Sculpture by the Sea 2013 – A Photo Montage, TSL Style

Tags

Alison McDonald, Andrew Rogers, Art Photography, Bev Goodwin, Bondi, Coral Collective, David McCracken, Elyssa Sykes-Smith, Francesca Mataraga, Kathy Holowko, Ken Unsworth, Mikaela Castledine, Photography, Qian Sihua, Richard Tipping, Sally Kidall, Sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Tamarama, The Winged Collective, Toshio Iezumi, Yunghsu Hsu, Zero Higashida

‘Flow’ by Alison McDonald
Up-cycled plastic lids, cable ties
(Images by TSL)

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. (Thomas Merton)

So, as mentioned yesterday, here’s this year’s edition of Sculpture by the Sea – TSL style.  Small admission: LM took all the pics for our Sculptures walk this year. He did a much better job than I would have!

And, of course, the most fabulous ‘Horizon’ by Lucy Humphrey was featured yesterday. So, today you get some of the other works on show…

Do let me know your favourite?

‘Start’ by Richard Tipping
Reflective tape on aluminium, galvanised pole
(Image by TSL)

‘A Shared Weight’ by Elyssa Sykes-Smith
Recycled timber
(Images by TSL)

‘Diminish and Ascend’ by David McCracken
Aluminium
(Image by TSL)

‘East of the Mulberry Tree – the Legend of the Ten Red Crows’ by Mikaela Castledine
Crocheted polypropylene, steel frame
(Image by TSL)

‘m.130901’ by Toshio Iezumi
Float glass
(Image by TSL)

‘Bubble no: 5’ by Qian Sihua
Painted stainless steel
(Images by TSL)

‘Inori Angel Prayer for Peace’ by Zero Higashida
Stainless steel, gold leaf, pine
(Image by TSL)

‘A Tale of Romance’ by Kathy Holowko
Reclaimed timber
(Image by TSL)

‘Fetch’ by The Winged Collective
Morrored Alucobond
(Images by TSL)

‘A to B’ by Francesca Mataraga
Wood, paint, steel
(Image by TSL)

‘Nomadic City: Lest we Forget’ by Sally Kidall
Bamboo, plastic, string, hessian, soil, seed, solar lights
(Images by TSL)

‘Folded 3’ by Andrew Rogers
Bronze
(Image by TSL)

‘Coral’ by Coral Collective
Plywood, recycled polypropylene
(Image by TSL)

‘2012-11’ by Yunghsu Hsu
Clay ceramic
(Image by TSL)

‘Polyrock’ by Bev Goodwin
Polynesian leis, foam rings, wire, cable ties
(Image by TSL)

‘There’s Many a Slip ‘twixt the Cup and the Lip’ by Ken Unsworth
Form ply, steel, skeleton
(Images by TSL)

Great art picks up where nature ends. (Marc Chagall)

The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition runs from 24 October – 10 November 2013. It really is a spectacular exhibition and well worth a visit. Promise!

Sculpture by the Sea 2013 – Horizon by Lucy Humphrey

Tags

Art, Art Photography, Artist, Bondi, Carl Maria von Weber, Lucy Humphrey, Lucy Humphrey Studio, Photography, Sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Sydney Coastline, Tamarama New South Wales

‘Horizon’ by Lucy Humphrey
Sculpture by the Sea 2013
(Image by TSL)

An artist’s sphere of influence is the world. (Carl Maria von Weber)

LM and I rose with the birds yesterday for our annual trip to the always fabulous Sculpture by the Sea. We look forward to it every year – the location along Sydney’s Bondi to Tamarama coastline is stunning, and the free event makes art accessible to everyone in such a wonderful way. This year, we were not disappointed.

After days of sunshine and hot weather, yesterday dawned overcast and moody. Good day for walking the coast line checking out the art work…

Every year, there are one or two stand out pieces. Sculptures that strike a chord with seemingly everyone. This year, that piece was Lucy Humphrey’s ‘Horizon’.

