The following production metadata is provided to you under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. You can see how this metadata is displayed publicly on the production's public page. An explanation of each field is available here
| irn | 3547 |
| master_filename | 000917_MIX_letters_to_lilburn_interviews.wav |
| master_md5 | E3151FC0208BA5B2502D93BE11B0546E |
| master_duration | 34:56 |
| master_sample_rate | 44.1 kHz |
| master_bit_depth | 16 bit |
| master_channels | 1 |
| media_reference | 000917 |
| media_source | PrideNZ.com |
| copyright_position | In copyright |
| copyright_ownership | Gareth Watkins (PrideNZ.com) |
| copyright_ownership_note | |
| submitted_to_nlnz | 25-11-2022 |
| public_url | https://www.pridenz.com/letters_to_lilburn_interviews.html |
| meta_url | https://www.pridenz.com/data/media/meta/3547.html |
| plain_text_url | https://www.pridenz.com/plaintext/letters_to_lilburn_interviews.txt |
| production_date | 14-11-2022 |
| production_day | 14 |
| production_month | 11 |
| production_year | 2022 |
| recording_type | Interview |
| series | Letters to Lilburn |
| sub_series | |
| title | Letters to Lilburn interviews |
| description | Interviews with family members of painter Douglas MacDiarmid (1922-2020). The interviews were recorded at the book launch of Letters to Lilburn, held at the Milk and Honey Cafe, Victoria University of Wellington on 14 November 2022. Details. 00:01 - Anna Cahill. 13:55 - Sonia Cahill and Asha Cahill-Baird. 23:40 - Stuart MacDiarmid. |
| summary_computer_generated | The abstract outlines a series of interviews conducted at the Milk and Honey Cafe during the book launch of "Letters to Lilburn" on November 14, 2022, to celebrate the centennial of painter Douglas MacDiarmid (1922-2020). The event also served as a commemorative gesture since MacDiarmid's memorial had been unattended due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time of their passing. Anna Cahill led the initiative to celebrate MacDiarmid's life and legacy despite the absence of a conventional farewell. Cahill, having previously authored a biography on MacDiarmid in 2018, felt compelled to create a more personal representation of their work. The family was eager to provide a tribute to MacDiarmid, who had left a significant mark on their friends, followers, and relatives. The celebration occurred amidst an exhibition of MacDiarmid's paintings from the Victoria University collection as part of the McDermott Andary Art Trail. The intimate setting allowed attendees to acknowledge MacDiarmid's contributions and share in their remembrance. The interviewer, Gareth Watkins, explores how the book "Letters to Lilburn" materialized. It is a compilation of candid written exchanges between MacDiarmid and composer Douglas Lilburn, who was MacDiarmid’s first significant love and a lifelong friend. These letters, spanning from 1944 to 2001, provide an intimate look into their relationship, expressing their deepest thoughts and showing their support for one another both creatively and emotionally. The letters, now housed in the Alexander Turnbull Library, were initially restricted from public access by both parties, though they expressed the wish for their story to be told posthumously. The restrictions have since eased, and MacDiarmid's biographer has worked delicately to present these correspondences in a way that honors their relationship and significance. Through the interviews, insights are gained into how MacDiarmid's life and work affected their family, including Sonia Cahill and their children, who recount their encounters with MacDiarmid and their partner Patrick in Paris. Despite only knowing them later in life, the family developed a strong bond with MacDiarmid, culminating in efforts to continue their artistic legacy through the publication of the book and the establishment of the MacDiarmid Arts Trust. Lastly, a close friend of MacDiarmid reflects on their deep friendship, born out of regular visits to Paris, where they gained a profound appreciation for MacDiarmid's art and personal philosophy. In turn, MacDiarmid's approach to their work and life imparted enduring lessons about the importance of pursuing one's emotional reactions and valuing individual interpretation. |
| interviewer | Gareth Watkins |
| voices | Anna Cahill; Asha Cahill-Baird; Sonia Cahill; Stuart MacDiarmid |
| tags | Douglas Lilburn (former house); Milk and Honey Cafe; MacDiarmid Arts Trust; Letters to Lilburn (book); Anna Cahill; Asha Cahill-Baird; Douglas Lilburn; Douglas MacDiarmid; Sonia Cahill; Stuart MacDiarmid |
| tags_computer_generated | gay; bisexual; sexuality; sex; health; family; Wellington; arts; relationships; library; music; research; growing up; Australia; Paris; France; privilege; parents; poetry; friends; legacy; exercise; preservation; children; painting; trust; love; reading; mentor; Bible; passion; homosexual; books; wedding; narrative; desire; passing; hope; university; Stuff; self preservation; Alexander Turnbull; balance; advice; opportunity; veterinarian; hair; understanding; trick; french; fate; triggers; career; funeral; celebration; feelings; cafe; other; hug; letter; artist; conversation; energy; biography; opera; drawing; experimental; diary; work; face; road trip; emotional; Alexander Turnbull Library; Europe; Space; People; birthday; knowledge; journey; happiness; time; piano; pandemic; sad; window; period; landscape; seat; burning |
| location_name | Milk and Honey Cafe |
| location | 21 Kelburn Parade, Kelburn |
| broader_location | Wellington |
| location_lat | -41.288979908813275 |
| location_long | 174.76893195595778 |
| precise_locality | true |