With the use of a quirky narrative-figurative genre Mike has sought to explore aspects of New Zealand's "social landscape." This storytelling genre has proven very popular and highly interactive. The "Kilmore and Beyond" series has been well received in a number of regional showings and is still available for exhibition.
Public showings of the works have resulted in some key images emerging as "favourites" with people. I would be interested in hearing from anyone interested in the possibility of me developing a set of prints derived from key images in each collection.
Collections are still available for loan to interested galleries. Please contact me if interested.
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The Premiere Showing of this ANZAC themed narrative work, comprising 27 paintings based upon Mike’s father Mick Harold’s 1943 wartime diary, was in Dannevirke in April 2012. At this stage Mike is interested in expressions of interest from Galleries who could consider showing the exhibition work as a series – especially that 2013 will be the 70th anniversary of the diary having been written.
Dive bombed from 10ft
Marched
past
Stopped 1 hour in
M
edenine
We had Mass
in our lines
Very tired and shakey
Not much
sleep
Went to the beach for a swim
Very Rough Going
Played baseball in the afternoon
Putting up our net and digging our gun pits
STRAFFED BY
THE RAF
Roman ruins
Mosquitoes just about drive me silly
Just like jerry sent over a few mortars
Plenty of water about
Caught in an
air raid
A very
big day
Dust storm and lots
of prisoners taken
A rousing welcome
The fields are covered with ryegrass
Two bottles of beer
per man
Raining just loafed around
Digging some
soldiers out
Passing through
the hills
Peas and Onions
for Tea
I let it go....what a man
Wrote
letters
The Last Foxtrot series is available for sale as a complete set. I would be pleased to negotiate with any genuinely interested buyer as of December 2012.
A narrative series developed from stories from my family’s early years in New Zealand, and the experiences shared by so many other kiwis of similar heritage. The collection was shown around several regional galleries between 2003 and 2007.
