The Colour Book
A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston
One morning, @gemmacf asked for recommendations for books for young readers (she is starting a shelf for her new baby). This made me think about the research I've seen about the development of sight, and how babies are attracted to strong contrast (starting with just light and dark, gradually moving into colour). It struck me that a book that mixed short rhythmic poems and strong abstract illustrations could be a lovely experience for both the adult reader (reading poetry aloud is satisfying, and I imagine takes longer to date than simple stories) and maybe the baby (who knows? they can't really give reviews). Then I thought, if you're gonna do it, you might as well tie it all together and use colour poems. You could use lots of snippets (Rebecca Lindemann has an exquisite poem about shades of red; James Schuyler gives amazing colour) or you could just go whole hog with the likes of Christina Rossetti's 'Colour' What is pink? a rose is pink By a fountain's brink. What is red? a poppy's red In its barley bed. What is blue? the sky is blue Where the clouds float thro'. What is white? a swan is white Sailing in the light. What is yellow? pears are yellow, Rich and ripe and mellow. What is green? the grass is green, With small flowers between. What is violet? clouds are violet In the summer twilight. What is orange? Why, an orange, Just an orange! It occurred to me on reflection that this set would be better suited to contemporary poetry, and Rossetti might be nicely matched with (of all things) seed catalogues http://digitalnz.org/user_sets/503a95fb12575773920031a0. But it's a fun idea to play with.
Things Get Worse
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Cerulean Blue - To Len Lye
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Untitled (painting painted by an artist #1)
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Growth
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Dyad no. 6
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
French Bay
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Construction - Tondo 4/83
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Horizontal Relief
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Horizontal Relief
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Big relief
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Dervish
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Golden cloud
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Skydive
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Indian summer
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
French Bay, Titirangi
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Blue Lagoon
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Clam
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
1989 Painting (philishave)
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Untitled
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Dyad No.12
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
With the kind of sensibility
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
"Even though it appears abstract" (Primary)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Buildings
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Consequence Painting
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Fractus: Study A
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Orange Repeat 1
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Orange Repeat 2
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Azure blue line 5
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Azure blue line 4
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Azure blue line 3
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Sub
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Virgin
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Orange Monochrome
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Untitled II
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Polychrome Painting
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Orange monochrome with four colours
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Untitled - Colour Group E (Random)
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Orange monochrome with two colours
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki