rain falling ... everywhere!

It seems as if rain has been falling on and off all year... and now a large part of this continent seems to be getting drenched...in some regions very badly flooded indeed!

It rained much of the weekend...  not so wonderful for those with a Garden's visit planned. The exhibition finished at 3pm yesterday just as some were appearing for the day. Three day exhibitions are rather unusual at the best of times.... and after a year of intense work ... especially so!

The upside is that I get to start relaxing a bit... although this morning saw me needing to be at the Herbarium to get the paintings I did not manage to remove yesterday. Visiting the lab and library was very end-of-year like! Its all winding down a bit. I'm planning to come for some leisurely strolls with camera... and in fact the rainy weather is quite nice if prepared...the greens are wonderful!

I must admit I was so busy on the 3 days of the show and opening night I did not take any photos!  The huge preparation and effort to get the book done recently meant I was pretty well running on adrenalin and just keeping it moving. The exchanges with familiar faces and new on the weekend were most engaging and the time just flew. Anyone reading this who mangaed to get along thank you for finding time in the busy end of year schedule!

These 2 photos were of the outlook from the studio deck the day before I put the show up... the rain was hanging around and everything looks so lush!

steps down from the deck.

This painting below is one I worked on last for the exhibition. It was a slight departure so I was not sure of it.... but one must takes some risks! 

'The world became bright' 120 x 90 cm (cross-sections of rainforest fruits)

'continuum' - 90 x 90 cm

This one was connected to the other works I did using iron oxide  and looser formats. I shall have to get the images together on my website... these photos dont give convey much of the show... plus Im a wee bit too tired to think this through now.

'from the nothing the abundance' 120 x 90 cm


Below is a close up of the text in the painting above.

excerpt from Maori Creation Myth.

Mmm.... I might have to re-photograph some work... All was just so rushed. Now Im going to be quite busy with communications and tying up loose ends and clearing up spaces.... still... all good!

Have a good week everyone... looking forward to getting back to the blogging routine soon....

cheerio!

S x

Homenagem a semente

A residência está chegando ao fim com o fim do ano se aproximando rapidamente ... Será que essa exposição ocorrerá na próxima semana, durante 3 dias no terreno do Jardim Botânico no Herbário, que fica a 30 metros da Administração é a construção (onde a biblioteca se encontra).Veja o convite abaixo!

O espaço é compartilhado com o artista Anual da Sociedade Botânica de Botanica da exposição Qld .... Aberto diariamente das 10:00 até 04:00 (15:00 no domingo!)

Vou postar as obras da série depois que se fechou no site. Todo o trabalho será para a venda,juntamente com um livro página 68 (21 x 23 cm) Eu tenho produzido na Homenagem ao Projeto Semente ($ 30) e postais diversos Quais serão os projetos disponíveis também. Para os blogueiros maravilhosa Já que perguntou se haveria Disponível com livro de registro tem fotos ...Será que esta contém 12 páginas do meu diário, uma seção de Pintura, Outros recursos visuais de O Laboratório de Sementes e assim por diante. Eu incluí páginas sobre os eventos do ano com uma página dupla no cartão postal da blogosfera-exposição Arte Correio.

click here to go read about this!!!

Se você tiver quaisquer inquéritos, não hesite em enviar e-mail ou deixe um comentário que vem através de meu e-mail mesmo! Eu não criaram paypal ... A Mostra visa onça conclui-se que eu posso certamente endereço se for necessário.

 Ok...so what's this?

I was visiting unicef-org.blogspot.com and my blog was listed on their blog-roll and when I clicked to visit I was delighted to see it translated into Portuguese... not that I can read this language...but simply because i love the fact it makes you really look and think. This text above is what I wrote before about my new project and what's happening next week.

You can read about it in English here!

ciao,

S x

PS if you haven't read this already.....

COMING SOON !!!

Hello everyone...

this is what has been keeping me so very busy...  come december 6th I may be back travelling the blogosphere... till then probably studio.... computer .... and hopefully some refreshing naps!

visit the website to see more ( I will add photos bit by bit!) and of course the homage to the seed blog where you can read what this years project has been about!.

 cheerio,

S x

a splendid surprise...

Today was one of those astonishingly busy days when everything seemed to be happening at once... but

despite the seeming madness of it all boxes were ticked and it was exceptionally social at the same time. Funny that!

The day was very bright and sunny ... warmer and dryer than of late (oh how we've been collectively cherishing the unsually cool weather for this time of year) ! Starting with toast and coffee at the fav local cafe -  this photo's been posted before  - but the good old standard vegemite sourdough toast with coffee never goes astray!

