everywhere, there and here

Gateway Exhibition - Figurines & Meeting

2011-01-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

We had the first artists' meeting of the year on Friday. It was good to hear more about what each person is envisioning for their contribution to the project. Everyone's ideas are quite different from drawing created by natural elements to public sleeping and ceramic fish. It will be really interesting to see how it all comes to together.

In preparation for the meeting Greg and I refined our idea further and developed it into a short proposal. We have committed to focusing our work on the miniature figurines from the museum's collection. I have attached two photographs of the miniatures that Greg and I took when we last visited the museum on our reconnaissance trip over the Christmas break.

We also got the prints from the Seagull camera. There are some issues with framing and some of our assumptions/concerns around focus and composition have proved to be true. We are still discussing and brainstorming how and even if we will incorporate photos taken by the camera into the work.

The next artists' meeting will be held in February at the museum, which will include discussion on the exhibition layout.

In the meantime Greg and I are developing our own project time line and have to make an appointment with the museum to photography the objects.

Gateway Exhibition - Seagull TLR group on Flickr & project progression

2011-01-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

Our research and preparation for the project continues. We finished our first roll of test film trying out different subject matter, formats, and lighting scenarios. As a direct result I am learning, albeit very slowly, to use the light meter.

We pick up the film today and are both very interested to see what the shots look like. These shots will have direct influence on how we approach our project idea.

We've also done more background research into Seagull cameras and photography, including discovering a specific Seagull TLR photography group on Flickr.

The next meeting for the project is tomorrow, so it will be good to see how everyone else's ideas are progressing.

Gateway Exhibition - Seagull Camera

2011-01-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

When I was in Shanghai in 2009 I brought a Seagull camera very similar to the one pictured for Greg at the Antique Market. At the time I didn't really think about the camera's functionality because I was more interested in it as an object. Fortunately, my friend/colleague Tammy, who is more familiar with photography, checked to ensure that the camera would work.

I was in Shanghai as part of the preliminary stages of the Meridians Shanghai 2010; Art and Sound in Public Space project, which was completed in June 2010.

This year Greg and I are collaborating as artists towards an exhibition at the Museum of Australian Chinese History titled 'Gateway' due to open in April 2011. The exhibition will bring together the members of the Meridians team (myself, Greg Szopa, Cameron Robbins, Geoff Hogg, Tammy Wong, Claire Tracey, Joanna Buckley, and Wei Tienyu) with other Artists and the Museum staff and collection.

The exhibition will be the result of reflections on intercultural engagement between Australia and China through the visual arts. Each of the artists in the exhibition have had varied experiences of the Chinese context in China and through Chinese cultural expressions in the Australian context. They have used their experiences to reflect upon the space between cultures and investigate the dialogues that come from this space. This exhibition highlights the experience of intercultural dialogues from multiple perspectives including: Australian and Chinese artists who have experienced China through residency programs; Australian and Chinese artists who have collaborated on arts projects and Australian artists of Chinese descent reflecting upon their ancestry in the Australian context.

For our joint contribution Greg and I have decided to incorporate using the Seagull camera into our artwork. To date we have researched and brought the medium format film needed for the camera. The idea of using the camera appeals as it is a shared connection to our experience in China. We also both like that cameras in themselves are usually used to document, reflect, on experiences/travels etc.

At this stage in the process we are also exploring using objects from the Museum's archive, as we are both also interested in museology. In particular we are interested in visually exploring the engagement, reflection, and distortion of the museum experience and its objects viewers take away with them after having viewed/experienced museum collections when they have no immediate personal connection to the origins of the collection. Furthermore we are both interested in exploring the related concept of context and how it relates to knowledge and imagined narratives around museum objects.

We will use this blog to document our progress and ponderings related to the process as we move towards the final artworks and exhibition.

Luke Jerram, "Play Me, I'm Yours"

2010-06-22T23:42:00.000-07:00

UK Artist, Luke Jerram, has placed 60 pianos around NYC as a public art intervention titled "Play Me, I'm Yours".

A Sydney, Australia version of the installation in January 2009 as part of the Sydney Festival. Click here to view the Sydney project.

Meridians Webisode

2010-06-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

Find more videos like this on MERIDIANS - Shanghai 2010

Meridians Shanghai 2010: Art & Sound in Public Space project was officially launched on 18th May by the Hon. Jacinta Allan, Victorian Minister for Innovation, Industry, and Regional Development (DIIRD).

One of the creative outputs from the project was a two-minute 'webisode', produced by Greg Szopa and Clare Leporati.

Meridians Project - RMIT website

2010-04-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

The project has been featured as a news item on the RMIT University website, including a link on the home page.

The article looks at artist, Cameron Robbins, process, the role in Expo and the development of the project idea by Clare Leporati and Tammy Wong.

Click here to read the article.

Meridians Shanghai 2010: Art & Sound in Public space

2010-04-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

Meridians Shanghai 2010: Art & Sound in Public Space is an international collaboration to create a contemporary public artwork for the Victorian Cultural Program at Expo Shanghai China 2010.

I am a member of the project team and have also embedded my role in the project as a case study for my Masters.

Our project team is made up of Me (Clare Leporati), Tammy Wong, Geoff Hogg, Rupa Ramanathan, Claire Tracey, Joanna Buckley, Robin Dick and Greg Szopa. Our lead Australian artist is Cameron Robbins.

To document, share and explore the creative process we have a wiki that we use as an online creative portal for the project.

Meridians creative portal.

Check it out to follow the project as it progresses.

MERIDIANS first video now on YouTube

2010-01-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

For more information about the project on the RMIT website, click here

school's back

2009-07-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the first class for Semester Two. It also marks my progress from the Graduate Certificate to the Graduate Diploma. Only a year to go until the Masters is complete.

NOT like site - Post #8, artwork for the site

2009-05-11T04:17:00.000-07:00

Above: City of Yarra, Billboard for Art Program

I've spent quite a bit of time work shopping what kind of artwork I would place on my NOT Like site. Friends and I have discussed having a work that interacted with the motorists rather than pedestrians as that would be a better reflection of how most people encounter the site. We had trouble coming up with an idea though that wasn't too much like a billboard or could potentially cause accidents. I am aware though that the City of Yarra, where my NOT Like site, is situated already has a Billboard Public Art Program so I still think it is a viable option.

Another idea was to find a way to place earphones around the site so people could sit in the space and block out the traffic noise. We all liked this idea but realised that it would be quite logistically difficult without someone to maintain and headsets and to stop them from all getting pinched.

Yet the question still remains of what to do with the work that is already there. I think through this process I realised that my problems with the site weren't just that I found the artwork very ugly, as I had originally thought. But as I have already mentioned in previous posts having the hard noise of the traffic with hard quite aggressive sculpture did have a lot to do with it.

In the end I think I would arrange to have part of the site dedicated to something like a billboard project project, ideally one that would engage with the history of the site on some level and if nothing else I would remove the dog sculpture's teeth.

LIKE Site - Post #7, artwork for the site

2009-05-11T04:10:00.000-07:00

Above: Speed Cheek - Oakwood Park by Clare McCracken

When thinking about what kind of artwork would fit well into my LIKE site without overwhelming the balance of its current uses the work Speed Cheek - Oakwood Park by artist Clare McCracken immediately came to mind. The work is situation in the City of Greater Dandenong and this is how it is described:

The sculptures are inspired by Jeffery Smart's surreal urban landscapes and inspired by the backdrop of the Eastlink motorway; designed for bike riders and pedestrians to measure their kilometres per hour.

Using sophisticated motorway technology Speed Cheek are two speed checking devices placed beside the shared user path that runs through the heart of Oakwood Park measuring the speeds of bike riders and pedestrians going both from east to west and west to east.

Speeds are displayed on two solar powered LCD screens which hover above the path so that park users can see the pace at which they are moving. The sculptures will provide a free interactive experience for local and visiting schools, recreational groups, cyclists and residents.

Although I am against merely replicating artworks from place to another I think something that came from a similar consideration of the uses of the site and working to develop a work that interacts with them would be ideal.

Sound and Theory - Listening to the sites

2009-05-11T03:37:00.000-07:00

"Now I will do nothing but listen...

I hear all the sounds running together, combined,

fused or following,

Sounds of the city and sounds out of the city, sounds

of the day and night..."

WALT WHITMAN, Song of Myself

I decided fairly early on that for the theoretical consideration of my two sites I would build it around a consideration of Sound Theory and the idea in public art of "overlooked in public space."

Choosing this approach made a great of sense to both sites as one is completely overwhelmed by constant sounds of a particular type and the other made up of a complex layering of many different types of sounds.

In fact it is the soundscape of my NOT like site that has the most direct influence on why I don't like it.

In the book The Soundscape: the Tuning of the World by Walter Murray he identified three distinct features of the soundscape which he describes as:

Keynote: the key or tonality of a particular composition. It is the anchor of fundamental tone and although the material may modulate around it, often obscuring its importance it is in reference to this point that everything else takes on its special meaning... The keynote sounds of a given place are important because they help to outline the character of men living among them.

Signals: are foreground sounds and they are listened to consciously... Signals MUST be listened to because they constitute acoustic warning devices... Sound signals may often be organised into quite elaborate codes permitting messages of considerable complexity.

Soundmark: is derived from 'landmark' and refers to a community sound which is unique or possesses qualities which make it specially regarded or noticed by the people in that community.

Taking all of this into consideration I spent a great deal of time listening to each of my sites every time I visited them so I could make note of their soundscapes.

NOT LIKE SITE SOUNDSCAPE

Keynote sound:
- traffic: engines of trucks, cars and motorcycles accelerating and braking through the intersection in flowing waves of traffic

Signals:
- tram bell
- car and truck horns
- traffic lights ticking “cross now” and “don’t cross’

Soundmarks:
- tram moving through the intersection
- car tires going over the tram tracks

The site is completely overwhelmed by the sound of traffic and it always took a couple of minutes for me to be able to stop hearing the site as just one big "TRAFFIC NOISE".

It also needs to be noted that I was never able to hear non-traffic noises, such as people walking past or voices even though I could see people moving through the intersection. The traffic noise is very much like a blanket that encompasses the entire space.

I chose the tram moving through the site and the cars moving over the tracks as the Soundmark as trams are a particular aspect of urban life in Melbourne that you don't usually have intersected with such high levels of constant, moving traffic.

LIKE SITE SOUNDSCAPE

Keynote Sounds:
- leaves rustling in the trees
- water lapping against the banks of the river
- hum of traffic on the freeway in the distance

Signals:
- dog barking
- bikes’ bells and tires moving onto the gravel
- train whistle from Richmond Station
- snatches of conversation as people walk past
- trucks and traffic accelerating up the freeway ramp
- motor boats revving their engines

Soundmark:
- bell bird calling from the Botanical Gardens
- rowers’ calling out instructions to each other
- crunch of joggers’ feet on the gravel as they run the ‘Tan’

What makes the Morell Bridge soundscape so interesting is the layers of sound that are a mix of both natural and man-made noises.

