The Mint Chicks - New Zealand Band

In the mood for a brief reprise from the vintage travel poster series. It's a Monday morning and I need a gentle stirring of the brain to get going. (Remember shaking causes brain damage and is a definite no, no!). As James Bond said, a brain should be stirred, not shaken. Okay, I took liberties with that quote.

Poster fans we'll be back to fantasyland shortly. hang on.

Self-described as "troublegum pop" or more conventionally experimental noise rock or power pop, The Mint Chicks are a New Zealand band that formed in Auckland in 2001 but are currently based in Portland, Oregon so they are godwits, like yours truly, kuaka. The group consists of Ruban Nielson, Kody Nielson, Paul Roper and Michael Logie.

The Mint Chicks are currently touring New Zealand, most recently performing at a summer series in Albert Park, Auckland on Sunday. For those of us living in exile we'll have to make do with iTunes, YouTube, and The Mint Chicks web site:

More information about them on their web site here and Wiki entry here.

Watching some of the MCs' music video one wonders if their video was inspired in anyway by Len Lye's work, take a look at Hot on Your Heels and Life Will Get Better Some Day. Or perhaps it's just in the Kiwi drinking water. Maybe one of the Nielsons will stop by to confirm or deny ;)

Methinks, Len would approve - and marvel at what now can be done in filmography with digital technology. He might not go for the music, but who knows. More on Len Lye here - a mini-festival of his work on this blog.

Mint Chicks - Hot on Your Heels from Mint Chicks on Vimeo.

Mint Chicks - Enemies from Mint Chicks on Vimeo.

Mint Chicks - Life Will Get Better Some Day from Mint Chicks on Vimeo.

Len Lye - Kinetic Sculpture

Len Lye talks about and demonstrates his kinetic sculpture in this 1987 documentary.

Hope you enjoyed this Len Lye mini festival!

Len Lye - The Peanut Vendor (1933)

A somewhat freaky peanut vendor...

Len Lye - Free Radicals (1958)

Len Lye - A Colour Flight (1938)

Len Lye - Swinging the Lambeth Walk (1939)

Len Lye - Art that Moves: The Work of Len Lye, Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland

Since it might otherwise be "buried" under comments and not be seen by readers, here is a note from Roger Horrocks on the Len Lye exhibition opening later this month in Auckland.

Sadly, this kuaka's wings have been clipped for the Southern summer months so no trans-Pacific flight in the offing to attend the Lye exhibition amongst other Kiwi treats in the next few months. We shall await reader reports instead, living vicariously through their experiences, with only fond memories of the homeland to tide us through the frigid Northern winter. What else is a poor kuaka to do?

Roger Horrocks wrote:

"You may be interested in this free exhibition of Lye's work opening soon in Auckland.

The Gus Fisher Gallery presents 'Art that Moves: The Work of Len Lye', an exhibition of films and kinetic sculptures, on display from 27 November 2009 to 6 February 2010. This is the first exhibition of Lye’s work at a public gallery in Auckland since 1980.

The exhibition explores Lye’s intense engagement with what he called the ‘magical mystery’ of motion. In addition to films and kinetic sculptures, there are paintings and photograms to represent other areas of his work and to illustrate the implied movement in his static images. Among the five kinetic sculptures in the show, there are two that have not previously been seen in Auckland.

The exhibition is linked with the publication of two new books: Art that Moves: The Work of Len Lye by Roger Horrocks (AUP), and Body English: Texts and Doodles by Len Lye (Holloway Press).

It's at The Gus Fisher Gallery, Kenneth Myers Centre, 74 Shortland Street, Auckland city. Admission free.

From Friday 27 Nov 2009 to Saturday 06 Feb 2010. (Closed Sundays and Mondays.)"

Len Lye - A Colour Box (1935)

Len Lye - A Mini Festival - Kaleidoscope (1935)

And now for something completely different.... A Len Lye mini-festival of kinetic art & film.

New Zealand artist, Len Lye (1901 - 1980) was an innovator in kinetic art and experimental film. Like many creative Kiwis, Lye moved abroad in 1925 to develop his talent, first to the UK, then more permanently to the US. A biography may be found at the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. The Len Lye Foundation and archives with more information about his work at the Govett-Brewster gallery in New Plymouth.

Enjoy!