A House Protected By The Ocean

Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 17, 2010 at 2:24 pm

If you have a moment, check out the video of our drive to carver Brian Flintoff’s studio at his home. It shows some of the beauty of the area and it also shows one of the most unique roads I have ever seen – the beach. When Astrid said she would show us where Brian lives, we followed her car and then she hit the end of the road…and started driving on the beach! We, of course, followed in our rental car…sorry Budget! (It changes from road to beach at about the 50 second mark.)

Turns out, Mr. Flintoff’s home is right on the beach and every couple of weeks or so, high tide hits and there is no more road and no access in or out. He laughed and said it’s a good excuse not to do some things!

Being in Mr. Flintoff’s studio was an incredible experience. He showed us the pieces that he works on and explained their significance in the Maori culture. He initially began to carve out of bone (and still does) and the pieces are amazing! They are intricate, detailed and tell incredible stories. He then began to carve musical instruments and realized that he needed to expand what he used and turned to wood.

His artistry is beautiful, but I think what brings the magic to his work are the stories in his pieces. Stories that go back as far as the birth of New Zealand, that wind through the piece connecting the past to the present. Meeting this artist was inspiring. If you ever have a chance to purchase one of his pieces, you won’t regret it. They are exceptional.

Check out his website here.