What I also found really interesting when I compared the notes I took on the soundscapes for each site was how each was such a extreme opposition to the other in the concept of an audio horizon.

The NOT Like site is a demonstration of how the audio horizon has shortened in that the sound of the traffic, though it does in some ways indicate that there is a hill that needs to be accelerated up, does not allow for any other horizon indicating noises beyond that of the immediate area.

In absolute contrast the LIKE site has a long horizon where you can actually hear the distances between various elements that create the soundscape noises. You can hear the leaves in the trees above you, yet also the train whistle in the distance. You have an awareness of the uses around you and they someone create balance. My favourite contrasting noises were the high pitched bell bird from the Botanical Gardens, following by the deep roar of the truck engines in the distance.

NOT like site - Post #7, uses

2009-05-11T02:02:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I dislike this site so much is because I feel like I am constantly being made aware of how it doesn't function the way it is designed to. There are benches in numerous places on the site that do their best to make it look inviting (the angry looking sculptures aside) yet I have only seen one person ever actually sitting in the site. It is dis-used and neglected and ignored despite being at the top of one of Melbourne's busiest weekend shopping strips.

I don't like this site because it doesn't engage with its environment, the community of even with the purpose it has attempted to have embedded in it.

Like Site - Post #6, uses

2009-05-11T01:51:00.001-07:00

Rowing under the Bridge

People in the area around the bridge, viewed from the entrance to the Botanical Gardens.

Walking dogs on the bridge

Cyclist on their way to work crossing the bridge.

One of the reasons I like my "Like" site is due to the amount and variation of activities that happen on, under and all around the bridge at all times of day.

These activities, which are mainly leisure-related, include cycling, rowing, jogging and strolling and dog walking.

As I have already mentioned in another post the Morell Bridge is one of the busiest paths for cyclists traveling to and from work in the city.

Although there is a freeway within earshot and eyesight of the site it doesn't seem to impact greatly on the general serenity of the area.

NOT like site - Post #6, artwork on the site

2009-05-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't written much about the existing artworks on my "Not Like" site partly because I have had quite a bit of difficulty sourcing information, as there is no reference to the site or the works in any of the City of Yarra's public art documentation on their website. It is worth noting that their excellent documentation of other public art works in the City of Yarra collection.

I know they were created between 1993 to 1995 and are by more than one artist, though there is only a signage for two of them on the site.

This work is titled "Mother and Daughter" and was created by Mary Perrott Stimson between 1993-1994. There isn't a great deal of information available about the artist but the work is accompanied by a quotation that is inlaid on a bronze plate next to the work.

"Mother and Daughter walk proudly through history from the caves of ancient Africa, across continents, oceans and deserts - into Richmond."

The quote does provide some form of site specificity but I am completely baffled as to what it actually means or what significance it could have. I was thinking that perhaps it was a reference to indigenous history but that doesn't really sit properly on a number of levels.

This steel work is titled Opus 15 by artist Adrian Mauriks, who also has a number of other public art commissions in Melbourne. The work is 120 x 120 cm and was commissioned in 1995. The work is situation in the wall that used to be part of the tram house I mentioned in a previous post on the history of the site.

The works has some similar elements - cloven foot, the enclosed lotus shape, the wings and bird shape, "Buddha eye"- to those that appear in another work by the artist called Opus 10 created in 1994 for Commonwealth Bank for the World Trade Centre, George St, Sydney, NSW.

These elements the artist has discussed as being inspired by mythological inventions and the power these images have. His explanation of them includes "...you put all this together and you have what? Impossible to say, but it does give you access to a being process that is akin to an elevated state of consciousness where nothing is any longer, specific, but all is general, connected and inter twined, to everything else. It simply becomes a matter of being and occupying your own centre."

I can not find a reference to the title of this work or the artist that created it anywhere. On the base of the boat the "dog with the teeth" sits in is inscribed the words "Yarra" and "Acheron" which are both rivers. What they have to do with this particular work or site I can not determine. I know that a number of people, myself included, find the huge bared metal teeth of the dog quite disturbing and ominous.

Part of the reason I dislike this site so much is because the three works situated on it seem so completely detached not only from the physical location they are placed in but also from each other. They are all made of metal but don't have a cohesiveness they seem at odds with the environment they have been placed in. I have tried to rationalise with myself that they all perhaps explore some kind of mythology that I am unaware of but again it seems incredibly odd and "plonked" to do that on this particular site.

From a personal aesthetic take I find them all incredibly hard and unattractive so that they make an already unappealing site even harsher and less inviting without engaging with it at all.

LIKE Site - Post #5, Lights at Night

2009-05-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I also visited my "Like" site to document the lighting, ambiance and usage at night.

The site is lit from above by the six lamps that make up part of the bridge. From below on the south-eastern side the bridge is flood lit by a large single flood lamp. There is also illumination from the reflection of the lights in the water of the river and surrounding street lights, including from construction sites and cars and trucks on the nearby freeway.

Despite having more varied sources of lighting the site itself is not as illuminated as my not like site because it is more open.

What surprised me most was the level of usage of the bridge at 9pm on a Monday night. I encountered numerous joggers, cyclists and walkers while we were there.

I also spent quite a bit of time listening to the site to compare it to the sounds I had documented during the day. The sounds were quite different and not as varied as during the day but also amplified in a different way.

Despite the high levels of mixed usage on the bridge and surrounding area is always surprises me how peaceful the site seems.

NOT like site - Post #5 Lights at Night

2009-05-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I visited and documented the lighting and atmosphere at my "Not Like" site.

The site itself is lit with down lighting on the brick wall that frames the site. I also noticed that although ground lights are in the ground surrounding the dog sculpture, I have never seen them turned on.

The most predominant source of lighting though is the street lights and the headlights of the cars passing through the intersection.

I also paid particular attention to the sounds of the site while I was there so I can compare them to the sounds I have recorded hearing at other times of the day.

I am also aware that I haven't particularly said why I don't like this site yet. That is because I wanted to go through the entire documentation process and then frame my dislike around a theoretical analysis. This will come later.

Public Art and the CIA = site specific secret squirrel excellence

2009-05-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

Kryptos is a public artwork by artist James Sanborn situated on the grounds of America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley, Virginia.

The artwork cost $250,000 and was dedicated on 3rd November, 1990. It is positioned between two buildings and is made of red and green slate, white quartz, petrified wood, lodestone and copper. The most dominant feature of the work is the S-shaped copper screen, that resembles a vertical scroll, with characters punched out of the copper. The characters apparently make up a four-part message, each apparently in code encrypted by a different cipher.

Apparently CIA and other code crackers have only been able to solve three of the four messages and one part remains unbroken code. There is even an on-line group, Kryptos Group, dedicated to cracking the code of the artwork.

The title of the work "Kryptos", which means hidden in Greek, and the work is described as a "a meditation on the nature of secrecy and the elusiveness of truth".

The CIA's purpose is well known as being to collect information and keep secrets, as so many Hollywood movies and crime novels portray for us constantly. So in a strange inversion the CIA maintains a constant public awareness of its secrecy through external perceptions and portrayals.

I think the very public exploration of the artwork to "crack" the code of its embedded secret message is particularly apt and successful as a site specific work located in the CIA's grounds. The work takes site specificity to another level where it not only reflects its surrounding environment's purpose but engages with popular perceptions and engagements with that purpose. The work is located on an area that is perceived as secret and yet is well known. The work is well known but its message secret. Both the CIA and the work have captured the public's imagination regarding concepts of secrecy and learning the truth.

In many ways I hope the final part of the code isn't ever cracked so that the work maintains its fascination and continues to reflect the surroundning areas' purpose and public/secret perception so perfectly.

Reference: Levy, S. (May 2009). Mission Impossible: The Code Even the CIA Can't Crack, Wired Magazine 17.05

LIKE site - Post #4, history of the site

2009-04-29T03:38:00.000-07:00

The Morell Bridge has a very well documented history and is actually quite significant.

The bridge was named after Sir Stephen Morell in 1936 in recognition of his contribution to Melbourne. Morell was a prominent Victorian businessman and Lord Mayor between 1926 and 1928 and a rowing enthusiast.

Prior to 1936 it was known as the Anderson Street Bridge and was constructed in 1899.

Its construction is significant as it was the first significant reinforced concrete bridge built using the innovative Monier construction technique in Victoria. The Monier technique was patented by Joseph Monier, a French manufacturer of garden ware, in 1867.

The bridge is often attributed (thought this is disputed) to John Monash, but was actually designed and constructed by Sydney based engineers, Carter, Gummow and Co, patentees of the Monier Construction System in Australia.

What is particularly interesting and significant is that the bridge was built on dry land and when it was completed the Yarra river was diverted to flow underneath it.

On June 7, 1998 the bridge was closed to cars as part of the CityLink project. It is currently used by cyclist and pedestrian traffic.

In 2006 the Age Newspaper reported that each weekday, VicRoads meters count about 2500 cyclists on the path at Morrell Bridge near Melbourne Park. At peak time, from 7.30am to 8.30am, about 320 cyclists ride past every hour, or one every 11 seconds.

I think it is interesting that by cosmic coincidence both my "like" and "not like" locations are sites of significant mechanical advancements for Melbourne.

NOT like site - Post #4, history of the site

2009-04-29T02:48:00.001-07:00

Finding historical information on my "not like" site's current incarnation has proven more difficult than I would have originally thought given that public art project are usually very well documented.

I have been able to find information on prior uses of the site going back over 100 years based on information on the site provided by the local heritage council.

This information sign, part of the Richmond Heritage Walk, shows the area immediately surrounding the site in the 19th Century but not the site itself. It does however indicate that in circa 1876 the site was most likely a part of the grounds of sixteen room mansion, Yalcowinna.

Yalcowinna, was built in 1867 by business man, politician, and land speculator William Highett. The grounds of the mansion, which is now part of Epworth Hospital, comprised a four-stall stable, three looseboxes, two coachhouses, a man’s room, a hayloft and wood and coal sheds.

From a plaque I was able to learn that a building on the site had housed Melbourne's first cable tram engines had been constructed there in 1885. That the building had later been extended to house a station for the electric tramway, which replaced the pioneer cable line in 1927. The buildings were both demolished in 1991 for road intersection improvements.

With that knowledge I have been able to hunt down a photo and drawing from the Richmond Library showing the site.

The photo that has the caption 'A tramways engine for cable cars at Richmond'. The engine house for cable cars was on the corner of Bridge Rd and Hoddle Street.

From the drawing, that is presumed to be from a newspaper, I get a better idea of what the structure would have looked like and how it would have worked.

I also found another photo that shows the site in 1978 the site as the "Melbourne Forklift Company".

