too.
I would image that is the truth about where his sculptures are concentrated perhaps. I know that he had them all over the world and I should imagine they are spread over Aotearoa as well.
Thanks Cristina. I wish I had kept in contact and visited his foundry. Mr Horner shared the stack with his wife. Yeah he loved that word 'blooody' LOL. I was so shocked a teacher would use such language...................neat having that experience in my story. Yeah totally cathartic, I find so much about creativity and creating to be cathartic. We i encounter road rage and angry people, I think, male or female.......you need something to process your shite...write, sing, paint, dance....anything .....in fact there could be a ministry in gov. for creativity, but governments on this side of the fence don't get that kinda stuff.
Writing, photography and making stuff has saved me from bitterness and being ugly as. I am thankful like you mentioned, that I can even be creative. Tis a tad bourgeoisie, since I don't have to fight or worry about survival. That is not lost on me. So yeah, very cathartic. Nice talking Cristina. ANd I say that sincerely....for all the ease and powerful ways we can communicate.............apart from thumbs up, there is not a lot of engagement in the digital telecom world. That has been my experience at least.
A beautiful tribute - and how awesome to be able to go back to school and find art in all it's guises.
He sounds like one of those amazing teachers that are so memorable even as adults, there are teachers I still call Mr etc our of respect and admiration.
(and I don't mind draughtsman (I was the only girl in my classes learning to be a draughtsman and I worked bloody hard to earn that) maybe that iis me being old school and non pc .... )
no J, not old school, just how it is, being a mans world etc etc. 0r men thinking it is/was. Wow a draughtswoman! betta pick your brains sometime. I think tech drawing was my other best SC subject at 63. Mr Rogan was my teacher. Caned me too......i guess I wasn't covered with water coz a goldfish bag from the petshop burst LOL. That was Northcote College. Just bin down town and happy students popping up everywhere.........tis lovely when it's mostly positive! Thanks for reading and commenting. Appreciated.
What a great obituary! I’ve always enjoyed his work
Thanks Mike, me too. I didn't realise apart from the passionate learning in his classes. I didn't realise how seminal it would be for me then. It was obviously a transitional time for him too as soon after I left he took up a teachers college position in Palmy....and the rest is history.
One day on a Vagabond journey I hope to call into the foundry, met his son and Fran.
And try to resist the temptation to smelt bronze lofi Nordi styles in the back paddock.
Will stick to welding...........sculpting suits my head space.
Again.......appreciated Mike.
Thanks for sharing this personal part of your life. Some of it I didn’t even know and some I did. I feel grateful that you have shared this as it has filled some spaces for me and in your tribute to Paul Dibble you have told a journey that now I see how it has influenced your creativity.
That short video of Paul Dibble is amazing and so creative in the road he took here and the beauty of nature that he expressed. Great that you can reconnect with this time in your life and can attribute a passion of your own to this one year journey you took so long ago, the catalyst being a different reason but with a monumental outcome.
Good good words John, and glad you had some gaps filled in. I can remember the green Austin Cambridge parked outside 158 Hinemoa St. Dad helped me buy that car, and it was the last time I can remember using the 8" cresent Dad gave me, saying....this was my fathers. Man I wish I knew where that was now. Thanks for reading. And the comment. You need to start writing on your SubStack. It's easy, and you have a way with words too my brother.
Enjoyed hearing about your connection with Paul, reading it whilst in bed recovering with Covid
And may I say Verity, it means a lot to me that you read and leave a comment. That is in no way an expectation, I just appreciate it. As you will have read I have become aware of so much silence in the world. I get that it's a busy world, even when I wasn't busy doing nothing....but working for the system, I always was naughty with the odd 10 mins and wasted it reading something or doing something that I let pull me out of the tractor beam I placed myself in.............so when people say thay haven't got time (and I am not thinking of anyone saying this...it's a general life admin thang people say living in the west with all the appliances that make their lives easier and give them more time)............when people say they haven't got time, like 6 mins to read something from someones heart or head..............what they could saying is ....................they are so wrapped up in their own life admin they can't extract themselves from the tractor beam (and that is fine........we all have choices that sometimes those outside can see the truth of differently to those within them...............and that's not in anyway negating how they see it).
