I have three pieces in the upcoming 40 x 40 Art Prize exhibition. It is so named because all submissions must be at a maximum 40 x 40 x40 cm including frames.
From left to right: Bonsai Tigers; The Resort at Al Biqa; Carmen.
paper collage on paper
29.7 x 21 each unframed*
40 x 40 2015 Art Prize
14 December 2015 - 16 January 2016
Opening Drinks and Prize announcements, 18 December 2015, from 6pm - 9pm Brunswick Street Gallery 322 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 3065
Gallery Tues–Friday 10–8pm
Sat–Sun 10–6pm
info@bsgart.com.au
*Available to purchase in white frames measuring 39.5 x 32.
Whale head on head of impaled figure. The first kanji character is part of the word whale or whaling, the last one might mean strength but I can't figure out more than that.
For those interested, you can see my other drawings from David Bowie Is, as well as my other creative output, on my instagram here. I don't always do Follow for Follows but I try to make the time to Like for Likes :)
You can download a free David Bowie album from a selection of about 6 with your ACMI David Bowie Is card. Okay. I should have expected that I couldn't fill some of the gaps in my collection with a free download of The Man Who Sold the World, Lodger etc. You want me to buy those Bowie? That is fine! I completely understand. I've been twice and a nice couple - who said they have all of his albums - gave me theirs so I had four to redeem.
Or so I thought.
You can only redeem one album this way per Google Play account. Oops. I chose Earthling. Well played, sir. The promotion cards claim that 'David Bowie is all yours' but clearly he isn't! It's more accurately 'David
Bowie is pimping his new album and bumping his less popular works up the
Google Play charts' or more simply 'David Bowie is savvy'.
'I'm Afraid of Americans' is an epic song. It's in my top ten of favourite Bowie songs. I friggin' LOVE it. I saw the clip for the first time on Monday and thought that was clever too. A pity about the rest of that album - I am not a fan of drum-and-bass, it sounds a bit samey after a few songs IMHO - but maybe I'll grow to like it!
As for the exhibition itself:
No photography permitted, is not just signed but verbally instructed to every visitor. I have seen some sneaky mobile phone images online because some take this as a challenge to rise to rather than respecting Bowie's wishes. Why take a crappy pic on your phone to share on social media when the catalogue is filled with beautifully shot images of all the artifacts (and a very interesting collection of essays to boot)? Why not just enjoy the experience rather than have proof you were there in a selfie? If it means that much to you, buy the book/postcard.
It took me all afternoon to visit the show on my first visit and I had _no_ intention of drawing that time! As you can see above I did do some drawing as an artistic challenge on my second visit. I read every label, listened to everything sound bite, watched almost every clip! Luckily that was on a Wednesday a couple of weeks after it first opened with few other people. On Monday there was quite a few people, with lines to view artifacts, so I didn't worry about consuming everything. I had to be considerate about where I placed myself to draw. What I love about drawing is that it makes you really look at things. You appreciate the form and detail of a thing to a level you would not absorb if you merely looked at it. I thought I knew his face but it was only after drawing from one of his life cast masks - they are dotted on seemingly random mannequins throughout the exhibition - that I knew it best.
It was wonderful to see so many iconic, unique costumes and finely designed outfits in the fibre. To think the great man himself once wore these and defined a moment in time was awesome...
I had no idea he was such a talented mime, that he was so involved in all parts of his output, such a diligent, organised individual. I love that he kept all of these things, because either he's an organised hoarder or he knew that one day they would be of interest to other people. Probably both! It was a special treat to see the creative process in the material form of Bowie's song writing, on all sorts of paper with corrections and ch, ch, changes.
With almost constant sound and vision - I turned the sound down, took my head phones off or unplugged them because it was sometimes too much - it was an intense experience and I needed a nap after both visits!
Thank you to David Bowie for having the foresight to keep all of these things carefully, the wisdom to engage a collection curator to catalogue them, and the professionalism to approach the V&A Museum with said catalogue and offer free reign to tell your story in the best possible way through The David Bowie Archive. It was not wanting in detail or breadth!
This is the first of a series of posts showcasing street art seen at an abandoned warehouse in the western suburbs of Melbourne. I had the opportunity to explore this place over a year ago now, but the task of getting so many interesting images ready for the web was a bit daunting! The nine part series will automatically post weekly, until just before Christmas. Enjoy!
Setting the scene. There were many holes in the ground connected up to drainage. The warehouse was a former jeans factory. The last post in this series will highlight some of the architecture.
