Raglan: a bohemian lifestyle

I really love the town of Raglan. It's everything I imagined...it's small, it's friendly, it's main street is filled with art galleries, coffee houses, surf shops, fish n chip shops,...and it sits right at the water. I could see myself living here if I had that sort of opportunity. The people are my kind of people...surfers, artists, hippies, granolas and those who love the relaxed bohemian lifestyle that Raglan offers. I fit right in!!!! yes...that's me laying out on the beach after going for a swim in the ocean.

This is the house I'm staying at. My friend's husband built it (he does construction for a living). It's in an ideal location with a view of the water and plenty of outdoor deck space for BBQs and parties. I've met a few of their friends and neighbors and they are all lovely.

It's about a 20 minute walk from the house to the heart of Raglan. Yesterday I had the chance to explore on my own for the day...so after a leisurely morning (breakfast of Mueslix and toast, and a wonderful cup of cofee) I set out on foot to have a look around the town.

As I walked along I passed this mural that was painted on a water tower. Being an artist that does a lot of mural painting...I admired the design and thought about how many hours and how much man-power it would've taken to do something of this scale. Being a full-time artist and business owner (www.revelatorart.blogspot.com)

and being a leader (and gallery curator) in a large artist community called VineArts in Boise, Idaho (www.vineartsboise.org) I am always interested in the art scene wherever I travel. So armed with my business cards and informational brochures I decided to do some networking. Raglan has quite a large community of artists for being such a small town. My friend knows a lot of the gallery owners, so I popped in on several to have a chat...artist to artist, and gallery curator to gallery curator. I went into the Matapihi art gallery and they had artwork displayed from Ragland artists and artists from all over New Zealand. I enjoyed chatting with the curator Ardre Foote about the art styles of New Zealand (the artists like to incorporate the native Maori symbols and patterns into their art). You can see more about the Matapihi Gallery at www.raglan.net.nz

I stopped into the Combined Artist Studios+Gallery (www.artistsgallery.co.nz) to talk with artist & curator Amanda Watson (she is a really good friend of my friend). The Combined Gallery is a studio collective that has studio space for three artists to work and then a gallery to display their work.

Here is a painting by Amanda Watson. One of the styles she does are these amazing abstract seascapes in oil. Being a lover of water as I am...I love love love her stuff!!

I also stopped into the Tidal Bottega art & floral Gallery (www.tidalbottega.co.nz) owned by artist Yvette Harry-Wright. She is also a good friend of my friends.

She does these mind blowing acrylic abstracts that have hidden meanings and symbolism. This painting (a 3 piece series) tells the story about Creation to Christ to Revelation...all covered in the blood of Christ. Amazing stuff!! She covers her paintings with a thick layer of acrylic resin to get a glass-like shine.

After I took a couple of hours to look around I found my way to a coffee house that serves Raglan Roast coffee...this one is called Bobo's. After getting my white coffee (espresso coffee with milk)I joined a few other afternoon chillaxers and sat down at a picnic table outside of the shop to drink my coffee, do a bit of journaling and painting...and chillax.

This is the coffee house. Yes...I know...it's so...ME!!! Palm trees and a surf shop next door...tribal tattooed surfers and dreadlock wearing hippies hanging out inside and outside.

This sign sums up the feel of Raglan...am I "home" or what?!!!! This is like the signs we put up in the VineArts Studio!!!

Here is one of the surf shops...lined with surfboards. I might have the opportunity to go surfing while I'm here in Raglan. I'm hoping I get to...it all depens on the waves and weather. My friends surf a lot and they tell me that right now the waves have been quite big...ideal for experienced surfers...but not so ideal for those who have never surfed before. .Raglan seems to live and breath surfing...everywhere I go people are talking about surfing.

Here is a colorful artistical van I saw in town.

Here is a sticker plastered surf board in front of a surf shop.

Here's another painted truck with surfboards attached to the top.

After my coffee time I headed to the beach to enjoy some time at the water. I did a little bit of beach combing for shells. There are heaps of them everywhere!!! I found my way to a spot on the beach where I saw absolutely no one else...yes, I was all alone on the beach!!! Talk about living a dream!!!! O. My. Goodness!!! So with the beach towel poised perfectly on the black sand, sunblock lotion applied, and my bathing suit ready to get wet, I headed into the warm Pacific Ocean.

You see...for most of my childhood I grew up on both the east coast & west coast of the States (my father was in the Navy)....and for part of that childhood I lived in Hawaii. These days...living in Idaho, I sometimes feel like a landlocked seafarer...and I need the occasional reminder that I am still a lover of water. So this artistical-sunworshipping-bohemian-hippified-beachbum is happy as a clam today to be on this tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean half way round the world. This is exactly what the doctor ordered for me...this holiday is perfect timing. My heart is breathing in the warm breezes, tasting the salty sea, feeling the soothing sun, and swimming in the depth of the waters.

Revive. Replenish. Refresh. Renew. More of this Lord...More!!!!