Women of Art

During the course of our two day Canberra stay I did catch up with a few 'old friends'.
Nora Heysen, Margaret Preston, Stella Bowen and Grace Crowley

These are all Australian artists of a similar generation who come from a time that mostly regarded women painters as hobbyists.




There's something about their clear lines, their use of colour and their choice of subject that I deeply admire

I was pleased to see their work at most of the places we visited; The National Gallery of Australia; The National Portrait Gallery at Old Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial Museum.


Many of these women went overseas to study and have their work recognized in its own right. Some, such as Stella Bowen and Nora Heysen, became war artists.

I wanted to do something for the war effort and I offered my services for making sandwiches down at Rushcutters Bay for the navy. I did that for a while but they complained that I put too much butter and filling on the sandwiches and I was dismissed from that. From an interview with Nora Heysen, 25 August 1994




Heysen was frustrated by the restriction of only painting 'safe' studio portraits of the commanding officers of the women's auxiliary services. Despite this she still produced some fine works such as this one of Transport Driver Florence Miles.



I came upon the painting in a small corridor overshadowed by a large Mosquito plane but it was this small canvas that caught my eye. In a building dominated by large mechanical war machines and huge monuments it brings in a human perspective.

Canberra Travels

Our trip to Canberra went the scenic route via Grand Pacific Drive and the spectacular Sea Cliff Bridge. I have been known to admire large engineering structures and this sweeping curve of concrete is no exception. We missed the Bulli Pass turn-off so the scenery deteriorated to suburban commercial enterprises once Thirroul was passed (much as I admire the growing prosperity of Wollongong and its environs it doesn't make for a relaxing drive.)

Lunch stop at the Nan Tien temple was a welcome respite. We bypassed the downstairs restaurant for the more utilitarian cafeteria upstairs, lining up with the locals for a "three course" vegetarian meal for $8.00. It's no-frills but all part of the whole temple experience.

I missed the Canberra S'n'B at the city centre because we didn't rush the journey and I wasn't game to suggest we should hurry because of a knitting meeting.

There was much negotiation as to what would be visited on our short stay in the Nation's Capital but by a bit of juggling we managed to get through;
Questacon, The National Gallery of Australia, Old Parliament House, The National Museum of Australia, The Australian War Memorial and Cockington Green with a minimum of fuss. I was very impressed that most of the public buildings had no entry charge so that made for an economical holiday.

For me the highlight was the Print exhibition at the NGA. A huge display of over 300 works covering 200 years of Australian art and social history. The exhibit featured an extensive number of print artists, such as Jessie Traill, Christian Waller and a whole lot more. While the boys were exploring the delights of the Science Museum I spent a few hours wandering from print to print, going back, again and again, to favourites.

My interest waned at the Expressionist phase of the 1940's and 50's as it was all too dark and gruesome for my liking. I preferred Samuel Calvert's wood-engraving of a country lass "At The Creek" and cheeky chooks.

ISE4

Here's Jiji looking a bit nervous - the ISE4 scarves are packed and about to be sent off across the Pacific.
Backyard Leaves from Scarf Style has been added to the mix as well as the Illusions faux cable scarf. Jiji is looking a little bit concerned because he doesn't want to be kept on tenterhooks for too long. Hopefully Australia Post will do right by him. (Also the fact that the scarf recipient hasn't posted to the ISE4 blog makes him a bit nervous but I'm sure it will all come out right).

It's nice to have the Camera back.

Happenstance

Sometimes things just all come together - and that's what happened this Easter weekend. I made it to Rubi and Lana's for a small but lively group. Gemma made her first visit there after hearing about us through ISE4. I hope we weren't too boisterous.

I remembered to bring the knitting bag this time with all the carefully packed projects and the new edition of Yarn Magazine. I was pleased to see an article in it on copyright written by Jenni - a past member of the Blue Mountains Knitting Guild. She is a very skilled knitter and since she moved South to Melbourne is now working for a law firm, so I presume she knows what she is talking about.

