Thorn

Above: "Thorn" by Richard Kloester

"Thorn" was born from the Earth in Chillagoe, Queensland, from a rather unusual looking marble boulder which took the shape of a thorn. Thousands of years of water passing over this marble boulder have sculpted it into what looked man-made. Hence, Thorn was carved to look back up into the sky from where its original sculptor came - rain.
This unique sculpture is made of Chillagoe marble and steel.

About the artist
"My background in scupture began at the age of 12, when I acquired my first set of carving tools. Since then I have pursued many different mediums such as wood, stone, clay and most recently bronze. Over the years I have improved on my skills by completing a degree in industrial design with distinction where I was placed on the Dean's list. I deviated from my art education into computer animation and three-dimensional modelling when I worked within television and flight simulation projects, and where attention to detail had to be flawless. I then came full circle back to sculpture in its true tangible form where raw emotion is transformed into sculpture that you can touch."
These are the words of the artist, Richard Kloester.

I never tire of looking at this it is so magnificent - just looking at that face and those eyes - eyes which are soulful with a hint of sadness in them. As if they have seen too much.The lines around the mouth and the lips themselves look as though they have known pain and suffering.


Today's quote ~ The eyes indicate the antiquity of the soul ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Weekend Reflections - The River

Above: The Maribyrnong

Another shot of the Maribyrnong, taken at 12.30pm. Photo faces east. The left side is a popular route for walkers and cyclists which forms part of the Maribyrnong River Trail.

Click here to see other weekend reflections around the world.


Today's quote: A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself ~ Laura Gilpin

Skywatch Friday

 

Above: Darkening shadows

Taken about 4.00PM facing west - suddenly the sky darkened as clouds appeared seemingly out of nowhere - it had been a brilliant blue most of the day.

To see skies around the world click here


Today's quote: God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars ~ Martin Luther.

"Time for Tea"

 

Above: "Time for Tea" ~ Graeme Foote
Graeme has been a sculptor since the 1970's when he started an apprenticeship as a stonemason. He then transferred his career to jewellery and silver-smithing, which he pursued for 15 years. In 1984 he commenced a business as an architectural sculptor working in terra cotta, stoneware and bronze. He has also completed a number of major stonewear fountain installations for private, public and corporate interests. Graeme has exhibited in solo exhibitions as well as in a number of select group exhibitions in Australia and China.

His work is represented in private collections in Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and France.


Said Graeme - I repeatedly heard from my mother that as women get older they become invisible to younger people and I had a strong feeling of injustice that this is not right for older women to be treated that way. As a sculptor I suddenly became aware that there are not many sculptures and tributes to the senior people in our community. This then inspired me to sculpt an older woman doing a favourite pastime - having a cup of tea. Time for Tea inspired me to exhibit "Six Influential Australian Women" which comprised of life size sculptures of Dame Elizabeth Murdoch, Janet Holmes a Court, Jeanne Pratt, Lowitja O'Donahue, Christine Nixon and Stephanie Alexander.

Today's quote: The key to successful aging is to pay as little attention to it as possible ~Judith Regan

Playing Footsies

 

Above: The Sneaker Stretch

Federation Square is a popular meeting place, and sometimes when you are waiting a long time, it's more comfortable to do the "Sneaker Stretch" - sit on the ground arms stretched out behind and touch your toes with another.

You see people in lots of different poses and positions. This young lass was near me as I too waited for a friend.

Today's quote: This is the Zen approach: nothing is there to be done. There is nothing to do. One has just to be. Have a rest and be ordinary and be natural ~ Osho

Gayip

The Travellers

Gayip is one of the figures of "The Travellers", an artwork across Sandridge Bridge which tells the story of our original Indigenous inhabitants and the emmigrants who came later. There are ten figures in all and each figures represents a period of migration to Australia.

There are more than 3.7 kms of stainless steel (4,455 pieces) in this artwork and the average weight of each figure is 2,307 kg. The heaviest figure weighs a mighty 7,701 kgs!


The First Figure - Gayip

Above: 1. Gayip – The Aboriginal Period
This amazing piece of sculptured artwork was designed with the assistance of Indigenous artist Mandy Nicholson.

Mandy was born in Healesville in 1975 and is of the Woi wurrrung language group of the Wurundjeri-willam clan of the Kulin Nation of people from Melbourne. When she was in Year 12 she started drawing what she termed "Aboriginal art". Her first solo exhibition was in 2001 and her work "Welcome to Melbourne" was projected around Manchester Stadium during the Closing Ceremony of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. You can read more about Mandy HERE.

The Aboriginal Period
Aboriginal people settled in Australia at times estimated as 50,000 to 70,000 years ago, although many claim to have always been here. Tasmania separated from the mainland about 12,000 years ago and Torres Strait Islanders came over from Paua about 3,000 years ago. Apart from the TSI who practiced garden agriculture, Aborigines were hunter gatherers. The Aboriginal population in 1788 has been estimated as being between 250,000 and 750,000. There were no permanent settlements but control over traditional lands was recognised.

The Meaning of Gayip
Gayip is the Woiwurrung word for "Corroboree". Corroboree is the English word for the Aboriginal word Caribberie.

In earlier times Gayip involved an inter-clan gathering of related Aboriginal groups who used this time to advance their own spirituality, peace and unity through such means as:
Initiation ceremonies, storytelling, dancing and singing, the rekindling of friendships and relationships formed, trading goods, arranging marriages, settling disputes and the offering of support in times of sorrow or adversity

Above: Gayip - front view

Gayip stands in Southbank, and you can see Queens Bridge (1889) in the background.


Today's quote: We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love... and then we return home ~ Australian Aboriginal proverb.

Theme Day - Fountains ~ Walker Fountain

Above: Walker Fountain
This lovely fountain is just off St Kilda Road on the corner of Lithgow Avenue next to the Royal Botanic Gardens in King's Domain. It is made of concrete and was created in 1981 by artist Mobelt, Digregorio & Associates.

The fountain was presented to the people of Victoria by former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Ronald Walker and his wife, Barbara. There are 46 underwater lights and 144 seprate streams of water. It really is an awesome site standing here and feeling the coolness of the water as it sprays its lovely bubbles of refreshing frothiness.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Today's quote: Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as the water from a fountain. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass the fountain ~ Lao-Tze, Ancient Chinese Philosopher.