Getting in the Mood at Modal

Hundreds of people took advantage of the open days held over the first weekend of August to check out Ockham Residential's striking new building Modal on New North Road, near the Mt Albert shops. As they arrived, they were serenaded by the smooth sounds of a very talented bunch of musicians. Featuring prominently amongst them were the Ockham Collective’s inaugural roster of Residents. They formed the core of the band cranking out Jimmy Webb and Joni Mitchell numbers on Saturday, while on the Sunday it was the turn of The Black Quartet, featuring the Collective’s own Joe Harrop on viola. For the Ockham Collective Residents, it was a chance to get together, jam, and to check out the latest precinct at their disposal.

The Ockham Collective offers beautiful, purpose-built spaces for the annual recipients of its Residency programme. These are spaces where they can work, teach, practice and perform free-of-charge. Modal is the third such space, adding to the existing creative precincts at Tuatahi (also in Mt Albert) and Hypatia (Grafton). Each of these precincts offers something a little different – for instance, Hypatia is a large 80-square-metre open space which can hold several dozen people, while Tuatahi features three sound-proofed music studios.

Ockham Collective director, Peter Dragicevich, describes the creative precinct at Modal as “an intimate, light-filled space. It could potentially be used by Collective residents for small workshops, group lessons, pop-up exhibitions or as a stylish space to write and think.”

The Black Quartet performing on the Sunday, featuring Ockham Collective resident Joe Harrop (far right, on viola) and joined by resident Mat Fieldes (rear, on double bass).

Ockham Collective residents Sonia Wilson (centre) and Mat Fieldes (right), along with Nigel Gavin (left) on guitar, performing on the Saturday open day.