swimming part III

...really... if you've been wondering where I've been these past few weeks - swimming to New Zealand, lost at sea, or gone fishing... its none of the above!
I am one of those creatures at home in the water and summer isn't summer without finding plenty of H2O. The first week or two of this holiday season the H2O came tumbling down from the skies. A lovely mellow quiet descended. I was happy - the painting was happening and it was a relaxing time. Then the sun started bursting through again, the temperature rose and the thirst for water was upon me!
I am just back from a brief visit to a very beautiful coastal spot north of here...and here I am posting images from elsewhere. This is the third post tonight with water images!
Inspired first of all by Louise of 52 suburbs - she got me going on this theme. Then, remembering the beautiful Bronte ocean pool in Sydney led me to the next post of Bronte images from Sally of Nearly Daily Photos. Then I discovered she had a blog called SWIMMING at swimsallyswim.blogspot.com and I thought I just have to post this... its curiously my kind of thing - not that I would have ever thought up this blog! Its rather wonderful with all kinds of references to swimming - literary, artistic, historic and definitely experiential! It got me thinking of the all the places I have swum and the layers of detailed thoughts that come flooding back once those memories are triggered.
Sally has even made some artist trading cards inspired by Bronte baths here. The rest of the images are either her own photos or images from her blog which you can read about at length if you happened to be as aquatically inclined as me!

It seems this blog was started in 1989... This astonishes me... being such a latecomer to the art of blogging! I have to add this small image below from 1989 as it is taken in Pamukkale in Turkey and I actually swam in this same pool in 1987 (if only I had photos!) It was absolutely astonishing. I seem to remember the water was sparkling spring water - carbonated - and the ancient marble columns were scattered on the floor of the pool for one to loll about on! This antique pool was a health centre during the Roman period and it was reshaped in the 7th century AD by an earthquake which toppled the columns.

photo gallery of this historical pool ( and surrounds) available here

Travertine pools flow down a steep hill-side at Pamukkale. This was a totally enchanting pace to visit over 20 years ago! Swimming amidst the marble columns was an extraordinary experience. I'd almost forgotten about this till viewing the 'swimming' blog tonight. During 2008 Sally has posted on a number of artists who have been in some way inspired by this theme:

                                                  Julian Beever - Taking the plunge

David Hockney: postcard image

1964 David Hockney - Picture of a Hollywood Swimming Pool

David Hockney - Rubber ring floating in a swimming pool, 1987

Edgar Degas - 'peasant girls bathing in the sea at dusk'

 Sydney Nolan - above: Anzac swimming at Gallipoli

below: Swimmers at Gallipoli

swimming in ancient Greece

Photo of Ian Thorpe

Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five'

Birthday Card

2 books related to the history of swimming

Clovelly, Sydney


also look at NSW Ocean Baths website.

Summer - images of Bronte Pool

photos found at sydneynearlydailyphot.blogspot.com -  once there click on suburbs- Bronte

SYDNEY: suburb no 16

Louise at www.52suburbs.com has been on a mission "to explore and photograph one new suburb a week for a year in search of the beauty in the 'burb." I twice lived in Sydney, many years ago now, never quite settling in or finding my niche. Hard to say quite why as it certainly possessed much to boast about and was wildly cosmopolitan in parts and diverse... with great cultural spots and ethnic enclaves, beaches and climate. It was always wonderful to visit though and finding new parts of this somewhat chaotic city to discover.
Probably the place where I felt most home were the ocean baths around Bronte and Clovelly. I enjoyed the egalitarian feel of these places... all ages, backgrounds, languages, BBQ aromas mingling...  and the pleasure of summer visits to these beautiful aqua ocean pools built into rock platforms with waves crashing over the sides! Plus I have some wonderful friends living here - hello D and guys!
52 SUBURBS is a delightful blog that brings to light some of the Sydney magic and here are a few of Louise's shots (with kind permission) from Clovelly, suburb no 16.









Below: another side of Sydney I always loved to explore - also found at 52 suburbs if you click on cuisine.

'the cluster of possibilities' - taking a leaf from La Dolce Vita

from the snow storm - December 8th Post image by Caterina at La Dolce Vita which is accompanied by text from Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem The Snow Storm.

following are 2 images from Cat who works with found materials gleaned from all over.

