Story

As the holidays approach, giant Asian factories kick into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Thanks in advance for your thoughtfulness... and may the Holidays be Blessed for you and yours!

Story

Featured in the exhibition is the well-known Shakespeare Beadle bust, created three centuries later than any other piece. Usually residing on Level 2 of the Central City Library it shows Shakespeare contemplating the world which he holds in his hands. This bronze bust was created by Professor Paul Beadle through a commission from the Auckland City Council. The plaque below this sculpture, however, doesn’t tell us about its complicated, and mostly unknown, history.

Ref: Paul Beadle, Bust of Shakespeare, Bronze, 1970.

Records from the Auckland City Council archives tell us that in 1967 £500 was left as a bequest from Florence Walker for the creation of a statue of Shakespeare “similar to that at Stratford-upon-Avon.” Councillors at the time debated over accepting the donation with some putting forward that there were plenty of statues of Shakespeare and that the money would have been better if it were going to something else. Others quoted the Bard and put forward Shakespeare’s contribution to the English language in favour of accepting the bequest.

Ref: excerpt from the Auckland Star, 1 June 1967, page 4.

The bequest and its terms were eventually accepted by the Council and they commissioned Paul Beadle to create the bust, giving him artistic flexibility in the appearance of the sculpture. They also contributed another £500 towards the project from the Improvement Trust Account in order to cover any other costs.

Paul Beadle was a Professor and Dean of Fine Arts at Auckland University from 1961 to 1977. He cast the bust in bronze using the lost wax process. The Shakespeare figure was cast for the sculptor at D.M.S foundry, Penrose and the sphere, which features semi-relief figures representing humanity, was cast by the sculptor himself. They were then welded together. Completed in 1972, the work has run into issues because it was unbalanced for some time until it had a proper base created. 

Ref: excerpt from the New Zealand Herald, 24 September 1975, section 1, page 6.

The bust was originally created to be under the care of Auckland Art Gallery but was never displayed there. The Council also considered placing the Shakespeare bust in Albert Park to replace one of the existing white marble statues which were in poor condition. Instead it was placed in the Auckland Public Library Rare Book room (now the Sir George Special Collectionsreading room).

Concerns arose in 1976 that “the work [was] not receiving appropriate exposure” and so they considered moving it to the Mercury Theatre in August 1976 on permanent loan, but this never eventuated. The bust also receives a mention in The Governor’s Gift, Wynne Colgan’s book about the Auckland Public Library 1880-1980.

The life of Shakespeare’s bust in Sir George Grey Special Collections has been one which involved uncertainty but which has always been based on the public enjoying and appreciating the sculpture itself and what it represents.

We plan to create a new plaque for the sculpture which honours both Paul Beadle, the artist, and Florence Walker, the woman who made the original bequest. Little is known about her and we would love to hear from anyone who has a connection to her to understand more about her life. Do you have this connection? Let us know!

In the spirit of the bust we also encourage you to learn more about Shakespeare at our current exhibition, ‘Shakespeare in his time’, where the bust is on display. See more about it in this Newshub segment which ends with some lovely shots of the bust: Shakespeare's secret work on display.