I don't think I am
alone in saying that events on the world wide stage have made me anxious and a
little fearful over the last few weeks/months/years. And often
confused.
And everywhere I look I see shouting. Politicians, media ...
I have always loved Neil Gaiman's fiction. However it is his non-fiction writing which elevates him to hero status in my eyes. His latest release is non-fiction, 'The View
from the Cheap Seats'. Some selected quotes from Credo, one of the articles in that book, follow:
'I believe that it is impossible to kill an idea because ideas are invisible
and contagious, and they move fast...'
'I do not believe that burning, murdering, exploding people, smashing
their heads with rocks (to let the bad ideas out), drowning them or even
defeating them will work to contain ideas you do not like. Ideas spring
up where you do not expect them, like weeds, and are as difficult to
control'...
'....I do not have the right to kill you, maim you, hurt you or take away
your liberty or property because I find your ideas threatening or insulting or
downright disgusting. You probably think some of my ideas are pretty vile
too...'
'I believe that in the battle between guns and ideas, ideas will,
eventually, win. '
I hope he is right on that point in particular. I so hope he is right.
The lovely dinahmow also sent me this quote, also by Gaiman.
'What I tend to see happening more and more is people
retreating into their own corners. People seem scared to get things wrong or be
shouted at so they form villages in which they agree with every other member, and
maybe they go out and shout at the people in the next village for fun, but
there’s no interchange of ideas going on. I think we have to encourage the idea
that you’re allowed to think things. I have thought a great many stupid things
over the years, and I can tell you that there’s not one stupid thing that
I ever thought where I changed my mind because someone shouted at me or
threatened to kill me. On the other hand, having great discussions with good
friends, possibly over a drink, has definitely changed my mind and made me try
to do better. You’re allowed to do better, but we have to let people do better
'
The View from the Cheap Seats is a long book, but
most of the articles in it are short. I will be savouring it for some
time to come. I will probably agree with him most of the time, but I am confident that I don't agree with him I need have no fear that he will send someone round to sort me out...
Words
for Wednesday is a moveable feast. A
big thank you to everyone who has stepped up and provided the prompts to keep it going.
At the moment it looks like this.
June: River will continue to post the prompts on her blog (This is her last week)
July: I will post the prompts here, with some stunning visual prompts provided to me by Olga Godim one week.
August: Hannah Bannaface will be providing the prompts at her blog.
September: The prompts will be here, but provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulton.
October: The Cranky will post the prompts on her blog.
November: Carolyn McBride will post the prompts on her blog.
December: Vest has joined us, and will post the prompts on his blog.
Thank you one and all.
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. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
Like River I usually run with a theme. This week? Morning magic. I am an early riser. A very early riser. Which is the result of pain, insomnia and habit rather than virtue.
In the sky:
I was intrigued by the layers that morning...
In the garden:
The cats really don't like a frosty start to the day. HImself says we should get them some little ugh boots.
They don't like rain either. Wussy cats.
Lots of birds visit early too. Some of them include:
Wattle birds (whose asthmatic and far from musical call often wakes me up well before sparrow fart).
Sparrows.
And a crimsom rosella with a fist full of the apple which the cockatoos had thrown on the ground.
Getting up early may not have been my choice originally, but I have grown to love it...
Last week I posted about Fiona Hall's Wrong Way Time exhibition at our National Gallery. Confronting, confusing, emotive...
And today I am going back to that exhibition for the third post about her work. Most of the images will be less confronting this time. Most but not all. There was beauty and whimsy as well. And a couple of images of things which made me laugh. Which some of you may not like at all. And yes, confusion was there too.
As is often the case with my posts, lots of photos follow.
Some more or less random snippets to start.
The spiders in the diorama above moved...
Another from Crust, again made of bread.
I don't know what these next installations represent, but they fascinated me. And the shadows they cast caught my eye too.
Then to some concertina books. Her range is incredible isn't it?
The concertina books were made during the passing of Halley's comet and the launch of the Giotta satellite. The first represents outer space, and the second limbo.
And just one last section now.
Canned things are a recurring theme throughout her work. I was revelling in the detail of the metal plants on the top of these cans - and then focused on what was inside them. Plants 'personified'. You may need to embiggen (click on the image) to get the detail. Some made me laugh, others smile and a few tugged at my heart strings.
Cabbage
Old Man Banskia
Pear
Such a talented woman. In so many arenas...
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. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
Like River I usually run with a theme. This week I am continuing my obsession with Fiona Hall. In 1996 she was approached to create a sculpture for the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Australia. Instead she offered to design a garden. And the Fiona Hall Fern Garden was born. This link will take you to an essay about the garden.
We went back to the Gallery yesterday to track it down. It is not the way I had pictured a fern garden. But then we are talking a Fiona Hall creation.
It can be viewed from within the Gallery, or within the garden itself. We did both.
First, looking out of the picture windows and down on the garden...
And now for photos from the garden itself. It is tucked away and not easy to find (doors from within the Gallery itself are only open on weekends). I am glad we made the effort though. Very glad.
Details from one of the pathways.
I am pretty certain this is a dandelion growing on the tree trunk. Planted or windblown? Considering the designer both are options.
It was raining when we visited but I can see just how inviting this space could be on a hot day. Or even a cool one. It was a remarkably peaceful spot. A hidden gem.
Last week we headed off to the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) to see an exhibition (free) which had tickled himself's fancy. As an aside, we really need to go to the Gallery more often. Much more often.
To my shame I knew less than nothing about the featured artist, Fiona Hall. She is one of our own contemporary artists and her repetoire includes photography, sculpture, metal work, textiles and more. And I also learned that she designed the fern garden which features at the Gallery.
The exhibition 'Wrong Way Time' was brought to Canberra after being showedcased at at the 56th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale. About which I also knew nothing.
I loved this quote by the artist:
''The world is such an amazing place, yet sadly we are living in troubled
times and that sense is reflected in a lot of the works. It was an
honour to present the show in Venice and now to bring it to Canberra,
especially as I have a longstanding relationship with the NGA'
I found the exhibition beautiful, confronting, sad and at times it was beyond my comprehension. There were also pieces which made me laugh out loud. We may go back so I can muse over pieces again.
Less talk. More images. Lots of images. The gallery has finally allowed visitors to take photos. No flash though, which is a partial excuse for some of the images to follow. And to my pleasure selfie-sticks are also banned.
These were constructed from shredded camouflage uniforms.
The leaves are laid over banknotes from the country they originated in.
This was part of 'Crust'. Carved from loaves of bread, resting on world atlases open to sites of political, cultural and environmental crisis. Some heart-breaking creations here.
More heartbreak. Canned whale.
There were lots of clocks. Which ticked and bonged and chimed. And reminded us that time is ticking away...
Even by my standards this is getting photo heavy. I think I will spread it out, and if you are interested put up more from this exhibiton next week.