Contemplating the uses of the site since the 1880s to at least the late 1970s one of the common themes, which in many ways continues is the sites connection to noise and machinery. Whether it be engine houses for trams or forklifts.

I have found a couple of clues relating to how the site came to look as it currently does but I am still in the process of hunting them down.

Having found out more about the previous uses of the site I find the site itself more interesting but like the current works on the site even less because they don't in any way engage or reflect that history.

Council House Two

2009-04-29T01:51:00.000-07:00

Council House Two (CH2) is situated on 240 Little Collins Street near the intersection of Swanston Street.

CH2 was officially opened in August 2006 as is Australia's first new 6 star greenstar rated commercial office building.

It is a 10-storey office building housing approximately 540 City of Melbourne staff, and a gross floor area of 12,536m² and cost $51.045 million to build.

The architect, Mick Pearce, gave a lecture during the intensive program. He described his architecture is greatly inspired by natural structures and bio-mimicry and light energy.

By observing structures in nature he has been able to replicate techniques that provide natural sources of heating and cooling for buildings as alternatives to high energy consumption alternatives, such as air-conditioning.

For example, located on the south façade shower towers, jokingly known as "condoms", made of five tubes of durable lightweight fabric, inside which a water shower induces air movement and cooling. The ensuing evaporative cooling process cools both air and water.

The building is actively conscious of its surrounding environments and includes other features that use the surrounding environment such as plants, wooden slats that move with the sun and so on.

The building itself and the architectural and environmental philosophy behind it are incredibly interesting but what makes it particularly relevant to an examination of public art is how the building was developed.

The building is an excellent example of using artists as part of the planning and development process for the building right from the very outset rather than using them to develop decorative elements when the building is complete.

In case of CH2 artists were included in the first brainstorming session with the architect and the engineer. The artists input was particularly valued for their ability to think outside of box creatively and beyond the "solution driven" processes of the architects and engineers.

Reference: City of Melbourne website

LIKE Site - Post #3, textures

2009-04-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

Below are some of the textural components that make up my Like site.

The materials are way to many to mention but include both man-made such as steel, plaster, paint, concrete, iron, plastic and natural elements such as water, plant mater, ants and stone.

NOT like site - Post #3, textures

2009-04-16T05:06:00.001-07:00

Below are some of the textural components that make up my Not Like site.

They include brick, bronze, brown paper, concrete, dead leaves, dying grass, flower petals, glass bottles, iron, newspaper and wood.

Indigenous Melbourne

2009-04-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

Today historian, Gary Presland, whose work focuses on Indigenous people of south eastern Australia, gave an insightful lecture on Indigenous Melbourne.

He provided an introductory overview of the social organisation of indigenous Australians in the Melbourne region, particularly during the time of European invasion.

At the time of European invasion, a large part of central southern Victoria was owned by a loose confederation of five language groups who identified themselves as the 'Kulin' nation.

In traditional Koorie society the most common day-to-day group was the foraging band, composed generally of one or two families, plus visitors. The most important social group, however, was the clan. The clan was the land-owning unit in traditional society and was also the group with which an individual Koorie would firstly identify herself or himself. All members of a clan spoke the same language and identified with a particular area of land, or estate, which they regarded as their own. In traditional Koorie society a number of clans who spoke the same language and had adjacent estates made up a larger group usually referred to as a tribe. The tribal territory was the total area of the clans estates.

It was particularly interesting to learn about the variance of language and how language groups differences were often based on the expression of the negative.

The 'Kulin' nation was made up of language groups which included Boon Wurrung, Taun Wurrung, Woi Wurrung, Djadja Wurrung, Watha Wurrung and Ngan-illam Wurrung.

The word 'kulin' was common to all the languages and meant 'human being'.

Reference:
Presland, G. (1994) Aboriginal Melbourne, Penguin, Victoria

Theory of Art and Public Space - Land Art and Spiral Jetty

2009-04-15T04:10:00.000-07:00

Next week I have to give my class presentation and hand in the accompanying paper for the subject Theory of Art and Public Space.

I decided to focus my presentation on Land Art and after some consideration, a bit of self realisation as to what is actually achievable in the time available, I have decided to focus my Land Art exploration through an examination of the best known example from the movement, Sprial Jetty (1970) by Robert Smithson.

LIKE Site - Post #2, documenting the site

2009-04-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

I spent a lot of time documenting the Morell Bridge site today including taking lots of photos of surfaces and listening to the many layers of sounds that accompany the site.

The site is used from above on the bridge surface itself and below due to activity on the water and river banks.

Below are some photos taken from a number of different angles to give a "feel" for the site.

Looking north along the surface of the bridge.

Looking south along the surface of the bridge

Looking west from on top of the bridge at the city.

Looking east from on top of the bridge including the Nylex sign and silos.

From below the bridge looking west towards the city

From below the bridge looking east along the bike path.

The view from underneath the bridge.

NOT like site - Post #2, documenting the site

2009-04-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

Today I went back and took the second round of photos of my "don't like" site. The conditions today were different as the weather is very sunny and warm. It is also a week day so activity in the area was different to that of a Saturday.

I spent quite a bit of time documenting the surfaces and materials and a long time just "listening" to the site so I can start formulating what elements make up the soundscape of the site.

I have also started digging into the historical significance and role of the site but I am only at the very early stages of that exploration.

The site, which I have yet to determine the exact measurements is made up of two tiers of activity.

The first tier is an elevated "grassed hill" on the northern site which features a bronze sculpture of a dog in the middle of it and one tree. The first tier is boarded by a low bluestone fence to the north, a brick wall covered in bougainvillea to the west, steps and yellow brick reinforcements to the south and a footpath that separates if from the road to the west.

The second tier is partially enclosed by red brick walls to the north and east. The walls are partly covered by creeper plants and also feature decorative steel wall sculptures with green painted park benches beneath them. The rest of the space is landscaped in asphalt and concrete which form "wavey" steps. There are some liquid amber trees which are embedded into the concrete. The space is boarded on the south side by an integrated footpath the separates the space from Bridge Road.

Between the two tiers boarded by yellow brick is a mound of "grassed area".

Below are some photos taken from a number of different angles to give a "feel" for the site.

Looking South East onto the site from Hoddle street through the traffic.

NB: It is worth noting that I took this photo at about 9:00am on a Saturday morning when the traffic is considered to be "very light."

Looking North from Bridge Street up to Hoddle onto the first tier of the site.

Looking South from the back of the first tier of the site onto the intersection of Bridge Street and Punt Road

Looking North West from the second tier of the site.

Looking from Bridge Road into the Second Tier of the site

Looking East from Punt Road/Hoddle Street onto Bridge Road

LIKE Site - Morell Bridge Post #1

2009-04-13T20:34:00.001-07:00

I have selected my "Like" site for my Place and Space assignment.

The Morell Bridge (formerly known as the Anderson Street Bridge) crosses the Yarra River between the Punt Road and Swan Street Bridges in South Yarra and Richmond and linking the Royal Botanical Gardens to the Olympic Park precinct.

The bridge is located a short walk or even shorter bike ride away from where I live.

I selected the site not only because the bridge is very attractive and has an interesting history but also due to the incredibly high levels of mixed use the site accommodates.

NOT like site - Post #1

2009-04-11T01:24:00.001-07:00

I have selected my "Don't Like" site to examine for my Place and Space assignment.

It is situated on the North West corner of the intersection of Wellington Parade, Bridge Road, Punt Road and Hoddle Street.

I took some preliminary contextual photos this morning to commence my analysis and documentation process.

I live two minutes walk away so I am already very familiar with the site and when I mentioned to two friends, who also live nearby, I had selected it they agreed that it was an excellent location to choose to "Not Like."

As a "Not Like" site it offers a great deal of material to examine due to its location, the impact of the surrounding usages and the "art work" currently occupying the space.

Federation Square

2009-04-10T23:40:00.000-07:00

Federation Square, boarded by the corners of Swanston and Flinders Streets and the Yarra River has had a incredibly varied history of use, particularly over the past 200 years.

The site was traditionally owned by the Wurundjeri aboriginal people.

In the 1800s the site housed the Coroner's Office, Registration Office and Morgue. The lithograph shows Melbourne in 1862, the morgue can be seen in the right-hand foreground, in front of St Paul's Cathedral.

The advancement of the railways saw the development of the Jolimont Rail Yard, in the late 1800s where trains were stored and repaired. Plans to improve and develop the site went through various phases from as early as the 1925 "Cathedral Square" proposal by James Smith selected by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects.

The Gas and Fuel buildings, Princes Gate Towers, were built in the 1960s over part of the Jolimont Rail Yard in the minimalist "international style" of the time. They were demolished floor by floor in 1996 to make way for Federation Square.

Federation Square, as the site is currently known, was the result of an international design competition held in 1997 won by Don Bates and Peter Davidson of Lab Architecture Studio. It was opened on 26 October 2002 and cost $440 million to construct.

The location houses shops, bars, cafés and restaurants and a number of significant cultural facilities including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.

Public spaces include the Attrium, that holds regular events such as the Fed Square Book Market, the giant fixed screen the broadcasting major sporting and other event and the BMW Edge Auditorium that hosts a mixture of free and festival events.

The main square is paved in 470,000 ochre-coloured sandstone blocks from Western Australia, designed as a huge urban artwork called 'Nearamnew', by Paul Carter.

Federation Square with its mixed use and distinctive design has become the State's second most popular tourist attraction.

References:
Brown-May, A. (2001) Federation Square... a place in history, Federation Square Management Pty Ltd

Brown-May, A. & Cooke, S. Death, Decency and the Dead-House: The City Morgue in Colonial Melbourne,

The flâneur... Melbourne... Project A

2009-04-05T02:02:00.000-07:00

I have been spending quite a bit of time trying to identify the sites for Place and Space assignment, Project "A".

The project description is I Know What I Like: Select 2 spaces for analysis; one that you like and one that you don't. Formally document the features of these sites recording dimensions, light, usages, surfaces etc and develop a work that could be located in either of these spaces. This will be combined with a an examination of an artist work or a relevant critical theory.

I still haven't decided on either of my locations, especially as many of the sites I have actively disliked for years pro-active local councils have already fixed before I could get to them for my project.

For the moment I am considering the task within the framework of critical theory. Last week I read a great deal about Walter Benjamin's Arcades Project and the flâneur.

French poet Charles Charles Baudelaire developed a meaning of flâneur that of "a person who walks the city in order to experience it".

Walter Benjamin took the concept of the flâneur as part of that of the urban observer and product of modern life and the Industrial Revolution. For the flâneur to exist, he requires the presence of the crowd and arcades with which to stroll, both of which are metropolitan phenomena.

"Empathy is the nature of the intoxication to which the flâneur abandons himself in the crowd. He . . . enjoys the incomparable privilege of being himself and someone else as he sees fit. Like a roving soul in search of a body, he enters another person whenever he wishes."

