McKinleyRd.com

Graham Hughes Dreaming


I have been Graham Hughes all my life.
As much as I have tried to escape him at times, and even lose him...... he remains.
At 68 I have gotten to know him finally and more fully, warts and all.
I have been known by different and colourful names used by myself and others, like......
The Little Red Hen, Moi, BlindPoet, KiwiVagabond, BrothaHawk and more laterly by (and with my daring to dream again resisting a healthy cynicism) the aka/brand fling......McKinleyRd Creatives.
These akas, (also known as), express, embody and describe intent, states of mind, being and purpose. They are also playful. Some have died natural deaths and some have passed their used by dates, and no longer relevant. This to shall pass.
I am no longer a BlindPoet, nor am I a KiwiVagabond. With those names passing into obsurity, I no longer dream about being a poet, or a vagrant Kiwi wandering the earth.
I am finally home!


Pertinent to this lifelong artistic statement (which is why this longer than is usual for such a thing I know), aka names represent my dreamer, creative and intuitive drivers, my discovery of healing and joy in playing.
It is my belief that life is a playground, and not a tightrope walk.
Self brandings represent my artistic take on life, on reality, and my catharsis and reinventions of myself as I do being human.
As I fall, get up again, and pick up the dropped plates to spin again.
That privilege of being able to get up or rise is never lost on me. In a world of gross inequity and obscene injustice, obscene greed and immoral powermongering globally; even in Aotearoa New Zealand, I realise my random good fortune.
Albeit my mere mortal status without shares, multiple homes, investments, insurance and super yachts.
I am wealthy beyond belief even without these things.
True wealth has nothing to do with money!


I have always been a creative type.
Not ultra creative, but an outlier nonetheless.
Making things, be it music, object or mischief has always been a 'thing'.
I have long known I am different, left field, right brained and outside of the box.
Sometimes I am inside the box, it's dark, cold and lonely. I look out at the world thru a small aperture in one side.
The only light is outside the box, it enters my internal world through that one small hole in the wall.
My vision of reality can be partial and distorted, lacking a wider angle lense.
Being 'different' isn't always easy.
Maybe the box is simply feeling difference on a more heightened level than some.
Maybe it's just me getting old and life catching up with me, or me with it.
Maybe it's me being as resistant to 'same', as my body is to insulin.


As I entertain this idea of an artist's statement about why and how I make art, (as eulogy like as it may be),
I cannot separate myself from who I am as a human bean (intentional mispell :-)
and the soil that I have grown from and in, the whenua (land) on which I stand. As obvious at that seems!
Nor can I separate myself from the presence of my tupuna/ancestors or the thought that we are all artists in some way,
we all create magic somewhere and somehow.
Just like I wrestled with what a 'poet' was and is, and was I one?
I also struggle with the term 'artist'.
I know I am artistic for sure, and in the end maybe I will come down where I landed with the 'poet' label.
Other people can call you a poet, in your own eyes you are a writer. And so it is with the term 'artist' for me.
The tradesperson does not call themselves an 'artist', but they make things and work in a way that creates beauty, (maybe unseen within the machine or inside the walls of a home) but works of artistry.


And so finally in conclusion and closing. The end is in sight friends!
I weld, I fabricate.
I make things with; metal, fabrics, light, colour, paper, nibbed pens filled with gorgeous coloured and boutique inks.
I etch scratches on recycled tetra pak plates, then print with a pasta press.
I create sound with instruments in my hands or at my fingertips, with my 'Edwina' microphone. I record these dreams.
I observe the world of light and shadow, and the tones between with eyes focused on a view finder or ground glass, looking thru a lense (maybe an 1865 brass lense).
I use vintage cameras. 35mm, large or medium format.
I process silver gelatin photopaper with chemicals in my darkroom.
I fold gorgeous 300gsm paper into a book with my hands, then bind with needle and thread.


It is all making and creating. And wonderful fun.
I know it is absolute luxury and privilege to have the time and resources in my life at 68
to play and make these things that I do.
With great pleasure I recycle materials into what I construct.
I disdain wastefulness or the lack of vision of modern throw away society that cannot
seem to value the use and potential left in things made and now cast aside.
I tend to rescue beautiful things.
I have a deep issue with this world of planned obsolescence.
I work with old materials. We have a shared resonance!
Steel (rusty and all), pallet wood, old posts, machines, fabrics, materials, and processes.
I use old tools, I am one myself!
I rescue vintage sewing machines. I have a thing about old hammers.
I try not to be the crudest form of an old hammer, but the most creative form of one.