‘Horizon’ by Lucy Humphrey
Sculpture by the Sea 2013
(Image by TSL)

A large acrylic sphere filled with water, and on a steel, timber and masonry base, ‘Horizon’ reinterprets the surrounding view when seen through the liquid within the perspex.

The artist’s statement reads: “Horizon is a site-specific sculpture that celebrates the surrounding natural environment. Using water as a sculptural material, the work will temporarily transform the viewer’s experience of the site, as a monument to the coastal landscape and the constant line of the horizon.”

And, ‘Horizon’ does celebrate the surrounding environment. Even at the early hour that LM and I were there, people seemed transfixed by Lucy Humphrey’s work. I know I fell in love with it… What do you think?

‘Horizon’ by Lucy Humphrey
Sculpture by the Sea 2013
(Images by TSL)

Lucy Humphrey is a Sydney-based architect and artist. She is the founder of Lucy Humphrey Studio and cofounder (with Claire McCaughan) of Archrival, a non-profit organisation that aims to unite the creative community through different projects.

The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition runs from 24 October – 10 November 2013. Do get along to see it if you are in Sydney.

More on Sculpture by the Sea tomorrow…

The Perfect Gift for Dog Lovers – ‘Quake Dogs’

Tags

Animal Photography, Book Review, Books, Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Christchurch, Christmas Gifts, Dog, Dwight D. Eisenhower, French Bulldog, Gifts, Gifts for hard to buy for people, Irish Wolfhound, Labrador, Lord Byron, New Zealand, Photography

‘Quake Dogs’*
Text by Laura Sessions
Photography by Craig Bullock
(Image from Furtography)

What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog. (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

‘Quake Dogs’ will make you melt…

At 12.51pm on Tuesday, 22 February 2011 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake severely damaged New Zealand’s second-largest city of Christchurch, killing 185 people. It followed an earlier ‘quake of 4 September 2010 which caused significant damage to the region, but no fatalities.

‘Quake Dogs’ is a dog’s perspective of surviving the Christchurch earthquakes. The book is made up of a series of stories about individual pooches and what they went through.

100 dogs, 2 cats and a chicken were photographed for the 68 stories in the book. And as sappy as I know it sounds, each one is more engaging and heart-warming than the last… Honest.

Cilla
(Image from Furtography)

Cilla, the Boston Terrier, may have slept through the big ‘quake, but the many aftershocks caused her great anxiety and apparently her hair started falling out, and she lost a lot of weight.

She has since moved to just north of Auckland where she lives with her owners and new best friend, Oakley, the French Bulldog.

Jet
(Image from Furtography)

Jet, the Labrador, was collected by her owner’s daughter after the 2010 quake. She developed separation anxiety and was able to anticipate aftershocks.

When the big 2011 quake hit, she was alone outside and had to wait, surrounded by liquefaction, for three hours, teddy in her mouth, until her owner could get home. Fortunately, her separation anxiety is much better now.

Chloe
(Image from Furtography)

Chloe, the Chihuahua, lives with Caiou (a Greyhound) and Little (a Labrador). When the big quake hit, the dogs were home alone. Apparently, their house was like the inside of a washing machine on spin cycle…

To avoid being crushed by a falling cabinet, Little smashed through a glass door and received a nasty glass cut on his head. Caiou and Chloe followed him and they all huddled in the garden together until help arrived.

Today, Chloe has proved the most resilient of the three pups, although she is small enough to fit in a hand-bag, so this may be a contributing factor!

The poor dog, in life the firmest friend. The first to welcome, foremost to defend. (Lord Byron)

My Mum sent me my copy of ‘Quake Dogs’. I just love it.

Written by Laura Sessions (who has two dogs – George and Mildred) and photographed by FURtographer Craig (who has no dogs, but three cats – Jazz, Mr Tinkles and Millefeuille), part of the proceeds from the book go to support HUHA, a national organisation that works to rescue and re-home animals around the New Zealand.

