a trip to the Art Gallery NSW

There is nothing like a few lull days ... days of lull to finally have a good meeting and have time to chill in the park...even better when that park has a gallery. The Art Gallery NSW in the Domain in Sydney always seems to have quite an impact on me!

Colour is in total splendour there at the moment.
When you enter there are miniature colourful streamers hanging from the ceiling and they move with the presence of people, at least that's what I felt. It could be fans blowing them too, but the idea that when we walk we energise this colour is more thrilling.

Simple yet powerful displays of colours welcome you on entering the building and allowing yourself the time to consider these displays brings comfort to me.
They also seem quite contemporary, even in their reference or being taken from the passed. But bright, bold, controlled and playful dance and calmly relax our eyes.

But I failed to take many pictures of this-I may have to venture back.

Mulluming over it...

Jacqui Dean

Stumbling across the artwork of JACQUI DEAN was a very special occasion as not only did I have the up-close experience of viewing her tender and textured organic portraits but I also had the joy of meeting the photographer herself...and an entourage of her friends who look to her as a mentor as well as companion.
It was a Thursday and I had the evening off, which hadn't happened in too long a time.
So I had a date night with a gallery in Waterloo in Sydney - Danks Street - it is quite the artistic hub with a plethora of galleries ranging in styles as diverse as they come. One which caught my eye online was closing by the time I arrived so I wandered across the corridor. An inviting large glass window draws you in to a quiet and welcoming space.
With my face as close as possible to the beautifully captured monochromatic framed flowers and plants I heard light footsteps. While trying to unpuzzle the process of how these characters were brought to life and put on display a woman greets me as she sets out some wine glasses. She inquires if I am here for the opening. No - but I am so impressed to see such work that gives an insight into these plants and reminds me of etchings and charcoal trials of which I have endeavoured to capture. I ask if she knows how they are done. She does, as they are hers.
What an honour to meet the captor and creator of these seemingly simple but richly uncovered pieces.
I help put out some refreshments with her and learn about this fascinating woman, mainly her warmth and down to earth attitude, but her beauty and ability to capture beauty strongly pervade.
Her friends and students inform me of her talent, not that it was apparent in her work, but it just emphasised the high regard held for the artist as a person who has inspired and encouraged many.

I was looking forward to having more time with the pieces myself to examine these even closer, conjuring up my own ideas of how she expelled such quiet and strong pieces. Photography! She is a highly renowned photographer, winning multi-award Grand Master of Photography amongst her accolades. But these were black and white images not like I had seen before. There was such tonality and fine lineage of petals and leaves, it was a joy to witness. But she has her unique format of capturing these characters-not a camera- but an x-ray machine. That explains the extra bit of life that seems to ooze out of these flowers-they are not only examined externally but the detail comes from presenting them as a whole -with internal growing features. Looking around the room, however, is not like viewing plants alone but they appear as portraits, with each one having a personality, a history, an oddity about them.
I was truly inspired and loved the discussion with people on their preferred pieces-as interesting personal anecdotes were revealed.
Thank you JACQUI! It was more than an exhibition for me - while opening your doors and arms to me you also opened my eyes. I hope to capture that specialness, someday.

Don McCullis

Finding the most bizarre collection of tv shows aired here in Sydney a gem of a surprise was portrayed in an interview with Michael Parkinson who spoke with awe and honesty to Mr Don McCullin.
For a quietly spoken man, his ability to capture an audience is impressive, through words but more strikingly through his photographs. A humble man whose story is mainly conveyed through images from many wars over many decades in many parts of the world. He has a natural touch with the camera and often went out of his way to connect with people even if his life was at risk. He describes it almost as a duty rather than a job or a choice. Being present during such horrific incidences he finds a type of truth to show to the world, one where sorrow is everpresent.

In his later years he says it is the landscape that he is drawn to. The following image he admired for quite sometime but needed a figure to pass to make it come alive for him. There was a comparison made between these chimneys and the ones at the concentration camps. Even after war, the daily toil and hardship of people is evident. He gives us a sense that war continues in a more internal manner.

This last image is one that I have been familiar with for years but never knew the background to the character or the capturer. MCullin chose to take pictures of homeless people and document them through the Sunday Times. He spoke with these people and built up some rapport out of a deepset curiosity. Many of these people suffered from mental illness and seemed as if they were discarded and forgotten about. Sadly he compares today's younger homeless community with what used to be people of an older age. He slowed down while he described this man, he almost spoke quietly. It was like he was honoured to find him. He said that he looked at him with the bluest eyes and he gazed back. He found beauty and awe in him and I am so grateful he shared it.

Melbourne Abbotsford Convent...and other visual delights

So these are some pics of recent trip to Melbourne. I would recommend a visit to the Abbotsford convent
http://www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au/calendar /
https://www.facebook.com/AbbotsfordConvent. 
Intriguing environs for artists studios plus nice foody place n hang out areas in the surrounding gardens. Loved the buildings and some of the artists work almost had a haunting feeling about it. Some random shop windows, graffiti and had some yummy cheap pizza and beer in Bimbos...loved their uncanny dolls hanging from the ceilings...http://www.bimbodeluxe.com.au/