It was a timely article as I think as there is a lot of confusion about what constitutes copyright in the knitting world. I have read so many comments that start or end with "I'm not a lawyer but..." and then often go on to give an American version of the legalities of copying patterns or designs. I am not even going to venture an opinion about this issue - just like I won't diagnose that ache in your shoulder or give a quote on re-roofing the house. Leave it to the experts I think.

I did finish the ISE4 scarf and borrowed the cousins' camera to take a pre-blocking photo. It's not as long as I would like but it is beautifully soft and the colours accentuate the faux cable well. I didn't use the extra skein of accent yarn included as the Sari silk mix didn't drape as well as the pure Merino. I plan to send off the parcel within the week because the other overseas exchange I enrolled for came through. I have 2 little piles being made up at the moment - goodies for ISE4 and goodies for the Knitters Treat Exchange. Now I know why I couldn't do this long term as in SP10 -the stress of getting "the right thing" is just too, too much. (holds hand to brow and sighs).

The weekend continued well when I managed to go out for dinner that night - a rare occasion. Grab your Fork's review of the new location of The Malay Chinese restaurant had me hankering for a big bowl of Laksa with a cool, refreshing Ale. This wasn't to be because the Malay was closed. We continued on to the Korean Quarter of Sydney CBD and, after a short browse through King's Comics, came upon a gem of a place.

The night was balmy, the streets wet from a recent rain storm and spicy barbecue smells led us round the corner down an alleyway off Pitt Street to the obscure entrance of Sydney Madang - Korean Cuisine & Charcoal BBQ.

I could not have asked for a better place to fulfil my yearning for something hot and spicy. Sitting inside the wooden panelled interior with the rain teeming down outside, a big bowl of Bibimbap, Kimchee and a VB in front of me it could have been anywhere in Asia. Especially as the line of people waiting to get inside were mostly Korean students, always a good sign of quality and value for money.

The evening was capped with a promenade around the George St block to 85C, a "Cake and Beverage" store where they packaged their cakes and pastries in quaint little carry boxes. A perfect finish to a lovely day.

Photo Shoot

The knitting came to the House the other day for a bit of Work Experience. I made use of the office digital camera to take a few archival shots of some of the current productions and document my WIP's at the same time.

First is the ISE4 scarf on the set of the STC's production of Ying-Tong. This "UK comedy success of 2005" by writer Roy Smiles will be touring to eight venues around Australia. Accordingly the set is small but visually, surprisingly effective. It has a strong comedic cast and should be an apt tribute to the genius of Spike Milligan and The Goons.

The scarf is based on the faux cables pattern and uses "Parsley" handspun slubby single yarn of "luscious and lovely pure Aussie merino wool handpainted in gorgeous shades of green" from That Spinning Place. I'm hoping it will block out to a decent length without losing any of its softness or texture.

Next is the Green Gable Top draped around Rocinante from the Australian Ballet's production of Don Quixote. This is a Ballet that is steeped in nostalgia and history. "Rudolf Nureyev choreographed this production for the Australian Ballet in 1970 and, as guest artist, danced Basilio partnering Lucette Aldous as Kitri. With sets and costumes by Barry Kay the inaugural performance also featured Robert Helpmann as the Don and Ray Powell as Sancho Panza. It premiered in Adelaide on 28 March. Nureyev returned to Australia in 1972 to direct a filmed version of his production, which was released in 1973."

The set was redesigned in 1993 and, in the nicest possible way, it shows its age. It is not over-engineered, relatively easy to set up and move out and takes up minimal space on an already tiny Opera stage. It has been designed by someone who knows how to make canvas and wood look magical under stage lights. While in no way being disparaging of set designers I think this ability is becoming a lost art.

Green Gable is so, so close to finished. The cap sleeves are being slightly rejigged and the neckline needs a line of crochet to tighten the edge but I am very happy with the end result. The colour is rich and flattering and the yarn was worth the wait.

