Tramping the Abel Tasman, then painting
Trip Start
Feb 28, 2006
1
3
27
Trip End
Dec 06, 2006
Nelson,
New Zealand
Monday, March 6, 2006
Anyway, it's actually march 26th but I'm going back in time to tell you what I've been up to for the last three and a half weeks, so I figured I'd back date the entry to when I last did something touristy in New Zealand.
Thank god I decided to keep a travel log for this trip, or all I could tell you is that I went for a tramp in abel tasman national park for two days.
I went for a tramp in abel tasman national park for 21 hours, 30 minutes. It was sunny.
Seriously, It was a beautiful day of kayaking that started early and ended well(slept on a boat in anchorage bay), except for the middle part wich involved splitting up and sharing boats with a non english speaking chinese couple that couldn't paddle a four year old to trears let alone contribute an ounce of effort to moving a kayack
abel tasman route
. At least they were small and didn't say much (to be honest, I kind of like paddling for two, it feels like more of a workout). The following beautiful day started late (11:00am) and ended somewhere else(Nelson), but had quite a bit of hiking in the middle interupted by a nap on the beach which was interuppted by a dozen beaching kayacks no more than four feet from my unconcious body which happened to be laying on a nearly deserted gloden beach that was over 1000 ft.long, what the fuck (seriously, what the fuck). Seemingly bitter anecdotes aside, Abel tasman is a nice park to visit. Don't expect a lot of privacy or isolation, or much in the way of majestic landscapes/mountains, but feel free to expect miles of luscious golden beaches, friendly seals, and pleasant hiking in reletively flat terrain.After the trip I returned to Nelson to take up an offer to paint a mural in exchange for lodging that was posed to me before my departure. I've been at the family owned hostel ever since, painting away my trip in exchange for bedding and the chance to create something unique. I have to say, I've never done anything like it. The scope, scale, and complexity are one thing, but the environment is what really sets it apart. Many nights and early mornings I would work while anywhere from two to twelve people would sit around, cramped together on the small porch surrounding the painting drinking, talking, laughing, drinking, listening to music, smoking, ranting, fighting, drinking, and sometimes crying. I could dissapear in the wall, my work as my camoflauge, interjecting occasionally, but always listening. I was on display as much as my work, progress being measured each day by the guests and residents passing through. I would estimate that over sixty people have commented on my work, and with some I have sought outside perspective and advice, others offer it anyway
brainstorm sketch
. Even as I near completion, I struggle to seperate the space from the work, and I am at a loss to explain the source of the piece, as I undoubtedly was influenced in a subconcious way by everything and anything my mind has aquired in the last three and a half weeks.It has been incredibly easy at times, and occasionaly, a downright bear. The worst day was always the day I did not paint. I feel like a ghost, a body whose soul is trapped in layers of paint waiting to be placed on an imperfect wall in an imperfect place for a family who had no idea what they were getting into. There is no tommorrow until I am finished. I am a slave to my inspiration.
All that said, it is just a painting, albeit a passionate one. Better paintings have been made, but not by me. I think it may be as close as anyone will ever get to seeing me from the inside out, but then again, why not just light up bliff and trip out on the pretty colors.
Final pics will be up when they're up. For know, sketches and progress photos.