Hence, when considering a site with which to examine through a relevant critical theory I am drawn to the concept of determining the conditions and behaviours of the contemporary flâneur in Melbourne.

My immediate thought is to examine Chapel Street, South Yarra and the "flâneurs" I used to observe on a Saturday nights. However I'm sure I can think of something more sophisticated, in every sense of the word, than that.

References:
Gilloch, G.(1997). Myth and Metropolis - Walter Benjamin and the City, Polity Press

Piazza Italia

2009-04-05T00:49:00.000-07:00

Piazza Italia was the result of a $3.5 million addition to Argyle Square on Lygon Street in 2006. Argyle Square is situation off Lygon Street in the suburb of Carlton between Gratton and Queensberry Streets.

Lygon Street, Carlton has long been associated with Italian migration to Melbourne, still evident through the number of Italian restaurants present there today. Italian migration to the area commenced at the turn of the last century and peaked in the post WW2 period.

The work consciously sought site-specific inspiration through its referencing to the Italian influence to the area and was was developed by artists Andrea Tomaselli and Diane Beevers.

The work is a 45 square metre solar clock made up of porphyry stone paving.

The work is interesting not only for its aesthetic qualities but that its creation involved collaboration between specialist Italian stone-masons who came to Australia to undertake the work with Australian stone-masons. Australian stone-masons also traveled to Italy as part of the same artistic-exchange.

References:
City of Melbourne website
History of Carlton web resource

Scoping Melbourne: Lincoln Square

2009-04-04T23:30:00.001-07:00

Lincoln Square is situated off Swanston Street in the the City of Melbourne between Queensberry and Gratton Streets, Carlton. The location is close to Melbourne's CBD, University of Melbourne and Carlton cultural district.

The square's $800,000 refurbishment in 2004 included landscaping of the gardens, new lighting and a childrens' playground.

The Victorian State Government contributed more than $120,00 towards the Bali Bombing victim memorial to be situated on the Lincoln Square site at the same time as the planned refurbishment. The site was selected by the Bali Bombing survivors and victims' families. The site was specifically selected because it is near youth precincts (e.g. University of Melbourne campus) and not near any War Memorials.

The design was intended to reflect things that the survivors and victims’ families thought were important including water, sunshine and brightness; the full names of those who lost their lives; a factual account of the bombing, and an acknowledgment of others affected by the tragedy.

The memorial is an excellent example of a "counter-monument" that focuses on a pluralistic culture of remembrance, devoid of political or social dimensions, focused on victims that has evolved since the 1970s as opposed to previous patriotic and heroic memorial monuments.

This is demonstrated through the underpinning intentions of the monument but also the design itself which is low to the ground and devoid of any traditionally "monumental" edifices through decoration or literal placements on pedestals.

Like many contemporary monuments it focuses on the shadowy side of history and the use of hardy but sombre materials such as concrete and granite reinforce this.

We visited the site on a Sunday and the only people really in the area were a group of young skateboarders who were using the memorial to practice their tricks. Even though there were signs prohibiting skateboarding given the emphasis of the survivors and victims' families on "youth" being an element of the memorial their presence and use of the site somehow didn't seem inappropriate.

References:
Melbourne City Council, Media Release, 30th September 2004
Van Vree, Frank Open 2004,#7, (No) Memory, NAI Publishers, Rotterdam

3 Images, 3 Minutes

2009-03-18T03:25:00.000-07:00

Next week for the first session of the course Place and Space we have three minutes to present three images that describe their practice.

I'll be on my project trip to Shanghai so in lieu of presenting in class I'll document my presentation here with three images and one-hundred words per image.

IMAGE ONE: ORIGINS

My interest in public art came from a practical art practice.

This image shows a sample of the art works I produced in my final year of high school when I was 17 years old.

I spent my childhood and teenaged years constantly drawing and painting, it was my favourite thing to do.

I was terrible at sports but I could draw and this knowledge formed a great part of my identity at the time.

I chose to collate the images to demonstrate my explorations in technique and that my subject matter was always tightly framed and figurative.

IMAGE TWO: WHAT CAME NEXT

After high school I wanted to be a graphic designer, but my folio wasn’t strong enough to get into the course so I did a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Art History followed by a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts and Entertainment Management.

I spent ten odd years with different arts organisations, mainly in the museum and gallery sector but also publishing, interior design and education.

This image shows the logos of some of the organisations where I volunteered and worked. It demonstrates how my practice shifted completely away from the practical creation of art to a focus on arts management and development.

IMAGE THREE: MORE RECENTLY

This image was taken the week before I moved back to Australia after being away for four years. I remember feeling very sad that an era in my life was about to end.

I had wanted to document the snow and my routine and as part of that process it shows my least favourite public art work in Toronto that I used walk past on my way to work.

It reminds me of how every day I used to try to think of a different public art work I would prefer to represent the Garment District other than a giant stack of buttons and a thimble.

It reflects my practice not only as a demonstration of my ponderings on public art works but because the image itself marks the very beginnings of my interest in photography.

Public Art Intensive Course: Reflection

2009-03-15T03:18:00.000-07:00

Confirmation & Challenge to My Notions of Public Art

I’ve had an interest, exposure and varying levels of interaction with public art for the better part of ten years. The Intensive Course provided an opportunity to review, expand, challenge and refine my pre-existing notions of public art through each of the focused topics and surrounding discussions. Some of the topics resonated more profoundly than others but they all both confirmed and challenged my notions of public art by providing an expanded framework of knowledge from which will assist me in drawing my own conclusions as my studies progress.

CHALLENGING

Urban Soundscape Project

My career, study, and personal interest trajectory has meandered in different directions with visual arts as its primary anchor. What challenged me most in the Intensive Course about my notions of public art was Dr Lawrence Harvey’s presentation on Art in Public Space (Sound Works). His presentation challenged my notions of public art as it blew wide open my awareness that my perceptions have been drawn, focused and valued around visual considerations and frameworks.

I was familiar with the existence of and have experienced sound art installations but have never given them very much thought or credence, especially in the public realm. The first exhibition I volunteered for at ACCA was a sound work but my strongest memory was that listening to it on a short loop for eight hours a day, for days on end had sent me feeling a bit crazed. I had enjoyed and was a big fan of Janet Cardiff’s piece, Forty Part Motet, at the Powerplant Art Gallery, Toronto but if I am honest my enjoyment was based around being able to listen to music while physically moving around the room and looking at the different speakers as I listened to individual voices or the choir as a group.

Janet Cardiff, Forty Part Motet, 2001

Lawrence’s presentation made me aware that the few perceptions I had regarding sound art embedded them as aural decoration for visual arts pieces in enclosed gallery spaces and that the advancement in my theoretical thinking around sound art was the sonic equivalent of “plonk” visual arts practices. I hadn’t considered “sound” and “sound art” for its own sake and certainly not with non-musical merits in the public realm. The level of complexity I was attributing to the possibilities of sound art, was similar to attributing no difference in purpose and complexity between muzak and an orchestral symphony.

Lawrence’s description of the research he had done with blind people; the concepts of acoustic ecology; aural attention; and audio horizon shortening made me re-think my thoughts on sound art altogether. The notion of being able to hear the distance between cars; the physical impacts of sound such as loss of body image and self when surrounded by low frequencies; the social impacts and acoustic geography awoke my awareness that the potential for artistic engagement and exploration with sound art, that has no direct relation to visual arts concerns, is immense, complex and goes well beyond mere hearing.

Learning that Melbourne has five dedicated soundscape sites (Signal, Barak Bridge, South Bank, Federation Square and Birrarung Marr) means that I am going to make a concerted effort to visit the sites again and “listen” to them with a new awareness that doesn’t involve my visual preoccupations.

I also hope to endeavour to approach my interactions with sound art in the public realm with a more open and creative mindset.

CONFIRMING
Determining what in the Intensive Course had challenged my notions of public art was quite simple as I recognized it almost immediately. Identifying a single element that confirmed my notion of public art was/is far more difficult.
The course examined multiple facets of public art practice that incorporate multiple media; implementation approaches and strategies; ideologies and politics; and personal tastes. What I have realized the course confirmed for me is that I’m still interested and excited by numerous aspects of public art practice and that I am not yet ready to identify my area of focus yet.

Ian DeGruchy, Melbourne Town Hall

I am fascinated by the monumental and visually transformative abilities of large-scale works such as projection art. I admire the way projection “sculpts” the architectural surface to create unique environments. I am particularly interested in how projection is used as a method to engage the public with art at night or contribute to revitalise a community, such as Dandenong. I am also interested in examining how large-scale commissions are planned and managed by stakeholders, including the practice of having artists on design teams.

Miso

I find drawings/stencils/paper-cuts on walls, alleyways or the pavement equally engaging, especially when I discover them unexpectedly, regardless of whether they were created with or without external approval. I am interested in examining how to balance support for this expression of public art without smothering or overexposing it so that it’s resonance and spontaneity isn’t overcome by commercial and bureaucratic overlays.

Banksy

I am drawn to the related discussion and debate that surrounds the “celebrity factor” and treatment, in and outside of the arts, of street artists, such as Banksy, as it is an area I would like to explore further so I can develop an informed opinion of my own.

Public Art Dedicated Websites
I am increasingly interested in international exchange regarding public art, particularly using the internet and other technological advancements. How it is being used to define place; explore creativity; establish a community; advance local practice and encourage collaboration and debate; and impact on the formation of policy and process in formal, academic, informal and grass-roots ways. I want to explore how these exchanges happen and work and whether their impact is decreasing the lag between the development of public art policy and practice in countries like Australia that were traditionally ten-years behind.

I am interested in how public art practice has changed and continues to change over time as a reflection of the culture of the people who inhabit place at particular moments in time. How in turn as part of this process the relationship with particular works and the public can change as attitudes shift, or in some cases, the work itself is moved or altered. Additionally how these cultural shifts impact on the decommissioning of works and their legacy.

Having the opportunity to reflect on what confirmed and what challenged my notions of public art through the Intensive Course more than anything else reinforced for me that I still have a great deal to learn. I am only at the very beginning of my exploration, that I have many opinions to form and then possibly discard and reform and that I find it all very exciting.

Public Art - Start Here

2009-03-14T00:48:00.000-07:00

I've started the first part of my Masters in art in the public sphere.

The past two weeks were spent doing the intensive course with presentations from a vast array of areas including: projection art; new media; sound art; architecture and sustainability; commissioning models and processes; local government; and historical contexts.

We have been advised that the key to the course is to "document, document, document", which includes the expectation of a web presence. So here it begins.

Today I am also writing a paper reflecting on one element the reaffirmed and one that challenged my current notions of public art, based on my experience of the intensive program.

I am also going to start thinking about the 3 images I have to select that represent "my practice."