Back in daylight savings time, when I feel up to it after work, I take a detour on the way home down the docklands path. Here is some street art I saw in October last year. It was painted over within a month of these images.
Unusually these were done with oil pastel.
Adjacent to a coloured oil pastel drawing was some texta work by another artist.
'Dolphins sleep with one eye open' as should the future owner of this little treasure at the op shop. There may even be gripping of a pillow while those flaccid, blue intestines/waves lurk in the mind's eye.
'I tried the new basil stir through pesto tonight. It was awful from the first mouthful. I had to add other things to it to make my dinner palatable. I wish I had just made my own pesto like I usually do. This pesto of yours is sweet and pesto should not be sweet at all.
There should not be any sugar in a pesto. Traditional recipes don't have it. As a refridgerated product you certainly don't need it. Even the non-refridgerated jars of pestos on the market aren't remotely sweet. Your product has over two teaspoons of sugar in each tub. That's more than most people put in a coffee. That's also more than there is salt and garlic in your product. Utterly wrong!
Unlike your other products, I would not buy or recommend this product to anyone.'
[edit 27/4/2015] To compensate for my unsatisfactory gastronomical experience, the manufacturer has offered to send me a coupon for the supermarket of my chosing.
No Fuss Pasta Pesto
I've made pesto for pasta enough times to be able to just throw it together without measurements, knowing it will be delicious. It's usually ready before my pasta is!
Cobble together these ingredients to a taste and texture you like, grinding in your mortar and pestle in the following order :
Fresh basil leaves - also works with fresh oregano, roughly chopped, about a handful to serve two
Freshly ground salt and pepper
Garlic cloves - roughly chopped
Pinenuts or other nuts - I usually have salted, roasted cashews on hand so I reduce the ground salt added. Peanuts also work well.
Now, get a little rubber or silicone spatula - never a metal implement, it will scratch the mortar- and mix in:
Parmesan cheese - traditionally, but whatever hard cheese you have to hand will do in a pinch
Olive oil - enough to turn the mixture into a paste
All you need is a mortar and pestle and you too can make your own. Yes
you can do it in a processor but I suspect it will be a little different
because you're cutting rather than crushing the ingredients. I
recommend a granite mortar and pestle with a 12cm diameter on the mortar's inner bowl.
It seems to be the optimum size: for speedy results on a good quantity; by not being too
cumbersome to pick up off the bench and cradle if that's how you wish to grind; being easy to
gently put in the sink and manipulate to wash. Always hand wash. Dark granite is better than marble
because it won't stain.
Fruit punch 'recipe'. Like most party punch, this was cobbled together to taste and it did please my guests muchly.
In a punch bowl or similar combine the following:
Ginger wine infused with cinnamon*
Apple juice
Diet dry ginger ale
Soda water to reduce sweetness if needed
Muddled apple mint leaves
*In a clean bottle or jar, place 2 cups of ginger wine with a whole stick of cinnamon. Store in a dark place to infuse for about a month.
I have adapted more than one online falafel recipe to arrive at one of my own. It was so popular at my last party that I promised to share the recipe with my guests. It went as follows:
Oven Baked Falafels
Ingredients
2 cups dried chickpeas
1 small brown onion, roughly chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley,
3-5 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tbsp flour
1 3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
a pinch of ground cardamon
1 1/2 tbsp tahini
sesame seeds to garnish or roll in to taste
olive oil (optional)
Method
Soak the chickpeas overnight in cold water.
Drain well.
Combine all ingredients in a food processor.
Set aside for 30 minutes to develop flavours.
Preheat oven to 220°C.
Line two baking trays with baking paper.
Use a teaspoon to scoop mixture, and roll into slightly flattened balls. Place directly onto baking paper - or onto a plate first if you're not sure about spacing.
Garnish with a pinch of sesame seeds - gently pat into the surface on top. Or, roll in sesame seeds if you are that way inclined!
Optional: spray lightly with olive oil. I use a refillable atomiser. The oil adds extra flavour and helps them brown up nicely, but you will still get a reasonable result without it.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve hot with dips. Hommus, tzatziki and aioli are harmonious combinations with these falafels.
Serve cold in a vegetarian/salad sandwich in place of meat.
Can be frozen.
Why is Mr Happy so? Did he help the others to freedom via The Claw and this altruism warmed his little yellow cockles? Is it because he is finally alone and has some space to himself? Is it because it's all about him now and he loves that? The mind boggles.
Denim on denim is distressing whilst someone might be auditioning for a dwarf role in the Hobbit. No visible neck, bushy beard and stumpy looking legs check!
