Weekend of Culture

Sight for Sore Eyes came to stay with us for a weekend - it was mainly for the theatre that we had lined up, but we packed in some other cultural activities too, such as the sculpture garden of the National Art Gallery, where I take all the best people for visits.

Detail from The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin

The following work is new to me - it was created for the Biennale of Sydney 2012. According to their website, "Cal Lane's industrial doilies play upon juxtaposition by transforming industrial objects... The works highlight an unexpected relationship between the delicate patterns of lace, carved into an expanse of steel... The choice of lace patterns brings an additional dimension to the work, referring to ritual and religion, and hinting at lace's metaphorical capacity to both expose and conceal." In an artist statement, Cal Lane wrote, 

"I like to work as a visual devil's advocate, using contradiction as a vehicle for finding my way to an empathetic image, an image of opposition that creates a balance, as well as a clash, by comparing and contrasting ideas and materials. I am interested in pulling together industrial and domestic life as well as relationships of strong and delicate, masculine and feminine, practicality and frivolity, ornament and function. I have always been interested in embracing the very thing that repels me in order to understand it. I prefer to make sense of things, or in order to suspend (or pass) judgement."

Domesticated Turf by Cal Lane

Hill Arches by Henry Moore

Cones by Bert Flugelman

Although I have been here many times before, I have never previously been to visit the 'skyspace' by American artist, James Turrell. A 'skyspace' is a viewing chamber designed to affect the way we see the sky. Sight for Sore Eyes and I walked inside the pyramid to a pool surrounding a dome. Inside the dome are benches on which to sit while looking up at the sky through a circular opening in the roof. It's all rather discombobulating watching the patterns created by the light, clouds and water. Apparently at dusk and dawn the chamber is lit with a cycle of colours timed to interact with the changing sky. We didn't wait for either, but I will return.

 

Within without by James Turrell

From within Within without 

We also went to see the exhibition Story Time: Australian Children's Literature at the National Library of Australia. Not growing up here, I wasn't exposed to many of these books as a child, but I have seen several since and learned to love the characters. It seems to me that Aussie animals such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats and emus are uniquely suited to be the subjects of stories for children. 

Final artwork for Koala Lou, Written by Mem Fox - Pamela Lofts

We saw Shakespeare in Love at the Canberra Theatre Centre with outstanding acting, writing, direction, sets, costume, lighting, sound and every element of production done just so. I proper loved it.

"It will be alright in the end." "How will it?" "I don't know; it's a mystery."

Oh, and of course, because it's us, there was food. Here are some photos of our breakfasts from Dobinsons and Rocksalt.  

Sight for Sore Eyes with waffles

Eggs on toast (with salmon side)

Sight for Sore Eyes with Shakshuka

Rocksalt breakfasts with Corned Beef Hash in the foreground

As we walked back to the house we passed one of these cute street libraries that I like so much. 

And we rounded off her visit with drinks with friends on the patio in our back garden. Cheers! Do come again. 

Melbourne and More

For date night this week, I chose the fixed orienteering course around Weston Park. We walked around with our maps looking for the orange and white markers - see Him Outdoors helpfully pointing them out. Okay, those who know me well can now pick themselves up from the floor after incredulous laughter. 

We rewarded ourselves with bubbles and fish and chips from Snapper on the Lake.

The gang-gang cockatoo is a beautiful bird with mostly grey plumage and a red head and crest for the males. It ranges throughout south-eastern Australia - mainly in cool, wet forests and woodlands - and is the faunal emblem of the ACT. I spotted a couple in a tree right outside my window at work. I particularly like this tidbit from Wikipedia: 'It is easily identified by its distinctive call, which is described as resembling a creaky gate, or the sound of a cork being pulled from a wine bottle.'

And we had a trip to Melbourne to see some theatre and catch up with my dear friend, Sight for Sore Eyes.

Cocktails at a rooftop bar with Sight for Sore Eyes

As well as cocktails, there was breakfast.

Breakfast time at Higher Ground

Ricotta hotcake, maple syrup, seeds and grains, seasonal fruit, flowers

Walnut granola, buffalo yoghurt, rooftop honey, seasonal fruit, native riberry

Minced lamb fry-up, miso eggplant, fried eggs, barberries, smoked yoghurt, pine nut dukkah, sourdough

From the Plated and Sated series at Higher Ground

We walked through Melbourne centre and along the river to the art gallery. I love the public sculpture that is everywhere in this city. 

We went to a mind-bending (and very busy) Escher exhibition, about which, more later. I can spend much longer in art galleries than some, so I looked at the artwork at my leisure, leaving the other two to their own devices - these devices turned out to be the pop-up bar in the square outside selling Stomping Ground beers. The decor of the setting and the design of the cans was all extremely colourful and summery.

We went back to the hotel for a quick nap and a freshen up - I was pleased to see this considerate advice left on the bedside table. 

Keep away from small children - I do my best

In the evening we went to the Arts Centre, Playhouse to see Miriam Margoyles star in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van. I was still in a cultural frame of mind, so I admired the artwork in the lobby. 

The next morning we went out to meet more friends for more breakfast.

Nutella Crepes

Statue outside Phancy Cafe

In the afternoon, we took Sight for Sore Eyes to lunch at one of our favourite hang-outs. Okay, so I know this looks like all we did was eat and drink, but... it's Melbourne, so bite me. 

Seafood linguini at Burnley Brewery

Beers tried were the Botanical Hoppy Sour (fabulously floral and botanical characters blend really well with the sourness - extremely enjoyable), Passionfuit Berliner Weisse (funky, sour and fruity) and the Vienna Lager (malty, light toast and hoppy).

Burnley Brewery Passionfruit Berliner Weisse 

Walking back to the hotel to pick up our bags, we passed these excellent examples of graffiti.

And this one belongs in the 'curious artwork in hotels' file. I kind of like it though.

It was a great weekend. I love seeing friends, but I am always very sad when they, or we, have to go. To cheer myself, it's good to know there are wonderful people in great places where I can visit!