After this it was off to the Gardens (Brisbane Botanic Gardens) at Mt Coot-tha to meet firstly with the wonderful volunteer guide Bettina who offered to share some of her prized spots in the gardens to aid the search for some particular seedpods (of course) ... she was the perfect person to have asked! That tricky camera is not behaving again... that and the intensity of light + wearing sunglasses and not reading so well in them...perhaps the photos taken could have been better but do forgive!

Bettina with banksia pods

Kangaroo Paws

wattle seedpods

We made some excellent discoveries before parting company... and off to check books back into the Botanical Library, saying hello to some familiar faces in admin and making my way along to see the guys from the Seeds for Life program. There seemed to be lots of good news today ... or at least promising ideas being discussed. The new Restaurant/cafe is opened and the gardens are filling up with people coming for lunch and a stroll around! Spring is out...all round it was buzzy!!

And the splendid surprise you ask?

Out of the blue...

blogger from Montreal

 the lovely Nathalie 

had sent ....

this 

package

all the way from Canada

4 of her gorgeous photographs mounted on quality watercolour postcards

in homage to the seed...

her tribute to the Postcards from the Blogosphere Mail Art show from July!!!!

These blissful images 

had to be photographed 

tonight to post here

 to tell you all about it 

so I could then 

write to Nathalie 

and say

Fabulous Nathalie ...

clever and wonderful you! 

Thank You!!!!

And you may appreciate that given my tendency to camera troubles I am completely enraptured with these images...  Just stunning!!!

Ok ...Im going to finish with some images  took yesterday at home!  By the way Nathalie...if you guys are not too busy over there in Montreal ... you'd always be welcome here!

from the garden

ooh.... have forgotten the name of this ... it is quite delightful dont you think!

Now Im posting these ones of my back verandah which quite caught my eye by surprise when I walked out there around 3pm yesterday with a new painting I wanted to photograph in the light... the shadows were so strong. The 4th image - the painting - is eerily connected to the first shot below.... or is this just me!

the back verandah

dint you just love that light

it was way t bright to sit out there and paint yesterday!

my latest painting (1 mtr sq) ... hanging on the wall of the back verandah

Think its time for someone to visit the land of nod! 

ciao,

Sx

ps ...one more photo from Nathalie's blog ...Ok... so she's a photographer who also paints and works as a graphic designer and I saw her graphic work some months ago and was so impressed ...Graphics for Science and all kinds of interesting genres... smart cookie she is! And I suspect she can really cook...Ive seen the photos at her blog!

friday, saturday, sunday...

Lovely weather here at the moment...a bit of a chill in the air at times...but ... its mostly sunny and one feels like making the most of it!  Friday I wandered over to this gorgeous part of the place I currently work at some of my time. Click here to see more of this magic!

lily-pond at Mt Coot-tha

What's sad to note its that sometimes one can be so busy, so on the go with tasks and deadlines that it would not matter where you worked... such is the level of preoccupation! Having a settled studio space that's large enough to move around in and separate from my computer and other work is making the world of difference just now. Many things have become more possible. The sun is indeed shining!

the spring-cleaned studio blog

I realised on Saturday that I had neglected my studio blog for far too long and made a point of tidying up over here. A little interior decorating, scrubbing, polishing and a good airing gave this forlorn blog a new lease of life ... so it is ready for visitors. Well...one could keep finessing forever... but I discovered my ambitions were greater that my ability to manipulate blogger gadgetry ...so I had to make do at a certain point. As I was stuffing around I kept thinking of different bloggy friends who would have answers to my queries... I know this because of the gadgets that work on your blogs.... things that I really should be able to figure out but haven't!
such is life...


As for Sunday...

reading room over the Brisbane River

I needed to do some serious thinking and work on a project and home was not the spot for that I decided.
The State Library I'd not been to in ages... so off I went in the early afternoon to find a quiet alcove to claim as my own ... where I could settle and write. I looked high and and I searched low but all the many wonderful alcoves in this extraordinary Library were taken by people who love it as much as I. I've posted on this place before... do have a look here... its wonderful!

the most perfect hidden spot

When I eventually found my perfect spot I discovered I'd left the important papers at home. I was almost annoyed with myself until I thought... how nice it was to be here and I'll be back... just not on a Sunday when everyone comes!

Actually I will be back... next week is the Brisbane Writers Festival and this is the building where it is held... well mostly out on the grass in marquees and in tiered dark auditoriums!

Oh...I just realised I skipped telling the part about tennis today . No photos of that... never will be I promise. It must be said I do quite like getting out on the local school court for casual hit of tennis (casual being the operative word) ...especially in this weather without the dreaded humidity.

well it was a lovely few days... do have a great week all of you out there... see you,

S

July 18....the last day...