The Quiet before the Storm

This is a rare and unusual sight - an empty scenery dock. The Opera Season has just finished - the Semi loaded with all the scenery drove off to Melbourne a few hours ago and the Opera Theatre is strangely empty.


The Ballet Season traditionally starts hard on the heels of the Opera - often bumping in as the OA is bumping out.

Not this time.


The understage area is eerily quiet and empty. You can see the walls! Central passage is not full of skips and trestles, no stacks of masonite for the floor of Rigoletto or large ornate bits of Alcina stacked high.

Don Quixote is coming in tommorrow so this emptiness will be soon filled with sets and lighting rigs - just as it should be - but for now I wander through the dock and make the most of its emptiness.

Housekeeping: Knitter's Treat Exchange

In the absence of a photo essay I'll post the questionnaire from the Knitter's Treat Exchange I joined recently. I did this in preference to Secret Pal 10 that is also running at present because I don't think I'm up to a full cream exchange - I see this as the Lite version.

1. What's your favourite type of yarn?
Pure Merino/Cotton/ silk blends

2. What's your least favourite type of yarn?
Acrylic, novelty, feather & fan

3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?
Tour the whole shop just looking, stroking, and checking out the books and accessories.

4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?
Lino Printing

5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?
Interweave Knits, Yarn magazine.

6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:
Knitting
Celebrity Gossip / Garden/ Crochet / Other Craft / Food / Home / Fashion /

7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?
Most items – sweaters, scarves, mittens, (not socks)

8. Are you allergic to anything?
No

9. What do you like to* smell of?
Sandalwood,
(*This is not a typo. The question is: What do you like to smell of)

10. What's your favourite way to relax?
Watching DVD’s and knitting, reading graphic novels and trashy books (into some pop-shock, full-on Matthew Reilly lately – it will pass)

11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?
An Italian café

12. What do you come out with?
A glass of red wine, some crusty bread and a big bowl of fresh pasta.

13. Where do you go next?
Somewhere to have an espresso coffee - though I do like a refreshing cup of tea at the right time. Real tea, not novelty, fruity blends

14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?
My favourite colours are the greens and browns of the forest and the bush, the blues and aquas of the sea and rich red plums and purples.

Thank you.

Green Parsley

This post was going to have a photo of the swatch I had knitted from this lovely Parsley yarn I got in the mail from That Spinning Place. It's for the International Scarf Exchange 4 (see side bar button) and I was pretty pleased about the quality of the yarn and the pattern I had finally made up for it. In the process of arranging a photo shoot featuring Jiji and said yarn I DROPPED the camera and I broke it - broke it good.

A few years ago this would have been a nuisance- an inconvenience even. In my new Blogger incarnation this event is Tragic, Catastrophic, Disastrous! I am contemplating taking my knitted bits to work and borrowing their camera so I can keep current with my Blog images. Pitiful isn't it.

This is the second camera I have done this to - the first was a bit old so I did what any decadent western consumer would do - put it away and bought a new one. I know the combined cost of the two repairs is equal to a new cheap digital but in all conscience I cannot do this again. I have enough old computer parts around the house to provide for a major landfill so I am going to be green about it.

Movin' On

It finally arrived all the way from Seattle USA - the skein to finish Green Gables. There have been so many times over the last month that I wanted to wear this, lovely rich green top. Now I can finally complete it because this sole skein of Provence managed to overcome the trials and setbacks of the postal service.

Case in point: see the destination? CANADA? I live in Australia - have for a long time so I don't think I would have put Canada down as my address.

Second point to note: Despite it having Canada as the address it was still delivered to Australia! The US postal System must be very intuitive to know that where Canada is written read Australia. (Sorry for all the Canadians out there whose mail is now being delivered to the Southern hemisphere.)

So considering this is the third attempt I have made to get this yarn delivered I will treat it and the gorgeous top knitted from it with all the respect due to epic heroes of old who and met overcame all the trials and misfortunes that Fate has put in their way to finally prevail. Yarn, I name thee Leif of Deltora.