Bourke and Wills Monument, Charles Summers, bronze, unveiled on 21 April 1865

Photo: Matthew Bouwmeester, 2004

Vault, Ron Robertson-Swann, prefabricated steel, installed in May 1980

Maxims of Behaviour, Alexander Knox, kinetic light work, launched Winter 2008

Beagle takes crown!

2008-02-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

A beagle called Uno has won 'Best In Show' at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

He is the first beagle to win the prize.

I have been horribly hound-sick of late, missing my own beagle, Round Houndini also known as Basil. His kennel name is Raja Crown, but that really is too pretentious.

This prize could not come at a better time for my beagle deficiency, though in my biased mind, even at 18-years old Basil (yes, he is in his senior years) would have beat Uno, as my beagle is as perfect to me as it gets - even if he is a bit rotund, snores and is bossy.

Congratulations Uno, this is a victory for beagle lovers everywhere!

Instant - WRONG

2008-02-12T14:45:00.000-08:00

POLAROID Corporation, the Massachusetts company that gave the world instant film photography, is shutting down its film manufacturing lines in the state and abandoning the technology that made the company famous.

I think this is incredibly sad, as much as I find my digital camera useful, it has never quite eclipsed the inherent sexiness of a polaroid to me. Additionally horror films will never be the same. Just think how many times polaroids scared or creeped the bejezus out of you.

Thriller25

2008-02-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Maybe you have to be a certain age, but to me Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was somewhat of a defining moment of my youth in terms of music.

I remember my eight year-old self threatening to beat up a kid in my class because he had stolen my little brother's prized "Michael Jackson Thriller" Magazine. Thriller was the very first tape my brother ever brought. Sigh he was always cooler. He brought the best selling album of all time, I brought Olivia Newton John...

To me 'Beat It' was about as bad-ass as it got.

In February 2008, a 25th anniversary edition of Thriller will be released, featuring bonus tracks - unreleased songs and remixes by artists like will.i.am, Akon and Kanye West.

So here's to celebrating a more innocent time in so many ways! With Thriller very impressively re-enacted 1,500 plus CPDRC inmates.

To view the original 'Beat It', that I can't embed click here.

Happy Chinese New Year

2008-02-08T13:36:00.001-08:00

This week was Chinese New Year and hence we have now officially entered the year of the Earth Rat in Chinese Astrology.

Here's an excerpt of what some astrologers have to say about the year ahead"

After two Fire years, life may seem calmer during this Earth year. That could be deceptive, however, as the Rat never stops moving, especially when it comes to mental activity. Unfortunately, Earth has a destructive relationship with the Rat's fixed element, Water. This is not disastrous, but it means you should not rely much on luck this year.

I am not sure how this effects me as a Wooden Tiger, but we'll see. I just like that I am a wooden tiger in Chinese astrology, because it sounds cool.

Happy New Year and Year of the Rat!

Happy Australia Day

2008-01-25T14:40:00.001-08:00

I've been hibernating of late, which is the only sensible thing to do when most days are -10 degrees (before wind-chill)...brrrr... this Aussie just wasn't made for such a climate.

Tomorrow (which is already 'today' back home) is Australia Day.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY FELLOW AUSSIES! Have a lamington for me. Non-Aussies spare me your Fosters, it's only export beer don't ya know. Mum I hope you make the ice-cubes shaped like the Australian land mass, as usual. I miss them.

To celebrate I am off to see a performance called Small Metal Objects which is not only an Australian production, but from my home state of Victoria. Very fitting I think.

After that I imagine I will end up at Hemingway's (Toronto's Australian pub) at some point, less culturally refined but utterly suitable for celebration of my country's national day.

Persepolis

2008-01-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

In the past week I read the graphic-novel and saw the animated film version of Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi.

I first encountered Satrapi's work a couple of years ago at the MOMA, NYC as part of an exhibition by female middle-eastern artists and have been a fan ever since.

The graphic-novel is delightful, the film is sublime due to the incredibly beautiful animation.

Both hold a great deal of humour; even though the subject matter is quite bleak; tracing the personal history of Satrapi growing up in Iran through the revolution and rise of the religious fundamentalist regime.

My knowledge of Iranian history is sketchy - to say the least - so seeing the film with my Iranian friend; whose own life has not been entirely dissimilar; was a treasured gift.

I loved this film and book and highly recommend them both.

TRIVIA: The film is in French. The role of the mother is voiced by famous French actress Catherine Deneuve, the grown-up daughter voiced by Deneuve's real-life daughter (with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni), Chiara Mastroianni. I really liked that for some reason.

Wrong Number Woes

2008-01-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

We've all rung the wrong phone number and we've all received calls for the wrong person, but sometimes wrong numbers just won't go away.

When I was a little girl my parents' telephone number was only one digit different from a Poodle Palour's. This was the 1970s, so the idea of beauty palours for pooches was very amusing to my brother and I. Eventually the owners of the business rang my family to apologise for all the wrong calls we were receiving. Or it may have been because my brother, due to reaching his frustration limits, had started taking bookings for "Fifi's bath and clip at 3:00pm" etc.

As an adult I've received the odd missed call, but recently the days of the Poodle Palour have returned, this time it's a school that keeps ringing me.

For the past few months I have continued to received calls from a school about 'my son Ryan'. He apparently hasn't been doing his homework and now he needs to have his immunization shots. Some of the calls were leaning on the nasty, angry side too.

There is only one problem. I don't have a son called Ryan, the only Ryan I know is a 31 year-old photographer, who I am pretty sure has finished school. In fact I don't have any children at all.

I keep ringing the school to tell them that they are ringing the wrong number, but the calls persist.

So please, Ryan, who ever you are, please do your homework, get your immunization shots and most of all give your school the correct number for your parents, because if I find you I am going to take away your pocket-money for a very long time as punishment.

Bitching About the Lost Art of Bitching

2008-01-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

'Bring back the red-blooded bitch' is an article in Guardian by Julie Burchill.

It is a highly-enjoyable rave on what the writer deems to be the lost art of the clever female insult, particularly in film. Insults that are not wrapped in faux pity, or born out of writhing jealousy.

As the writer puts it:

These days, bitching is low-fat, decaffeinated and kick-free.

Overall, her primary protest is that women shouldn't be afraid to disagree and that such fear has caused the loss of the mighty female one-liner:

That woman speaks eighteen languages and can't say "No" in any of them.

- Dorothy Parker (1893 - 1967)

I am the first to admit that slinging a cutting insult with abandon isn't one of my strengths or natural forms of habit, yet the idea - on some levels - appeals greatly.

Being able to form an honest bitchy remark requires great skill (verbal and mental) and is ultimately, to my mind, less destructive than the petty passive aggressive path we too often take.

Maybe I should add it to my list of new year's resolutions.

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Happy 2008!

Celebrating the new year, goes back as far as the Babylonians in 2000BC, though they celebrated for 11 days.

It was the Roman Senate who designated the day of January 1st as new year, as westerners know it, back in 153BC.

Best of luck with your resolutions if you made them. So far I have also 'resolved' to make an adamant effort to use fewer plastic bags and to carry my reusable shopping bag.

More resolutions are sure to follow, including giving up smoking, I have to work myself up to that one... AGAIN!

When Coke goes Scrooge... Pepsi comes to play

2007-12-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

When Coca-Cola refused to provided coca-cola for it's Melbourne manufacturing plant's Christmas celebration the employees; in an act of defiance that I think is very typically Australian; didn't complain but went ahead with the party, with slabs of Pespi to drink. The media got a hold of the story and there you go...

Coca-Cola are not happy chappies about it. Serves them right in my mind, especially given the company is always proclaiming that they invented the look of Santa Claus etc. Their actions seem more Scrooge than Santa to me, shame on them!

I wonder if the Santa, pictured above, had to buy his own drink for the shoot.

Well played coke workers, well played.

Shout out to my stranded friend

2007-12-17T12:45:00.001-08:00

Seems there is a Gilligan complex going on at the moment. Many things are stranded, sadly without the desert island or coconut-cream pies.

Just as the Canadian Copyright Bill has been delayed, my dear friend is stuck at LAX. After already spending 3-hours on the tarmac; due to the weekend's monstrous snow storm; she is now stranded in L.A, waiting to find a connecting flight back home to Oz.

Thinking of you Bella, there is nothing worse than being stranded and not knowing what will happen next. Wishing you a safe and swift journey back home.

Hopefully the Copyright Bill will find it's way too. Though in that case, I find it odd that people can get so mad about something they haven't even seen yet.

Snow-a-rama

2007-12-16T08:10:00.000-08:00

There is so much snow, I can't even see out the window...If I have to go outside, it will be in what I call "pilgrim-mode"... battling the elements...like pilgrims back in the day.

I find that making things overly dramatic to compliment the dramatic weather somehow makes it easier to deal with. I can role-play and practice my exaggerated expressions of woe, which distracts me from focusing on how cold or uncomfortable I am.

It works for me anyway.

Building the ROM Crystal

2007-12-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

Great little video that shows the construction of the Michael Chin Crystal at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

So, THAT's what was happening!

What has eight legs and smells nice?

2007-12-12T13:15:00.001-08:00

I don't suffer from arachnophobia, but I don't particularly like spiders either.

Growing up in Australia, the land of large and hairy huntsman, you learn to deal with them. I used to be a master of the piece-of-paper-and-jar capture technique.

Since moving to Canada, my life has been relatively free of spiders, the few I have seen always seem so tiny compared to the huntsmen.

Now that I live in a condo and winter has arrived the local spider population have moved indoors and seem to really like my bathroom.

The first few I either ignored or quickly disposed of, then one got ambitious and decided to take residence on the ceiling immediately above the sink. This I was less nonchalant about, as the last thing I need is a spider falling into my hair as I wash my face or on to my toothbrush.

I decided to take action, this bathroom was too small for both of us, the spider had to go. Unfortunately being on the ceiling made the previously mentioned paper/jar technique too tricky; using a shoe too likely to leave a mark. We don't own any bug spray so I had to be creative.

Out came the Freebreeze, which I liberally sprayed my opponent with. Unlike humans who enjoy the scent of Freebreeze, the eight-legged creature was obviously very unhappy (despite smelling nice) and acted quite 'drunk'. So 'drunk' he fell - attached to a piece of his web - precariously between the sink and the ceiling, which helped no one.

Unsure what to do, as I merely wished to kill not torture him, I tried to release him from the web to go down the sink. He by now was pissed-off and wiggly, I freaked out, so more Freebreeze was applied. At this point there was so much Freebreeze in the small room we were both nearly knocked unconscious.

Eventually I knocked him off his web and down the sink, I ran the tap to wash him away and to wash some of the Freebreeze off him. Mission accomplished.

The next morning my boyfriend was in the bathroom and commented "there's a mark on the ceiling, looks like something was sprayed"...I didn't say a word.

Christmas cards for EVERYONE

2007-12-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

Christmas cards have been part of the festive tradition since 1843.

