Why is this Photo on my Art & Writing Blog?

The photograph behind the Art & Writing title (and with this post) is of Maketu, a tiny coastal settlement in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. When I wrote Swimming to Motiti, my first published short story as a serious adult writer, I drew on deeply-held memories of holidays at Maketu.

Living inside me still is the fragrance of wild fennel, the mystery of old graves tucked into a scrubby hillside, and the sound of breakers beating against the sand. At some deep level, these are the memories that ground me when I'm writing or making art. Swimming to Motiti won first place in a New Zealand national short story competition.

Using this image on Art & Writing is a way of entrenching myself into this challenging new world of online writing. What grounds you in your writing or artmaking?
Copyright Lyn Rasmussen 2010: all rights reserved

Suite101 Articles - Visiting Napier & Hawke's Bay

We had a weekend break away in Napier a couple of weeks ago. It had been many years since I'd visited. What a lovely place! Very colourful and vibrant with gorgeous architecture, not only the Art Deco buildings, but there are also lovely old villas in the city and perched high on the surrounding hills.

Some of the highlights were the Art Gallery and Museum, the Hawke's Bay Farmers Market and the National Aquarium. I also loved it that the city is so close to the sea. Must be lovely if you work in town and can just wander over the street for lunch on the beach. I know I'll be visiting again and won't leave it so long next time!