If you have a dog lover in your life, they will love this book! The book has been such a success that it has sold out BUT new stock is expected by 2nd December (in time for Christmas!). You can order through the Furtography website (payment through Paypal) and the book will be sent to you. AND, you can even get a personalised dedication… All for NZ34.99!

*Guinness, is the face of ‘Quake Dogs’ – in New Zealand he became a very familiar scruffy face and appeared regularly in the TV news updates. The enormous, shaggy Irish Wolfhound became the pin-up boy for the Student Volunteer Army and was awarded a medal for his work with their rescue effort.

Blog Stalking Teresa Cutter – THE Healthy Chef

Tags

Bread, Cook, Dairy Free, food, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Bread Recipe, Grain Free, Health, Healthy Chef, Mindd Foundation, Paleo, Pumpkin Bread Recipe, Recipe, Spike Milligan, Teresa Cutter

Teresa Cutter at MINDD Foundation ‘Food is Medicine’
(Image by TSL)

So, as I mentioned last week, Saturday was the MINDD Foundation’s ‘Food is Medicine’ seminar. I tootled off to attend (and dragged LM along for the ride. Bless him!)

I have the body of an eighteen year old. I keep it in the fridge. (Spike Milligan)

One of my favourite presenters was Teresa Cutter, of the Healthy Chef fame. I’ve been a fan of hers for quite some time, but seeing her in action was great. She made whipping up a fresh pesto in no time look insanely easy, and her presentation style was wonderfully warm and engaging.

Teresa Cutter at MINDD Foundation ‘Food is Medicine’
(Image by TSL)

And, while the title of this post is a wee bit of a misnomer (to the best of my knowledge, Teresa doesn’t actually blog, but she does have a regular newsletter), there are oodles of fab’ and healthy recipes to check out on her website (here).

After seeing the talented Teresa in action, I was motivated to get into the kitchen today. As a result, as I write this, I’ve got an awful lot of nuts currently activating away in preparation for nut milk and a batch of the BEST grain free granola ever (a.k.a. Nutola) AND, I’ve made a loaf of Teresa’s pumpkin bread.

The Healthy Chef Pumpkin Bread à la TSL
(Image by TSL)

Now, I’m not going to tell you that this pumpkin bread recipe beats a fresh sourdough from Iggy’s… BUT, if (like me) you’re unable to eat gluten or you’re grain-free, this pumpkin-y tasting loaf ain’t half bad – especially if you are missing your bread.

It received LM’s tick of approval, too.

If you’d like the recipe to the Healthy Chef pumpkin bred, you can find it at Teresa Cutter’s website (here). Teresa also demonstrated her raw chocolate cake, which she made from her chocolate cupcake base. It looked divine but I don’t need another excuse to eat chocolate, so I’m saving that one for a special occasion…

I’ve Got a Thing For Pukeko

Tags

Animal Photography, Art, Beatrice Carlson, Bird, Kiwi, Mixed media, Native Bird, New Zealand, Pukeko

‘Pukeko Kete’ by Beatrice Carlson
(Image from Essenze)

Like most Kiwis, I have a bit of a thing for the Pukeko. With its distinctive bright blue colouring and bright red beak, it is always easy to see against the green of the New Zealand wetland.

Also known as the New Zealand Swamp Hen, the Pukeko is a member of the rail family, and it is similar to other species found all over the world. There are apparently 15 sub species of the bird and their range includes southern Europe, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Melanesia, western Polynesia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, so it is a very common bird. In New Zealand, you can find them in almost any grassland area, especially in swampy locations.

Just why they have struck such a chord within the Kiwi culture is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps it is because they are a little ungainly, but still full of character. It’s certainly not because of their flying ability – their take off is laboured and they are awkward flyers with feet dangling and often crash landing into a tree or bush, although they can fly long distances.