I personally have been giving them out since Grade 4, when everyone gave one to everyone else in their class. Usual stuff, your best friend got the prettiest card, the boy you didn't like the religious looking one.

In more recent years, with the rise of the internet, I have become slack and for the most part make use of e-cards to send my Christmas greetings. There are however a very small handful of people (including my mother who threatens violence if I don't) whom I send a traditional hard-copy card by post.

I was at the card store recently trying to select cards for this small group. Nothing too religious, nothing too cheesy, nothing too North American (hard to explain). Making these selections is easier said than done and is getting harder due to the rise of 'specific' cards. I found cards for "Mother-in-Law", "The Boss", "For my Hairdresser", "For my Super Intendant" and my favourites "For my Dog" and "From the Dog".

Although I found them a bit strange, I wouldn't have have minded these cards, except that all the specificness had obliberated the customary nice-card-with-nothing-written-inside that is what I usually get.

I couldn't help but wonder... How many people give specific cards to their hairdressers and how many people are at home writing cards "From the Dog"?

Human History - Short Form

2007-12-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

From the 60 second lecture series at the University of Pennsylvania comes human history in ten points. My favourite is the first point, 'tribes: tough times'. Below are a few more.

Human History
Alan Charles Kors
George H. Walker Endowed Term Professor of History

- First, tribes: tough life.
- Rainfall agriculture, which allows loners.
- The impulse is always there, though: "Kill or enslave the outsider."
- No one who teaches you knows what will happen.

For the full list, to go www.sas.upenn.edu/home/news/trans_Kors.

Book Worm Goes High-Tech

2007-12-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

I have always been a bit of a book worm, unashamedly so.

At the moment I am reading a fabulous book by Alberto Manguel called 'The Library At Night'. The book ponders everything from why people feel compelled to collect books; the history of ancient libraries; and how the author and his library are slowly becoming 'one', due the dust from the books and the dusk from his shedding dead-skin cells intermingling.

I am not in a position where I can have a wonderful physical library, yet, so I am creating an online one for myself at Shelfari.

Shelfari is perfect as I always have trouble remembering what I have read - I've accidentally brought the same book twice - in the past. This way I can create an online catalogue for myself, see what my friends are reading, and get ideas for future reading.

So until I get the physical library I have always dreamed of I am a relatively happy book worm. Not sure I want my library and I too intermingle our dust so we become 'one', but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Feathered Frame of Reference Could have Frightened

2007-11-30T06:46:00.001-08:00

My purse is quite well known for being somewhat of an abyss, where things that go into it can take quite some time to retrieve.

Such was the case with my iPod Shuffle this morning, except my search for it sparked a weird phenomenon.

Just after leaving my house I was poking through my purse looking for my iPod, as I walked, when I decided it made more sense just to stop and look properly.

As soon as I halted and started my search a couple of pigeons flew towards me. Within seconds I had a large mass, seemed like hundreds, of pigeons flocking in my direction and surrounding me.

I don't particularly like birds, their feet freak me out, so the experience was quite disconcerting.

Fortunately I remembered that a lady comes and feeds the pigeons at the very spot I happened to be standing. So when I stopped and opened my bag, the pigeons thought that breakfast had arrived.

Hence I didn't panic.

My next immediate thought was 'Thank God I didn't watch Hitchcock's 'The Birds' last night, as this would have frightened the living daylights out of me completely'.

I will admit that I walked away pretty quickly, just in case the pigeons HAD watched the 'The Birds' last night and were pissed that I hadn't brought them breakfast.

I swear at least one of them gave me a dirty look.

Etneral Hydra

2007-11-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

Last night I saw the in development production of Eternal Hydra by the Crow Theatre at Buddies in Bad Times.

The piece is still in development but very polished and despite being very long (over two hours) utterly engaging.

The characters are well written to both reinforce and contrast one another with powerful subtly.

The actors do a tremendous job bringing them to life; especially the actress in the Selma role in the second act; though I will admit that for the first few minutes I found the scholar with the English accent's character to be played a little like what I called a 'She-Hugh-Grant', but in a good way.

The story arc is slow, complex but quite relentless.

The costuming, lighting and music are subdued (colour palettes of greys and browns predominantly) but highly effective and never distracting.

Without giving away anything of the plot I will say that I was left feeling that the piece is like a mirrored onion; with multiple layers that as they peel off also reflect back on one another.

I enjoyed it a great deal and would recommend it highly.

Mild Chemical Turmoil

2007-11-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

Today is a day of mild chemical turmoil.

Nothing profound, just one of those days that I get some months, when I am just not myself.

My skin has invited a huge pimple to live temporarily on my chin, and to my dismay, it invited some friends to keep it company.

My rational mind is a bit boggled too. It took forever to decided what to wear (how hard can choosing between two black sweaters be) only for me to decide, literally as we were walking out the door, I wanted to wear the other sweater after all.

It doesn't just affect visual things, but speech too. I noticed that I was unusually full of bitchy, grumbling, sooky comments for no reason.

Fortunately my boyfriend was very patient and merely amused as he watched me dither, mumble, whinge and rage.

On the way to work, when we finally got out of the door, I mentioned that perhaps I am not really fit to be in public today and should wear an 'Approach with Caution' sign.

He laughed but didn't disagree or say anything at all. Smart man.

Grey Cup - cultural learnings

2007-11-26T11:01:00.000-08:00

I think it is very healthy to occasionally do something that is completely out of your comfort zone of usual interests.

On Friday night I went to one of the official Grey Cup parties for the CFL Saskatchewan RoughRiders, which is about as far out of my comfort zone as I can get.

There was a sea of people (mainly men) decked out in green, cheering, drinking beer and listening to what I call "man music" - what my old housemate called "C$&%!k Rock" - think Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Billy Idol etc.

I insisted on finding myself a set of the shiny green 'mardi-gras' style beads that everyone was wearing. My boyfriend commented that he didn't realize that this was my team. I enlightened him that I didn't have a team I just wanted the jewelry.

Everyone was very jovial, even welcoming to supporters from other teams, which was nice.

Happily wearing my beads I couldn't help but ponder why it is that hard-core male sports fans; whether it be Aussie Rules, Rugby, Grid-iron etc.; love dressing in drag.

I couldn't imagine any other occasion where self-confessed tough farm boys would deck themselves out in colored-beads, skirts and painted-faces.

Is it a warrior/tribal thing? Is it a peacock thing? Is it a secret love of cross-dressing thing?

I will probably never know.

I had a good time, don't need to go again, and offer my congratulations to the Roughriders on their victory.

Gettting Counted... less fun far from home

2007-11-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, I am heading to the Australian Consulate General (ACG) in Toronto to cast my vote for the Australian Federal Election.

Australia's compulsory voting system, which I support, means that exercising my democratic right is a foregone conclusion.

However, casting my vote when I live in another country means forgoing all the more enjoyable aspects - that have little to do with the election - of the voting poll locations that I get at home.

No running into friends and neighbours, no ballons and streamers, no sausage-sizzle run by the local scout group, no cake stall by the local school. Not even a 'guess the number of jelly beans in the jar' fund raiser (you win the jelly beans).

It's all quite dull, arriving at the high-rise office (where the ACG is located), going into a small white room to vote, then leaving.

Maybe I should set up my own cake stall or put together a jelly bean jar to make the experience feel more authentic not only for myself but for other Aussie ex-patriots.

Mr. Snow has arrived

2007-11-22T11:41:00.001-08:00

Mr. Snow arrived today.

That's ok, we had been expecting him; even if he was a little early; and he can indeed be very pretty.

However, Mr. Snow, I do not recall saying that you could bring Mr. Evil-Wind-Who-Whips-Your-Face-So-Hurts with you. His presence is really quite intolerable and he definitely has a negative influence on your behaviour as well.

Bringing uninvited guests is really rather rude.

Battling the Coming Cold

2007-11-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

Winter is fast approaching. Every year I feel as if have been suffering from amnesia as to what 'Canadian Cold' feels like, then that first particularly cold day arrives and my memories flood back. "Oh yes, this is hideous."

This year I am determined to be prepared.

I have purchased a new coat. I was adamant that practicality would take precedence over fashion and vanity. After trying on an arctic-down, thermal-lined coat, that was indeed warm, but so voluminous that I looked like an apple with legs I admitted to myself that my soul would be warm but very unhappy. I ended up compromising by getting a thick down coat that does have some womanly shape. I am merely human and wish not to resemble fruit or marshmallows.

Next I scouted out thermal lined boots that lean less towards yeti-ugly. I sourced a pair that should do the trick, if I decided that my tootsies are too cold in my regular leather boots.

After all the research into winter apparel, and laying of contingency plans, I likened my search to being like preparing for battle. It sounds quite ridiculous, but is all too true.

I am almost prepared to battle winter! If winter would be so kind as to wait until I am ready. I just hope winter abides by rules of engagement, no nasty -40 days thank you very much.

Death Star Canteen

2007-11-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

Ordering penne alla arrabiata will never be the same again!

Web = $Worthless or $Billions? Depends if you are a writer

2007-11-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

No Country For Old Men = tense girl

2007-11-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

No Country For Old Men is the latest offering by the Coen Brothers.

I saw it last night and have to say that it an excellent film that more than lives up to the stellar reviews it has been receiving.

I should warn however that it's not a film for the faint of heart. I was in a perpetual state of hypertension for the duration of the screening.

The script and acting performances are excellent; the cinematography is superb.

Additionally, quirky attention to detail and props; whether they are acknowledged by the clever dialogue or not; give the film an edge that is at times unexpectedly humorous. Note the trips to the cowboy outfitters, the bad-ass' weapon, peanut eating, flowers in the hospital, 'dead-dawg', and so on.

More than anything else what sets this film apart as spectacular is the pacing, the heart-pounding, nail-biting, agonizing pacing. There is no real way to describe how they keep you on edge and I refuse to spoil any elements of the plot to attempt to do so.

All in all it's quite amazing when you take into consideration that the 'primary bad-ass' sports a girly bob haircut.

If you don't have a faint heart definitely go and see this film.

Worshipping Consumerist Idols

2007-11-13T12:15:00.001-08:00

The earrings pictured above represent the very first purchase I have ever made on-line for myself. They arrived today. I think I am mildly in love with them. They are GORGEOUS.

Hard-core biblical types may not be happy about my gold worship, and I care not that Thomas Moore's Utopian society would think me a slave for wearing them.

My consumerist heart is VERY joyful at the moment.

Jamie Oliver Ad

2007-11-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

I agree with my friend, this ad is great!

Bo Pepper - I Haven't Got You Anything

2007-11-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

I won't be ready to face the 'holiday' season for a least a month, but this is too good not to share. Enjoy!

Royal Winter Fare On Offer

2007-11-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I visited the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

My farmer grandfather would have been proud of me wandering the sheds looking at sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, chickens and even bees. He probably would have been less impressed at my 'city girl' habit of calling all the sheep 'lamby' and patting them like I do domestic pets.

