The Carpet Rake, an “epic” comic poem, is to be launched in Whanganui on Friday, 1 February at Space Studio & Gallery.
Set in the New Zealand of the 1960s and 1970s, it evokes a vanished world and a colourful cast of characters. Its story summits in a new home with all mod cons, in a marital crisis over a wall to wall shag pile. The writing was already on the wall for the suburb. The future came to the cul de sac.
The book is a collaboration between writer and former Whanganui resident and teacher Charles Bisley, local artist Michael Haggie, and designer Dan Bisley. Charles and Michael met as part of a group of friends that included Joanna Paul. In those days, Joanna had a small press – the Settlement Press- which published a poetry collection written by Charles. Some may remember Charles and his family from the year they lived at the Ahuahu Ohu where he was the teacher. Charles is also the literary executor for Joanna Paul’s estate
Almost 4O years after they met, Michael and Charles decided it was high time to kick up their heels and collaborate on an illustrated book that celebrated the back in the day. 2023 saw the dynamic to and fros of collaboration. The poem, completed the year before, was now enhanced by images, by the configurations and patterns of these and the text, to become a stylish book.
The poem will entertain and speak of a familiar if strange world.
The launch of The Carpet Rake will be held on Friday 1st March, which will include an animated reading by the author and complimentary refreshments. Entry is free, but for catering purposes we request you RSVP your attendance to sarah@spacestudiogallery.co.nz
Copies of the book will be available to purchase, alongside a large exhibition of illustrations from the book by Michael Haggie.