Sundown, end of summer, Days Bay, Looking back to Wellington, over the harbour

2009-2010

oil on canvas

1200 x 742  mm

$2,980

The title is Dad’s from his series of pieces, the Itinerant Ecologist, for Forest & Bird magazine. This is the path Dad took many of his “ideas for a walk”. A group of close friends and whanau walked it together the night we stayed with him in his home out at Days Bay for the last time.

We all loved those walks with Dad and I like this meaning for Itinerant: a person who alternates between working and wandering. It sums up Dad, nicely.

…Golden cities. Golden towns.

And long cars in long lines and great big signs

and they all say: Hallelujah. Yodellayheehoo.

Every man for himself. Ooo coo coo.

Golden cities. Golden towns. Thanks for the ride.

Big Science. Hallelujah.. Yodellayheehoo.

You know. I think we should put some mountains here.

Otherwise, what are all the characters going to fall off of?

And what about stairs? Yodellayheehoo. Ooo coo coo.

Here's a man who lives a life of danger.

Everywhere he goes he stays - a stranger.

Howdy stranger. Mind if I smoke? And he said:

Every man, every man for himself.

Every man, every man for himself.

All in favor say aye.

Big Science. Hallelujah.. Yodellayheehoo.

Big Science, Laurie Anderson, 1982 © Warner Bros.