I’ve recently become a little obsessed with watching short videos to punctuate my writing work. I love The Nowness, a website full of contemporary short films, and today I loved this one. Le Four (The Crazy) tells the story of Senegalese child gangs through krump dance. Yep, you read that right. Random, but fascinating. The dancer is Dexter and it was directed by Christopher Michael Tew.
While in Niseko, Japan, I took myself to a calligaphy class, organised through SkiJapan.com. Tadashi, my man on the ground, came along to the class and totally showed me up. Granted he had been learning calligraphy at school since he was a little boy. Our teacher took us through the basics of calligraphy – crushing the black powder to make the ink, holding the brush and making confident strokes.
After many practices, I finally worked up the courage to write directly on to the gold rimmed card. I think it says snow, but knowing my skills it probably says something off the charts rude!
Tadashi is hilarious. He was telling me as a child in calligraphy class their paper was stacked with a small blue piece of paper every twenty sheets. He reverted back to a child and actually fought me for the blue paper and then showed me why…they would blow on the paper to make it flap about. Each to their own, ha ha, but I gave it a go. It was pretty funny to see how amused Tadashi was by it still, many years later.
Once we had finished our masterpieces, our teacher asked us to stamp the page with her red signature. Tadashi asked for the inkpad and started covering his hand in ink and slapped it down on the page. Apparently another hark back to his youth!
For the record, we were writing different words, I wasn’t that bad! You can see Tadashi’s flourishes are far better than mine, but for a first attempt from a non-artistic person, it’s not too bad. I even wrote my name on the right hand side.
The lesson was held at the Niseko Cultural School, where you can take classes in Japanese Tea Ceremony, kimono dressing, sushi making and tours to local shrines and art galleries. They also have a beautiful gallery and antique collection onsite called Momiji. If you want a day off the slopes, or like me you injure yourself, it’s a great way to fill in a day.
My lovely friend Katherine Bowman contacted me today about her new venture called Northcity4. I am always interested in what Katherine has to say and thought you might be too. Katherine is part of a group of five talented artists who have come together to create a new contemporary jewellery and object studio and school in Brunswick.
The NC4 studio and school is the initiative of artists Romani Benjamin, Katherine Bowman, Anna Davern, Caz Guiney and Ali Limb. This group of artists has come together with the aim of sharing their knowledge, skills and techniques through mentorships, seminars, access studios and workshops. Sounds wonderful.
They are having a launch on March 2nd from 6pm – 8pm at 61 Weston Street in Brunswick. The ‘entertainment’ is varied – you can listen to Marcus Westbury, columnist for the The Age and with Not Quite Art on ABC1 and Natalia Milosz-Piekarska, award-winning contemporary jeweller. Katherine’s beautiful prints and Ali Limb’s jewellery will be for sale on the night to help fund the next stage of NC4’s development. And it’s not a party without music, as provided by a local DJ, no doubt uber cool.
My favourite contemporary jeweller Katherine Bowman is featured in this week’s Weekly Review. I have interviewed her a couple of times now and each time I feel I understand her beautiful work that little bit more. This time I gained an insight into her “perfection of the wonky” as she puts it so gorgeously.
The Weekly Review Spread
Read the piece online here. I highly recommend buying yourself a piece or two as she is majorly collectible. I have a divine pair of earrings that I am constantly receiving comments about. Love, love, love them!
My beautiful Katherine Bowman earrings
View more of Katherine’s range on her website www.katherinebowman.com.au or see the inner workings of her studio and mind at www.katherinebowman.blogspot.com.
My lovely friend K told me about one of her favourite blogs, I’m Revolting. It’s my new favourite thing to look at. Such an interesting collection of curiosities that totally belie the foul (but memorable) name. Check it. This piece on the blog took my eye, from Native Trees of Canada by Leanne Shapton via Paris Review.
Katherine Bowman is one of my favourite artists and jewellers and, lucky me, I count her as a friend. I had the gorgeous task of interviewing her recently and you can see her lovely answers and shots of her studio space and cute puppy, Millie, on Interview Me.
This weekend I was treated to a wonderful day of food, design and fashion with B in Sydney. She put together a fabulous day for me and I enjoyed every moment.
We started early with a trip to the Eveleigh Market at the heritage listed Eveleigh Railyards, an inner-city area including the emerging Carriageworks arts and cultural precinct. I was particularly excited to see the Anna Schwartz Gallery there too. The markets have been operating since February 2009, and by all accounts are garnering more and more support each week. It was really lovely to experience a staple ‘Melbourne’ activity for me, in Sydney. Billy Kwong is represented there by his sister Kylie serving moorish dumplings, organic vegetables, beautiful dips and cheese, Pukara Estate olive oils (my family’s favourite!) and colourful fresh flowers.
