Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 9 March 2014

Sunday Selections #162

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week I am going back to Enlighten.  We loved it, and there were some additional features added after the first week.  That said, it was MUCH more crowded when we went back, and I am grateful to have seen it in cooler, less crowded conditions first.

So what did we go back to see?  Fiers A Cheval - which was advertised as giant inflatable horse puppets, lit from within and set in motion by puppeteers.  Hailing from France, the horses were performing for the first time in Australia.  And I couldn't resist going.

I took many, many photos - most of could be charitably described as rubbish.  A selection of the better ones follows and will, naturally, embiggen if clicked on.












Aren't they beautiful?  And they danced to some spectacular music too.

We also wandered up to the National Gallery again, where a Peruvian fair was being held.  A bit of a disappointment in some ways - a bar, some very ordinary food and folk-dancing to taped music.  However, the Gallery had added some new projections to its facade, and I was intrigued by this costumed woman wandering through the crowd (though I did wonder whether any of the children she approached would have nightmares?)






Essentially both visits were more than worth-while - and I will be back next year.

92 comments:

  1. The glowing horses are cool! Sorry it was crowded, but you wouldn't have wanted to miss that.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: I definitely didn't want to miss it. And last night, the last night, the skies opened and it poured. Very lucky we were. And would have liked some of the rain that Enlighten got.

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  2. I know if I was little the woman in the costume would have scared me! However, kids today don't seem to have the same fears as I did when I was little.

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    1. Birdie: I was watching some children's reaction to her. Some of them were definitely freaked out. Big time.

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  3. I really, really love the Fiers A Cheval show. I had no idea they were so BIG. I took a quick look on YouTube and found some footage of the show and it rteally is quite spectacular. I once saw a fantastic interpretation of Equus at one of the Adelaide Festivals years ago that freatured similar giant horse puppets and they were awe inspiring.

    I don't think that the costumed woman would have scared me, but then I've always had a fascination with owls. I can see that some kids might worry, but I'm sure mum and dad would be on hand to explain and defuse any potential worries.

    The whole experience is fantastic. And they do this every year? I'm impressed.

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    1. Marie: Fiers A Cheval was amazing. Very crowded - which is understandable. And yes, they were huge. The puppeteers must have been exhausted by the end of the show.
      As I said to Birdie, I saw some children who were definitely bothered by the owl woman. And didn't seem to be getting a lot of comfort from their family.

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  4. There weren't any strings, lovely puppet show.

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    1. Bob Bushell: If you embiggen the photos - particularly the first you will see that the puppeteers were the strings. And very skilled.

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  5. Wow the owl is amazing bird in my culture it symbolizes wisdom and intelligence

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    1. Gosia: Welcome and thank you. I think that owls symbolise wisdom in a lot of cultures - and they are amazing birds.

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  6. Those horses would have been stunning to see...mesmerising, I'll bet.

    Take care...and thanks for sharing. :)

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    1. Lee: They were. It was quite a long show too - the puppeteers must have been exhausted. And very fit.

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  7. It is hard to visualise the size of the horses but they look pretty good.

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    1. Andrew: The crowds meant we were a far way back - but the horses were BIG. Twelve foot standing on their hind legs I believe.

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  8. Those horse puppets are incredible, and I believe you executed some fine photography work under difficult conditions. Well done, all around.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Weren't they amazing. So much skill, ingenuity and beauty. And thank you on the photo front. I was very frustrated...

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  9. All the pretty horses, my first comment didn't work.
    Merle..........

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    1. Merlesworld: The very pretty horses. And they danced well too.

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  10. Looks like something I'd have gone to see.Thank you.

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    1. dinahmow: I suspect you would have enjoyed ALL of this festival. I know we did.

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  11. Very interesting. Love the horses. The supposedly costumed woman actually looks like someone I have met on my travels that nobody believes really happened.

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    1. Andrew Maclaren-Scott: Can you use my photo as evidence? Or would they disbelieve that too... There is no satisfying some people.

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  12. A marvelous selection of photos EC, I love those horses! That costume is amazing!

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    1. DeniseinVA: They are incredible aren't they? Though I am going to have to find new superlatives.

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  13. Beautiful horses! I certainly would have had nightmares about the owl woman!

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    1. Letting the Words Escape: I loved them both - but did see some children who didn't look comfortable.

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  14. I wonder if your pictures are from the same Fiers a Cheval video I watched. The horses in the video were very big, bigger than puppets. They were inflated huge horses. They look so handsome. Here is the French video I saw: http://www.quidams.com/Fiers-a-Cheval.html?lang=fr

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    1. Vagabonde: They almost certainly were from the same one you saw. They were described as puppets, but were huge - 12 feet tall on the hindquarters. And they were handsome.

