ART ATTACK : Knuiman, a new man for the ages

Words by Sarah Bing, Ceramic Sculptor.

CultAuckland calypsoblues party band, Tom Rodwell & Storehouse hit Raglan, with the iconic reggae vinyl expert Dubhead in tow, playing Friday 17th February from 7pm, with tickets available from Under the Radar. "Singer/guitarist Tom Rodwell’s extraordinary revision of blues and gospel always gets the joint jumping," says Metro magazine.

Roots guitar music is rarely as evocative as on Tom Rodwell’s "Wood & Waste", an album that moves easily between raw pre-rock structures and darkly sensual grooves, just as his onstage group Storehouse speaks a secret language of rhythm & blues - vivid, propulsive and uncommon.

Although the LP charted on US radio (notching up 7 months of rotation), gained international media coverage and secured distribution with the legendary Cargo Records UK, "Wood & Waste" flew mostly under the radar in New Zealand, launching just as Omicron washed ashore.

The album was tracked and mixed with no computers at all, entirely on analogue tape at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios, with mastering and vinyl lacquer-cutting by legendary LA engineer Kevin Gray. This all- analogue approach ensured the album has been picked up by audiophile specialists such as Groovy Wax (London) and Elusive Disc (US).

The Listener’s Graham Reid was one who did take note of the record, naming it one of his top albums of the year. “The subtle and supple shapeshifting Wood & Waste reveals depths and delights at every turn,” he wrote.

Consequently, a much-anticipated 14-date NZ concert series over late summer seeks to redress the balance, trafficking rolling and tumbling treatments of "Wood & Waste" material, alongside new tunes from recent tape studio sessions, stretches of improvisation and sacrilegious dives into a greasy barrel of calypso and gospel obscurities.

“We’re pleased to be able to bring it all to a lot of different towns this time,” says Rodwell. “The live experience is a special one, and we aim to make each night a distinct kettle of fish.”

Rodwell has toured internationally since 2003 solo and with Storehouse, and has supported the likes of Derek Trucks, John Butler Trio, Otis Taylor, Son of Dave and Trinity Roots. He's an established producer and session man also, appearing extensively on Don McGlashan's top 10 NZ 2016 record "Lucky Stars".

Friday February 17 - The Yard / Raglan

Painter Ziggy Knuiman had been bubbling away for years in the vat of his artist friends group. It was a trip to Europe where, whilst enduring the interminable waiting for planes, trains and automobiles, he put pen to paper at last and allowed the creative outpourings to come forth.

The Raglan Area School Surf Academy graduate grew up at Ruapuke; horse riding, surfing and skating. He hasn’t let his lack of formal art training hold his artistic endeavours back.

Taking the plunge at the beginning of 2020, Knuiman exhibited and curated a sell-out group show Brain Funk as one half of Acid Mince with Seb Hart and another upcoming artist Annika Clover at the Old School Arts Centre.

Another group exhibition called Inner Space followed at Chris Meek’s Studeo gallery in 2021, once again with Seb and Annika, and adding fellow emerging artists Korrin Bevan and Ciaran Lannon into the mix.

“Shout out to my favourite artists - friends Korrin, Annika, Ciaran and Seb. We’ll have yearly shows together forever I reckon - getting together for the pure joy of it. And to Chris Meek for believing in us!”

Looking for a bit more action, Knuiman moved to Auckland last year and has been steadily devoting himself to his practice, putting in the mahi and keeping himself focused on developing his painting skills.

Preferring to allow his subjects to evolve on the canvas, Knuiman finds pleasure in the physical action of creating, allowing the process to carry him along until he feels satisfied.

“I think about composition mostly; I'll start with a stick man and give it a life and meaning and see how it goes. Seeing subconscious ideas slowly come to life is so fun, and I feel like by allowing the layers of paint to evolve I'm opening myself up to so many happy mistakes,” he says.

“I’ll keep changing it up in the future, but right now I'm really focusing on honing my craft. YouTube is my best friend. It’s so mean to have free tutorials available as a self-taught artist. And I'll also be using it to learn to weld the frames to stretch my large canvases for our winter 2023 show.”

Deriving inspiration from podcasts and music, Ziggy uses acrylic house paint, spray, and poster paint on large unstretched canvases to create his surreal figurative works.

“Live music, skateboarding, and being with friends all sustain my creative practice,” as does keeping his time in the studio structured 9-5, five days a week.

“This is me. Art is the only thing I’ve found so far that keeps me excited and curious. I’ll be doing this for the rest of my life, I hope. Sometimes I question why I'm doing this, financially; it's definitely a real struggle being an artist in NZ - all the advice I'm getting is that I need to go overseas to sell the work I'm making.” www.raglanrbd.co.nz

As for that elusive career as an artist, with a solid work ethic and a healthy approach to making art Ziggy Knuiman is definitely one to watch.