Creative People's Centre

Celebrating our Cultural Icons

Interviews with iconic New Zealanders who have shaped our arts & culture scene

Jam Radio (of Depot Artspace, Devonport) is currently producing an invaluable asset to New Zealand’s arts sector with its ‘Cultural Icons’ programme; an accessible, informative and compelling series of interviews that will inspire generations to come.

(Click here to listen to Cultural Icons at Jam Radio)

In December Jam Radio received ARST (Arts Regional Services Trust) funding from North Shore City Council to create a series of interviews with iconic New Zealanders who have shaped the arts and culture scene over many years.  The inspiration and impetus for the Cultural Icons project is to provide archives that capture the ideas, histories and personalities of these significant contributors. The project is ongoing, with audio and film from the interviews made accessible online.

The dialogues are between friends and contemporaries and so far form a fascinating cultural genealogy.  Hamish Keith, writer, art curator, arts consultant and social commentator interviews his long-time friend, the artist and conservationist, Barry Brickell; Martin Edmond, noted NZ novelist, essayist and author of ‘The Resurrection of Philip Clairmont’ (1999) interviews Philip Clairmont’s partner Rachel Power and poet, biographer, musician and ecologist Denys Trussell interviews friend Dean Buchanan, painter.

Warm, informed and often intimate, the interviews are a rare insight into these iconic kiwi’s creative journeys, their youthful ambitions, their hurdles, successes and their contributions within the New Zealand creative and cultural landscape.

The audio interviews are accessible to all online and provided free of charge. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The project also aims to make these interviews available for public distribution and to schools, libraries and other learning institutions.

Interviews completed to date include:
Rachel Power interviewed by Martin Edmond
Geoff Chapple interviewed by Graeme Lay
Ian Wedde interviewed by Kevin Ireland
David Eggleton interviewed by Graeme Lay
Barry Brickell interviewed by Hamish Keith
Vincent O’Sullivan interviewed by Graeme Lay
Graeme Lay interviewed by Kevin Ireland
Daughters of ARD Fairburn interviewed by Graeme Lay
Martin Edmond interviewed by Hamish Keith
Shonagh Koea interviewed by Graeme Lay
Hamish Keith interviewed by Graeme Lay
Martin Rumsby interviewed by Julian McCarthy
Louis Rawnsley & Archie Bowie interviewed by Graeme Lay
Dean Buchanan interviewed by Denys Trussell
Denys Trussell interviewed by Kevin Ireland

Latest interviews include:

Cultural Icons:  Denys Trussell and Kevin Ireland

This Cultural lcons programme celebrates Denys Trussell, poet, musician, biographer, essayist, ecologist and – as discovered in this interview – ex-truck driver and gangster.

Denys is interviewed by fellow wordsmith Kevin Ireland.  The two discuss Denys’ early ambitions, the galvanising moments of his career and his “penchant for diversions and reprises” which have resulted in an impressive body of work crossing many disciplines.

We are treated to two poetry readings and a discussion on Denys’ use of symphony thematic developments in his poetry, owing to his training as a classical pianist.  Kevin also questions Denys on his extensive contribution to the protection of New Zealand’s ecology, setting up ‘Beach Forest Action Committee’ in the early 70’s which later morphed into ‘Friends of the Earth’.  His involvement continues, almost 40 years on.

This is an inspiring interview with one of New Zealand’s most culturally ambidextrous icons.
Cultural Icons:  Dean Buchanan and Denys Trussell

Prolific landscape painter and mountaineer Dean Buchanan is interviewed by his friend Denys Trussell, poet, biographer, musician,and ecologist.

Denys’ prepared interview questions were quickly deemed superfluous as the two slipped easily into conversation.  The resulting programme is an intriguing look at Dean’s journey, both as an artist and as a mountaineer.

Dean Buchanan is one of New Zealand’s best-known artists. From an early age he showed immense talent, painting large oils that demonstrated both technical brilliance and a close affinity with the natural world. During the past thirty years he has become probably New Zealand’s most prolific (and also most affordable) painter, as well as one of the most instantly recognisable.

His paintings are found in homes throughout New Zealand and in public buildings and galleries both here and overseas. He has also exhibited in Australia, Japan, Chile, Switzerland and the USA. Coupled with his creative talent is an ability to live life to the full. No shrinking violet, ‘Wild beast’ Buchanan has always expressed himself forthrightly, especially in defence of preserving New Zealand’s natural environment. He has also become a mountaineer of some note, and in January 2007 succeeded in climbing Mt Cook.

He is the subject of Bob Harvey’s book ‘Wild Beast, the art of Dean Buchanan’(2007).