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  15. Oh my! I wish I could've seen the horses in person - I'm sure it would've made my heart sing!
    I was so entranced, I looked Fiers A Cheval on YouTube and watched an edited video.
    Spellbound!
    The way the puppeteers arrived with the promise of something special within their bellies. And watching the horses unravel. The music. The stories told.
    The had a life of their own.
    Magical!
    A dream.

    Lucky, lucky you!

    And, the owl woman was a beautiful moving totem. Love her.

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    1. Vicki: It was definitely heart-singing material. So very, very beautiful. I hope they are back next year too. And will hold them in my heart and memories anyway.

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  16. Wowser, great photos. I especially like Owl Woman, but how did you know she was costumed?

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    1. Snowbrush: I think I was making assumptions. And now Andrew and you have reminded me that assumptions can be dangerous. Or at least error filled.

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  17. The horse puppets are neat! I bet that was an incredible show in person!

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    1. Karen: It was. Standing room only and I think everyone was as entranced as I was.

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  18. Those horses are amazing! They must have been breathtaking in person. The woman in the mask with the big green eyes? I think I'm going to have nightmares about her. I thought of The Fly. LOL!

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    1. River Fairchild: The horses were simply stunning. As soon as I saw the publicity for them I knew I had to see them. The owl woman? I would have had nightmares as a child. Now? I appreciate her, but...

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  19. I loved the first ENLIGHTEN post too - and these horses are brilliant! You are seeing some wonderful shows, EC. I hope you will share some more lovely things with us!

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    1. Alexia: Enlighten was a complete treat - one of several we have been having. The balloon festival is next. And I am a balloon tragic.

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  20. Internally lit, inflatable performing horses. Who thinks of these things? That's pretty clever and your photos are wonderful.
    I like the additions to the building; the owl face is lovely.
    I don't imagine too many nightmares happening from that costumed lady. Kids are pretty savvy these days and would know it is a mask, it is a festival after all and kids know to expect something different at festivals.

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    1. River: And, having thought of them, who has the skill to bring them to fruition. I was amazed. Loved it.

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  21. I've read the other comments now and I'm sorry to see some children were a bit scared of the costumed woman and a little angry to see they weren't comforted by the parents who should have been explaining it is a lady playing dress-ups.
    I see you have a balloon festival coming up too.
    I think I'm living in the wrong city....

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    1. River: The balloon festival is up and running. And Sky Whale flew yesterday - and crashed into someone's yard. I hope to get to it too. Trickier though. His high and skinniness is not a willing early riser and the buses aren't running early enough.

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  22. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful experience. Those horses are so beautiful and your photography showed them so well.
    Loved the new projections too but not too sure about that woman in fancy dress. As a child I think I would have been rather overawed.
    You are so fortunate to have had more rain.....still none in Perth .. for 98 days now .. but we have actually had a weekend with temps below 30ºC but back into the 30s again for the coming week. This is typical of March over here. Our autumn (what autumn?) rarely begins till mid-April.
    Hope you are doing OK and will soon have news re op for the SP.

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    1. Mimsie: The horses were/are beautiful. And I really admire the stamina of the puppeteers who brought them to life.
      We had a little rain - and the city apparently had buckets last night. I hope you get some too. Soon.
      Surgery? Some time this year. Probably. Hiss and spit.

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  23. Very Cool, EC. And you know I am always happy to hear you are out and about. Interesting pictures, quite a place you visit there. I'm not sure whether I wouldn't be afraid, too, if I were a little one. :-)

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    1. DJan: It was lovely. And getting out and about is a bonus. I am pretty certain I would have had difficulties with the owl woman too. And, as River said, parents should have comforted frightened littlies, though I saw at least one family who just ignored it.

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  24. Giant inflatable horse puppets sound the stuff of nightmares and phobias. It does seem lovely in photography, though I'd like to know what the heck they're doing to each other in Picture6. Is that child-safe?

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    1. John Wiswell: Perhaps best not to ask - though I wondered myself. Expressing affection? Close affection?

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  25. Great photos of the horses, which I imagine were hard to photograph. A couple of great events - good old Canberra does come up well!

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  26. Did I hear right that it was a long weekend in the ACT this weekend Sue? The horses were life size? And did you get to see the balloons?

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  27. The horses are beautiful but what really caught me was the projection of the owl head.

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  28. I just adore looking at everyone's Sunday Selections. The photos make me feel like I'm almost there and there's nothing better than that...well, other than actually being there myself. Thanks so much for sharing these with everyone.

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  29. Blogger is having a hissy fit (again) and refusing to allow me to respond to you individually.
    Carol: They were hard to photograph. Frustrating - but it was a wonderful event.
    Grannie Annie: It was very, very cooool.
    Carol in Cairns: Yup, a long weekend. We saw the balloons in the sky yesterday and hope to get to a launch (and see them inflated) later this week.
    Delores: I thought of you when I saw the giant owl head. I knew (hoped) you would llike it.
    Mildred Ratched: Sunday Selections is a wonderful meme. I love it.