After spending some time in the 'petting zoo', with all the crazed children, it made me wonder which side of the fence the animals were really on.

We also saw sculptures made of butter, a multitude of fudge stalls and lots of other good stuff. All in all we had a great time.

Talking to a friend from home I described how the event was similar to the 'Royal Melbourne Show' without the show bags and carnival rides, to which she responded "so, without all the good bits?"

I liked focusing more on the animals than the rides but agree that a show bag wouldn't have gone astray.

Nightclub Wars

2007-11-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

My clubbing days are long behind me, not that I was ever much of a mainstream 'clubber' in the first place. This piece makes me particularly pleased about that.

Nightclub Wars - CBC News Sunday

Why does it take as many as 70 police officers to patrol Toronto's club district on a Saturday night? We give you an exclusive inside look as cops walk the beat in North America's most intensive party zone.

To watch the piece filmed and produced by talented journalist, Greg Szopa, click here
.

Tumble-dried Doggie

2007-11-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

Most dog owners know that baths are generally less than popular with pooches.

My own Round Houndini; despite being the friendliest of beagles under normal circumstances; becomes one soulful, howling hound when he realizes it's bath time.

I have a wonderful photo of him from his very first bath, when he was six weeks old, sitting in a small plastic tub with a priceless forlorn expression that only hounds can do so soulfully.

For years my family did the 'dog bath dance'. This included: chasing the hound; getting the hound into the bath (harder than it sounds); having the hound alternate between forlorn looks and growling; multiple escapes; and the inevitable shake (saturating us all) then the essential roll in the mud.

After my brother and I moved away my parents surrendered the 'dance' and now Houndini has the 'Puppy Spa' service come to the house to take care of his beauty routine.

However, dog washing now offers a higher-tech option with a dog washing machine that resembles the washer we use for our clothes. It's quite remarkable.

To see the demonstration video, Click here.

I'm not sure Houndini or my family would be able to use it, one sad look from Houndini inside the machine and my entire family would end up inside the machine with him to keep him company.

Going Postal - not as joyous as antipated

2007-11-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Dollar has been stronger than the US Dollar for some weeks now. Like many people I am dying to take advantage of this by purchasing goods from the US. Not only because the $CA is stronger but generally goods are less expensive in the US.

On Saturday I excitedly loaded up my Mastercard in anticipation of 'buying gifts for myself' from my favourite US clothing retailer online for the very first time.

Apparently my level of excitement was quite humorous to observe.

Unfortunately after spending almost two hours negotiating the website, the postal fee, and cross-border taxes - there was a LOT of swearing - I had to concede that my 'fantastic' idea wasn't feasible after all. Sigh!

Even with the stronger $CA the amount of taxes etc. to get my package into Canada meant that the sweater I had my eye on would end up costing almost $200. It is not a $200 worth sweater and I didn't adore it $200 worth.

So I abandoned by mission quite miffed.

I haven't given up I will still try to find a way to buy something while the $CA is strong, it just won't be that sweater.

Melbourne Cup - horse race extravaganza

2007-11-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

The Melbourne Cup is known as the 'race that stops a nation' and is Australia's most prestigious thoroughbred horse race, held on the first Tuesday in November each year at Flemington Racecourse.

Although technically the race will be held tomorrow, due to the time difference between Canada and Australia, the race will be run today in Canada time.

It is such a part of the Melbournian cultural fabric that it cause for a public holiday, I am not aware of any other public holidays in honour of a horse race.

These days the celebration is as much about 'fashion on the field' and exclusive marquees as it is about horses. I will sheepishly admit that I have attended a couple of 'cups' where I didn't see a horse at all. My father informs me that this year the Emirates (cup sponsor) four-level venetian inspired marquee and Saab Ice Bar are the most coveted marquees to gain entrance to.

It is an event where women will feel utterly ridiculous if they are not wearing a hat (or a fascinator) and the fashion stakes are quite high. Planing your 'cup outfit' can take weeks.

Fashion and marquees aside there is definitely something exciting about placing your one and only bet on a horse (even if like me you have no idea what you are doing and make choices primarily on silks colours or horse names) each year.

This year my money ($1) is on Dolphin Jo ridden by Clare Lindop.

Goooooo Dolphin Jo... gooooooooo!

Dalai Lama in Canada

2007-11-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is currently visiting Canada.

Greg was incredibly fortunate not only to attend the session at the Rogers Centre (Sky Dome) in Toronto but also got to sit in the front row. When I asked him about the experience he said that he thought his holiness was delightful and had some very interesting thoughts on many topics including secularism and addressed the issues with China.

Apparently what I had heard is true and his holiness does indeed get the giggles on a regular basis, which is as endearing as I had suspected.

Greg said that despite being a religious leader, who emits a strong presence, his holiness also inspires feelings of warmth and familiarity which Greg compared to the affection you feel for your favourite uncle.

The experience inspired numerous conversations over the next few days including how the Dalai Lama is appointed/selected/found; his teachings in general; and how Greg was aware of people from many religious backgrounds including Jewish and Catholic who had been in attendance and how we both like cross-religion sharing.

Both being from Catholic backgrounds we amused each other saying how nice it must be to have a religious leader who you can feel genuine affection and respect for as we agreed that the likelihood of us ever feeling any warmth or calling Pope Benedict 'Uncle Benny' is highly unlikely.

Paul Rand Tribute

2007-10-31T18:57:00.000-07:00

Paul Rand was responsible for iconic icons for IBM, ABC (America), UPS, etc.

He almost singlehandedly convinced business that design was an effective tool. [. . .] Anyone designing in the 1950s and 1960s owed much to Rand, who largely made it possible for us to work. He more than anyone else made the profession reputable. We went from being commercial artists to being graphic designers largely on his merits.

- Heller, Steven. “Thoughts on Rand.” Print, May–June 1997: 106–109+

If you are an admirer of graphic design, especially graphic design history you will enjoy this 4 minute tribute commemorating Rand's posthumous induction to the One Club Hall of Fame.

It demonstrates Rand's talent, had some great thoughts on the principles of design, and is very visually enjoyable to watch.

To watch the short film, click here.

Alice and Astrid - beautiful things

2007-10-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

One of my dearest friends from my London days is Astrid behind Alice and Astrid.

Their clothes are incredibly beautiful and feminine; have a remarkable attention to detail; a delicate and luxurious approach to texture - just like my friend.

I have owned a pair of their double cotton pajamas for over five years, they look as beautiful as they did when I first got them; they are obscenely comfortable and gorgeous to boot.

If you are ever looking to spoil yourself slightly and can't make to their store in Notting Hill, take heart, you can also offer their creations online.

A absolute must check out for all girls.

Interactive Pumpkin Carving

2007-10-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

I saw a multitude of miniature ghosts, witches, princesses, super-heros etc. on my way to work this morning.

I was also visited by a ghost-hound in my office (love that hound) and given a black cat shaped decorated cookie.

So to help others to get into the Halloween spirit I am giving everyone the chance to carve their own pumpkin.

To carve your own pumpkin, click here.

Halloween - Costume Drama

2007-10-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

It is Halloween time in North America and the costumes and the decorations are out.

Not having grown up in North America I still find the entire Halloween concept a little weird and the seriousness with which finding the 'perfect costume' is taken rather stressful. I've known many different people during my time here that have spent literally weeks agonizing over their costume choices.

When asked for my costume choice of preference my mind usually goes completely blank. Any costume suggestions from other people usually involve not wearing many clothes, which I am not so keen on due to the weather as much anything else and makes me even more stressed.

That said it really is fantastic watching so many people on the subway in their costumes.

However, for yet another year I bowing out of the costume drama and leaving the dressing up to the little kids who go trick-a-treating.

Happy Halloween.

dung beetle vs. honey bee

2007-10-25T09:06:00.001-07:00

Some days are all about dung!

Some days are all about flowers!

All we can do is recognize that the dung contributes to how flowers grow.

Halloween Hangman

2007-10-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

Halloween Hangman is creepier than run-of-the-mill hangman.

It actually gave me the shivers a little even though it's utterly tacky. I think I have an aversion to skulls and skeletons.

Spam: the documentary

2007-10-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

I've known about this documentary, shown on CBC's The Lens, for a while but only got the chance to see it on the weekend.

Produced by Chocolate Box Entertainment the documentary follows David Manning on his quest to discover all things spam.

You have to give him credit for being comprehensive: he visits the SPAM (as in horrid food stuff) factory and gets their take; talks with the Monty Python comedian whose skit was responsible for the labeling of the computer phenomenon 'spam'; meets the person acknowledged as the very first person to send a mass marketing message using computer technology - 'father of spam'; looks into the battle against spam and the negative economic and technological consequences of it; tries to meet with a 'spammer'; and best of all actually tries out the products that spam sells. Seeing Manning in his 'weight loss' outfit is priceless.

It's a a great little doco, if I have attached a link to an excerpt below, but if you get a chance to view the entire piece I highly recommend it.

Click here to watch an excerpt.

NB: Did you know that according to the foodstuff SPAM representatives, if you spell SPAM in uppercase it means the foodstuff and lowercase 'spam' it means computer junk mail. Who knew! I think they might be a bit deluded in thinking that people make this distinction.

Smarties - colour coding and candy-shell truths

2007-10-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

For reasons that are not necessary to go into, I spent time this morning colour sorting Smarties.

Every activity in life teaches us something (think wax on, wax off).

Here is what I learnt from this activity:

- I REALLY enjoy colour coding things, and I am insistent on using the colour spectrum as my guide, yes I am a bit of a freak, but a harmless one.

- There isn't an even distribution of the colours in Smarties packets. My sorting revealed a dearth of red (so less to look forward to if you eat them last) and an excess of pink (little boys will be horrified). As a result I was reminded of the scene in 'Casino' with the unequal distribution of blueberries in the muffins. Hmmmm... maybe I should contact Robert De Niro with my discovery.

- Smarties are a swift road to illness if you a pick-eater. I can't always eat a full piece of cake but I can eat my weight in Smarties. Hence, I had to get the residual candy away from me as soon as possible.

- If you grew up in Australia in the 1980s you would remember the huge hullabaloo over what colour to throw out when they introduced blue Smarties. Fortunately, my vote worked and the poo brown Smarties are no more. Studying Smarties today, we DEFINITELY made the right decision.

Are you excited by all this essential learning or WHAT!

Art Movement

2007-10-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

Artist/Historian/Economist Holly Crawford is very interesting to me.

You bring your opinions on art; they provide a curator/artist, champagne and a limousine. LOVE IT!

Her (Holly Crawford) "critical conversation" limousine picks up anyone who wants to join an hour-long salon about anything to do with art. She provides champagne while an artist or curator leads each discussion, which is recorded on camera. In the sound art limousine, participants hear music from local sound artists, who also act as DJs and hosts.

