I have been away in Canberra and Corowa, and not only saw a variation on the Australian countryside but I had a distinctly different art experience. At the National Gallery of Australia, in Canberra, I saw Pollock's 'Blue Poles' which I have wanted to view 'in the flesh' for a very long time. I don't have to tell you it's a great artwork. I also saw Fred Williams and Brett Whiteley paintings which gave me a lift, plus of course other masterpieces by Drysdale, Nolan and co.
In Corowa I stayed with Bill and Vera Reeves - Vera being an artist and an active member of the Rutherglen Artists' Society. Vera started painting late in life and has already produced a large body of work in oils, acrylics, watercolours, etc. Before I went away, I took some poetry writing lessons at the Atwell Gallery over here, so I was interested to compare the two groups ... You can take a look yourself at http://www.rutherglenvic.com/visitorinfo/visitorinfo_content.asp?visitorInfoID=10 and http://members.iinet.net.au/~atwelart/index.htm
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Blue Poles at the NGA
I'm in Canberra at present so I took the opportunity yesterday of seeing the National Gallery. Great! I saw Pollock's great masterwork Blue Poles in living colour! & The Drover's Wife by Drysdale, a few Arthur Boyd's that I love - and a shop full of arty farty nicknacks which I would have loved to buy a take home - a tin Ned Kelly a la Nolan for one. Instead, I purchased a Fred Williams & a Brett Whiteley print.
There's beautiful Tang Dynasty sculpture downstairs ... and Monet, of course. I didn't see all of it, so I shall return one other day soon - hopefully.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Friday, December 30, 2005
More Frantastic fun with Fran Sbrocchi
One of a series of computer paintings by poet and teacher, Fran Sbrocchi (who also makes fine muffins!).
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Snap - 28/12/2005
in her last days
my mother manipulated us
openly
blackmailing us with
senility
in all its flavours
'o, I know what you're up to'
she'd say, seeing conspiracy everywhere
and call me by my brother's name
and accuse me of his faults
'you can't hide from me'
she'd say, and we'd resent it
but now years down the track,
sober drunks praise her in
the public bar of their recovery,
and I glow in her reflected serenity
and phone to tell my brother
what a good woman she was,
our mother of the manipulative ways -
he laughs and asks
for a contribution to her last pharmacy bill
and mimics her voice -
'you can't hide from me'
my mother manipulated us
openly
blackmailing us with
senility
in all its flavours
'o, I know what you're up to'
she'd say, seeing conspiracy everywhere
and call me by my brother's name
and accuse me of his faults
'you can't hide from me'
she'd say, and we'd resent it
but now years down the track,
sober drunks praise her in
the public bar of their recovery,
and I glow in her reflected serenity
and phone to tell my brother
what a good woman she was,
our mother of the manipulative ways -
he laughs and asks
for a contribution to her last pharmacy bill
and mimics her voice -
'you can't hide from me'
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
More Toilet Door News
Toilet Door Poems will commission 6 emerging poets and 6 visual designers, to create 6 posters for display on the backs toilet doors during April 2006, in domestic Qantas terminals, and Greater Union cinemas, in Sydney and nationally.
The project will also commission 1 poet to write a mini-essay about an aspect of poetry in the public space, to be published online at www.redroomorganisation.org and presented publicity, at the project's launch.
The poems will be displayed for the duration of APRIL 2006, in these spaces, thanks to the support from ‘The Letter Corporation, The City of Sydney and The John Butler Foundation's 'social activisim through the arts' fund.
Our design partners, DesignWorks Enterprise IG, will co-ordinate the selection of artists and art design, introducing a strong collaborative element between the poet and the artist.
Selected poets will be recorded reading their poems for a red room radio, broadcast via the national community radio satellite.
The poems will replace advertising with poetry and art by emerging Australian poets and artists in spaces that are both very public, and uniquely private.
Each illustrated poem will explore and interpret a theme of social, political, cultural and creative relevance to each poet and designer, offering a balance between creative excellence and a social aware art for the public, humorous and serious at once.
SUBMISSIONS open on DECEMBER 1 2005 and close JANUARY 23 2006
Conditions of entry for poets
Poems can’t have been previously published.
Poets selected for the project will be emerging poets, that means no more than one book (chap books excluded) of poetry previously published.
Poems remain the exclusive copyright of red room company until project completion and future publication must acknowledge previous publication in this project.
Poems submitted must include poet contact details
Poets must be Australian residents
Poems can be sent via email or hard copy to The Red Room Company PO box 1389 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300
Poems must reach us by the 23rd January 2006
Conditions of entry for artists
Artists selected for the project will be emerging artists, that means not as famous as John Olsen.
Art works remain the exclusive copyright of red room company until project completion and future publication must acknowledge previous publication in this project.
