Tag Archive for art

Austinmer and the Grand Pacific Drive

15/01/2010 Joh holidays

We went to Austinmer whilst I was away. We intended to get a kebab from the shop across the road from that lovely beach. The header of this blog was taken at that beach when I had a holiday in Wollongong. I enjoyed that spot. It was very busy this visit, so we went further down the road and enjoyed a quieter beach off the main road. Lying on the beach reading and dipping into the waves each time I got to hot was how the majority of the day was spent.

We took the Grand Pacific Drive, which I had been keen to do last time I was there, yet never made it that far up. It is a great road that runs along the coastline. We also called into a few galleries, which were impressive.

Popularity: 9% [?]

No comments , , , ,

Halfway

28/09/2009 Joh holidays, home

I haven’t blogged since last week! The weather turned a bit rough so I turned to inside activities mostly, though we did get some gardening in on Thursday. It was long overdue with some garden beds needing to be mowed rather than weeded. I want to do so much outside it is overwhelming to start sometimes. It looks much better now, yet I still see a lot to do.

We had the kids for a night last week, which is always fun. One of the kids decided to stay with her mum, I noticed her absense. I missed her actually. We didn’t get out with them curtailing our tendency to always go out when the kids are here. Darin thought it was time we did a bit of normal hang out stuff. I remember when my kids would go to their dad’s for the weekend, they tend to have high entertainment expectations when that’s what usually happens. It’s so interesting being on the other side of the ‘every second weekend’ family.

I watched a few films, the most interesting was ‘Flashbacks of a Fool’ with Daniel Craig. I have also been introduced to Carl Baron and laughed till my stomach hurt watching his DVDs. I had no idea he was so cleverly funny. I watched the Grand Final, half heartedly baracking for the Saints. I fell asleep though so I didn’t get to experience the loss. I’ve watched the Grand Prix as well on a few occasions during this season. I can barely contain my advertising analysis though whilst watching these ‘blokey’ things on TV. It’s a whole new reality to me.

I went for a drive to Golden Beach and had a long walk along the beach Saturday morning.

Yesterday we went to Ikea in Richmond to get some cutlery I wanted and as you could expect walked out with a few more items. We went to the National Gallery to see the Salvador Dali exhibition but the queue was for an hour so we took in the rest of the Gallery and resolved to go back during the week. I don’t know why I thought doing this on a Sunday was a good idea…. Ikea was packed also. We had dinner at Bukhara’s in Warragul on the way home. It was my first visit, Darin thought it wasn’t as good as it once was, I thought it was yummy.

Popularity: 8% [?]

2 comments , , , , , , , , , , ,

Discovering Kongwak

31/08/2009 Joh gratitude, home

Darin and I went for a drive this afternoon to Cape Patterson. We were taking off from Warragul and went through the green hills on the windy roads and came across Kongwak between Korumburra and Wonthaggi. We stopped.

It’s a small place, yet it had a really colourful Market.  The people there knew the teenage kids by name, as well as one another. I love that tiny community environment.  There was a variety of new and secondhand things, inside and outside stalls and a nice vibe. I bought a couple of kids books, Darin purchased some CDs of comedians and he got some of our favourite incense and a sandalwood box. I tried on some clothes but my broad shoulders just didn’t feel relaxed in them, everywhere else fitted great.

We also checked out the Art Gallery and we both fell in love with a sculpture there. We managed to walk away discussing all the things we need to do at home before a peice like that would find a decent place. There were some appealing watercolours there.

The remainder of the day was gentle, Cape Patterson was a bit seaweedy, we drove back through Inverloch. Finding Kongwak was the unexpected pleasure of the day.

Popularity: 8% [?]

No comments , , , , , , , ,

MIFF: Kate Bush Under Review

26/07/2008 Joh music

Last night after work I headed to the city to see the film ‘Kate Bush Under Reveiw”, which I discovered last weekend whilst browsing what was offered at the Melbourne International Film Festival. I loved Kate Bush from the first time I saw ‘Wuthering Heights’ and have purchased every album she released as soon as possible. I’ve found few friends who have enjoyed her as I have, but as one of the Kate Bush commentators said last night, her music is really personal and probably not something you would sit around and enjoy with friends. I think she is an amazing creative person, who has focussed on her art and expression and I just love the experience of listening to her music.

I’ll review the documentary on ‘Falling Brick’. I want to comment here, how annoying I found the audience. I think the control freaky teacher in me was rising throughout the evening. I had to fight the urge to stand up, turn around and ask them all to leave and meet me in my office at lunchtime. The inappropriate laughter everytime the words sexual or sensual were mentioned, was what I would expect from 15 year 0ld students. I wonder if they had any idea about what they were coming to see and just couldn’t get tickets for the footy or what? It irritated me no end. The giggles became infectious and the collective group of fools began laughing about all kinds of trivial things. What were they expecting? I felt embarassed to be amongst them.

I enjoyed the documentary style film. I was familiar with the time periods and have purchased the DVD from Amazon this morning so I can enjoy it in peace. There were some interesting comments and reflections made that I would like to hear, without kidlike cackling. I think I am becoming anti-social.

It is going to show again in Melbourne so if you are a fan, check it out here. If not, find something else to amuse yourself with. Grrr

Popularity: 11% [?]

7 comments , , , , , , ,

Art Deco Exhibition – NGV

03/07/2008 Joh learn

Today I went with a gorgeous friend to see the Art Deco exhibition at the Gallery. It was great. There are some really great peices and we spent a couple of very pleasant hours strolling around and taking them in. If you are interested and can’t get to Melbourne to see it, there is a Victorian regional festival and a series of events that may be more accessible.

