Let's see - so I owe you all an update for pretty much most of August and most of September - let's see what I can cover before my laptop battery dies...
So after I finished up in Palmerston North (see newspaper article above) I helped out with the deinstallation of the Venice Biennale Exhibit - which involved the cleaning and packing of a number of sculptures by Francis Upritchard and really, REALLY massive vinyl 'paintings' by Judy Millar. I've attached the links to two YouTube videos courtesy of Te Papa from when the exhibit's were installed so you can see what they were about/what they looked like.
Save Yourself: Francis Upritchard
http://www.youtube.com/user/tepapamuseum#p/search/0/QtmPPdsYJ2I
Giraffe-Bottle-Gun: Judy Millar
http://www.youtube.com/user/tepapamuseum#p/search/0/7k58kXvbAGQ
In addition to the deinstallation, I basically spent the remainder of my time in New Zealand working on a 14.5m long Maori Waka, Te Heke Rangatira (which dates to the 1870s). This is essentially a very large war canoe made of painted wood, which is intricately carved and adorned with paua shells for eyes and albatross feather bundles. The paua shells needed to be cleaned and consolidated, while the feathers had to be cleaned and repaired, as many of the quills had been broken when the waka was originally transported to Te Papa.
This was a MASSIVE job! I spent 15 days, 7-9 hours a day down in the waka store room essentially working on nothing but this project, and I still did not finish!!
Also, we discovered that the waka had been painted at some point in the past with lead based paint. As we were cleaning using brushes and vacuums, which would put small particles of paint into the air, this required the wearing of tyvek suits and masks. And we were HAWT!!
I discovered that if you're wearing a white tyvek suit in a Conservation lab, you can practically disappear!
So they took it away and gave me a yellow one - so as better to keep an eye on me!Sadly, though I was able to clean all the wooden components (with the help of Shane Pasene, Conservation Technician Extraordinaire!!) and all the shells, I was only able to clean and repair the feathers from the proper right side of the waka. In fairness to me, there were over 150 bundles and only one of me!!! So there! :p
In addition to the conservation stuff, before leaving NZ - I managed to convince some more fellow conservators back up the mountain to go snowboard. So, with Mel, Katherine, Lizzie and James in tow - we trecked back up Mt. Ruapehu. Sadly, however, though the sun was shining - we weren't able to actually snowboard b/c of the wind!!! So instead, defeated, we returned to our place and began mourning (read: drinking). It was a pretty good weekend after all!!
Also, had an amazing birthday party, which I will write about in a separate blog entry b/c it was so fabulous!
Also, had an amazing series of going-parties, which I will also write about separately.
Now, back in Hell-A, trying to get everything in order for the new school year - including dealing with banks, payroll, and apt hunting!
In addition to the conservation stuff, before leaving NZ - I managed to convince some more fellow conservators back up the mountain to go snowboard. So, with Mel, Katherine, Lizzie and James in tow - we trecked back up Mt. Ruapehu. Sadly, however, though the sun was shining - we weren't able to actually snowboard b/c of the wind!!! So instead, defeated, we returned to our place and began mourning (read: drinking). It was a pretty good weekend after all!!
Also, had an amazing birthday party, which I will write about in a separate blog entry b/c it was so fabulous!
Also, had an amazing series of going-parties, which I will also write about separately.
Now, back in Hell-A, trying to get everything in order for the new school year - including dealing with banks, payroll, and apt hunting!