With this major setback overcome the gates have opened and 2 of the items in the Stash have been started. Yes the Stash-along is still in place. Pullover Flair is in the background - it's being knitted in the round in the lovely Cleckheaton Country Silk - while in the front is Collinette Fandango being made into a cap sleeve top. I had plans for this being a 7mm quick-knit until realising several rows into it that chenille is never quick. But at least the fingers and hands are working again - that's the main thing.

On a side note I must pass on my thanks to all those people who left supportive comments on my previous post (I feel I was bordering on a whinge) and to all commentators in general. Once I figure out how to get past the noreply-comment@blogger.com label that Blogger puts on all the mail I might be able to pass on my appreciation directly.

Fete day

It's Fete day today! We had Fairies doing Physie, Bushie Firemen, Zhagaret Belly Dancers, Ghaziya Tribal Dancers, Judo and Karate Demos, and, at the other end of the School Playground, State Election entertainment- "Vote for Me! No, no, Vote for Me"


My role in this was a bit of event managing and sound operating. Other options open were running the Chocolate Wheel, making green Fairy Floss or being a target for the "Chuck a Wet Sponge" stand. No contest.

I'm off to a birthday party now so I have to wait until tomorrow to play with the long awaited yarn that just arrived yesterday. it may be the key to unblocking that 'hitch' that has plagued my knitting progress for so long.

Eye Candy

Big Day Out yesterday - rehearsal finished early so a few of us borrowed the company car and went across the bridge to look at an "innovative ShowLED Animation Starcloth" . It got me out of the House, I saw Morris Iemma in the Foxtel studio looking seriously concerned, and got to play with the GPS with the nice English voice.

Bitch and Knit

I've just finished listening to the latest Sticks & String podcast and David's title essay "The Guild'" has been very cathartic for me. Not because he said anything that was specifically referring to me or that was deeply profound. Instead it was a matter of fact explanation about what a Guild does and where it originates from, and how people can enjoy and benefit from attending such meetings. I just needed to be reminded of this because over the past few months I got distracted from this fact.

Its a common feature for many Bloggers and knitting commentators to acknowledge the destructive power of negative feedback - how 1 anonymous remark can totally negate a lot positive praise from people who are not afraid to own their opinions.

This happens in other areas such as organising a group of over 60 members, running the meetings with up to 45 people present at any one time as well as fulfilling any legal and social responsibilities inherent in this group's charter. There are many people that could do this standing on their head with a blindfold on (though it may look a bit funny) and not suffer any qualms about whether or not everything is being done just right. I am not one of them.

I have posted in the past about my "inherent anxiety about social interaction" and I am amazed at how this doesn't stop me accepting volunteer roles such as Chair or Convener for the local Playgroup or Knitting Branch. I keep doing it - I think to the best of my ability - but am devastated when I hear, third hand, of disparaging or bitchy comments, never to my face and never with a name.

Such remarks totally destroy any enjoyment I get from being a part of the group and interacting and learning from the many skilled knitters that come to the meetings. I get preoccupied with rectifying the apparent major short coming they reveal and lose sight of why I am there. I feel I can't see the wood for the trees or the Jumper for the yarn.

And that's where David came in with his nicely timed essay. He reminded me of the enjoyment and enthusiasm I felt as a new member on first attending my first 'real' knitting group and the promise of skills and techniques it held.

Over the next 8 months I think I'm going to listen to that essay again and again - just to keep it all in perspective.

Thanks, David.

talent en route

At work lately we've been reaping the benefits of a lot of talent en route to or from Womad - the World Music Festival in Adelaide.

Acts like Gotan project, Kronos Quartet, Mariza (which Lara saw and gave a glowing review, thank you) and one of my favourites, Salif Keita. All of these performances were held in the Concert Hall so one large lighting rig was supposed to fit all. The majority of them had their own touring sound and lighting crew so other than tweaking the rig to fit their individual requirements there was no actual design input required from our side.

With one exception - Salif.
The band had just arrived from Adelaide the day before and were pretty bushed so not only were we providing the design and operation we did so with no rehearsals and sandwiched between 2 Sydney Symphony rehearsals that required an empty stage.

