A CORNER OF WELLINGTON

by Chris Stevenson S C N Z B M

Published by Printgroup, Wellington 1997

64 pages

s/c approx 17cm x 24cm - no inscriptions

part of Introduction: In 1977 I leased a prominent site opposite the Basin Reserve, Wellington, for my car-dealing business and remained there for over 15 years. I had a marvellous time using a hoarding, situated at the corner of the site leading to the Mt Victoria tunnel... An old political hoarding was converted into my own billboard. Following the success of the first couple of signs the message was changed every few weeks. In essence the hoarding was for outright fun. As with all humour, it was often at my own expense or at the expense of public figures or any local and national situation taking my fancy. Many of the signs were political and instinctively backed the radical and anti-establishment message-bearers and I also enjoyed a good twist or word puzzle... These were fun years. For everyone's sake I hope the current age of seriousness soon ends and we can return to more light-hearted ways. While the future of the Basin Reserve hoarding remains in doubt who knows, given access to an equally prominent location, I may well resurrect the hoardings at some future date. Although not placed in any particular order I have attempted to create some sense of my hoardings by loosely grouping them into personal, social and political, as well as puzzles and teasers...