The other thing that might/could be being said (inadverdantly) when when people haven't got time to read is........and this is again about people's choices and their absolute right to choose...........the message in not reading could be that the words or writer don't matter enough to them. And again that's totally okay, but it could be a truth maybe. People are free as. I write with no expectations, but it is nice when people read your words and heart and comment on words that you sweated over. There is very much a sense that I matter to them and they are interested in who I am and becoming and join the conversation. So when I say thanks V, that's what it means. :-)
thanks V, yeah, it was pretty special the more I think about that year. All years have special bits, I guess the finality of death hones certain years above others. Sorry to hear you have Covid. I am the idiot wearing a mask mostly on a rare out and about mission in town or beyond. Totally used to weird looks and smirks. It's out there and will do my bestus to avoid getting it. Tho friends will tell me masks do nothing......dumb or not, Iwrong or not, I will follow my gut intuition. Get well V. Nearly time to start swimming.......:-)
What a beautiful tribute! Alchemy indeed... I think sometimes the language we use to describe the things that happen to us in life - the sometimes uncanny choices we make for back-to-front reasons that somehow still affirm the path we're meant to be on, like this incredible opportunity to study and be inspired (and forever changed) by Paul Dibble, a man I had never heard of til now. God's work? Tupuna magic? The same!? What a gift this video is too, fascinating...!!! would never have appreciated before. I have such strong associations with tui and kowhai, too, that it felt personally relevant. My brother was not an artist, he was an inventor and an engineer, but i could imagine his curiosity being sparked by copper... the possibilities! The beauty! The imagination. Makes me realise that my brother was an artist by another name...thank yoU!!
Thanks for reading Nadine. I am blessed that these kupu were relevant to you and found you. Your brother sounds like a legend as well. So many are artists by other names. Paul Dibble was taken by Huia as well. We live surrounded by Tui.........amidst so many birds. Funny how I come from a metal working whanau and I took the arts road and am now returning to the metal and blending of all roads travelled. Appreciated as always e hoa ma!
i mean bronze lol
Spectacular. I feel like I lived it all. And wow, to have such a mentor. To know, to love everything about those ethos, and to feel the exact moment of loss.
This has been a hard year. You brought me to tears. But such people cannot go further. There is no more here for them. The world is changing. They are not part of what comes next.
In fact, sometimes I don’t know how we are, either. I lost my Martin Davidson this last month. 80 as well. The King of the Mail Heap. No one affected our mail boxes more… like social media with stamps. There was no one expecting likes or follows. Just subscriptions and sign ups for contests. He was the man to put those Direct Mail pieces in our post boxes. History has swallowed him, and the Paul Dibbles of the world.
Peonies indeed.
Warm thoughts and resonances LaMonica. Sorry to hear about that huge loss.
We will not be alone in that struggle with what’s rolling out, nor the thinking about them who have passed and how sleeping in the earth could be the best place to be…………..
and then we fight on for what we know and have lived as good……and the shoulders of all the resistance and artists and minds that we stand on.
Appreciate you LaMonica. Art must speak……..
This is a touching and heartfelt sharing of an artist I did not know. We keep those we treasure alive through continuing to tell their stories as and speak their names.
You do Paul proud by doing so again, and introducing him to a new audience.
Ngā mihi
Thank you Tracie……….it was lovely to meet someone who had worked with him both lecturing at Palmerston North Teachers Col. And someone who admired him too.
Thanks for sharing - I had just read an article about him in a Palmy magazine. I guess there’s quite a few of his sculptures in the Manawatu.
I would image that is the truth about where his sculptures are concentrated perhaps. I know that he had them all over the world and I should imagine they are spread over Aotearoa as well.
Wow, Mr Dibble was a fascinating person, seems like one could just pick his brains for hours, he had so much knowledge.
I hope writing this amazing tribute to him has brought you some catharsis, Mate.
I reckon Mr Dibble would have been "bloody" chuffed reading this.
Thanks Cristina. I wish I had kept in contact and visited his foundry. Mr Horner shared the stack with his wife. Yeah he loved that word 'blooody' LOL. I was so shocked a teacher would use such language...................neat having that experience in my story. Yeah totally cathartic, I find so much about creativity and creating to be cathartic. We i encounter road rage and angry people, I think, male or female.......you need something to process your shite...write, sing, paint, dance....anything .....in fact there could be a ministry in gov. for creativity, but governments on this side of the fence don't get that kinda stuff.
Writing, photography and making stuff has saved me from bitterness and being ugly as. I am thankful like you mentioned, that I can even be creative. Tis a tad bourgeoisie, since I don't have to fight or worry about survival. That is not lost on me. So yeah, very cathartic. Nice talking Cristina. ANd I say that sincerely....for all the ease and powerful ways we can communicate.............apart from thumbs up, there is not a lot of engagement in the digital telecom world. That has been my experience at least.
A beautiful tribute - and how awesome to be able to go back to school and find art in all it's guises.
He sounds like one of those amazing teachers that are so memorable even as adults, there are teachers I still call Mr etc our of respect and admiration.
(and I don't mind draughtsman (I was the only girl in my classes learning to be a draughtsman and I worked bloody hard to earn that) maybe that iis me being old school and non pc .... )
no J, not old school, just how it is, being a mans world etc etc. 0r men thinking it is/was. Wow a draughtswoman! betta pick your brains sometime. I think tech drawing was my other best SC subject at 63. Mr Rogan was my teacher. Caned me too......i guess I wasn't covered with water coz a goldfish bag from the petshop burst LOL. That was Northcote College. Just bin down town and happy students popping up everywhere.........tis lovely when it's mostly positive! Thanks for reading and commenting. Appreciated.