There's an exhibition on at the Christchurch Art Gallery of Bill Hammond’s work. Bill Hammond is a Lyttelton legend and one of New Zealand's most well-known painters. We went to a talk by his friend, Laurence Aberhart, who told lots of stories about Bill. Bill had a dry wit and was enormously good fun to hang out with.
Before the talk, we looked around the exhibition and it was fantastic to see this work again:
Volcano Flag by Bill Hammond at the Christchurch Art Gallery
I miss the Lava Bar. It was somewhere I often went to on my own when the boyf was working hard in his London Street wine bar. I would walk up the street from my flat at number 6, sit at the bar and have a plate of their nachos and a beer, or maybe a glass of red wine, filled to the top of their little glasses. Often Bill Hammond would be sitting at the bar as well. I bet he misses the Lava Bar too.
We are lucky that there are still lots of great places to eat and drink in Lyttelton. But there was something about the Lava Bar that can't be replaced. It was quirky and busy and cosy all at the same time. It felt like home but you could always get into a good conversation with a stranger.
The Lava Bar may be gone, but Bill Hammond goes on. His work will outlast us all.
Giant Eagle and self portrait…