‘Blue Comme’ by Beatrice Carlson
(Image from Essenze)

For me, one woman who has captured the quirkiness of the Pukeko perfectly, is Beatrice Carlson. She apparently originally studied oil painting and it has given her an understanding of layers and transparency that she now uses in her digital work. Her works are dramatic in scale – the piece above is 1200mm x 1200mm – but she works with the smallest of details, adjusting the images pixel by pixel.

I think I would quite like Blue Comme on my wall…

Essenze sells Blue Comme for NZ$2,901 and will ship anywhere in the world. You can check out their site here.

 

Pete Evans and His SERIOUSLY GOOD Bliss Balls…

Tags

Activated Almonds, Alexx Stuart, Australia, Bliss Ball, Bliss Balls Recipe, Cook, Dairy Free, food, Food is Medicine, Gluten Free, Health, Healthy Snack Recipe, Manu Feildel, Mindd Foundation, Pete Evans, Real Food, Recipe, Teresa Cutter

Pete Evans – Famous for eating activated almonds
(Image from here)

Pete Evans gets A LOT of air time here in Australia.

Unsurprising, really. He’s published seven cookbooks, and apparently there’s another on the way. He’s both a chef and restaurateur. He and his good mate Manu Feildel front the popular ‘My Kitchen Rules’ show on the telly. He is an ambassador for healthy foodie brand Sumo Salad. Apparently, he has just launched a home fermentation and culturing kit to make real sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir (which I will have to check out).

AND, of course, this year he famously made headlines after his ‘My Day on a Plate’ contribution to ‘Sunday Life’ magazine went viral when he listed activated almonds as part of his über-healthy diet.

The thing is, while I might not be the kind of girl who watches ‘My Kitchen Rules’ or frequents the food halls where I imagine Sumo Salad sets up shop, I do like the healthy food message that Pete Evans espouses – activated almonds* and all.

And, on top of all of it – he looks so damned healthy! Admit it – the man has a permanent glow on…

Pete Evans for Food is Medicine through the Mindd Foundation
(Image from here)

Logical then, that the Mindd Foundation chose Pete to front the banner for their upcoming seminar on Food is Medicine.

If you’re interested in health, nutrition and food as medicine (and you’re in Sydney on Saturday!), then I reckon you should check this out. Clearly, Pete will be there doing some health food demos. But, so will Teresa Cutter (of the Healthy Chef) talking about meals that support digestion; Alexx Stuart (of Real Food and Low Tox Living) explaining the many uses of bone broth; and, many more from the local real food movement.

In an effort to get in the mood for Saturday, when I saw a recipe Pete posted AND also that I had all the ingredients to hand**, I headed straight to the kitchen to whip up some Buzz (Bliss) Balls.

I’m taking Pete at his word, and sharing his Bliss Ball recipe. They tick all the boxes – they’re healthy, easy-peasey to make, and they taste great.

Cook with balls, love and laughter. (Pete Evans)

Pete Evans’ Buzz Balls
(Image by TSL)

Pete Evans’ Buzz Balls (aka Bliss Balls)

1/4 cup of unhulled Tahini
2 tablespoons of Pure Organic Maple Syrup (Pete called for 3, but that was just too much for me!)
1/4 cup of buckinis (activated buckwheat)
1/2 cup of macadamias
1/2 cup of almonds
1/2 cup of dried organic apricots, finely chopped
1/4 cup of desiccated coconut
3 tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil
filtered water to get the consistency right if it’s too dry to roll
extra desiccated coconut for rolling

Bung all the ingredients into your food processor and pulse until you reach your desired consistency. If the mixture is too dry to roll add a little filtered water, or if it’s too wet add extra desiccated coconut. Shape into balls and roll in coconut. I used a table-spoon and got 15 balls.

Allow the balls to set in the fridge for 30 minutes before you munch on them.

If you’d like to learn more about the Mindd Foundation Food is Medicine Seminar on this Saturday, check out their website here.

*If you’re wondering, activated nuts are soaked in water to force germination. The theory goes that the sprouted nut activates its digestive enzymes, making it easier to digest and better for you.

