Via ceramics, papier maché, textiles, poetry, pen and ink, Sam Duckor-Jones builds communities, casting a fluorescent pink lens across the fears and triumphs of an aspirationally shimmering live-alone gay in 21st century Aotearoa.
Here in Whakatū, visitors will be greeted by Sam’s friendly housemates at the Nelson Airport: the Parishioners have ventured from their home GLORIA in Māwhera Greymouth to form the most colourful festival welcoming committee we’ve ever seen. Meanwhile, a couple of his lads, Myths & Legends, will be chilling in the spotlight of the central city – go visit them at Lee Woodman Studio anytime during the festival.
Well!
Did he tell you he bumped into old mate Herzl!?
bloody Herzl! at the reunion! who he hadn’t seen in a hundred plus years!?
& get this! he says & he bulges his eyes
& he says Herzl says: remember that game? Us v Them??
& you made that great pass that I
caught & I kicked & got over the line & I won us the day by a point???
But the thing is, he says to me, leaning to whisper
(he leans in & whispers with urgent delight)
the thing is he says it was Herzl who threw it & me
who caught it, kicked it, got it over the line & me
who won us the game by a point but shit well classic dreamy Herzl…
& he shakes his head & he laughs & he says
I didn’t correct him of course but jesus
isn’t it interesting he says with a sigh
how they mythologise
– Sam Duckor-Jones
Image: Sam Duckor-Jones
Sam Duckor-Jones is an artist & writer from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, now based in Māwhera Greymouth. His preferred media are clay and poem. Sam has exhibited widely and is represented by Bowen Galleries. He has published two collections of poetry: People From The Pit Stand Up in 2018 and Party Legend in 2021. In 2020 Sam acquired a church on the West Coast which he has turned into a live-in art installation, and his home: Gloria.
LEE WOODMAN STUDIO + NELSON AIRPORT
Throughout Festival
FREE
All Ages