Works submitted must include poet contact details
Artists must be Australian residents
An example of previous art work must fit into an A4 envelope (CDs, photographs, photocopies accepted) to
The Red Room Company PO box 1389 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300
Artworks must reach us by the 13th January 2006
Artists will be contacted separately, details here soon.
Selection committee
Poem and art selection committee will include an emerging and established poet. Also involved in the selection process will be a representative from the John Butler Foundation and The City of Sydney
Warning
Please don't submit poems built on toilet humour unless they are outstanding
The selected poems will aim to explore issues of social, political, cultural and creative relevance to broad audience.
Further detailsPlease contact johanna@redroomorganisation.org
The project will also commission 1 poet to write a mini-essay about an aspect of poetry in the public space, to be published online at www.redroomorganisation.org and presented publicity, at the project's launch.
The poems will be displayed for the duration of APRIL 2006, in these spaces, thanks to the support from ‘The Letter Corporation, The City of Sydney and The John Butler Foundation's 'social activisim through the arts' fund.
Our design partners, DesignWorks Enterprise IG, will co-ordinate the selection of artists and art design, introducing a strong collaborative element between the poet and the artist.
Selected poets will be recorded reading their poems for a red room radio, broadcast via the national community radio satellite.
The poems will replace advertising with poetry and art by emerging Australian poets and artists in spaces that are both very public, and uniquely private.
Each illustrated poem will explore and interpret a theme of social, political, cultural and creative relevance to each poet and designer, offering a balance between creative excellence and a social aware art for the public, humorous and serious at once.
SUBMISSIONS open on DECEMBER 1 2005 and close JANUARY 23 2006
Conditions of entry for poets
Poems can’t have been previously published.
Poets selected for the project will be emerging poets, that means no more than one book (chap books excluded) of poetry previously published.
Poems remain the exclusive copyright of red room company until project completion and future publication must acknowledge previous publication in this project.
Poems submitted must include poet contact details
Poets must be Australian residents
Poems can be sent via email or hard copy to The Red Room Company PO box 1389 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300
Poems must reach us by the 23rd January 2006
Conditions of entry for artists
Artists selected for the project will be emerging artists, that means not as famous as John Olsen.
Art works remain the exclusive copyright of red room company until project completion and future publication must acknowledge previous publication in this project.
Works submitted must include poet contact details
Artists must be Australian residents
An example of previous art work must fit into an A4 envelope (CDs, photographs, photocopies accepted) to
The Red Room Company PO box 1389 Darlinghurst, NSW 1300
Artworks must reach us by the 13th January 2006
Artists will be contacted separately, details here soon.
Selection committee
Poem and art selection committee will include an emerging and established poet. Also involved in the selection process will be a representative from the John Butler Foundation and The City of Sydney
Warning
Please don't submit poems built on toilet humour unless they are outstanding
The selected poems will aim to explore issues of social, political, cultural and creative relevance to broad audience.
Further detailsPlease contact johanna@redroomorganisation.org
Toilet Door Poetry Opportunity :-)
Dear Poets and writers and visual artists,
Submissions are now open for the 2006 Toilet Door poetry project.
Six emerging poets and artists are wanted to create illustrated
poem posters for exhibition on the back of toilet doors in Qantas
domestic terminals, greater union and village cinemas, nationally
in April 2006.
Please see attached PDF for details [try the link below].
Happy summer swims,
Johanna
Johanna Featherstone
The Red Room Company
www.redroomorganisation.org
Submissions are now open for the 2006 Toilet Door poetry project.
Six emerging poets and artists are wanted to create illustrated
poem posters for exhibition on the back of toilet doors in Qantas
domestic terminals, greater union and village cinemas, nationally
in April 2006.
Please see attached PDF for details [try the link below].
Happy summer swims,
Johanna
Johanna Featherstone
The Red Room Company
www.redroomorganisation.org
Monday, December 26, 2005
Snap on Christmas Day
6.15am
i begin the festivities
by watering the lawn
and the two single trees
that stand two metres tall
and five metres apart
their leafy round heads
dripping like mops
a wattlebird flies in
and shakes her body
among the leaves
bathes with gusto
when in flies her would-be lover
so she flies to
the other green mop
both trees now alive
a bird each
and not a partridge
or a pear tree
in sight
i begin the festivities
by watering the lawn
and the two single trees
that stand two metres tall
and five metres apart
their leafy round heads
dripping like mops
a wattlebird flies in
and shakes her body
among the leaves
bathes with gusto
when in flies her would-be lover
so she flies to
the other green mop
both trees now alive
a bird each
and not a partridge
or a pear tree
in sight
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Snow School by Fran Sbrocchi
Snow School by Fran Sbrocchi. I suppose it helps to know that Fran grew up in Canada :-) With this painting she sent a note which read, in part, Kids in our time built a nice house and put a stove in it for winter school lunches. Beautiful. Thanks, Fran ... And happy jolly, merry holly to all!