Its been an extraordinarily busy week and one which has played out like a filmic assemblage of diverse experiences and conversations... !

Botanic Gardens of course attract every kind of visitor from far and wide! And they came! People recounted tales of foreign shores and wondrous plants and places.

Just quickly I will add a few more images... under this poster for tomorrow's afternoon event. I have to apologise for abandoning the usual mix of posts... partly there's been no time and partly there's been too much to report on - and wonderful postcards to add! Also the blogs have been the place some have visited to read what's on... so they are serving as a bulletin board.

Next week will get back to normal slowly ... and I may even have time to trip around visiting others blogs and see what everyone has been up to. Shall look forward to that I must say!

If you are local and can make this event above... do come along and say hello!!

Now to the lovely bloggers/card-makers whom I'm pleased to introduce here....

One morning Jay Dee Dearness came in to visit and spend a little catch up time ...only to find us flat out getting ready for an afternoon event. Before long she was industriously employed adding  postcards to the wall... including her own... and all I can say is a huge "thank you Jay Dee...your timing and effort was impeccable!!!"

Jay Dee at her Opening night of Myrtle Street Studio.

Jay Dee earlier this year opened her very own Artist Run Space in Brisbane which you can read about at her excellent blog Myrtle Street Studio. Jay Dee works in photography and various printing mediums.... and the new set up is I well imagine a printers paradise!

Below is her wonderful hand drawn postcard (with watercolour) which arrived in the mail early this week... one of the many she graciously arranged on the wall on her visit!

Below: Now for a special postcard from Los Angeles... from the effervescent Mlle Paradis.... this card had to be photographed closed then opened to appreciate its delightful construction. The top layer was of tissue paper... delicate yet bold! Each time I look at it I cant not think of Henri Matisse. Perhaps the free form colour paper construction element to it... a certain "frenchness" that seems to lodge in my mind... rightly or wrongly!

She sent others too which I shall delight in posting  later!

This was a photograph I loved that the lovely MP worked from! Posted on her blog June 24... go visit her at the city of angels ...Im not the only person delighted by the vivacity and yet cool and quiet observations that catch you by surprise when you least expect it! And often in a comment she leaves with you! This girl has a knack for the words that say with you! 

More postcards have been added since this photo was taken!

This beautifully wrapped and poignant postcard is from Julia at Verdigris Rose in Melbourne. the back is just as appealing... but I have refrained from exposing the address of Julia by posting the photo! Bi thank you julia... many have commented on the idea behind your card and the way it is presented.

Also from Melbourne below:

I love Lucy's blog... nourish me. It does just that whenever I visit... go look through her archives...you'll see what I mean!  Love pomegranates too... this recipe looks divine! And words... Lucy has a way with them! THANK YOU LUCY!

... and whilst on the theme of pomegranates Ro Bruhn who hails from the Dandenongs in Victoria delighted visitors with her vibrant pomegranate juice colours and tactile print on deliciously thick paper! You may have noticed I am taking quite a lot of time to post all these wonderful cards... well... I just think they are so lingering over...and the makers are all to be praised for bringing so much vibrancy to the week in the Randall Studio.

The audience is very impressed by the beauty of the gesture... the sharing aspect of this show. I think people need to be reminded of this fine aspect of human beings ...this capacity for allowing enthusiasm to spill over... and for turning concern with an issue as big as the future of seeds into a celebration of the abundance of nature we have access to!

I still do have more to share... but... on account of the evening growing late I shall sign off and take some rest... big last day tomorrow.... and fter what was a huge day today! If anyone reading this visited this week I send my best wishes... and to all who popped my call out onto their blogs, wished me well for the week or managed to do the slow mail thing..... and dazzle us with their artfullness   THANK YOU!!!

S x

sown...

'Sown' is borrowed from the title of a post written by Leanne at Homemade Rainbows - a Brisbane blogger who came to visit at the Randall Studio at Mt Coot-tha yesterday. Her blog is a delightful tale of living well and productively in sync with the natural world and finding beauty in the everyday world that is around.

an image from Leanne's blog

Her young children are growing up in this wonderful ambience of mud pies, camping trips and home made dinners. The kind of childhood you wish for all children essentially.
Leanne came along with son and her sister in tow and we had a wonderful time exchanging notes whilst drinking lemon myrtle tea.... made from leaves straight from the tree (and yum... it is good!)

