Saturday: strange couplings

The latest Alex Asch exhibition opened at Beaver Galleries on Thursday night. I decided not to go to the opening (apart from all the people that would be there, I was concerned that I might have a glass or two of bubbles then accidentally buy something...).

Instead I popped in this morning: first for breakfast at The Palette Cafe, them for a mooch around the exhibition (where, in true Canberra style, I bumped into my tutor from my CIT design course!)

Good thing I don't have tons of money (or, indeed, space), as I lusted after almost everything in the exhibition.

 But most particularly this piece, 

with its miniature gallery containing a Rosalie Gascoigne homage inside (the concept of one of my favourite Canberra artists referencing another of my favourite Canberra artists, in miniature, delights me greatly).

And this piece, which takes up much less room and would fit in with my decor perfectly...

 But, with my wallet tucked safely in my bag, I finally left and came home to create my own bit of distressing, at a much more affordable price:

And I think it's gonna be a long long time...

My friend Tina and I went on an art date yesterday and visited Beaver Galleries to check out their Small Works 2016 exhibition.

As I hoped, there was a new Alex Asch to drool over:

(I tried to take some photos of the inside, but there are much better ones in an album on his Facebook page...)

(I ignored the little voice inside my head evilly suggesting that it would be a perfect 'Well done, you got a fabulous ongoing job and a pay rise' gift to myself...)

Other favourite pieces in the Small Works exhibition included Bunretsu (schism) by Kenji Uranishi: 

 which reminded me of Le Corbusier apartment buildings,

and this (actually quite large) gold pear by Nick Wirdnam, which I would have brought home to add to my collection, had I had a spare $2,700 banging round.

 I also loved these small folded book pieces by Maryann Mussared:

but wasn't tempted by them as I already own a (larger) piece by her.

Other pieces for sale in the gallery shop, that I would have been tempted by if I had pots of money include City of the Dead by Ruth Oliphant:

 (I do love her work).

And I think Reader kneeling by Patricia Lawrence would look perfect on my front porch, don't you?

Oh well, dreams are free...

Feeling flat

It's overcast and drizzling, and I had a late night last night so it's not really a good day to be working on either of my builds (alas, the retro caravan kit has been taken off the list until at least January.)

But I don't feel too bad, as last night was mini-related. Freinds and I attended the opening of ANCA Gallery's The Peculiar Library exhibition and admired the latest from local icon Alex Asch.

Then it was off to the newly-reopened Smith's Alternative to heard another local icon, Fred Smith, and Kiwi Don McGlashan perform. 

 

This was also (surprisingly) miniature-related as the set up of the venue was almost exactly what I'd been contemplating for my Lundby live-music venue. I need to return in daylight and take some photos as the ones I took last night weren't so great.

Since I'm not painting or building today, and am feeling a little overwhelmed by the whole thing, I thought I'd try and rekindle my enthusiasm for the HBS build by mocking up the back wall. I added the gravel surround and part of the tree fern kit which I was lucky enough to pick up for $2 at a show.

And I feel much better about the whole thing: except now I think that perhaps I should install a garden shed between the two windows as an extra sound buffer and to store the batteries for the lighting which I'll be installing (*cough* once I work out how to do it...*cough*)

Another highlight of the morning was that the letter A bookcase I bought off Etsy arrived in the mail, so I just had to throw up a quick scene to highlight it.

(Which made me realise how much I miss throwing up scenes and how much miniatures is feeling like work at the moment. And made me decide I needed to schedule in time each week to make a scene. As it were...)

 #HBSCreatinContest2015

Saturday scene

(I'm supposed to be tidying my studio and doing end-of-financial-year accounts...)

under construction

I need to finish my brooches for the 5PIN exhibition and deliver them tomorrow (hell, I have to start my brooches for the 5PIN exhibition!)

But I realised that the Alex Asch exhibition I'd been meaning to see finishes today. And decided I could justify a visit to it as research. Besides, I was low on brooch backings and if I combined a trip to buy more with a visit (and a coffee and catch up with a friend) it would be completely frugal. Right?

 (Especially if she bought my coffee and cake as a belated birthday treat...)

I'm glad we went. I just wish I had the spare cash to buy one of the pieces as a birthday gift for myself...

Luckily for me, one of my favourite pieces is reproduced in the brochure at a perfect size for miniature use!

But first: brooches...

Architecture, architecture and architecture

Tonight I attended three events, all architecture-related.

First up was the Australian Institute of Architects' 2010 Walter Burley Griffin Memorial Lecture: a very thought provoking presentation given by two architects based in Wellington. The main lesson I learnt was that a black and white cat uses as much of an environmental footprint as a black and white Smart car.

After the lecture we kind of sort of maybe gate-crashed the opening for Alex Asch's new exhibition at Beaver Galleries and admired his new miniature works. I'll definately be going again for another, less rushed study of them.

We didn't stay long as we had jazz to listen to in the room above my doctor's offices. The main reason I went was to have a sneaky beak at the space as I'd always wondered about it while I sat downstairs waiting for my appointment but I soon forgot that and got entranced by the music.

I did leave wondering how they got a grand piano up the stairs. Maybe next time I get sick I'll remember to ask?

Wednesday wanderings

I had a day off today and M1K1 and I decided it was the perfect time for her to make a belated trip down to see the exhibition,making sure to wear the famous rosemarie cardigan for the photo shoot (even though it really was too hot for such things today)

Then there was a visit to Shop Handmade, lunch at Gus' Cafe, followed by a visit to the Alex Asch works at Something in the Air CMAG exhibition.

And a visit to Jazz Apple Cafe for a little something to keep the energy levels up:(Mmmmmm.... red velvet. With a daisy...)

Next stop was Toyhaus in Fyshwick, which I've been meaning to visit for months. Mainly because I knew they had a Villa Sibi in stock and I wanted to go stroke it...

While I was there Louise told me they're working on getting The Emerson in stock.

I wasn't taking much notice as I'd spied this:which followed me home to be added to the caravan collection.

The day finished with a visit to Plastic Creations where we dreamed of what could be done in miniature with all their lovely plasticy bits.

And then, alas, it was time for M1K1 to hit the road.

What's on my camera?

New fern fronds (months in the making. The timing was quite remarkable):

One relaxed cat,

(OK, maybe not completely relaxed...) A(nother) visiting to CMAG's Something in the Air exhibition, where I discovered photography was allowed after all: (Alex Asch, In the holy roller the saints of evolution worship the pagan god 2009)

(Alex Asch)

(Andrew Townsend, A waiting room)