Breaking the rules... all of them.

The Blue Window - Matisse

How many times have you told yourself "Well I guess that's how it's done" only to 

find out that in fact there are so many other ways to "get it done"

Anna Zborowska - Amedeo Modigliani

How many times have you felt like standing up in front of the crowd and yelling

"You're all WRONG!!"

The Park - Gustav Klimt

How many times have you stumbled upon a brilliant idea and then

sabotaged it within seconds ... usually by just ignoring it and not acting upon it

The Olive Trees - Vincent Van Gogh

Have you ever found yourself defending your viewpoint and then 

realising "Hang on! This a VIEWPOINT... how can I be wrong??"

Church at Murnau - Wassily Kandinsky

What about those days when you begin creating and the world just melts away...

....minutes turn to hours and you forget to eat your lunch....

... the light dims outside but your eyes are adjusting so you don't notice...

Road near L'Estaque - Georges Braque

.... then someone walks in and turns a light on and you realise that time

has stood still for you and that, for even just a few moments... you had melted into

the canvas of life and fused with all the other beautiful colours...

Illumined Pleasures - Salvador Dali

... but the dishes are dirty, but that idea has had it's day, but there's no time, 

but I don't have the money, but... but... but.....

La Goulue at the Moulin - Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

In times of crisis they say we humans either fight or fly

I happen to think that some of the greatest art comes from these moments of crisis...

I still use brushes - Arman Pierre Fernandez

... and then what we see on the canvas, in the photo, within the statue...

Untitled 1980  - Cindy Sherman

.. is a symbol of flying or fighting...

Rocks Upon The Beach Upon the Rocks - Lawrence Weiner

I make so many mistakes when i'm creating and very often

when I look back on my previous works I realise I was my harshest

critic. Art has no boundaries people. Therefore it has to include the mistakes.

Repository - George Brecht

The greats knew... KNOW... this. 

An innate sense of what it is to express you're authentic itself

without caution nor concern for what the observer may say or do...

Self Playing Violin - Laurie Anderson

... a desperate drive to make, build, paint, sculpt, write, sew, 

speak, film, play... breathe the art that needs to be seen...

Elizabeth - Chuck Close

... that's the purest form of magic I have ever seen...

Colorado Springs, Colorado - Robert Adams

FACT: The greats broke the rules...

ALL of them.

Untitled - Urs Fischer 

My trip to the state gallery to see a guest exhibition

"Van Gogh, Dali and Beyond - The world reimagined"

had me in utter, speechless awe. 

Exquisitely curated and thoughtfully assigned it presented

works by well known and lesser known artists who all shared

a valuable common thread. The fine gossamer line of rebellion.

The "in your face" flip of the middle finger.

The careful, shy and deliberate thumbing of the nose.

The disdain for the norm.

The rules learnt, then shunned, then broken.

Peoples I cannot begin to sum up this exhibition and as for the photos taken

with my camera... well they are just token.

I will however, leave you with a note on the third last image.

The portrait by a man called Chuck Close.

A man who suffers from Prosopagnosia

Also known as Face Blindness.

Yes... you read correctly... a portrait artist who struggles to recognise

faces (and remember them even when he does) decided to paint portraits. 

A man who, at one point, threw away all his 

tools in order to force himself to undertake artistic challenges

he knew he had no facility for.

And ... wait for it... 

A man who in 1988 suffered a seizure which left him paralysed

from the neck down.

A man who now paints with his brush taped to his wrist.

*******

Today peoples let's all try something new...

....let's honour the greats...

Those who walked the walk before us, faced the 

ridicule and then turned around and taught us all a valuable lesson...

Break the rules... all of them.

Catch up....

It's school holidays!! oh me oh my I could not be happier ... my boy is just as excited....

farewell year eight.... hello summer fun....

....milkshakes and cake at Sherbet in Maylands.... best cakes in town by a mile....

stormy weather so late in the year... loving it of course....

.... porcelain knobs... i'm obsessed ... i think i've posted that image before but who cares right?..

responsible snacking ... just to balance out the decadence... 

and last but not least... in fact more than than most.... the Art of Michelle ... my birds arrived today... 

