Environmental Art Project

Hello from Abroad

2009-04-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Well apparently things are still going well down at Motions Creek. I have occasional invites from David to help with the clean up of the creek. Unfortunately this is not possible from the UK. But it is certainly good to see. I will get back to this creek in years to come to investigate the impact these clean ups have had on this environment.

Second Clean Up

2008-05-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

Just come back from the second clean up of Motions Creek area. Some old faces and many new, two in particular are from the Waitemata clean up trust. These two guys cover I think 600kms of coastline and have come on board to make a difference. Well Done. Another truck load but unfortunately it had got stuck due to wet weather and the ground being moist.

Its interesting to this point that my intentions was to include this as an art project and I am seeing that it is a very small part of the big picture. It is much larger than that and by going into this this with that intention I have made a difference. We can now walk along the path of Lemington Reserve and see little rubbish. This is good to see.

2008-03-19T23:27:00.001-07:00

A few more images of the day photographed by
Melissa Marler.

Progress At Last

2008-03-18T03:25:00.000-07:00

This above pic is me

Heres some images taken by David Gall of the first clean up at Motions Creek. 15 locals including myself and 2 members from the Auckland City Council spent a few hours one Sunday morning focusing on a particular area in the mangroves . One very loaded truck of a assorted variety of rubbish was removed from the area bordering Meola Road and Lemington Reserve. We need to head in there again very soon to finish up. This is the first stage of the clean up. A big thanks goes out to those who made it happen.

100 meters from the back of my place towards harbour on November 11, 2007

2007-11-11T00:28:00.000-08:00

These images are taken along 100 meter walk
close to the Sunny Brae Crescent river bank
towards to mouth of Motions Creek. What is
reveled here is very old rubbish possibly
disposed from residents over 30 years ago.
From old cars and tyres, old washing machine
to building wastes some of which could be
asbestos.

On the way back home I bumped into a resident
of Sunny Brae Crescent, he told me that 30 years
ago that the creek was crystal clear and was clear
of mangroves. I am seeing a picture here that the
mangroves have caused the huge build up of
silt/mud, some of which is up to my knee deep.
I also speculate that the mangroves will in time
choke Motions Creek unless something very
radical is instigated to deal with the ever
expanding mangrove.
What I also speculate is that the mangrove is
working as a trap for all the rubbish
that goes into Motions Creek. These mangroves
need to be opened up and the mud dredged
to allow a better flow of Motions Creek.

Views of Motions Creek from Meola Bridge, November 11, 2007

2007-11-11T00:08:00.000-08:00

These are images taken from Meola Road Bridge on
November 11, 2007 at dead low tide.
Apparently around November 1st two Auckland City Council
inspectors spent 5 hours and claimed that they
walked 80% of Motions Creek
and found little rubbish.

Views of Motions Creek from Meola Reef Reserve, November 11th 2007.

2007-11-10T23:56:00.000-08:00

On the sunny afternoon of the 11th November at dead low tide
I walked along the banks of Meola Reef Reserve to search for signs of
rubbish. Although very hard to see Motions Creek it wasn't long until
I upon a clearing that view the mud flats of the creek.
These images are taken from one spot, which at high tide
I have seen many peoples swimming there dogs.

2007-11-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Filthy creek gets kayaker cleaning

Link to the article about my concerns

published in the

Auckland City Harbour News, 2/11/2002

Motions Creek Exploration September 26 2007

2007-09-26T02:27:00.000-07:00

During a walk along Motions Creek to the back of the Zoo at low tide
reveled much rubbish. It seems that the task will obversely need
many to clean up this mess.
Could I recover some of the objects that I have found in a sculptural
installation? Hmm!!

Motions Creek Exploration September 22 2007

2007-09-22T05:10:00.001-07:00

A collections of images taken while on kayaking up Motions Creek.
Along this journey I seen 1 eel and few ducks and shags.
I'm sure if this environment was pristine I would encounter
much more wild life. A closer look at this environment could
require the help of council, locals and users to clean up the mess.

Motions Creek Exploration Video

2007-09-22T03:36:00.000-07:00

This video is a kayak journey up Motions Creek in Westmere,
Auckland during high tide on September 22 2007.
What I have discovered along this journey is that generally
on the surface all seems fine but hidden in undergrowth,
under the water and along the banks is a huge range of rubbish.
My thoughts along the way reflected on this planets concerns
with "Global Warming" and how it has dominated the global

consciousness through the media.
I am hoping that "Global Warming" does not detract from
our upkeep of the land and waterways.
During this exploration I came across some locals launching
kayaks from their back section jetty near the mouth of
the creek. They mentioned that 50 years ago this water
was crystal clear and that when the storm water overflows
it also takes sewage with it into the creek.
Hmm?? Makes you think why the council hasn't remedied this
issue.

Environmental Observations of Westmere, Auckland, NZ. 12/9/07 at 5.30pm

2007-09-12T03:05:00.000-07:00

Ariel view of Pt Chev and Westmere, Auckland
Thanks to Google Earth.

This is the first of many observations of urban/suburban environments bordering rural/natural environments. This area is at the Mouth of Motions Creek, Westmere, Auckland.

My aim of these observations is to get inspired to create a body of art work whether it be sculpture, video, painting or the pure form shown here as digital still images.
My aim also is to learn how we interact with these types of environments and what are the effects or friction caused within the line between these environments.