Now for some real art - Modern Australian, mainly Sculpture.

I have inherited some amazing pieces, consider myself custodian for
a while, maybe years, but some day hope they will be acknowledged
as important in Australian art history.

I grew up with these, so they are familiar, but now I own them, and study
them more closely, perhaps research further on their creators, appreciate
them perhaps more so.

As I've run a parallel journey by studying and creating art, sculpture and
design of my own, I believe I am qualified enough to know them pretty
well.

We even visited these artists in their own home environments, or saw their
foundries, studios, and exhibitions.

Tom Bass would be the best known, but there is:
Lyndon Dadswell, Douglas Annand, Bim Hilder, Margot Lewers, Bonython
Galleries, Anna Cohn, Watters Gallery, May Barrie, Margel Hinder, Diana Hunt,
Ester Bellis, Syd Baron, Proffessor Bissietta, Elwyn Lyn, Judy Cassab,
David Rose, Judith Pins, Jon Vonwiller,  Mitzi Mcoll, Stephen Walker and more.

There are articles, books, their preliminary sketches, maquettes, photos etc.

Some historic pieces, 2 damaged gargoyles from Sydney University, a head
from a statue in either Centennial Park or The Royal Botanical Gardens.

Memories of seeing early Brett Whiteley, a Happening, Christo's Wrapup,
even the humour of Barrie Humphries large bowl of vegetable salad at the
Bonython Galleries, surely to represent vomit!

Being involved myself in making  a first soapstone sculpture with the adults,
doing a Wombling workshop, early junk sculpture and recycled art.

Our very own home more gallery like than suburban house, early modernist,
with a central hall lined with art works, mobiles, handmade bespoke light fittings.

Being dragged along to every art show or event, the recording of these with my
parent's photography. I know I resented it then, but appreciate it now.

I have been to Tom Bass' home, seen his chapel and studio, had his wife read
my palm. I have been led through scary rooms of a happening at age 12? by
Anna Cohn, shown her internment tattooo, and still have a brooch she gave me.

I retain the marvelous miniature artwork Xmas cards they sent to us.

So next will be to chronicle this - photos to come.

A blast from the past

Amongst the possessions of my Mother's, my old art school paintings.

Recently I had the tough job, and I'm not finished yet, of deciding the
fate of the last of the storage facility contents.

Found these, not great, not bad either, just underdeveloped I guess. I don't
need them, but they are still a little hard to let go. They were donated, with
a lot of other stuff, to local charity.

Somewhere along the line I decided I was more of a designer or illustrator,
and that is the route I took.

I have these photos as memories now, much easier to store.

 I think design is showing through pretty strongly here. 

Bearing in mind I was only 16 when I did some of these - embarrassing!

 Obviously got bored with pointillism, this was never finished.

Is this the new normal?

If the house sale goes through, then things in Sydney can return to
normal, as such - though what really is that anyway?

There is much rearranging to do: of goods, of life, of garden, still
more to come in, and more to move on.

I'm impatient for this, but very tired and unmotivated. I think the final
definite news will be the ticket.

Exxopolis

We saw this amazing installation, called Exxopolis, created by
Architects Of Air. It has travelled across the world.

From the exterior it doesn't look much, in fact is a little tacky,
but once inside it is quite awesome.

You explore barefoot, through tunnels and turns from chamber
room to room, looking upwards and sideways at the brilliant
colourings and detail.

The camera could not do the intense colourations justice.

Bright and colourful beach huts at Brighton, and other sightseeing.

We went to St Kilda and saw the Luna Park edifice, quite distinctly
different to Sydney's smiling clownish face. The Melbourne one is
more based on Mr Moon. I think ours is more enticing and less
frightening.

I had only ever seen photos of the brightly coloured, and historic,
beach huts at Brighton Beach. They are very cute and all quite
individual in colour scheme.

On approaching the beach, we saw some majestic Black Swans.

More Melbourne.

While still with Samantha for 2 days, we did lots of running around,
though we were mainly there to see the fashion exhibit.

I also wanted to see street art as Melbourne is quite famous for it,
and it was research for an article I am constructing.

She had heard about a spectacular flower planting in the city precinct,
though we had to walk a lot and hunt for it. It was worth it though.

We also went to two beach suburbs, St Kilda and Brighton, known for
it's historic and colourful beach huts.

 My homage to Vincent.

 The landscape is quite like a Monet painting.

Surrealistic with the city in the background.

 Posing with the mag I write for occasionally, in my designer's uniform of black and black...

 I didn't think it terribly respectful to spray everything, the cobbles 

should have been left alone, it gets a bit messy.

 Some are really skilful and show true talent.

 There is spray and text and stencil work. These seen in Hosier Lane.

 A city seagull, some yarn bombing, and a cute wooden wombat for Sam.

Jean Paul, Melbourne and Street Art.

I had a quick trip to Melbourne to see a major exhibition at the
National Gallery of Victoria, Jean Paul Gaultier.

A very large, and busy retrospective of his fashion career. So much
to see, take in, the myriad and fascinating details, layering and
construction.

His borrowing, as all good designers do, of so many cultural and
historical references, then melding and morphing into his own vision.

We recognise his work with celebrities, the Kylie Minogue and
particularly Madonna outfits. He really is a textile artist, as much as
a fashion designer.

You might love fashion, but if you are a designer, artist or sculptor
there is also so much to appreciate.

 You could sit and pretend you were at a catwalk fashion viewing with this installation.

 His take on street, great styling with denim, and a street art background.

  

 A lot of the white themes were lovely, including the wedding dress below complete with feather headdress.

 The next day I went back by myself, because I figured a major gallery had to have other collections. 

So away from the noisy and crazy crush of crowds at Jean Paul, I found some peaceful  rooms. 

There I was able to chat to the gallery staff about exhibits, and have it all pretty much to myself.

 This amazing construction is about concepts like Nirvana, it appears as if floating on water, 

hence the appearance of the reflected image. I had to marvel at it's complexity and the 

number of man hours it must have required to build it.

 Lunch was in the sculpture garden, rice paper rolls from a stylish kiosk, wherever 

I wanted to sit, many different types of seating and views of the various 

art pieces. Some greats, Rodin, Henry Moore.

.