Eastern Suburbs Art Group

Actually it's sort of disappointing when you arrive at the Fever site (see pic below). The toilets are there. There is a kiosk where you can get a warm cappuccino. And the grubby white dome where the action takes place inside. But once you put on the VR headsets and start the adventure it's quite fun. For my family not so much as they didn't offer the right language selection. There's a green eyed cat. A woman dressed like Indiana Jones. You go into a pyramid. You sit on top of the pyramid. Then you're on a boat. A kind of barge actually. You move around by sort of walking as best you can (careful not to fall over) from one blue cordon to the next. Follow arrows. And whisper. If you talk too loudly the staff come and corrrect you. Silence essential so you don't bother people nearby.

With the Tree Veneration Society I was in a parade in Berry last month. Berry is a sort of small town with one street and two pubs, so typically Australian. In the parade we all wore bird masks. The parade was led by the Femmes Fatales. I stayed in a motel with two cockroaches and no charge cord for the phone. To charge the phone I sat in the car for two hours in the carpark. It was my fault the charge cord was missing I had forgotten to pack one. There was also a workshop led by some people from Sydney. I'm not sure what it's about but something to do with writing to MPs regarding climate change. Actually after getting back to Sydney I planned to attend another session but unfortunately had no time. The parade was also neglected. I am not sure the message was clear. Something about trees, nature and the arts. There was no media. The organisers did a great job though bringing together so many people. The Femmes Fatales are quite fun. Burlesque has for a while been popular in cu...

This month I drove north for the annual Myall Creek Commemoration event. It's every year on King's Birthday weekend. On the Saturday before the ceremony I went out to this fair. They have some interesting sculptures. The countryside around there is grazing land, rolling hills, dry grass. Some areas of green evidcently there'd been some rain. The fair wasn't amazaing I sat down had some coffee. Saw some people I know. Actually almost had an accident. The satnav was telling me one thing the road sign another. I was in front of a caravan, then I braked and crossed to the other side of the road, turned back. In the end little drama though the driver of the car towing the caravan must've had a bit of concern. I did a U-ie and came back to the turnoff. Drove south. It was sunny and not too cold during the trip. Funny thing about country folk the cars are almost all utes or 4WD but for some reson like 60pc white colour.

This event took place in Centennial Park. I located the relevant tree I think a banyan on a hill. Underneath hundreds of young people jogging or cycling. The TVS sat around and ate some prepared food. We each broght something to eat. These kind people. Everyone has something to say. The sharing circle meant about two minutes each person. Many different concerns. One person talked about a sustainable house being made in the Blue Mountains. I said I want to be more intentional, borrowing the sustainability theme. Being intentional as an artist, what does that mean. I had a discussion later with someone else, I wondered when the idea of "practice" became sort of mandatory for artists. We talk about an artist's practice. I am not sure why it is necessary to practice being an artist, being an artist is a choice. Being a journalist is a practice, you "do" journalism but an artist just "is". When you think in terms of practice you end up with stacks of works ...

This month I did a bit of community work. With the Tree Veneration Society, that is. It included a couple of street appearances in support of nature conservation. The TVS had sent in a proposal for an installation in Kandos but we weren't successful. There are more such efforts pending but in the meantime in light of Labor government inaction on protection of old growth forests we hit the streets. A man I spoke with named Michael suggested 1000 people but there was no way to verify from my vantage point. Everyone shouting except me. I calculated that just staying upright for three or four hours would sap all my strength and I was right, I collapsed when I got back home. No I didn't shout. The people about me seemed to enjoy the shouting which was enough, I decided to participate in vocalising vicariously. Rap, speeches from politicians (Greens). The day had it all. Actually the rapping was good, but again I didn't dance. Energy conservation yes that was it, gosh it's bo...

It was a strange day in all respects. I had tried to read one of C Wood's novels in the past but didn't get to the end. She was shortlisted for the Booker so presumably is a respected author. P Godwin does nice atmospheric paintings in lovely colours. I was particularly impressed by his muted palette. I had never heard of him before. Amazingly the pictures behind the pair are very large prints. It wasn't clear to me why they had to be so large but because museums and institutional galleries are getting larger presumably there is a demand for this sort of work. It would be hard to imagine one in a home. I say it was a strange day. I got off the tram in Darling Harbour and a man was lying on the ground obviously distressed. A woman standing over him was making a call and I asked her if she was calling an ambulance. Once that was settled I went to get food and sat down with a bowl of fish and salad, when this small child insisted on trying to talk with me. I ignored the brat. ...

Last  month I think it was an old friend died. I wrote some words for the service. In the end they changed what I said. Probably for the best. Neil and I didn't always agree on everything. His simple politics were at odds with my more nuanced point of view, but we didn't block or run away. This was the place where the ceremony was held. In Sutherland. A very large cemetary. After the service we went to a small dining room for snacks and drink. I stuck to coffee. Neil's family members were there as well as friends and acquaintences. I spoke to one former student as Neil  had been a high school teacher. It was a moving ceremony though I am not religious. There were pop songs as well as something classical it might've been Bach who knows. I complimented the person who conducted the service it was very nice I enjoyed it but I have always enjoyed funerals. Michael Neil's long time partner got attendees to stick images to the simple coffin. I drove back to Sydney after it...