Vivienne Aitken – Palmy Post Office

$175

My print was created through a combination of two print methods: photographic litho transfer for the sepia background and a linocut relief print for the building in the foreground. I found the litho transfer quite a challenge which is why I only managed an edition of two prints!

The building shown is the former Palmerston North Post Office building, which still stands on the corner of Te Marae o Hine, the Square. It’s the building that was home to ‘High Flyers’ bar for many years, and is currently being done up as a conference centre. In my print the clock face is empty, which is how it looked when the Post Office first opened in 1906. The clock and chimes were added later. The tower was removed after the Wairarapa earthquake in 1942 but the clock and chimes were saved, and were eventually installed in the modern clocktower that still stands in the Square.

I’m interested in the building because I have a collection of old Palmerston North postcards, and the Post Office building features on many of them. The writing in the background is from one of my favourite cards. It’s stamped 1906, the same year the Post Office opened. The message is from a father to a son and he’s talking about their plans to move to Palmerston North to take over a horse stables. He says “I think we will do alright here son. It is a fine big stable and there is a very fair business …” I love imagining the person 120 years ago feeling excited about his prospects, writing this card and walking into the brand new post office to send it.

Size: 440mm x 320mm

Medium: Photo litho transfer / Linocut print (1/2 PRINT #1 SOLD)

Status: For Sale

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