...... they make me sooooooo happy..... ♥♥♥

To drink or not to drink....

For your information the following statements are frivolous "ponderings and musings"

When the word drink or drinking is used it refers specifically to alcoholic beverages 

and lastly, (but not leastly) I love a good G&T by the pool as much as the next person. 

Just so you know.

To drink or not to drink. That is the question. 

Have you ever had anyone tease you or goad you into drinking?

Have you ever had anyone keep pouring when you've already said "thats' enough"

Have you ever had anyone ask you why you're not drinking - with an undertone of sheer confusion?

Have you ever had anyone say "yeah but you gotta live life don't you?" 

(as though by not drinking you'll simply stop breathing)

I have recently taken a hiatus from drinking. 

Reasons - health mostly. 

Responses from most people - completely supportive.

Responses from some - downright amusing.... 

"Why? What's wrong?" 

"Oh well done you... I couldn't do that"

"Do you miss it?"

"Well that's no fun now is it"

"I tried that once"

"What are you... a girl?" 

Now let me be honest here and say that not all these remarks were made to me. I've heard some made to other people and some made to Hubby when he's been the designated driver. I realise Australians are big drinkers, we love a "beer at the barbie" and we are the proud producers of some amazing wines. However, last I checked alcohol was still considered a drug, yes? We've come a looooong way further with smoking. In fact if you want to feel like an outcast take up smoking and move to Australia peoples. It's not allowed ANYwhere. So it's amazing to me that we aren't more open to the idea of NOT drinking. It's like it's a kind of "given" and it seems to be woven so deeply into the fabric of our social lives that by abstaining we look like a great big dropped stitch... just sitting there.... with our iced tea... Hmmmm. 

What are your thoughts peoples? 

Have you ever taken a break from drinking?

How would you feel if you had to give it up?

Do you know anyone who does not drink at all? 

* Brilliant images by artist Leah Tinari

Please note - I have not chosen Leah's work in order to suggest that it negates or supports 

alcohol consumption ... I just loved the work.

Kalamunda ... my town

I've always wanted to call Kalamunda home - well for as long

as we've lived in Western Oz anyway. 

Hubby and I imagine it

to be the closest thing to living in an English Village as possible.

You have a "green" you have "history" and you 

have a very cute pub.

As you drive into town you are greeted by Stirk Park.

Filled with the most stunning Euculypts, Maples and Poplars

(I am obsessed with Poplars)

It undergoes

the most magical transformations every season. 

Upon approaching the town centre, you are 

greeted by our iconic "Gum-nut" fountain.

I L♥ve (with a CAPITAL L) it when a

community see the worth in spending money 

on items of beauty. 

Commissioned by the Smiths Sculptors it

perfectly reflects what Kalamunda is known for....

Nature .... Trees ... Water ... Greenery 

& of course Beauty.

The park has a small amphitheatre...

(not very cleary shown in this photo but if you 

look closely you can see the roofline)

We host an annual event called Jazz in the Park 

as well as a number of festivals

 and smaller concerts.

Most of the time though it's 

filled with locals of all ages relaxing, 

sharing a picnic, feeding the ducks

 or dozing under a tree.

(on this particular morning it registered

 only 2 degrees outside  - so nobody 

lazing around just yet)

This cottage plays a significant role in our

towns history and we now have a

History Village which details 

a number of our community's milestones

and listed buildings.

I paid a little visit to our History Village and

I loved it. But more of that in another post.

The sun has emerged and methinks I need

to grab my novel, a rug and a thermos.

There's a Poplar with my name on it.

****

Here's to a cracking week peoples.

Wishing you all bundles of Monday energy and

for all you Mums who are sending kids back to school

(if you're anything like me)

Hang in there ... next holidays are only 66 sleeps away!

If you are of the ilk that desperately longs for school holidays

to come to an end ... well then all I can say is ... Boo to you.

Nah just kidding  - I only have one child (who by all

accounts can dress himself now) so I can empathise if

you have a larger litter and you're ready for a break :-) 

xx