My gallery has plenty of images of things made and in the process of being so.
From that you will get a picture of The Little Red Hen at work,
the how's and what's that looks like! The creative chaos of it all.
I find myself and our house pretty political these days.
There is a Ukrainian and a Palestinian flag flying in the top paddock, 24/7.
There are tangata whenua and buddist intention styled flags flying as well, adding colour like expressive brush strokes
to The McKinleyRd world.
We (Tracey and I) love the prayer flag idea, the colour symbolism, the constant motion spreading goodness and hope on the wind.
Others may not share that POV.
McKinleyRd Creatives is about expression. I am about expression, about saying something thru what you make and create, expressing who you are and who you are becoming.
It's about my being Graham Hughes, being fully alive and fully my best self, to share and collaborate in this space with others.
Like my friends Colin and Janine.
All of us unique dreamers and becomers, who make stuff when we can.
Thank you for reading, the time and heart involved.
I know many will not have gotten to the end. Thank you for being here!
At the end of!

Namaste

Graham

August 18th 2025 (no AI used anywhere in this write :-)


Colin Booth

The Economy of Scale.
Making and Printing Paper Negatives


To many of us the dream of shooting large format photography is just a step too far.
The cameras are bulky and sheet film is expensive, as is processing unless you are able to process your own.
I am lucky that through my good friend Graham Hughes I have access to both a Calumet and Sinar F 4”x 5” camera. The only issue that remains is that of the film. Large sheet film is very expensive.
My answer to the high cost of film is to shoot photographic paper in the camera, instead of film!

Silver gelatin paper negatives were how images were taken in the earliest days of photography by using a light sensitive emulsion on paper.
Herein is the charm and allure of the process, and it becoming economically viable, and so much fun.

Here is how I go about it:

Firstly in a dark room under red light I cut a 10” x8” sheet of Ilford Multigrade RC paper into 4 (just slightly under 4 x 5 to allow them to slide comfortably into the film holder)

Back with the camera in place and setup for the shot previously, I load the film/paper holder into position, set the exposure and shutter-speed and take the shot.( I use a light meter for this task, and importantly dont forget that the ISO(sensitivity to light rating) of photo paper is very low. I get good results using an ISO of 3 but some people use 5, it's a bit of trial and error).

As a result of the low ISO my exposure times are 1 – 2 seconds plus usually at f22 or f32 depending on the light and I usually use the old one-one-thousand timer.

Then it is just a matter of developing the paper, again this can be done iunder red safe light using your choice of developer, my personal choice is Caffenol (again because it's cheap).

The finished negative can then be contact printed or scanned and inverted to produce a digital image. The image below is a caffenol print scanned and inverted in Lightroom


Not everyone will enjoy shooting paper and experimenting with developers because you dont always get pin sharp images and all the tones of grey, but if you like a quirky look give it a go. Feel free to email me with any questions, I would be happy to connect.



A silver gelatin paper negative image by Colin Booth

Janine Worthington


Content for the new page about Janine goes here.

Welcome to McKinleyRd.com

Where creativity flows and unique visions come to life. We believe in the power of authentic expression and the beauty to be found in every stitch, print, image or weld, in every written word or pen stroke, every detail, in every hand crafted moment.
Explore our world with us.

A Fountain pen lying on an open book with genuine ink writing.

About McKinleyRd

Macrocarpa trees over the fence from McKinleyRd Creatives

McKinleyRd is more than just a name; it's a philosophy. We are a small collective of fairly ordinary but passionate arty types. We are dedicated to bringing simple beauty and innovation into the world through what we make. It all begins with an idea: to craft pieces that resonate with soul and purpose, and that express who we are and what we value.

Every creation, every project, and every interaction is infused with meticulous care and a deep respect for the craft. We strive for excellence in embracing our own unique creativities and visions, constantly inspired by the world around us. That world often being nearby and on our own doorsteps!
Join us in celebrating the pleasure of making.

Artist Statements


While the fancy term is 'Artist Statements', this is (or will become) a page with insights into where we are maybe coming from as individual creatives and dreamers.
I would be surprised if any of us saw ourselves as 'artists'. The term in and of itself creates visions of berets and looking a tad Salvador Daliesh.
Everyone is innately creative, and creativity surrounds us everywhere,
if we have eyes but to see.
As pretty ordinary humans (if any human can really be ordinary), we are fortunate enough to have time, support and the resources to pursue our humble passions,
alongside all the other life admin demands of our separate existence's.
We are very different in our individual contexts.
So 'artist' statements, may not rest well with us at all.
These statements speak to into our individual contexts
and what is uniquely us in what we do,
and what we value that emerges in our making.


