Invitation

In Wellington again. A later than usual start this morning, as today's meeting was not long enough to take the whole day. Afterwards, I went for my first run since losing my fibula in November. Not far. Not fast. A number of stops. Went well, and I am encouraged.

On my short and slow run, I went past Francis Kitts Park, where I saw Arquitectura de Feria, by Antigua i Barbuda. I took a couple of photos with the Nikon, and continued back to the hotel. I decided that one of those photos was to be my blip, and realised that I could not remember the full name of the playground, which is there as part of the New Zealand Festival currently running in Wellington. 

So I walked back before heading for dinner. I left the Nikon behind,  partly because I've let the battery run low, and also because I was not anticipating taking any more photos. However, The low natural light and the man made lights gave a different feel so I took a few photos with my iPhone.

I've chosen as my blip the last photo I took with my iPhone, as I was enchanted by the exuberance with which I was invited to enter the playground and take a ride. Expecting to meet colleagues, I thanked her and continued on my way.

As it happens, I didn't need to return to get the name, as when I googled Arquitectura, the rest of the name immediately popped up, and I was able to obtain the following from a press release when the group were in Sydney at the Sydney Festival in Parramatta (as in Sydney, entry is free, and runs every day except Mondays for the duration of the festival):

Arquitectura de Feria (Fairground of Architecture) is a fairground like no other. 
Recycled objects gain new life in surprising and spectacular ways, in this captivating wonderland of fun. Constructed from gas stoves, sinks, toilets, hair dryers, sewing machines, juicers, bicycles and much more, Arquitectura de Feria gives new life to objects repurposing them into a fully functioning mechanical feat of engineering.
Designed for adults as well as children, the rides are created so that adults operate the machinery to get the ride moving. After a day propelling the kids on the rides, the children are then encouraged to operate a mechanical fan whilst the grownups take in some story-telling and relax on a sunbed lounger.

Founded in 2002 by Jordà Ferré, Catalonian theatre company Antigua I Barbuda, specialises in circus, construction, animation and mechanical theatre. The European family of artisans, led by founder Ferré and Oscar de Paz (who became partner in 2009) sets out to build rides that connect children to adults through play. The wonderland of fun has participants and actors twirling handles and spinning pedals to operate the whimsical fairground machines – including a hand-cranked Ferris wheel fitted out with toilet seats, a bicycle- powered carousel with a spinning crocodile and a rocket ship, and recycled olive stones used for target shooting.


ADDITION: I have added an extra, also taken with my iPhone, as it shows the three adults who powered this ride. The man in the white hat running and pushing in a circle; the man in the blue hat working a lever; the woman in the cardigan turning a crank handle.