**do not ask me why I had activated buckwheat in my pantry – I might end up trending on twitter…

Shoot the Chef – My Favourite Part of Good Food Month

Tags

Anthony Bourdain, Australia, Chef, Cook, food, Food Photography, Good Food Month, New South Wales, Photography, Photography Competition, Shoot the Chef

Ali and Osso Buco by John Mcrae
2013 Shoot the Chef Winner of Critics Choice
(Image by John Mcrae from here)

I’m a decent cook; I’m a decent chef. None of my friends would ever have hired me at any point in my career. Period. (Anthony Bourdain)

It’s Good Food Month here in Australia. In reality, it’s good food month every month here at Casa TSL, so it really makes little difference to LM and me.

And, I can’t really enjoy the Night Noodle Markets as they should be enjoyed because of my wee gluten problem…

But, what I do love is the annual Shoot the Chef photography competition. Professionals, students, (and for the first time in 2013) amateur photographers are invited to literally shoot a chef – with their camera. It always attracts some seriously creative food-loving photographers…

(Image from here)

Say Hello to my little Friend by Teodora Tinc
2013 Shoot the Chef winner of Peoples Choice Award
(Image by Teodora Tinc from here)

Blood and Bone by Steve Evans
Chef James Viles from Biota Dining
(Image by Steve Evans from here)

Shannon Debreceny of Three Blue Ducks by Daniel Sponiar
(Image by Daniel Sponiar from here)

Betty by Lauren Yates
Self portrait in honour of Betty Crocker
(Image by Lauren Yates from here)

If you’d like to see all the entries to the competition, The Star is exhibiting in Sydney from October 10 – 31 and the Rialto Towers has the honour in Melbourne from November 1 – 29. 

I may just see you there…

Lucy Gauntlett’s ‘Sweet As’ Mixed Media Art

Tags

Art, Auckland, Bach, Kiwiana, Lucy Gauntlett, Mixed media, New Zealand, New Zealand Art, Peter Jackson, Photography, Vacation property

‘Sweet As’ by Lucy Gauntlett
(Image from here)

New Zealand is not a small country but a large village.(Peter Jackson)

In New Zealand, the ownership or use of a bach (or, ‘crib’ if you hail from the South Island) is almost part of our cultural heritage. And, for the initiated, a bach is an unassuming, sometimes even rustic, holiday home.  

My parents have a bach about an hour’s drive north of Auckland. And, when I say ‘bach’, I mean a modest-yet-lovely wee house nestled into the bush.

The last time I visited, my Dad was talking ‘bach refurbishment’ with me. He wants to spruce the place up a bit, without spending too much money.

So, I’ve had bach refurbishment on my mind… And, I quite like the ‘Kiwiana nostalgia’ feel that Lucy Gauntlett’s work evokes in me.

New Zealand based professional photographer & graphic artist, Lucy Gauntlett specialises in creative New Zealand limited edition landscape photography, large-scale panoramic landscape photographs and prints of local New Zealand scenery. While these range from rugged West Coast beaches to edgy graffiti ridden streetscapes, my favourites are from her hand painted fruit and vegetable signs that she photographed and layered.

Perhaps I’m just feeling sentimental, but I think some of these pieces might be quite nice at the bach…

“Market Kitchen I’ by Lucy Gauntlett
Available in sepia, black and inverse
(Image from here)

‘Market Kitchen II’ by Lucy Gauntlett
Available in sepia, black and inverse
(Image from here)

‘Sign of the Times’ by Lucy Gauntlett
(Image from here)

Or, for something with less Kiwiana but even more of a retro feel, this kitchen aid poster could be just the thing for the kitchen…

‘Kitchen Aid’ by Lucy Gauntlett
(Image from here)

For a more complete look at Lucy Gauntlett’s work, check out her website here, or visit Clever Bastards – they have a great range.