A bit stretched for time? Absolutely! We didn't get a Set List until half an hour before curtain up but despite all these 'minor set backs' the show rocked. The band all look pretty relaxed in these shots of the sound check but once the house lights went down light it was on!

Salif announced to the crowd that it was his birthday and he wanted everyone up and dancing. It must be said that the Concert Hall is not really conducive to rave dancing - it hasn't got much of a Mosh pit - but this didn't put the audience off. Old and young they clapped and stomped all the way through, culminating in one big party on the stage when Salif pulled people up on stage to dance with him.

At the end of the night I was exhausted but satisfied. The challenge had been met - the show went on - and in theatre that's all that matters.

The balance restored

Things do come right after a fashion, as this weekend has shown. I wasn't expecting to get to R&L as the first Soccer match of the season, followed by a niece's birthday party, had priority.

Fortunately for me the Soccer field was too wet to play on and as the party was at Bondi I thought a slight deviation up the M3 to Gordon might be excusable. This meant I had to take the young Dragon along to a 'boring knitting party' but with the help of an "Asterix and Obelix" book as well as a Birthday card to fill out I managed to get in at least 45 minutes of Knitting Group exposure before the boredom factor kicked in.

A good number of people were there, including David, Lara and Mark, Sally, Meg, Pamela and others. Apparently more knitters arrived after I dragged the young boy away from the Sewing Thread display. I had time to admire Meg's Loopy Mohair Trim Sweater- she has put a lot of time and care into its construction; Pamela's Candle Flame Shawl in 2/28 lace weight silk yarn and David's lovely little jumper for baby Bella.

Just a little hitch in my git-along.

With all the energy that's in the air at present you'd think there would be enough to go around. It seems not to be the case where I am concerned. Cousin Lazybones's "just a little hitch in my git-along" plaint is more in keeping with my present state of being.
This is a bag of projects - just past the swatching stage - all ready to go.
Several have been started and then frogged and I think it's because of this.

Green Gables is so close to completion it hurts. Knowing that that elusive last skein was so close to arriving in my post box before it was banished also hurts. All my knitting Mojo has stalled, hijacked by the postal system. What is a girl to do?

I'll once again order the yarn (if it is still there) from Little Knits and once again wait and hope that it makes its way safely across the Pacific. My Pay Pal account is more like a tennis net the number of returns it has going across it.

Retail Therapy
In times of creative distress there are always ways to reduce the pain. I went to Charing Cross and did a bit of medicinal shopping. This little suburban centre is an oasis of original and quirky products. One newly opened outlet has an eclectic mix of Japanese and New Zealand nick nacks, including some lovely paua jewellery and Kea, Tui and Morepork plushies. I browsed though Shasta Bray and found this cheerful, knitted Raffia bag for a ridiculously low price - feeling better already.

Hubris

The day started off well - my work shift had been cancelled so I was free to spend the time on Knitterly pursuits. First the Guild AGM to attend and catch up with other guild members. Then on to SSK for a long overdue visit. I was pleased with myself because I was running early, I had time for a cup of coffee and a leisurely read of the paper.

Obviously I was having way to much fun for the Fates to tolerate so they decided to take me down a peg or two.

This sign - well concealed by other cars and some ironwork - says "Caution Front End Parking Only" What happens when you don't do as the sign advises?

This.

No pleasant afternoon knitting at SSK, no catching up with other Guild members, no leisurely cup of coffee and newspaper.

I should have known there was something amiss with the annoying 'powers that be' when my order of yarn from Little Knits was returned to them as 'undeliverable'. The package had been opened and the yarn damaged. I'm not sure why - maybe an over zealous drug sniffer dog?

I would really like to receive that yarn - especially the Classic Elite Provence. I have a half completed garment waiting for one last skein - of course.

I have heard of others who have also been subject to the whims of the muses of misfortune so I'm putting it all down to Mercury being in Retrograde and accepting my fate.