A trip to Queensland University of Technology Art Museum

Chris and I attended the Heavy Weights: International Works on Paper from the Collection exhibition at QUT Art Museum on opening day to see works from Sol LeWitt, Joan Miro and Auguste Rodin. According to QUT, many of the works had never been exhibited before.

The QUT Garden Point Campus runs adjacent to the City Botanical Gardens in the Central Business District (commonly known at CBD). Although we have often strolled through campus, it was our first time visiting the Art Museum which is tucked in the basement of a brick campus building. It’s a small space that features two galleries.

I’ve always been drawn to paper, especially collage. So when I saw Tenth sonnet by Joe Tilson one of the many postcard racks in local cafes and arts venues, I immediately picked it up. Seeing his Tenth sonnet full size at Heavy Weights was a treat.

Chris’ favourite work was Sol LeWitt’s series Linocuts (above) that were produced in 2006 and purchased in 2007 by the Art Museum. My favourite work was Promentory by Alan Jones although I also enjoyed Eduardo Paolozzi‘s multi-coloured prints.

 

The One Where I Discover a City Farm

I’m an urban girl. Usually the farm comes to me, either though weekly markets or Food Connect, until few weeks ago. I was introduced to Northey Street City Farm by my friend Melissa, a permaculture specialist, on sunny afternoon before the Brisbane winter set in.

Northey Street City Farm is the hub for all things organic, holistic and green in Brisbane. They host Sunday market in the adjacent parking lot and sustainable living workshops. They have a well-stocked nursery. They have community garden plots. They even have a permaculture cookbook.

There was so much to see when Melissa showed me Northey Street. Here’s a selection of my snaps from the afternoon.

This Sunday marks their 600th market. Sandy Creek Organic Farm will be there with rocket, lettuce and asian greens and the Smoothie Cycle will be there offering pedal powered smoothie.

Paniyiri Greek Festival

Zorba the Greek played on repeat. Smoke wafted from the lamb turning on the spit. Haloumi squeaked between the teeth of locals. Children hyped on honeypuffs rolled gleefully in zorb balls. Tiny plastic cups fell on the ground after old men and young women took shots of ouzo. This is Paniyiri, the annual Greek festival in Musgrave Park.

It was a sunny autumn afternoon. I walked down the park from our house up the hill to snap photos and watch a cooking demonstration.  We met up with friends in the early evening and drank sweet wine, played carnival games, rode the giant swing, and ate stuffed red papers, lamb yiros, spanakopita, galaktoboureko, baclava and nut rolls. It was wonderful.

One of the many Greek homes in the West End.

Windows of a Greek Orthodox Church.

85% of the people in this photo are drinking XXXX Gold or Mythos

I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the fun house from Grease

Kids in zorbs (that really, really amused Chris)

Starting them young

Rasta monkey prizes

An alternative wind turbine

A moment of relief for stomachs full of honey puffs

Throw a weighted ball for a unicorn

Bumper car spectacle

At first I thought she was from Blade Runner

This tower, created for Expo 88, lights up at night. Chris thinks it secretly gauges weather.

Grill master hard at work

“It’s getting faster!” It=Zorba the Greek, played for the 20th time that night.

Dancing on top of a trailer

All that’s missing are clay plates to smash

Fry, baby, fry

Coat, baby, coat

Pop a puff (or 12) in your mouth

One of the dozen food tents that offered Greek cuisine from different regions

Thousands gathered to dance, drink and inhale charred meat

The beginning of spanakopita

Starting the night off with haloumi

Living in the West End is a Greek festival year-long for Chris and I. Years ago Greeks primarily settled in South Brisbane and Italians generally settled in North Brisbane. We often frequent a well-stocked Greek deli on Vulture St and dine at one of the many Greek restaurants; Little Greek is our favourite followed closely by Char Char.

Burnett Beacons

Since the first day of May, I have walked through Burnett Lane every day on my way to Shri Yoga. I’m on Day 6 of a 30 day yoga challenge. Strolling, or in some cases, power walking, through Burnett Lane to the yoga studio is a delight. Burnett Lane is one of the revitalised laneways in the Brisbane city heart. Reminiscent of Melbourne streets, Burnett Lane is a respite from the bustle of Queen St Mall and it’s brand name shops.

You’ll find a German sausage cafe, a bar called Super Whatnot, a French florist and of course, Shri in Burnett Lane. You’ll also find a pop-up architecture show put on by first year students. Burnett Beacons are battery powered lanterns designed by first-year architecture students from the University of Queensland. They partnered with Reverse Garbage (one of my favourite social enterprises) to turn industrial waste into urban treasures. I walked past the students setting up their beacons on a Friday afternoon.

Which is your favourite?

What I learned from throwing (pots)

I’ve died and gone to Clayschool, a local pottery studio run by Ray Cavill in the West End. Housed in a former bakery, Clayschool has eight-plus wheels, massive tables and, the best part, a circle of chairs for mid-session supper and discussion of the weekly pot and the weekly book selected by Ray.

Ray has been working with clay for three decades. More specifically, Ray taught pottery at TAFE for 20 years before opening his own studio so he could teach his way. Ray’s way suited my learning style. He gave detailed explanations about the philosophy behind pottery today, the elemental structure of clay and step-by-step techniques for shaping bowls and cylinders.

According to Ray, it’s a waste of time to try and compete with industry. Instead, pottery should be a form of self-expression or the art of creating something unique. For example, unearthing the clay, refining it, kneading it, throwing it and glazing it to create a piece that couldn’t be made by anyone else, anywhere else.

While Ray had five steps written on the whiteboard, these three stuck with me:

1. Relax

2. Don’t touch clay until it’s moving

3. Easy on easy off

I liked starting by relaxing. Unclenching, loosening and breathing reminds me to experience the joy of creation. Not touching the clay until it’s moving reminds me of the make-up of clay and how my hands are stacking the internal plates. Easing on and off reminds me of the power of pressure. Ray mentioned that a pot will take ‘x’ amount of pressure. Whether the pressure is applied quickly or slowly, it’s still the same amount, ‘x’. At this stage, I need to work slowly to have more control.

In the end I threw four pots of different sizes. I sorted them in my mind: this pot for earrings, that pot for cereal, this pot for miso soup, that pot for pesto. Ray’s challenge to us newbies was to throw three bowls. I felt accomplished with four, especially since my first was a disaster.

I have to admit; this wasn’t my first time throwing. I took a six week pottery term in a Northern Brisbane suburb earlier this year with my friend Caitlin who had been throwing bowls and mugs back in Pittsburgh. The term introduced me to the vocabulary of pottery but did not instill a lot of confidence in me. In just three hours at Clayschool I could see myself improve, or more specifically, I could see the curve of my bowls improve.

Until next Tuesday, I’ll do my homework in the notebook Ray gave me as a new student. My task: feel bowls, cups, plates and vases and take notes on what I like. By the end of the 10-week term, I’ll be creating objects influenced by the designs I find.

Side note: written on Ray’s studio wall was “preparation + opportunity” which I took to be an apt formula for success.