'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by me, Don Donovan (who did the text and illustrations) and Euan Sarginson, who did the photography and design. In this series of blog posts, I will publish some of my drawings.
I found an interesting similarity of shape between these two buildings both of which were part of Blenheim's Agricultural and Pastoral Association's showgrounds. The entrance gates (above) were obviously designed to impress with their carefully considered brick doorways and wrought iron gates whereas the stockyards (below) had a distinctly cloth cap look about them, businesslike, ready for the manure and trodden straw, the plaintive bleating of Perindales and Romneys and the patient ruminations of cattle and goats as they awaited their annual parades.
A & P shows are the essence of rural New Zealand usually held once a year and where town and country mingle, country people showing themselves off and townsfolk acknowledging this country's debt to the farmers of the land.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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