DIY Macramé Kit by TMOD

Tags

Arts, Australia, Calvin Trillin, Crafts, Crochet, DIY, Do it yourself, Macramé, Shopping

TMOD DIY (completed) Macrame Kit in mint
(Image from TMOD)

Anybody caught selling macrame in public should be dyed a natural colour and hung out to dry.(Calvin Trillin)

Is there a verb for macramé?

My Mum macramé-d when it was last fashionable. About a million years ago. I remember her macramé onion bag. Truly. A macramé bag just for onions. If my memory serves, she was quite good at it, too.

Fast forward about a million years (or at least thirty) and Georgie Swift and Milenka Osen are the creative minds behind funky Aussie label TMOD. They’ve designed this nifty DIY macramé kit. I’m seriously considering trying it out. Only you know how I went with learning to crochet…

TMOD DIY Macrame Kit in natural
(Image from TMOD)

The girls assure me this DIY kit will make me feel proud of my craftsmanship. I would believe them, except that my crochet teacher said she could teach anyone how to crochet. I was very definitely the exception to THAT rule.

The kit apparently comes with simple easy to follow instructions to make it, then hang it in my home, and fill the glass jar with a plant, flowers, make a terrarium or even house a gold-fish?!

It includes 10 metres of rope, 4 wood beads, a glass jar, 1 ring (to hang it from), and weaving instructions…

TMOD DIY (completed) Macrame in mint and natural
(Image from TMOD)

The kit sells for AU$39.95 from the TMOD online store. There are also a variety of international stockists listed here.

What do you think? Should I risk it?

 

Peter Lange Creates Trompe L’oeil Brick Sculpture

Tags

Art, Auckland, Auguste Rodin, Bondi, Mount Eden, New Zealand, Peter Lange, Richard Shaw, Sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Trompe L'oeil

Peter Lange’s Brick Wiggle Chair
(Image from Masterworks Gallery)

Sculpture is the art of the hole and the lump. (Auguste Rodin)

So, this year’s Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi is almost upon us. It’s one of those fab’ public exhibitions that Sydney does so well. I look forward to it every year. The Jacaranda are flowering here in Sydney and it feels like summer is well on its way. It must be time for Sculptures by the Sea…

One sculptor whose work I quite like, and who is not exhibiting in this years sculpture walk, is Peter Lange. A New Zealand ceramic artist, he taught himself pottery in the 1970s.

I’m a fan of trompe l’oeil. I like the humour and whimsy of it. And Lange brings this to his work. He started his slip-cast trompe l’oeil sculpture in the mid 1980s, after an encounter with Richard Shaw, a recognised master of trompe l’oeil sculpture.

Lange gained notoriety in 2002 for building an Anagama Boat. Apparently he was  investigating the motto “if you throw it in the water and it sinks, then it’s art… if it floats it’s craft”. Intrigued by the resemblance of the interior of an Anagama kiln to an inverted boat, Lange set out to prove that an inverted kiln could float.

Peter Lange on his Brick Boat
(Image from Ceramics Today)

In August of this year, he installed three giant brick kumara (that’s New Zealand sweet potato, for the uninitiated!) on Mt Eden Road in Auckland. The work is called ‘Tahuri’, after a legendary Māori gardener known for her fabulous kumara. The work was sponsored by Eden Arts, a lovely group of people committed to promoting the arts in Mt Eden (a suburb of Auckland).

Peter Lange’s ‘Tahuri’ (kumara)
(Image from Eden Arts)

Peter Lange’s ‘Tahuri’ (kumara)
(Image from GCCG)

In my wee investigation of the talented Mr Lange, I found that Masterworks Gallery in Auckland has some of his work available. I imagine they are quite heavy and expensive to ship, but if one lived in Auckland…

Peter Lange’s Deckchairs
(Image from Masterworks Gallery)

Peter Lange’s Brick Chair
(Image from Masterworks Gallery)

If you’d like to see more examples of Peter Lange’s work, he has some great images on his website here.

Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi) runs from 24 October to 10 November 2013. If you’d like more details, check out the website here.