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  30. They did turn out beautifully. Definitely worth the effort to get the pics, even if it wasn't easy!

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    1. mail4rosey: It was definitely worth the trip. I loved it.

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  31. I would have LOVED the Fiers A Cheval. I bet they looked extremely graceful in their movement too. Beautiful.

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    1. Wendy: They were graceful, surprisingly so given that men were the 'horses arses'. It was inspired.

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  32. I especially gasped at the two horse fornicating....

    Man, you have a lot of readers. I want some too!

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    1. lotta joy: I do have a lot of readers. And you can share them - but you can't have them. I value them. And I have noticed that some at least of my readers have found their way to you. Which is right and proper.
      I swear that the three horses were fornicating at one point. But that could just be my mind.

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  33. I watched 60 Minutes last night, Re stem cell treatment in Russia, Very interesting story about young Lady with MS.

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    1. Vest: I missed it. I think that we need to find a cause before we find a cure - the symptoms are very different from individual to individual and from time to time and most of the treatments just address symptoms at the moment. Which means they work for some of us, some of the time.

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  34. I had a look at Fiers a Cheval on youtube as well; it looked marvellous. What a feat of engineering and acrobatics! They look especially nice from a little distance, above the crowd. Lucky you to have this show and the projected images to go to - and thank you for sharing.

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    1. jenny_o: If I had the brains I was born with I would have included a link to the youtube display. It really was a treat - though greedy me would have preferred a few less people. Just the same, they were VERY well received by the crowd. Justifiably.

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  35. Those are beautiful horses! They are puppets? I will have to go back and look again.

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    1. Practical Parsimony: They are described as puppets, but it is a bit misleading. The puppeteers form the back legs of the horses, and 'work' the body of the horses from there. If you click on the first image in particular you can see the puppeteer.

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  36. Oh these horses must have been a treat to watch. Wish they would make a world tour....

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    1. Haddock: Welcome. They certainly were a treat. And I suspect that they do travel the world...

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  37. Oh, I wish I could see those horses in person. Thanks for the pictures. That costumed woman does look a little frightening, but beautiful at the same time. Glad you had fun.

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    1. Myrna R.: I am so glad that I saw a program which advertised the horses - I would have been very sorry to miss them.

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  38. I would have taken lots of photos, too - I'm glad to see the ones that made the cut! A wonderful outing - especially the horses.

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    1. Lynn: We have had a lot of great outings recently - and this one is right up there.

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  39. Wow, not only are the horses magnificent, but I so love the owls. Dropping by to say hi and thanks for visiting. :)

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    1. The Wicked Writer: You are always welcome - and the horses and the owls were both incredible.

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  40. Giant inflatable Horse Puppets. It'd get me out of the house for sure, and what a spectacular it looks too. This made me laugh - "most of could be charitably described as rubbish." - Hahahaha, the perfectionist in you is showing, its tricky taking photographs of anything moving at night, all the more-so in a crowd so bearing all that in mind you did very well indeed.
    The owl woman. Blimey. I'll not sleep myself now.
    I wish I'd been there with you.

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    1. All Consuming: I don't think I am a perfectionist. Not really. But I really, really wanted to share the magic.
      And yes, I would have loved to have been there with you. We would probably still be there...

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  41. I hate that it was so crowded -- but those glowing horses were fabulously beautiful! :-)

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    1. Roland D. Yeomans: I could have done without the crowds - but if that was the price - it was worth it. The horses were indeed fabulous.

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  42. That looks so neat! I would totally go if I were nearby. Those horses were puppets? Wow.

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    1. Riot Kitty: Twelve foot inflatable puppets. Amazing aren't they?

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  43. Love those inflatable horses - so beautiful!

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  44. Horses to dream on! They shall linger in mine!


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral

    =^..^= <3

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  45. Hi That must have been a spectacular show to watch and I do hope they will tour it. it looks amazing adn very clever. Have a great evening.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: If you do see them coming to a venue near you - don't miss them.

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  46. The horses are magnificent!

    Hoping you are well, my dear sweet S. XXxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: And a lot of fun too. Always welcome.

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  47. I can see they were well worth the effort to get there and see them....so pretty

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could...: They were well worth the effort.

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  48. Hi human, Sue,

    From the writing of your experience, those magical photos, I can certainly see why you will go again next year. And no, I'm not going to horse around with this comment.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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    1. klahanie: Dear Penny, it is lovely that you have been able to take time out from your Gary minding duties long enough to drop by. Pawsitive wishes to both of you.

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