Scenic World Stage 3

This week has been busy to stay the least, including as it did a 'quick' trip to Katoomba for the opening. The opening was very pleasant, following a twilight (let's say dark) walk around the boardwalk where the sculptures were placed. There are some really great sculptures included and it would have been good to get another look at them in the daylight, but time didn't allow for that. This time we went down to the valley floor on the train, which basically travels vertically down and through the cliff face to the bottom of the board walk.

 

The opening was the usual pleasant and civilised wine and nibblies event. I was very impressed by Senator Doug (someone) who gave the opening speech (in a gorgeous Irish accent), during which he asserted that he became a politician to try to make life better, and that means focussing on things like art and the environment, not just economics. According to Senator Doug, economics is not what makes life better. I know of a certain Qld politician or two that could do with a bit of time in Senator Doug's presence.

 

The following morning I had a kids workshop where they made their own little worlds in jars and here are some of the results:

 

The down side of it all was the travel. In the space of 36 hours I spent 2 hours on a total of 4 trains, 3 hours on planes and a whopping six hours driving from Sydney to Katoomba and back. Silly me...I figured two hours would be sufficient to drive the 90kms from Katoomba to Sydney, but not being a Sydney person, I couldn't really predict the Sydney traffic. Turns out it takes 3 hours, on a good day, half of which is getting from Paramatta to Mascot. Ridiculous. Before you raise your eyebrows, I didn't get lost, not once. There is just a ridiculous volume of traffic on ridiculously inadequate roads.  So Sydneysiders, you can have that all to yourself. Nett result for me that I missed my flight and had to pay for another to get back to Vegas.

 

Anyway, will be driving back at the end of May to collect it all again, after which I will happily stay put for a while. By then, though, it is estimated that in excess of 55,000 people will visit Sculpture at Scenic World (it is apparently the 3rd most visited attraction in Australia) and if you live in Sydney, I do expect you to make the pleasant 6 hour round trip to see it!

Scenic World Stage 2

Stage 2 involved a very long and slightly arduous road trip to and from Katoomba, with 2 days of install sandwiched between. All of the pieces got there in basically one piece and are now hanging in the rainforest on the floor of the Jamieson Valley. I am pretty happy with the result, but it has been huge, and I am exhausted. Shame I have to go back to work on Monday.

These first three pics give you an idea of the location: 1. view from the cable car looking up to Katoomba, 2. view out over the valley and 3. looking down to the bottom station from the cable car.

 

 

I think I was pretty fortunate that we had good weather for the install. Standing in the rainforest for 9 hours was hard enough, but add some rain and it would have been horrible. Fortunately, Scenic World employs install teams and the pictures below include some of them - it was their job to climb and wrap the trees so that the sculptures make as little impact as possible. The pics start with the works on the boardwalk waiting for install, and continue to the end result.

 

 

Stage 3 is to return to Katoomba next week for the opening and to run a kid's workshop. More photos then.

Scenic World Stage 1

Okay, so ages ago I told you about my acceptance into the annual Scenic World Sculpture exhibition, which is held (funnily enough) at Scenic World, Katoomba. Stage 1 is to make the damn work, which is titled Elimatta, an aboriginal word meaning 'Our Home'. It consists of 20 little worlds in glass containers which will be hung from trees as a cluster in the forest. Stage 1 is done, Stage 2 commences on Saturday when we head off to Katoomba to install. Freaking out a little bit. Aside from the distance and inconvenience to my family, I am worried about the stuff breaking and not being easy to hang, etc. But then I have been freaking out pretty thoroughly for the last few weeks, struggling to get the thing done according to rules about not interfering with the forest too much and juggling that with an assignment due for Uni.

Anyway, I will endeavour to update you with all it all as it progresses, and there will also be updates on the Scenic World Website. In the meantime, here are some photos of some of the pieces:

 

 

 

 

Master of Arts

Really chuffed to have been accepted into the Masters program at USQ. Does the confidence no end of good to get a 'yes' now and again!

I will obviously be studying it by distance (a decision made to fit around work). I am excited to get into some of my favourite topics in life; in particular that whole metaphysics thing. A welcome and timely change from the institutional thinking that is (despite my best efforts) starting to infiltrate the grey matter. Yes, now I will really sound like a looney talking about all sorts of existential ideas, and yes, I plan to inflict it on you good folk!

 

 

Memories of the Coast

It is already 2 weeks since we got back from a week's holiday at Caloundra. Of course that was before the big wet and starting back at work, so it is quickly becoming a faded turquoise memory. So am posting a couple of photos that will no doubt inspire some art work at some stage. This is the osprey; its magnificence totally lost on itself, but not on me. I was able to observe the pair who are long time residents of the King's Beach area going about their daily business.

Pretty happy with this photo.

 

popping in for a bite to eat

gives a new meaning to a takeaway fish lunch



wading cousins



Director's Cut - Blake Prize

You may or may not recall that a piece I did was selected to be in the Director's Cut of the Blake Prize (ie shortlisted but not selected as a finalist). The gallery is now on line and you can visit by clicking on the link:  Blake Director's Cut

Blake Director's Cut

Another Rock Pool

This piece is called Heartbreak Hotel. Complete whimsy, but the result reminds of some post-apocalytpic world I have read about in some novel or other. Where else would you ride sharks to picnic at a deserted and flooded building?