A selection of Harry Harrison’s audio-visual projects from the years 2002-2007, including Tusalava, Hokey Pokey, Chalice and A Rush of Blood.

Tusalava, 2002: 12’03”

Harry Harrison, guitar; Gwyn Reynolds, tenor/soprano sax; Cameron Pearce, trumpet; Dan Robertson, piano; Hamish Oliver, synthesisers/samples; Richard Pickard, bass; Matt Gibb, drums; and Fausia Fialele, percussion. The film, Tusalava by Len Lye (1929), is used with permission of the Len Lye Foundation (Evan Webb). The film is in its original, unaltered state. The introduction is a reading by Len Lye called “Black Sun”, recalling his feelings as a young boy being awoken to the energy of art.

Hokey Pokey, 2003: 12’49” 

Harry Harrison, guitar; Gwyn Reynolds, tenor sax; Simon Lean-Massey, soprano sax; Chris Burke, tenor sax; Cameron Pearce, trumpet; Hamish Oliver, synthesisers/samples; Seamus Jolly, bass; Matt Gibb, drums; and Fausia Fialele, percussion. Based on WD (Bill) Hammond’s Hokey Pokey, 1998, acrylic on canvas, 5m x 2m. Bill Hammond’s Hokey Pokey was photographed at the art collection of M Webster and L Voss. The photographs were then stitched together as a video on a computer by Julieanne Eason, with Harry Harrison directing the pans and zooms to match the music with the details in the painting.

Chalice, 2005: 18’12”

Harry Harrison, guitar; Gwyn Reynolds, tenor sax; Cameron Pearce, trumpet; Scott Taitoko, trombone; Reuben Derrick, soprano sax; Tom Rainey, piano; Hamish Oliver, piano; Richard Pickard, bass; Sum Suraweera, drums, and Fausia Fialele, percussion. Chalice (sculpture) by Neil Dawson, 2001, steel and aluminium, 18m x 2m (ground level) to 8.5m (at top), Cathedral Square, Christchurch. 

The Chalice film, by Rick Harvie, was shot mostly on location in Cathedral Square. Sculptor Neil Dawson provides a narrative on the sculpture’s development and four themes focus on its beginnings, the sculpture during the day and night, and the life that occupies its environment. The music is in four movements: “Beginnings”, “Day”, “Night” and “Life”. Harry Harrison gave Rick Harvie creative control of the film, but provided the music to work to. The project was made possible by a grant from Creative New Zealand.

A Rush of Blood, 2007: 36’08”

Harry Harrison, guitar, dobro, Tibetan bowl; Gwyn Reynolds, tenor sax, soprano sax; Cameron Pearce, trumpet; Simon Lean-Massey, tenor sax; Reuben Derrick, tenor sax, clarinet; Richard Pickard, bass; Dan Kennedy, drums; and Sum Suraweera, percussion. A Rush of Blood, the original film on Max Gimblett by Roger Taberner, 2004, was filmed at Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland. New film by Rick Harvie, 2007, filmed during a live performance at the Philip Carter Auditorium, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.