Autumn at Work and Play

It's nearly winter, but the spot where I sit at work to have my lunch is still peaceful and scenic.

The duathlon kit for Him Outdoors has arrived, so I made him model it for me in the kitchen (and the hallway).

I went to the National Art Gallery to see the Gaughin exhibition, but also viewed some other art while there.

 

There is an installation called Te Paepae Aora'i - Where the Gods Cannot Be Fooled, which weaves together historical collections from the National Gallery of Australia with contemporary works from the SaVĀge K'lub collective.

The SaVĀge K'lub, conceived by artist and scholar Rosana Raymond in 2010 refers to the gentleman's club of the same name established in London during the nineteenth century. The capitalisation of VĀ privileges the Samoan notion of vā, a relational space between people and things central to Moana-based creative practices and protocols: primarily honouring the relationships formed during art-making. 

 

I like these fashion pieces, whose designer features definitely constitute art.

The seated IV draws on the artist's Kenyan heritage and experience as a migrant to the United States of America to explore the female form across many traditions. The gold disc that emerges from the figure's forehead - polished to take in light and reflect the viewer - resembles the lip adornments traditionally worn by women of status in East Africa. The seated IV is one of four caryatid-like female digures, originally created for the niches on the facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which celebrate the power and potential of women.

The Seated IV (2019) by Wangechi Mutu

Outside the front of the building is a colourful work of acrylic and steel in a response to the Gaughin exhibition and celebration of the partnership between Mazda Australia and Art Exhibition Australia.

The notes for Colour in Motion, Mazda Australia read, "Paul Gaughin's work displays vivid colours brought to life through the radiant natural light of the Pacific. Mazda's Kodo design philosophy uses the power of light to create motion in every vehicle, even when still. Every curve crafted to draw out a depth of colour that changes with the light around it. 

"As you wander through the activation explore the way colour moves, shifts and creates new shades. Throughout the day, you'll notice how the natural movement of the sun casts unique reflections, making every moment its own creation." 

I had a fun evening out with the cast members of Dead Man's Cell Phone, where we played games, drank cocktails and talked of many things including relationships and dating apps. Here are a couple of the cast looking at what is 'out there' in terms of on-line connections.

In the morning we walked out to breakfast at Two Before Ten

And later in the day, we played with the cats in the sunshine.

Food and Drink Reflections

Just because I love Belgian beer and reflections, and we had the right glass and lighting conditions.

Another weekend; another fancy breakfast - going out for breakfast with Him Outdoors after accomplishing domestic tasks is one of my small pleasures at the weekend.

Our friend's daughter turned 21 and, in that way that people do in a community, we were invited to her birthday bash where there was pink, cake, and fluffy dresing gowns. It's winter and it's cold. Also, young people today... Happy Birthday!

Dirty Janes and Half-Cooked

One of our friends, Emma Dryden, is in a band called Half-Cooked. We like her and think she is very talented, so we went along to the Pot Belly to see her in her latest project. The photos are very blurry, but I think they give enough of the vibe for you to get the picture (do you see what I did there?).

Him Outdoors was ruuning a race at One Tree Hill, so I went along to be supportive wifey and to get some fresh air and exercise myself.  

Later in the weekend, we went out to Fyshwick to get some shopping and we enjoyed a trip to Dirty Janes. I haven't been to this place before, but it is a huge warehouse full of vintage treasures. Nearly 100 stallholders offer collectibles, antiques, homewares, furniture and clothing. One could spend the whole day here, pottering about and viewing what's on offer. We browsed for a short while and then had breakfast at the adjacent Salter's Cafe.

I also read about the namesake of the place. Although there is no explanation for the missing apostrophe, this is her story:

'Dirty' Jane Dumphrey was born in the back half of a two-room stone cottage in Northern Ireland. She came screaming into the world as chickens pecked the room's dirt floor, and her father, the local rag and bone man, was miles from home in his pony cart.

By age five, Jane had joined her fathter on his run, taking over by the age of nine. She learned to spot valuable items to turn a profit and charm the locals into parting with precious things in exchange for hard-to-find clothing.

By her fifteenth birthday, both Jane's parents were buried in a pauper's grave, and the squire had claimed her home. She walked to Belfast with a bundle under her arm and what littleshe had sewn into the hem of her skirt.

Jane found a place in a poor house where the stout English owner expected equal quantities of cleanliness and godliness in every boarder. Jane's quick aptitude found favour with Mrs Fahrney, and she soon gained a position as a scullery maid in a good doctor's house. 

The doctor's house was grand, Jane spent months blacking the hearths and polishing the silver until she met Bill, a man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Bill persuaded Jane to steal some rare treasures from the doctor's collection. To cut a long story short, Jane was caught by the doctor's butler, presented to the bailiff and 'hung out to dry'.

Jane was found guilty of stealing a carved ostrich egg and transported to Australia on the Surrey I with 27 other female convicts, arriving on the 13th of July 1840. On the voyage to Sydney, Jane served the captain and his wife. George Sinclair sensed a quiet determination in Jane. He sent her with a letter of introduction to his cousin Tom Gully who owned the local general store at the trading outpost of Gundagai.

When the young orphan arrived on his doorstep, she was caked in so much mud from her 240-mile journey he immediately christened her 'Dirty Jane'. Over the years, Jane worked for Mr Gully, learning to order stock and keep shop. She helped Mr Gully identify the valuable knick-knacks customers brought in to trade for basic commodities. Tragedy arrived in 1852 when the mighty Murrumbidgee flooded, taking Tom's life. Good man that he was, he left his business to Jane.

'Dirty Jane', as she was known, continued to run the prosperous general store, buying and selling all things brought to her from local and outlying communities. Something here at Dirty Janes we are very proud to carry on.

On the 13th of May 1883, 'Dirty Jane' died of old age.