A Suburban Journey
Spotted this cool sign on a neighbourhood fence during a Whitby walk. Made me smile. I love that the invitation to passers-by has an openness to interpretation. Be kind to bees, be kind in general, and maybe beekind, as in bees being considered collectively, as in humankind!
Continue reading “Bee-kin”
The suburb of Whitby, where this journey largely takes place, strides across the lumpy hills overlooking Pauatahanui Inlet. This large estuarine wetland is home to many waterbirds, threatened fish species and plants. Whitby has grown like topsy since it was first established in the 1960s. It raced eastwards with the ever-increasing demand for housing, and now presses up against the freshly opened Transmission Gully motorway.
Some years ago, Pataka Art + Museum held a thought-provoking exhibition about the creation of Porirua titled We Built This City. Early development plans for Whitby were similar to North American new towns, which aimed to relocate populations away from cities and group homes, industry, culture, recreation and shopping into planned communities. I seem to recall that the original aim of creating houses with open and fenceless front yards was to develop community spirit and relationships. These days most of the newer house builds have double garages, that open with remotes, and drivers seamlessly glide into the recesses of homes. It’s fair to say that Whitby, like many suburbs, orientates itself around car culture.
Continue reading “Spirit of the Valley”Welcome to this experimental journey where I’m attempting to pay closer attention to everyday encounters with pollinator insects like bees, butterflies, and moths in the places we live. Insects are declining drastically across the planet, yet they are vital to all life. I’m curious about who survives in my neighbourhood, how we relate with them, or they with us. So, I’ve committed to a walking routine along various street verges, tracks, unused plots, and small parks in the Porirua suburb of Whitby, plus my own tiny backyard, to journal, photograph and video day-to-day moments with these more=than-human beings. I’m also seeking to connect with my neighbours, locals, and others to gather and share stories of encounters with the insects.
Why am I doing this?
I’m a journalist, communicator and artist and this blog is part of a research project with Victoria University of Wellington. Like so many others during our COVID lockdowns, I noticed that when the human buzz subsided, we had space to notice little things in backyards and on local walks. We heard uncommon trills, chimes, and warbles across valleys and city streets. Bees hummed around wildflowers popping up in less manicured and neglected verges. When humans retreated, it seemed there was an opening for other beings to re-flourish. I’m hoping to creatively explore these relationships further, particularly with insects who often go unnoticed.
Continue reading “Welcome to Edge of Things”
Edge of Things 