Work by Graham Hughes

This gallery shows a cross section of Graham's contemporary work. Tis but a taste.
30+ years working as a teacher, the most productive hours of the day were spent away from home and family.
These 'retirement' years allow him to be time rich finally, able to explore creative genre he has always wondered about.
We all know there are not enough hours in a day, tho some try to tell us there are!
We all have things we want to do that we can never quite get to.
This side of 65 now, Graham finally has access to more time.
The dreamtime!



A detail image of flagpole section being welded by Graham Hughes of McKinley Rd Creatives

Flagpole Welding Detail

A detail of a flagpole being welded. (I find details beautiful) 6mm steel rod twisted around recycled bolts being welded end on end. Most of Graham's creative welding uses recycled metal. Rust and all. There is something very pleasurable utilising materials that were destined for the scrap heap. Old and used is good at McKinley Rd

An image of welders and workshop front at McKinley Rd Creatives. Rather chaotic, but creatively so.

The Mad Keen Welder

Part of the workshop where Graham welds. He loves welding, is self taught, and came to this recently in his life 7 or so years ago. " I come from a long line of engineers". As much as he trys to be orderly, Graham's creative process is like a bomb went off. He seriously missed out on his father's and 3 brothers'organised workshop gene. Or he needs a bigger shed!.

An image of recycled bolts being welded end on end into a flag pole being made by McKinley Rd Creatives

Welding Bloke Styles

Recycled bolts being welded end on end into a flagpole. This shows the preparation pre welding, that will ensure a strong weld.

A detail of the head piece of a flagpole welded to the very top of the flagpole at Mc KinleyRd Creatives. The welded piece is a recycled sprocket from a machine

Welded Detail

A detail of the head piece of a flagpole welded to the very top of the pole as decoration and to catch the afternoon west light at Mc KinleyRd Creatives. The welded piece is a recycled sprocket from a machine.

A photo of stock at the fenceline at McKinleyRd Creatives. We are surrounded by farmland.

Neighbours

Stock at the fenceline at McKinleyRd Creatives. We are surrounded by farmland.

A still life image from a silver gelatin paper negative

Still Life

A still life image from a silver gelatin paper negative taken with Sinar 4 x 5 LF camera and a 1865 Dallmeyer 2 B lense.

An image of a recycled metal trivet welded by Graham Hughes of McKinley Rd Creatives

Trivet

Trivet is an old word, and an old world solution for putting hot objects safely onto surfaces. Discarded metal parts are welded together to form a flat and stable surface to place hot objects on. This kind of random artistic recycling suits Graham's mindset well, and what McKinleyRd Creatives is all about.

An image of a recycled metal object candlestick holder. The holder in the fopreground is from recycled tool sockets welded together, and steel from recycled library shelves, cut shaped and drilled for the nail to position the candle on. Welded by Graham Hughes of McKinley Rd Creatives using a variety of welding processes

Welded Candlestick

Another favourite object to make. A slightly petrol headish candlestick holder, welded from totally recycled materials. The unfinished horontal candelabra is made form over 80 year old harrow parts that had been tying in a local farm paddock for decades. Reusing and imagining. That's what the Graham side of McKinleyRd Creatives is all about.

A creative flag sewn on a vintage Bernina Record 530 machine by Graham Hughes of McKinley Rd Creatives

Hand Sewn Flag

Graham has quite a collection of vintage sewing machines. Mainly Bernina. New machines are so prohibitively expensive. Older machines are objects of beauty, and with legendary models in the stable, there is much joy sewing with older machines. Sewing brings much joy, as do the flags at flight on a welded pole in the top paddock. Sewing is fluid just like welding, but without fire.

An image of a recycled metal candelarba. The candelarbra is made from rusty harrows that have been left lying on a local farm for decades. Old steel is good steel.The candle holders and made from recycled library shelves, cut shaped and drilled for the nail to position the candle on. Welded by Graham Hughes of McKinley Rd Creatives using a variety of welding processes

Welded Candelabra Detail (unfinished)

A recycled metal candelarba made from rusty harrow parts that have been lying on a local farm for decades and old suspension spring leaves. Old steel is good steel. The candle holders are from recycled library shelves, cut, shaped and drilled for the nail to position the candle on. As yet unfinished and welded by Graham Hughes of McKinley Rd Creatives using a variety of welding processes. This has a definite waka vibe and will have seven candles burning. Lovely light for the center of the table for special meals with friends. Good times! Good memories.