B was there to pick up provisions for her dinner party that night, so first stop was Mirrool Creek Lamb for some…surprise, surprise…lamb! Raised in the Riverina, the lamb is free range and dry aged for 6 days. Supplying to restuarants like Longrain, Table for 20 and Becasse, the premium lamb is, according to B, to die for. We stopped off for colourful organic vegetables, homemade hommous and bagel crisps, truffle oil and some stunning purple sweet pea flowers.
Next stop was the sister store of my all time favourite boutique, Lotus Pod. Called Eden on Crown, it stocks a well edited collection of your cheaper dresses, tops and costume jewellery. LOVE IT!
Just around the corner was the Bourke Street Bakery. My Sydney siblings have sung the praises of this little bakery and cafe in the past, even going so far as to transport lemon and chocolate tarts five hours into the country when visiting the family home. B and I lined up with about 20 other people and had a lovely piece of pizza and a chicken, celery and walnut sandwich, both washed down with housemade traditional lemonade. Yum! They were seriously pumping through the people, which I’m not sure the photos really illustrate.
Next stop was the Brett Whiteley Studio in a back street around the corner. Even though I know about Whitely’s work, I haven’t really seen that much in person, particulalry his more 3D pieces. The Brett Whiteley Studio was the workplace and home of Australian artist, Brett Whiteley (1939‑92). Whiteley bought the former warehouse in 1985 and converted it into a studio and exhibition space. He lived there from 1988 to 1992, the year he died in Thirroul. I found the gallery particularly moving and honest as I wandered through his art then upstairs to his studio where his personal effects still lie, including his graffiti speckled walls. When we went to leave, the gallery assistant said “Have you been upstairs yet?” to which we answered “yes”. He was genuinely disappointed to see that we had had such a brief visit.
Finally a trip to Tessuti to look at fabrics followed by a lovely glass of Rose at The Commons (who have a very cute website!) watching the heavens open with a massive storm topped off a wonderful day. I’m falling in love with Sydney!
Eveleigh Markets
243 Wilson St, Darlington, (Adjacent to Carriageworks)
Ph: 02 9209 4220
Eden on Crown
531 Crown St, Surry Hills
Ph: 02 96998260
Bourke Street Bakery
633 Bourke St Surry Hills
Brett Whiteley Studio
2 Raper Street Surry Hills
Tessuti Surry Hills
110 Commonwealth St Surry Hills
The Commons
32 Burton St Darlinghurst
I’m really excited about attending this opening on Thursday night. It’s a collaboration between Melbourne artists Katherine Bowman and Vikki Kassioras and centred around the colour black. I have only seen Katherine’s jewellery work, but I can’t wait to see her paintings and combined with Vikki’s contemporary jewellery pieces, it’s going to be amazing. Read more about the exhibition here on Katherine’s blog (as well as a little quote from me!).
Opening drinks: 5:30pm – 7:30pm Thursday 2nd September, The Nicholas Building.
I decided that the pay off for popping in to check up on an exhibition I am helping to plan on a Monday morning was to reward my efforts with a lovely sit down coffee somewhere in the city. I have a takeaway coffee most days and as I wait for my cappucino I always wistfully look at the cafe goers who have the luxury of time to sit and enjoy their coffee.
This morning it was my turn and I decided to head to Cumulus Inc. It’s strange but I have been to Cumulus at every time of day except for dinner, the meal they are known for. Weird. Anyway, they must have seen me coming and quickly arranged the most beautiful display of cakes in the doorway so I could not walk past without at least asking what kind of friands they were hawking.
One order of a latte and a piece of gingerbread cake later, I was seated in full view of the open kitchen. I love open kitchens – a view into what it means to be a chef, the hard work, the prep and what, to me, seems like a well choreographed dance to move around each other without crashing. I was pleasantly surprised to see Andrew McConnell prepping in the corner. Ok, so he probably wasn’t prepping per se, but he was there. I like that.
My gingerbread cake was moist and spongy and totally hit the spot. My latte was nice enough, creamy, good strength but off the boil. Am I the only person that is a bit sick of warm milk coffees? I get the theory behind it, but come on, warm milk is only helpful at bedtime with honey.
The dining room was buzzing at 11am, a very male crowd, heavy on the meetings. But the music being played was a wistful mix and inspired me to sit there longer and plan my next article. After my coffee and cake I slipped next door to Craft Victoria to take a peek at the gift shop and their two exhibitions Owen Rye: Golden Ashes and Carved Out of Life. What a lovely morning!
Cumulus Inc
45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
P: 9650 1445
Craft Victoria
31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
P: 9650 7775
Image: http://www.theage.com.au
This is covetable. I discovered Sydney artist, Kevin O’Connor today and I am in love with this painting. The sane part of my brain is telling me not to even bother checking the price, but the crazy part is yelling ‘lay-by, lay-by!!”…let’s see who I listen to. This piece is called Broadway Morning, please don’t buy it.
Find out more about O’Connor’s upcoming exhibtion at the exquisite Liverpool St Gallery in Sydney.
The Airloom 