 The wonderful Caterina at La Dolce Vita has been posting from her home in Colorado some wonderful snowy images of late and today I thought I would share her Jan 7 post with you on thrifty living as it is a timely new year musing! Cat suggests that no matter what the motivation behind thriftiness is its a noble pursuit that brings VALUE to the fore. 
I am reminded of a wonderful french doco by Agnes Varda 'The Gleaners and I' that I saw a few years ago which travels through city and country-side in France, includes interviews with various people including psycho-analyst Jean Laplanche and French collage artist Louis Pons who calls his "cluster of junk.... a cluster of possibilities". This small painting titled 'The Gleaners' by Jean-Francois Millet (1857) refers to the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after they have been commercially harvested or where it is not economically profitable to harvest. Some ancient cultures promoted gleaning as an early form of welfare system.
Below are 2 examples from Louis Pons work - his beautifully named "cluster of possibilities"

Joute Pour Adulte 1961 Assemblage

La Point Sublime 1970 Relief


Also found at La Dolce Vita: 
One artist saw a New Year opportunity in setting up this this new blog to encourage purchase of 2nd hand goods and exchange and barter. read about Debrina's initiative at the bartercircle.blogspot.com - which lends itself to replication elsewhere.

Creative people often thrive on being great finders and foragers and it is timely we all have a think about the cluster of possibilities that are there waiting!

If you are in Noosa this month...

Embiggen Books: where science meets art is actually a fine art gallery as well as very appealing bookstore that I discovered earlier this year when spending a weekend in Noosa ( 2 hours north of Brisbane). This is quite a find in a coastal resort area of great natural beauty which attracts many for its fine beaches, parks, waterways and regional offerings. Embiggen focuses heavily on science, philosophy, environment and art (a reflection of the owner's passions)  has an extensive program of events -  guest speakers, writers and book launches, a book club, participation in the local non-fiction writers festival and art exhibitions. Its nestled between an organic cafe & store and a german bakery cafe on Wyeba Rd, Noosaville.  More images at flickr.  Read my august posts on Noosa here and here.


Last night I burnt the midnight oil finishing some paintings to send up to the gallery for a group show on for the rest of january. As the sun came up before I'd finished my tasks this morning I have not downloaded images or achieved too much with the rest of the day. Also very hot again I was glad to hibernate inside. I'll go up next week - I'll get to see the other works also on show - and make time  to enjoy some of the Noosa ambience, if its not too busy that is!
So... if you happen to find yourself in this part of the world with a spare half hour pop in to Embiggen and have a browse ...dont forget there's excellent coffee next door!







an art show in 2009 in the gallery -artist Ilsa Griffin

fertility - from latin fertilis 'to bear' and prosperity - from Latin prosperus 'doing well'

'Pomegranates' Oil on canvas - painted 2000

I read some years ago that it was a greek custom to scatter pomegranate seeds in one's house on new years day to celebrate fertility and prosperity for the coming year. Well... we did share a pomegranate on Boxing Day at a lovely lunch with some of the family.... and certainly the feeling of well being was present! 

Fertility and prosperity are both interesting words - prosperus being Latin for 'doing well' which encapsulates health and happiness along with more material comforts.... I also noticed the biblical image of 'milk and honey' in the thesaurus under prosperity! Fertility - the natural capability for giving life can come in many forms and is worth thinking on. One important facet of creative life would be this capability which is called into play repeatedly in the micro and macro concerns of daily life. Over a lifetime we are called to reckon with what is fertile and what is not in many parts of life.... especially in our creative lives. The wisdom to face what has ceased to bear fruit for us and to find new soil to cultivate is the stuff of a courageous creative life even though that will of course mean completely different things for each individual and varying degrees of discomfort at times. New life is not always about new things, new places and new inspirations - but rather new seeing, re-arranging and re-assembling whats already there, going deeper, rethinking, reworking perhaps.

This past year - 2009 - through blogging I have discovered individuals finding and sharing extraordinary ways to continue to deepen their engagement with the matter at their fingertips.

In 2010 I look forward to further engagement with the wonderful people I have met this year... and to coming across the ideas, images and insights of others out there in the Blogosphere!

Fertility and prosperity to all in 2010!

from a lovely candle-lit pre-xmas dinner with friends

"Want to ride with me?" William... the youngest member of my clan - photo courtesy of RM