I was aware of this design type, yet more in furnishings and to some extent architecture. It was a real movement that permeated through design in all areas from transport to clothing and there are some fine examples displayed at the exhibition. I admired particularly the spirals and stars in the designs as well as the craftmanship that went into the items. It has reawakened my interest in this period and there are plenty of things I want to check out as a result of all I’ve seen. A sign of a good experience for me to create some curiosity.

Popularity: 9% [?]

5 comments , , , ,

Guanyin at the Gallery

24/05/2008 Joh learn, travel, work

Guanyin at the Gallery

This statue of Guanyin in the Asian Collection at National Gallery Victoria is in a striking pose. She looked relaxed yet upright and confident. I love it. It wasn’t one of the things we were shown in our quick tour of the Gallery yesterday. If I’d been the tour guide it would have. We saw another version of her with the hands spanning out into infinity, which is just what any mother needs. An effective communication of the boundless love and compassion yet, I find this depiction more beautiful. I just noticed it and managed to get this one shot, before my batteries died. I’m happy with it though- no flash of course.

She is my favourite Chinese Goddess. I have always known her as Quan Yin and have a little statue of her for my home.  I’d love one in this pose though. It’s so dignified and real. I learnt about her when I studied feng shui and purchased my women’s version of the I Ching. There are many names for her. I think of her as the Goddess of compassion as well as domestic life. She’s a part of the Taoist and Buddhist tradition.

Popularity: 7% [?]

2 comments , , ,

Mosaic Table

11/01/2008 Joh friends, holidays, learn

Mosaic TableI promised to post a picture of my mosaic table. This table has many pleasant vibes attached to it. I enjoyed the course, which was an afterschool PD ran by two of our wonderful Art teachers at school. We attended two afterschool sessions and the two teachers spent a lot of time preparing for the course. They got the old desks we had purchased from the school powdercoated for us. Many participants brought their tables in and got more advise for months after the course, I did too, yet it was years later.

When I started the table, I had just began seeing Andy and I remembering him joking that I wouldn’t have time to do it now that he was in my life. He was partially right! Those school holidays I had planned to break, and stick tiles, I ended up going to Tarra Valley with him and Ella for a week and then to New Zealand with my kids and friends for the second week. Not another tile was fixed!

The truth is I didn’t even know the design for the table. I began by creating the border. It was all pretty random.

Mosaic Table

Over the next couple of years I would drag the board, tile cutter, tiles and cement out onto my lounge room floor, when I was watching TV. I would break and stick. I drew many different pencil patterns and rubbed them out on the space within the border until I came up with what I have. I am pleased with it.

Popularity: 24% [?]

4 comments , , , , , ,

Fremantle Reflection

28/12/2007 Joh friends, holidays, travel

Jane lives near Fremantle. After a long sit at Little Creatures and a few of their lovely Pale Ales and lots of delicious food, we went for a stroll along the water. There we are reflected in the McDonalds window.

My first visit to Fremantle was in 1999 when Jane lived about a street away from this part of the world. My kids and I spent two weeks here. The beachfront here has altered. At that time my kids went to the little building on the beach on the right in this photo below and had some art lessons. They loved it.

I didn’t recognise the view at first with the big modern building. I vaguely recall being told it was a Museum.

There is a lot of development going on in that part of the world. It’s a shame to see the coastline getting built up with housing. I guess for the people who will live there, it will be great.

We drove past Sam’s school and it’s a great space. It sounds like there are some good people there too. Sam seems really fond of his integration aide and some of his teachers, which is good. I wish he was at my school, but the grounds at the school he attends are awesome.

I visited the Freo Market, mainly to check out the mosaics I remembered from my last visit. I wanted to take photo’s, but the sign said ‘No Photos’, so I chatted to the nice man and he gave me a few tips, which I know will help a lot and a nice postcard with their website: mosaicart, there are some great photos and links to other artists on the site. Nice story too!

I love my time with Jane. This was my fourth trip to WA. I would be happy to just sit at her kitchen table and drink coffee until it was a respectable time to have red or a beer. She is one of the few people I drink with. She is such a creative soul, her home is always beautiful and interesting and I always enjoy seeing the magic she creates in her space. We have been friends for such a long time and know each others history. It is very comfortable.

Because I can.
Comment, because YOU can.

Popularity: 7% [?]

2 comments , , , ,

Mosaics Teacher?

07/12/2007 Joh work

Next year I have been given an Integrated Projects class that consists of teaching students Mosaic tiling. I am not an art/technology trained teacher, although media studies was considered in the art stream when I did my course and I did those teaching rounds with an art teacher. The Art/Technology people definitely don’t consider me to be ‘one of them’. I am more confident teaching English. I have taught Humanities though and had no training at all in that area.

I am excited because this week two of the teachers are going to show me how to grout and what better project to grout than my unfinished mosaic table! So, no matter how this experiment (me teaching an arty subject) goes, I will have finally finished this project! That’s got to be good.

I enjoyed making the table and I love mosaics, so it could be fun from that perspective. It will no doubt be a learning curve and hopefully not too steep. I am confident that I will be supported by the teachers, because they are good people.

Because I can.
Comment, because YOU can.

Popularity: 2% [?]

No comments , ,

Women in Art on YouTube

27/05/2007 Joh film


This clip is amazing. So beautiful. If you go to YouTube, the creator has also made another similar clip on Women in Film. It’s mezmerising.

Because I can.
Comment, because YOU can.

Popularity: 4% [?]

No comments ,
« Older Entries