An image of a hand sewn Palestinian flag flying on a flagpole welded by Graham Hughes. The pole is welded from recycled old rebar. Flying flags in the top paddock as simply as possible is a design challenge. It is very windy up there! The flag is a statement about Graham's solidarity with the people of Palestine, and while in the face of many seeming to tolerate the genocide and historical injustice, he does not. This is not shared by others, and that's okay. The heart sewn onto the flag expresses that.

Good Will on the wind.

A Palestinian flag flying on a flagpole welded from recycled old rebar. The flag is boutique and sewn by Graham Hughes. It expresses Graham's (and Tracey's)solidarity with the people of Palestine. While in the face of many seeming to tolerate the genocide and historical injustice, they do not. This is their own personal view. The heart sewn onto the flag expresses that compassion. Flying this national flag is a rare exception. There is a hand sewn Ukrainian flag flying as well, that also has a heart sewn onto it. The heart says it all really. Flags are special despite it being a design challenge welding a simple pole to withstand the wind in the top paddock and support the flag dancing 24/7 in the wind. They are beautiful against the sky. In fact, Graham can't understand why more people don't fly expressive flags. So much joy.

An image of a books having been hand bound by Graham Hughes at McKinleyRd Creatives

A selection of hand bound books

Book binding is something Graham really enjoys doing. Being of the gene type that is more expansive than minimal, there is some thing lovely about working on a table, with paper and thread. There is something about a hand made book also. So many creative variations. Graham has made book out of brown paer grocery bags. That theme of recycling and repurposing is evident here. It is an oldschool skill. These make lovely and unique gifts for people.

Darkroom silver gelatin paper negative processing at McKinleyRd Creatives by Graham Hughes.

Dark Room Magic

Silver gelatin 4 x 5 paper negatives being developed in the darkroom by Graham Hughes. Images were taken with a 4 x 5 Sinar F.

The driveway and surrounds with poplar trees at McKinleyRd Creatives.

The Way Home

The driveway and wild garden surrounds, and the much loved poplar trees at McKinleyRd Creatives.

A handsewn Ukrainian flag made by Graham Hughes flying in the top paddock at McKinleyRd Creatives.

Making a statement 24/7

The top paddock serves as a statement, it being up by the road. There we have flagpoles I have welded, and flags flying I have sewn on my vintage Bernina machines. We are not (Tracey & I)into nationalistic flags in any way. This is an expression of our homes support for Ukraine, the heart says it all. As it does with our handsewn Palestinian flag. Also with a heart. I personally love the colours, and the intentions set against the sky, flying 24/7. And when worn out, they will be replaced.

Work by Janine Worthington

This gallery shows more of Janine's work.



A photo of embroidery in progress by Janine Worthington

Neighbours

Beautiful embroidery in process by Janine Worthington

A photo of embroidery in progress by Janine Worthington

Fabric

Beautiful book cover work in process by Janine Worthington

Mixed media work in progress by Janine Worthington

Mixed Media Heaven

Mixed media work in progress by Janine Worthington

A photo of some fabric art in progress by Janine Worthington

Fabric Art

Beautiful fabric art in process by Janine Worthington

Work by Colin Booth Photography

This gallery shows more of Colin's work.



An image of vintage tractor taken by Colin Booth Photography.

Vintage Tractor

A image taken by Colin Booth

An image of foot bridge in Whangarei

Hump Bridge Whangarei

A local bridge image by Colin

A portrait of Graham Hughes by Colin Booth Photograghy

Portrait by Colin Booth

A portrait of Graham Hughes using The Whangarei Shutteroom lights.

An image of Rainbow Falls by Colin Booth

Rainbow Falls

A popular place to visit. A spectacular site in flood. Image by Colin Booth Photography

Graham Hughes Links

The dreaded link page! More around Graham Hughes PLUS links to other people, places, artists, events, and things that have inspired and called out to him. All are a part of his journey, his unfolding story. His unfinished portrait.
Yup, there's a lot of context around these links.Yours to ignore or njoy.



  • McKinleyRd Creatives on Substack

    Follow Graham's journey and musings on his official Substack.



