Pippa Blake : Journey

A wonderful launch last Wednesday at the perfect venue - the Voyager Maritime Museum on Auckland Harbour - adjacent to one of the late Sir Peter Blake's yachts.

Despite a blustery night outside Pippa Blake’s friends and family, along with media and booksellers, turned out in force to the Blue Water Black Magic exhibition space at Auckland’s Voyager Maritime Museum to celebrate the launch of Pippa Blake Journey.

Penguin Group (NZ) Managing Director Margaret Thompson welcomed everyone and told the enthusiast audience how delighted Penguin Group (NZ) felt to be publishing this book.

Debra Millar, General Manager – Publishing at Penguin Group (NZ) reiterated Margaret’s comments and went on to say how “incredibly privileged Penguin felt to have been entrusted with this very special book”.

She thanked Shelley Campbell of the Sir Peter Blake Trust who was instrumental in getting the project underway and to Pippa’s trusted friend and collaborator on the project, Trish Clark. Trish travelled to the UK to spend an intensive week with Pippa trawling through a lifetime of photographs and memories, and returning with hours and hours of recorded conversations and a carefully edited box of photographs, drawings and newspaper clippings.

“Trish was our conduit, who spent many a night Skyping with Pippa into the wee hours, and carefully piecing together any missing links in the stories of Pippa’s early years, her sailing adventures”

“Trish we really couldn’t have done this book without you given your unique ability to knowledgeably straddle the dual worlds of sailing and art, and to gently steer us along a course that you knew reflected the essence of Pippa. Your clear vision and uncompromising attention to detail was an inspiration.”

Debra also thanked the book’s designer, Cameron Gibb, whose intuitive response to a myriad of material created a book that really does take the reader on a remarkable journey.  She also thanked Pippa for her willingness to talk so openly and honestly about her life with Sir Peter, the difficult years following his death, and her restorative journey through her painting.

“Pippa we are indebted to you for committing to this project from your base on the other side of the world. It was indeed a leap of faith – which is perhaps not surprising given your adventurous spirit - and we only hope that the experience of publishing this book is ultimately as rewarding for you as the journey has been for all of us involved.”

Radio NZ National’s Arts of Sunday host Lynn Freeman then conducted a wonderfully personal In Conversation piece with Pippa discussing many aspects of the book and Pippa’s life. 

The evening concluded with guests chatting over a drink and Pippa signing books.

Footnote:
Pippa Blake's only public appearance will be in Christchurch where she will be in conversation with Morrin Rout on Wednesday 30th November at 6pm at the Westpac Hub.
Tickets are $15 ( includes a glass of wine) and are available from Whitcoulls at Northlands, Riccarton, Hornby, South City and Shirley and from Morrin Rout, Ph: 329 9789 or morrin@paradise.net.nz