Autumn in NewActon

It has been a lovely autumn week in Canberra. We had sunny, warm days of 22 degrees celsius. The red and yellow leaves indicating the cooler nights and that the cooler days are approaching are really starting to put on their show. Plus a long weekend thrown into the mix with Easter at the beginning of the week. 

 

As the weather was so wonderful I took my work out of my home office and to the Parlour, Kendall Lane, New Acton. Fresh air, sunshine and a wonderful meal too.

To take a day off from your life

I have been reading the book I don't have time: 15-minute ways to shape a life you love by Emma Grey and Audrey Thomas. And yesterday I finally did Experiment 1: Excuse yourself from your life for a day.

It was the perfect day to take out for myself. My son was at work and my husband was still away on a business trip. I still had our dog child but that was okay.

So first order of the day I made myself a breakfast of bacon and eggs followed by a very very long shower (thank goodness we don't run out of hot water...besides my husband is away so I used his whole day's allotment of hot water in one shower).

I decided that part of my day would involve baking something. Well cheats baking. In our cupboard I have had a Gluten Free Betty Crocker Brownie mix for over a month. I hadn't cooked it earlier because I needed to buy a new square baking tin (my previous one was retired when I moved house last year). I'm pleased that I did a quick and easy recipe so I didn't have to clean up the kitchen afterwards. I have to say that they did taste a little different than normal because they were G.F. but the chocolate hit the spot. 
Mmm chocolate must surely be compulsory on a day for yourself.

 

The next thing I wanted to do was enjoy the beautiful Canberra autumn day that presented itself. The sky was a little overcast but mostly sunny with a slight breeze in the air. I moved the furniture on the balcony to a position that I could fully appreciate the fine weather. I then treated myself by using my Royal Albert April tea cup, saucer and cake plate and my Duchess Tea Pot, because I deserve it. I then made myself a wonderful pot of Special Earl Grey tea with real tea leaves. 

I know that above there is a photo that includes Jay our dog and that I said that I couldn't see me blogging about him unless he was included in my work for some reason. Well here is Jay!

On my 11th floor balcony I had time to enjoy;

• the book I am reading
• and to listen to Janet Seidel's album Doris and Me

Following this my sister popped in for some tea/coffee, to eat the brownies and to have a chat.

The day was getting on but as I had no schedule, other than dog walks, I thought I'd go and get lunch at Parlour but it was closed :( Instead I took the opportunity to introduce myself to the new exhibition artist, Luke Chiswell. What a lovely young man. We talked about his art and the influences upon his art. 

This was followed by a late lunch 1:30pm at Twenty One Cafe where I had a scrummy lunch of chicken schnitzel. Another photo of things I don't usually blog about...a photo of my restaurant food.

I had a late afternoon walk around NewActon with Jay enjoying the last hour or two of the warm autumn weather. I took a few photos of the autumn colours and collected leaves for an artwork I am thinking about creating.

 

As it is a day just for me I had a short afternoon nap. In the early evening I played the piano badly including the songs; We've Got Tonight, Groovy Kind of Love, Take My Breath Away andBeauty and the Beast. 

At sunset I took some photos of the view from our balcony.

 

To finish off the day I watched the movie The Theory of Everything, the one about Stephen Hawking. All I can say is wow!

It was fabulous, freeing, relaxing day.

Exhibition Opening: Borrow Tomorrow by Luke Chiswell

Tonight was the opening night of Luke Chiswell's solo exhibition, Borrow Tomorrow. The exhibition is being held at the Nishi Gallery NewActon, ACT from 7 April to 7 May 2017.

That Feeling I've Forgotten.

I first came across Chiswell's art with his sculpture, Hold Your Head Up, at an earlier exhibition, Shake It Up. 

Hold Your Head Up.

Chiswell's work calls to me to look at it and then to take another closer look at it. Maybe it is the familiar materials juxtaposed with familiar memories that create something new. 

Tonight the gallery was abuzz with discussions about the artworks, Chiswell's techniques and the artistic influences upon his work. Viewers were wishing that they had the wall space to hang his large artwork Today is Tomorrow, 160 x 210. 

In the exhibition Borrow Tomorrow Chiswell uses materials from his home town of Collector, NSW. The materials are very familiar to me having grown up on the bush fringes of Canberra and the family hobby farm near Bredbo, NSW. 

Squiggy Gumtree and Me.

Chiswell has incorporated natural materials of; wood, yellow box ash, Collector dirt and rocks with acrylics, muslin and epoxy to create very interesting abstract artworks. Some of the artworks are very raw, earthy and industrially dark whereas others defy gravity. 

Rite time. Rite Place.

I wonder if Chiswell has ever been influenced by some of my favourite artists;  René Magritte, Salvador Dali, Anselm Kiefer, Mark Rothko and Rosalie Gascoigne. 
(I spoke to Luke Chiswell the day after opening night and he said that one of his influences was Christo, the artist who wraps objects and landscapes.)

However, I believe that Chiswell's work is new and exciting, it is an "exploration of objects with space, abstracting perception and scale." (Exhibition catalogue). 

Sunset At Night Shepherds Delight.

Chiswell's works call to be touched, if only you were allowed, they are textural. You can see how Chiswell's fingers have glided through the paint and Collector dirt (see That Feeling I've Forgotten). 

Please make sure that you visit the Nishi Gallery in NewActon to see Luke Chiswell's fabulous artworks. I will be keeping my ear to the ground and eyes on social media looking for his next exhibition. 

To see more about Luke Chiswell see his Facebook page.

Shake It Up Exhibition

Shake It Up exhibition opening night at Nishi Gallery, New Acton.
Thought provoking art, great emcee Sheba Williams and a hilarious song from Yana Alana about a pussy with one life. 

Sheba Williams

Artists exhibiting in this exhibition include;
Sanne Kowlwmij, Franki Sparke, Josh Owen, Clare Jackson, Luke Chiswell, Mei Wilkinson, Eve Austin White, S.A.Adair, Amy Campbell, Sian Watson, Dionisia Salas, Cathy Laudenbach, Cole Bennetts and Jeanette Vonthethoff
Below is a sample of the artworks. 

 Hold Your Head Up by Luke Chiswell

 Reverb by S.A. Adair

Lampooned by Cole Bennetts and Jeanette Vonthethoff

Fabulous Architecture.

After walking around the Acton precinct for six months and several times a day yesterday I finally noticed the pole made to look like a tree.

Balcony Studio

This is where my drawing for the 52-week Illustration Challenge began this week. My balcony studio in the city!

‘Coincidences’ Exhbitition Opening

‘Coincidences’ Opening

Exhibition by John Wardle Architects
@ Nishi Gallery, New Acton until Friday, 17 February 2017

Wow what a wonderful and inspiring exhibition of photography, art and models exploring the buildings of the firm John Wardle Architects. The exhibition brings together so many fields of creativity. I could resit buying their light but comprehensive book "This Building Likes Me".

Great to see some of the National Centre for Australian Children's Literature Board Members at the opening plus a few CBCA Members too. Another link to lovers of creativity.

John Wardle

NCACL Board Members - Belle, Julie, John and Peter