Pasifika Festival 2007

[vilakins]

Here at last is my Pasifika picspam.

The Pasifika Festival is held every year in the park at Western Springs, and celebrates the cultures of the different Pacific islands. It's apparently the biggest free community event in the world, and there were about 200,000 people there on Saturday. Some pictures from last year's one are here.

We caught a bus from Newmarket, outside the 277 mall, which I mention only because of the clothes I saw in the boutique by the bus stop.


Clothes that look just like the old Vogue patterns my mother had; eep! I can see Audrey Hepburn in the white tunic thing, but who would wear that tartan thing?


One of the many 'villages' in the park, Tuvalu.


One of the dance groups resting behind their tent.

We were surprised to find a large inflated plane, even bigger than the blow-up tin of corned beef which was there last year and back again this year (corned beef is very popular in the islands).


Greg joked that there was just a tail section as in Lost....


... but it did have a front: a flat face with an unnervingly unexpected expression. The plane was hollow and kids could climb up and slide down the tail section. Weirdness.


A huge pan of paella at the Tahiti village.


Tahitian dancer

There was an artist selling paintings and prints of big, beautiful island women which were a joy to see, and I bought two to hang in our bedroom. She's Valerie Beale and her website is here.


Valerie Beale with one of her smaller prints.


Sleeping woman, gorgeous and Gauginesqe


Sleeping woman; isn't she wonderful? The marks on her thighs aren't stockings, but tattoos; I had a Tongan friend at uni who had those, but much more extensive.

Comments

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Nice pictures.

I quite like the tartan thing. :)

In content, if not perhaps in style, Valerie Beale's paintings remind me of Beryl Cook's.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You do? It looks like something a toddler might wear with those huge pockets, and ugh, bows!

Oh, I know Beryl Cook's paintings! Large rounded ladies doing things like playing cards, and with a sly humour. I like them. :-)

[toft-froggy.livejournal.com]

Love that last one. They're very comfortable and comforting, aren't they?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They're magnificent and happy to be themselves. :-) I thought they'd be both cheering and peaceful in the bedroom.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I thought they might be tattoos. They are great paintings

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I was really pleased to find them, and that Greg loved them both too.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

What jolly-looking people - the real ones and the paintings both.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They are!

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

who would wear that tartan thing?

I totally would, if I had the body for sheath dresses. That's pretty hot... a cross between cargo pants, a hoodie, and a 1960s sheath dress. (The bow, by the way, is on the shirt under it, not on the dress.) :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I realise that, but it's the whole outfit I didn't like: material, length (or lack of), and the size of the pockets. I'm not sure whether the collar is part of a hood, but could be. I don't mind sheaths as such; the white thing is rather elegant in a very 60s? 70s? way.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

but who would wear that tartan thing?

Me 35 years ago in college, but with out the bow and about 4ins shorter. I would not be caught dead in it now.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Some fashions they shouldn't bring back from the dead.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Ooh, lovely!:)

Extra yay for big bums on walls. I approve:). Those tattoos look fascinating...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I thought you'd like that one. I fell for it straight away but wasn't sure whether Greg would like it, but he did, and as much as me. :-)

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

face with an unnervingly unexpected expression

It reminds me of Jimbo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimbo_and_the_Jet_Set) but in a different colour.

From your pictures it looks like a fun day out.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought with the plane Jimbo and the Jet set!

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

Those paintings are beautiful. And the photos reminded me how bright New Zealand can be. I'd completely forgotten. Looks like it was a wonderful day.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It was scorchio. And now I'm going on holiday on Friday, it's gone all cool and stormy. Come baaaack, summer. :-P

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

So that's where all the clouds have come from...I don't mind so much, as it's officially autumn here now. Have a word with 'em to encourage them our way so that you can have summer back for your holiday :-)

And lovely pictures, too. The ones you took as well as the ones you bought.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)