Poems & Paintings
Pieter Brueghel, Hunters in the Snow (1565)
Here's a website you might enjoy - http://www.english.emory.edu/classes/paintings&poems/titlepage.html
Friday, December 16, 2005
Michael Knight painting
Michael Knight is my artist partner at 'The Painted Word' at the Atwell Gallery in January 2006. If you would like to work with words then art, it is a unique opportunity! See below for website address.
January is Summer School Time!
There is a good creative project going down at the Atwell Gallery - one section of which is 'The Painted Word' where a writer and an artist are teamed up for the week to inspire a class to create! Create what? Who knows! The fun is in finding out and creating it ... Go to http://www.atwellarts.com/SummerSchool.htm now and check it out.
See you there! Would I tell you all this if I wasn't one of the writers? Not bloody likely! :-)
See you there! Would I tell you all this if I wasn't one of the writers? Not bloody likely! :-)
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Snake Pit 1950+
In my research for my academic work, I came a cross this photo which I think is great. In my family, we weren't allowed anywhere near the Snake Pit in Scarborough, but I have since learnt it was run by an off-duty cop who was helping out the youth of the area.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Famous Reporter 31 launched
Good news! The sparkling little literary journal from the apple isle Famous Reporter has just been released. This is Number 31, so congratulations to Ralph Wassman and others on the team for their diligent work. You can see parts of it at http://walleahpress.com.au/FR31.html
A subscription would make a good Christmas gift to someone interested in contemporary Australian literature.
A subscription would make a good Christmas gift to someone interested in contemporary Australian literature.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Courtesy E-Verse Radio
To Jane: The Keen Stars Were Twinkling
Percy Bysshe Shelley
1.
The keen stars were twinkling,
And the fair moon was rising above them,
Dear Jane!
The guitar was tinkling,
But the notes were not sweet till you sung them
Again.
2.
As the moon's soft splendor
O'er the faint cold starlight of heaven
Is thrown,
So your voice most tender
To the strings without soul has then given
Its own.
3.
The stars will awaken,
Though the moon sleep a full hour later,
Tonight;
No leaf will be shaken
Whilst the dews of your melody scatter
Delight.
4.
Though the sound overpowers,
Sing again, with your dear voice revealing
A tone
Of some world far from ours,
Where music and moonlight and feeling
Are one.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
1.
The keen stars were twinkling,
And the fair moon was rising above them,
Dear Jane!
The guitar was tinkling,
But the notes were not sweet till you sung them
Again.
2.
As the moon's soft splendor
O'er the faint cold starlight of heaven
Is thrown,
So your voice most tender
To the strings without soul has then given
Its own.
3.
The stars will awaken,
Though the moon sleep a full hour later,
Tonight;
No leaf will be shaken
Whilst the dews of your melody scatter
Delight.
4.
Though the sound overpowers,
Sing again, with your dear voice revealing
A tone
Of some world far from ours,
Where music and moonlight and feeling
Are one.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Fay Zwicky Wins White Award
From the Melbourne Age :
"I lead a very reclusive life ... and suddenly this happens." Fay Zwicky
By Jane Sullivan
November 12, 2005
WHEN poet Fay Zwicky had a telephone call to tell her she'd won one of Australia's top literary prizes, she thought it was a hoax. "I was completely bowled over," she said. "I lead a very reclusive life and I never expect anything. I always think I'm drifting along and nobody knows I'm here, and it's great. And suddenly this happens."
The 72-year-old Perth writer, who was born and brought up in Melbourne and has been writing poetry and prose for half a century, has won the $25,000 Patrick White Award.
The annual prize is given to an Australian writer whose work, in the opinion of the award committee, has not received adequate recognition. The committee says Zwicky is "one of Australia's most original and accomplished poets".
Patrick White founded the award after he won the Nobel prize for literature in 1973. Zwicky remembers meeting him at an anti-nuclear symposium in Canberra in the 1980s, where she read one of her stories. "He was very elderly and infirm and I was totally in awe of the man. Shrunken and ill as he was, he took the trouble to come over and say something very nice about my story. I was so moved I burst into tears," she said.
"I know he had a reputation as a bit of a curmudgeon, but then so have I. He was a remarkable humanitarian. I have enormous respect for him and I'm terribly moved I should be part of the legacy."
Zwicky began writing poetry as an undergraduate at the University of Melbourne in the 1950s and has worked as a concert pianist and an academic. As a young musician, she always had a book behind the music stand so her mother could not see what she was reading.