She delivered these gorgeous postcards which I did photograph last night along with a series of other new arrivals from lovely bloggers (sorry everyone...I am burning the candle at both ends at the moment and am slow to download then post!) I will add more photos of these cards soon...maybe closer up...the top one is so detailed! Its stitched and on the right has layers of fabric sewn on the card... and a doily with seeds made of black cotton stitching. The quotes on both are memorable and I was so delighted to become custodian of these cards and meet their maker!

Leanne also took this photo of the Studio entrance .... if you go back to her blog's name up the top you can read the whole post if you wish! I was so touched by it and I'm reminded of the powerful gesture that can be made by one to another when the the small things are noted and appreciated. In the same gracious way Leanne gives ordinary things their true value at her blog she has cast also this appreciative eye on all that has been assembled in homage to the seed.  Much appreciated Leeane.

Today also brought its fair share of wonderful people... really...so much to share of the week to date. Kind support from friends, meeting with new people... and at 1pm today a special event that was very well attended with a great audience and question time. Jason Halford is Principal Seed Collector and Technologist with the local Seeds for Life project running in conjunction with the Millennium Seed Bank Project and he presented "stories form the field and lab" over a couple of hours. 

During time spent at the Lab which is on the grounds here where I am conducting the residency I have been present for a great many stories and discussions ...so I was keen to have this event take place for several reasons... most importantly for the profile it gives to seeds and the project and the issues that are raised from that. I have taken photos ... but will supply them later. I have found myself nodding off a number of times attempting to complete this post... so I will excuse myself for now - cant wait to get back with the promised photos!

Go to the 'Homage to the Seed' blog for more of what's on!

in the spirit of making homage...

....what an interesting idea!

I heard this morning from Vancouver based Elaine who sent me a link to her flickr site as she had heard too late about the Open Studio Week Event to send in postcard but felt the idea behind the theme was important and so came up with a lovely idea to post an image on her flickr site for each day of the Open Studio Week. She read the lovely Lucy's blog post about it....and so ...the idea popped into her mind and here are some wonderful shots with her text....(hope thats alright Elaine) and all I can say about the last shot is I wish Elaine was baking for our Seedpod Cafe which is mentioned at the following post I did last night!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elle-epp/sets/72157624478273220/with/4789780503/

"Homage to the Seed", an art show of hand made postcards, is taking place July 12th-18th, 2010 at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

I can't send postcards in time for the show as I just learned about it a few days ago, but I thought I'd join in by making seeds and seed pods my "365" subjects this week.

"Homage to the Seed", an art show of hand made postcards, begins today at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

I can't send a postcard in time for the show but I thought I'd focus on seeds for my 365 photos this week. 

Usually this vase sits on an end table in my living room but for "artistic purposes", I photographed it in a more natural setting. Of course, Australia would be the most natural setting because Banksia is an Australian wildflower -- how lovely to have another link to this country when "Homage to the Seed" is taking place in Brisbane this week. 

Plum-Cardamom Upside-Down Cake

Plum Syrup

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (this is less than the original recipe calls for)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

about 15-18 Italian prune plums, pitted and sliced 1/2 inch thick

Cake

11/2 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoons ground cardamom

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

To make the plum syrup: 

Line the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. 

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. 

Whisk in the brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. 

Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. 

Pour the syrup into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Arrange the plum slices, slightly overlapping them, in 3 rows, completely covering the bottom of the pan.

To make the cake: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and cardamom onto a piece of parchment paper or into the bowl. 

Add the salt and set aside. 

In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together the milk and vanilla and set aside.

Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. 

Reduce the speed to low and add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, and mixing well after each addition. 

Increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. 

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then continue to beat for 1 minutes. 

Spread the batter on top of the plums.

Bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. 

Let cool for 15 minutes. 

Run a knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the cake, invert a platter on top of the pan, and then invert the plate and pan together. LIft off the pan and carefully remove the parchment paper.

Slice the cake and serve warm or at room temperature .

Planning Ahead

The cake is best served the day it is made. Wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Variation: After arranging plums in bottom of pan, sprinkle with a light dusting of cinnamon & drizzle lightly with maple syrup. 

Source: adapted from Classic Stars Desserts by Emily Luchetti.

Now that looks good Elaine....for the sake of simplicity we will be keeping our pop-up cafe menu brief... read on the next post... Today date and ginger slice is on offer or chocolate hedgehog slice! 

Saturday we have baristas coming with the real deal coffee machine to make our organic, fairtrade coffee... They have a unique set up - all profits go to their chosen charity links - here and Africa... their work voluntarily and take no pay!

If you live here come along saturday if you are free -  taste their coffee - our coffee supplier Daniel from www.kupenda.com.au links up with these barisas and also does the same deal! Inspired people!