  • BrothaHawk on SoundCloud

    BrothaHawk is my music aka. Graham that is. I have been a musician and written music most of my life. From the old Tascam 4 track tape to using Cubase as my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) with many wonderful sound libraries and VST instruments.
    There are so many compositions here, some excellent, and some not so much BUT they all give myself alone much joy, especially when driving my car, (my humble Toyota Ractis, every petrol headed testosterone filled male's nightmare or shame LOL, but my pride and joy!) I say that just in case you imagined me grooving to my music in a Holden or Ford V8. I would rather a Model A or T.
    This link is a history of my recording journey over the last 5 years. Soundscape is more my genre rather than another electronica, pop or hip hop tune. You will find some acoustic tracks with banjo and guitar, and which I find myself writing very much embedded in a traditional dance folksy format of AA/BB. The tunes I write acoustically, I write with dancing in my head, (Possibly related to years playing in a barn dance band an a deep love of traditional celtic music)There are songs about animals and people I love. I tend to write my own music rather than try to learn an existing tune. All tunes start with someone responding to their world or evironment, and things in their lives. So I do my own thing very much.
    I record very much imagining people sitting around making live music together and so mistakes and tiny whoopsies are welcome as part of the real experience of being there, and playing with others!
    These will all sound better on a decent stereo or with headphones/buds. I see my own potential here. That counts! I would love to do film sountracks and at the tender age of 68 find people who you can play with without ego and look at me look at me type artistry.
    I would be honoured if you took some time to listen, with your eyes closed (but not in your V8). Sit still for a while and hear!



  • KiwiVagabond

    KiwiVagabond is one of my old aka's, just like BlindPoet was once also. As aka's they represent times in my existence. This link is an online photography space. I don't seriously upload stuff anymore. The whole bind of staying relevant in the social media type world and saying look at me look at me, even if ever so nicely, that pressure has seriously worn totally thin on me. It is however a cool record of photography stuff I have done over the years, both digital and analogue. It is one of my forms of expression that spans many journies and stories.
    I deeply love photography. I am a highly visual person, and a lover of the old ways/technologies (machines and tools included). I am analogue at heart and with my cameras and darkroom here at McKinleyRd I will continue to create images in emulsions, and play with light and dark. I also work with the blend of digital and analogue processes.
    There are some gems in the albums here, both images and articles. Well worth a look if you are on that same page.



  • Poetry For Flightless Birds and Broken Things

    I wrote a book once and self published on Blurb. It was the cathartic self healing after my 1st marriage and other loves collapsing and emerging. It was like another life, and my aka back then was BlindPoet. I have given that up now because I don't live quite as blindly, and there was healing in the wings that grew, that I didn't have during these times. Blind because I knew there was so much I missed and didn't see, but also that we are all blind in some ways.Having eyes do not mean that we see, or have sight and vision. Poet because I was a hopeless romantic and dreamer who loved words.You can read the book on large screen preview. And it's a lovely coffee table sized paper back version, cheap as chips, especially if you are stateside. Would love you to check it out. Some of it may resonate with you.



    • Colin Booth Links

    Content for the new page with Colin's links goes here.

    Janine Worthington Links

    Content for the new page with Janine's links goes here.

    Gallery of Made Things & things being made

    An image of books being made by McKinley Rd Creatives by Graham Hughes

    Book Binding

    Bookmaking adventures on the kitchen tepu/table.

    An image of flags and flag poles made by McKinley Rd Creatives, flying in the top paddock.

    Joy Is The Flag Flown High

    MKYRD welded poles and sewn flags in top paddock

    An image of unique candle stick holders being made by McKinley Rd Creatives using recycled steel

    Welding Bloke Styles

    Welded candle stick idea | Recycled old steel, sockets & discarded school library shelves.

    A photograph of a local Whangarei Bridge by Colin Booth.

    Bridge image by Colin Booth.

    Colin Booth takes lovely old school images wherever he goes with his cameras. Mostly medium to largeformat analogue beauties. Colin develops his negatives using a coffee based developer called Cafenol.

    Silver gelatin paper negative of the driveway at Mc KinleyRd Creatives

    Old World Images

    An inverted and scanned silver gelatin paper negative capturing the interplay of light and shadow on the drive at McKinley Rd by Graham Hughes.

    Flagpole welding in process at McKinleyRd Creatives by Graham Hughes.

    FlagPole Welding in Process

    Flagpole being welded by Graham Hughes. Working on a creative top section.

    More Gallery Images

    More work by Graham Hughes

    Graham Hughes

    Click on image to view more work and projects.

    Images of books made by Janine Worthington

    Janine Worthington

    Dreaming and creating...click on image for more!

    Colin Booth photographer working with large format cameras, shooting paper negatives in camera. he is measure light for an exposure time.

    Colin Booth

    Click on image for more analogue magic from Colin Booth Photography

    Helpful Links

    A collection of resources, inspirations, and friends we'd like to share with you.

    Connect with McKinleyRd

    We'd love to hear from you! Whether you have a query, a collaboration idea, or just want to say hello, please feel free to connect.

    Our Details

    Email: info@mckinleyrd.com

    Phone Offshore: +64 27 612 9930

    Phone Local: 027 612 9930

    Address: 160 McKinley Rd, Whangarei 0179 New Zealand


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