Her poetry collections have won several awards. One of her most-admired poems, Kaddish, is an elegy for her father that also draws on her experience of growing up in Melbourne's Jewish community.
Today she lives with "the usual old-age things: your mind might be leaping about, but the body ain't following", but she is still writing poetry. Next year, Giramondo Press will publish a new collection, Picnic. "It will probably be my last book but I'm very pleased, I've been working quite hard. My poems are getting a bit engrossed by the political state of things at the moment … leaning towards a study of despotism, the waste of life and the need for survival."
Last year, Western Australia declared her a Living Treasure — "a most repulsive term".
She finds poetry today "a mixed bag" and is not keen on some performance poetry with "people practically masturbating on stage. I'm afraid I'm old-fashioned Melbourne: don't show everything, keep it in. I was brought up in a puritanical style and I'm not sorry about that."
"I lead a very reclusive life ... and suddenly this happens." Fay Zwicky
By Jane Sullivan
November 12, 2005
WHEN poet Fay Zwicky had a telephone call to tell her she'd won one of Australia's top literary prizes, she thought it was a hoax. "I was completely bowled over," she said. "I lead a very reclusive life and I never expect anything. I always think I'm drifting along and nobody knows I'm here, and it's great. And suddenly this happens."
The 72-year-old Perth writer, who was born and brought up in Melbourne and has been writing poetry and prose for half a century, has won the $25,000 Patrick White Award.
The annual prize is given to an Australian writer whose work, in the opinion of the award committee, has not received adequate recognition. The committee says Zwicky is "one of Australia's most original and accomplished poets".
Patrick White founded the award after he won the Nobel prize for literature in 1973. Zwicky remembers meeting him at an anti-nuclear symposium in Canberra in the 1980s, where she read one of her stories. "He was very elderly and infirm and I was totally in awe of the man. Shrunken and ill as he was, he took the trouble to come over and say something very nice about my story. I was so moved I burst into tears," she said.
"I know he had a reputation as a bit of a curmudgeon, but then so have I. He was a remarkable humanitarian. I have enormous respect for him and I'm terribly moved I should be part of the legacy."
Zwicky began writing poetry as an undergraduate at the University of Melbourne in the 1950s and has worked as a concert pianist and an academic. As a young musician, she always had a book behind the music stand so her mother could not see what she was reading.
Her poetry collections have won several awards. One of her most-admired poems, Kaddish, is an elegy for her father that also draws on her experience of growing up in Melbourne's Jewish community.
Today she lives with "the usual old-age things: your mind might be leaping about, but the body ain't following", but she is still writing poetry. Next year, Giramondo Press will publish a new collection, Picnic. "It will probably be my last book but I'm very pleased, I've been working quite hard. My poems are getting a bit engrossed by the political state of things at the moment … leaning towards a study of despotism, the waste of life and the need for survival."
Last year, Western Australia declared her a Living Treasure — "a most repulsive term".
She finds poetry today "a mixed bag" and is not keen on some performance poetry with "people practically masturbating on stage. I'm afraid I'm old-fashioned Melbourne: don't show everything, keep it in. I was brought up in a puritanical style and I'm not sorry about that."
Word-Thirst
A call from the Editor of West Australian literary magazine, Word-Thirst, for submissions:
Hi everyone,
I am now calling for submissions for 'Thirst', a biannually published
literary magazine of 52 pages comprising poetry, short stories, reviews,
essays, articles (especially on writing or writers). This is privatly
published by Benmax Box, distribution approx 200, in support of
established and emerging writers. Submissions to asthom@iexpress.net.au
BJ Thomason
Hi everyone,
I am now calling for submissions for 'Thirst', a biannually published
literary magazine of 52 pages comprising poetry, short stories, reviews,
essays, articles (especially on writing or writers). This is privatly
published by Benmax Box, distribution approx 200, in support of
established and emerging writers. Submissions to asthom@iexpress.net.au
BJ Thomason
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Publicity blurb from Black Inc books
The Best Australian Poems 2005
Edited by Les Murray
Following on from the enormous success of the 2004 Best Poems anthology, editor Les Murray promises an even better collection for 2005. Taking only the best of our established poets, as well as discovering a few hidden gems by previously unpublished writers, The Best Australian Poems 2005 is the ultimate showcase of Australian poetry.
$24.95 - ISBN 186 395 1024 - Black Inc. - October 2005
Trade orders through Macmillan.
Edited by Les Murray
Following on from the enormous success of the 2004 Best Poems anthology, editor Les Murray promises an even better collection for 2005. Taking only the best of our established poets, as well as discovering a few hidden gems by previously unpublished writers, The Best Australian Poems 2005 is the ultimate showcase of Australian poetry.
$24.95 - ISBN 186 395 1024 - Black Inc. - October 2005
Trade orders through Macmillan.
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