Beat the Odds - Great Ad

2007-10-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Not a fan of online dating but love this ad. Makes me even more grateful that I am off the market.

Fruit Fly Invasion

2007-10-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Arghhhhh!!!!.. Fruit Fly Invasion at the office..

Little blighters, so small yet capable of such great distress.

I swear one is my ear and another is on a kamikaze mission to be swallowed.

Ick!

We've made those eco-friendly traps but they seem more interested in human torture.

Occupational Hell

2007-10-18T07:19:00.000-07:00

Some days feel like this, I imagine hell is not dissimilar.

The Mighty Boosh - Old Gregg

2007-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

I saw the Mighty Boosh (who I think were merely 'Le Boosh' at the time) live at the comedy festival in Melbourne many years ago. I remember laughing so hard I cried.

Old Gregg is particularly funny to me for personal reasons. This probably more for Aussies than Canadians in terms of humour.

The Mighty Boosh - Legend of Old Gregg
Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Support for Bras' Birthday

2007-10-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Variations of breast-support undergarments have been around for centuries but 1907 is considered the official 'birthday' of the bra, as it marks the first reference by Vogue Magazine of the word "brassiere".

Hence the 'bra' celebrates it's centenary this year.

In the past 100 years bras have had an adventurous history as they have been wired, stuffed, burnt, pushed-up, and many men have spent considerable time trying to take them off.

As a lingerie lover, I say Happy Birthday Bras, thanks for 100 years helping to banish the bounce.

Mind the Gap - Tate Modern

2007-10-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

Question: What's 548 feet long, up to three feet deep and 10inches wide, and zigzags the length of the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern?

Answer: The artwork 'Shibboleth' by Colombian artist Doris Salcedo, also colloquially known as 'Doris' Crack'.

The crack is said to represent the division problem of integrating immigrants into European society.

Three people have injured themselves by falling into the 'crack' by stepping on it, mistakenly thinking that it was painted on.

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think this artwork is BRILLIANT!

Download some Radio...Radiohead

2007-10-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Radiohead's new album In Rainbows is now available.

The ten track album can be downloaded from www.inrainbows.com

The cost of the downloaded album? Well, you get to decide. All verrrry interesting. I'd like to hear what people think.

If you like all the trappings of a regular CD, a more expansive discbox is also available to order for 40 pounds.

My kind of radio and a particularly nice pot of gold 'in rainbows'.

skippy, cow burps, hyena laughs

2007-10-11T12:57:00.001-07:00

Last night my father told me about how some Australians are trying to encourage more Aussies to eat kangaroo meat instead of beef. I already knew that kangaroo has practically no cholesterol and is very low in fat etc. but the other reason was a surprise.

If Aussies eat more kangaroo and less beef it could assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions that come from cows burping, yes, burping!

"Farmed ruminant animals are thought to be responsible for up to a quarter of "man-made" methane emissions worldwide though contrary to common belief, most gas emerges from their front, not rear, ends."(The Guardian, July 10, 2007).

Kangaroo burps apparently do not have the same problem.

I didn't believe Dad at first and asked "Burps? Wouldn't it be more likely to be from farts?". He replied "No, the scientists say it's the burps far more than the farts."

Dad then tried to explain why it was the burping, but I was too busy laughing my head off because my Dad said the word 'fart'.

Juvenile I know, especially for someone over thirty but some things will always make me laugh like a hyena.

Mancation - have boys will travel

2007-10-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

In the 1950s Jack Kerouac immortalized his buddy trips in 'On the Road'.

My Dad went on fishing trips with his friends all through the 1960s, 70s and 80s. My Boss has gone on an annual camping trip with his group of friends for almost 20 years.

Men going on vacations with their friends is by no means a new thing and is probably as old as civilization itself. Aristotle, back in ancient Greece, talked about the importance of friendship. His misguided views on women's friendships I won't go into today.

The term 'mancation' is a little newer, apparently coined by Vince Vaughn in the film 'The Break Up'. I think this term is delightful.

My boyfriend is about to go on a surfing vacation with his two best friends. He is beyond excited, probably more excited than he's ever been before one of our 'couple' vacations.

I don't mind at all, I think it's great, but I have to admit being able to snicker 'Sooo... how are you mancation plans going?' gives me far more joy and amusement than it probably should.

Apparently I 'Just Don't Understand' but so long as the word 'mancation' makes be giggle it doesn't really matter if I do or don't.

Happy Mancation Boys!

Jules et Jim

2007-10-10T06:45:00.001-07:00

The engagement bells continue to ring this year.

Congratulations to Jules and Jim on their happily anticipated engagement!

Ontario Referendum - Oct 10th

2007-10-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

It's a political bonanza time for people living in Ontario. On the 10th of October Ontarians will get the opportunity to vote not only for their next Provincial Government but have their say as to whether they want to reform the provincial electoral system.

The electoral reform referendum interests me greatly, so I've read the literature, gone to some informal functions and attended the debate.

I've decided that the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system is the one I support.

Of course there is the small problem that I can't vote because I am not a Canadian citizen. I just like to be informed.

SOOOOO...even though I can't vote, I think it's incredibly important that those who can do.

IF YOU ARE AN ELIGIBLE ONTARIAN VOTER... MAKE SURE YOU FLEX YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT... GO VOTE!

E-O-Rama: Eames & Elephants = Excellent

2007-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Charles Eames was an amazing designer, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year.

Cleverly the Eames Office came up with a unqiue and totally cool way to help celebrate.

Not only have they released limited numbers of the plywood elephants; designed in 1945 but never previously produced; but have created a fun, short, stop-motion film about them titled "A Gathering of Elephants."

Whether you are a fan of Eames, a fan of stop-motion animation, or a fan of elephants you'll love this little film.

Click here to watch it.

The film was directed by Eames Dementrios (Eames grandson) and features the acting talents of Mr. L. A. Phant and Ms. Ella Faant.

Kath and Kim meets Little Britain

2007-10-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of both of these shows, as I am, this is a bit like a comedic dream come true. It helps if your sense of humour leans towards the Aussie/British way of things too.

God Calling ... on your cell phone

2007-10-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

Communicating with God has gone high-tech in Britain.

Now the faithful can download religious wallpaper and ringtones expressing their faith, even download the entire bible if they wish.

The service, Ecumen, is marketed with the phrase: "The only Bible you can read in the dark."

Seems God not only works in mysterious ways but adapts to new technologies.

Landed - new part moose

2007-10-01T10:04:00.001-07:00

As a foreigner living in Canada a number of my friends, like me, are 'resident aliens', all at different stages in the immigration process.

On Friday night one of my friends; who has had a particularly adventurous journey down the immigration road; finally got her official approval and became 'Landed' as a Canadian Permanent Resident.

Celebrations included champagne and a group sing-a-long of 'Oh Canada'.

Congratulations Anna, on being well on your way to officially becoming part-moose!

Nuit Blanche - over projected

2007-10-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday night was Nuit Blanche, an all night contemporary art extravaganza that overtook downtown Toronto.

The excitement in the lead up to this event was fantastic. Everyone I know and everyone who knows people I know were all pumped to participate. Additionally; unlike last year's cold and wet climatic offerings; the weather was perfect for nocturnal wanderings on foot around the streets. My excitement grew when as my group of friends and I discovered that the TTC had sold out of tokens and day passes. Surely this event was going to be magnificent.

Indeed the numbers of people wandering from artwork to artwork around the city was impressive. The general atmosphere of good-willed curiosity and excitement was marvelous.

Unfortunately the art was anything but marvelous.

I preface my ramble on my dissatisfaction with the art by explaining that I am a huge supporter of contemporary art. I've seen everything from teddy bears covered in oatmeal; ants making patterns with string; murderer's portraits made of children's hand-prints; sharks in tanks of formaldehyde; and too many video and sound installations to shake a stick at. I'm not one of the cynics who shake their head at contemporary art and irritatingly say "my five-year old coudda done dat."

I can be a tough critic; if something has been too overdone, is too focused on trying to shock, or just plain idiotic; I am the first person to walk away shaking my head. However, if something hasn't completely reached resolution - but I can see that the idea was clever or interesting - I will be lenient and give it it's dues. If something is spectacular, even if it's really weird, I am the first to say I love it.

Sadly, on Saturday night there was a lot of head shaking and nothing worth bestowing leniency on, everything I saw was at best mediocre and at worst groan inspiring.

There seemed to be a mild obsession with using projections, but none of them were very good and few took into account or incorporated their physical placement. The success of last year's fog sculpture at Philosophers Way (which I LOVED) seemed to have everyone else obsessed with trying to ride on it's 'fog based' popularity - sadly without success.

The 'alien autopsy' was so pathetic it almost made me cross and the invitation by the conservation guy to 'write about how I feel about trees' on pieces of paper was so hypocritically ridiculous I could do nothing but stare.

As the evening faded to 4am, my friends and I held out one last hope for the art. There was a piece at the unused Bay Street Subway station that we hadn't seen. I'd never been to the 'hidden' station so if nothing else just getting down there would be a success. The station itself was cool; we all agree it would be a great venue for something; but the so-called 'sound installation' was so void that I won't even bother describing it.

Nuit Blanche is a wonderful concept that deserves praise but if they are to continue this event in future I would strongly recommend a significant review of the art selection process and the appointment of a decent (hopefully savage) curator. If they could lure some recognizable and acknowledged artists - who are actually talented - all the better. Otherwise I fear that if the event continues with such pathetic works on offer it will actually do contemporary art a great disservice.

All-in-all Nuit Blanche in it's current manifestation was over projected and it's resolution far too low to be replicated.

Wear a Red Shirt For Burma Today

2007-09-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

IN SUPPORT OF OUR BRAVE FRIENDS IN BURMA: MAY ALL PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WEAR A RED SHIRT ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28.

I didn't know about this until my housemate (who was wearing a red shirt) told me about it this morning, as luck would have it I was already wearing a red dress.

I hope the dress counts too.

Hippo & Dog: The Lion Sleep Tonight

2007-09-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

I just like it!

Write Like a Girl?

2007-09-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

We are all aware that gender can influence many aspects of our lives (nurture/nature/sociology is beside the point for the moment) including how we walk, colours we are drawn to, and some would argue the way we throw balls.

There is also a website that claims it can determine the gender of your writing from your word usage. For example the song writing of Axel Rose was deemed have a female structure of word usage.

Here is a little bit more about it:

In 2003, a team of researchers from the Illinois Institute of Technology and Bar-Ilan University in Israel (Shlomo Argamon, Moshe Koppel, Jonathan Fine, and Anat Rachel Shimoni) developed a method to estimate gender from word usage. Their paper described a Bayesian network where weighted word frequencies and parts of speech could be used to estimate the gender of an author. Their approach made a distinction between fiction and non-fiction writing styles.

To check out the gender of your own writing using the Gender Genie, click here