THE MONDAY ISSUE

Beauty and the Feast

2012-01-13T23:36:00.001+11:00

Whoever suggested that playing with food was a bad thing was obviously lacking in the creativity department.

Photography Vanessa Low

Model Gemma Flynn (the beauty)

Creative advisor/professional radish polisher Miranda Fagan

Recipe 1: 3 x radishes, 2 x basil; 1 x carrot; 1 x beauty

Recipe 2: 1 x banana; 1 x cherry; 2 x lychees; 1 x beauty

Recipes 3: 3 x carrots; 1 x beauty

Recipe 4: 1 x pomegranate; 5 x cherries; 1 x lettuce leaf; 1 x banana; 1 x beauty

Recipe 5: 1 x strawberry tart; 1 x beauty

Bon Appetit!

Hot Summer

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000+11:00

Hot Summer - f(x)

Baking weather at Manly beach today!

I ♡ Sydney Festival

2012-01-09T02:12:00.000+11:00

This years Sydney Festival First Night transformed the city into an incredible melting pot of arts, culture, experiments and crowds (lots and lots of them)! The annual festival opening really became somewhat of a phenomenon this year being busier than I can ever remember or could ever imagine. The enticing lineup (including Washington and Gurrumul in the Domain) obviously sparked widespread interest and definitely made an exciting kick start to the cultural shenanigans of the month to come.

Crowds gathering in the Domain

Strawberries and ice cream from Berry Delicious

Flamenco guitar played by David Holberton at the AGNSW

Even more crowds!

Tangle by Polyglot in Hyde Park

Washington

In the Domain, stage light and moonlight

The Sydney Festival

One Day by David Nicholls

2012-01-07T15:30:00.001+11:00

I was initially drawn to this book by the concept of portraying two people through the happenings on only one day per year (15th July) over a span of twenty years. I was wary that plot holes or a lack of understanding of the characters might develop from the leaps however on the contrary, the record of them over such a long time made me appreciate them, their choices, and their relationships all the more. Nicholls knows how to weave a plot - ending chapters with cliffhangers such as "Don't worry about a thing. Tomorrow. We'll talk properly tomorrow," leaving the reader for several chapters before they are fulfilled with the knowledge of what was discussed "tomorrow" - now about three years ago. I greatly admire how Nicholls has portrayed failure in the novel - throughout it the reader feels the longing and embarrassment of Emma and Dexter and becomes so used to their perspectives of the world that the gaps of time between chapters are easily filled by reader rationale. Despite sometimes being distracted by the lengthy amounts of dialogue (perhaps reflecting Nicholls' background in script writing), I found One Day an enjoyable leisurely read.

Prickly

2012-01-06T00:21:00.000+11:00

at Leppington Valley Farm

at the Getty Centre, Los Angeles

IKEA & T2

2012-01-05T23:04:00.000+11:00

Just Rose and Turkish Apple: current favourite ice tea combination

Today we went to the new IKEA in Tempe (the largest in the Southern Hemisphere) and as predicted, it was a utter treat! The lower level was my favourite, filled with everything you could ever possibly think of needing. Amongst a new clock, lantern, candles, whisk and Pyssla peg boards I bought a collection of clear jars for my loose tea. Despite having such a range of teas, the hassle of finding the right box and managing the loose leaves always makes me hesitant to go to the trouble. However, now the clear jars make each tea much easier to identify and spoon out. I couldn't find any sticky labels to mark the names of the teas so instead used medical tape - I'm so happy with the result (my Por-por says that they look very country-bumpkin)! I now look forward to many cups to tea to come!

I cut out the backs of the tea boxes so that they now serve as info cards

All together now! Yum!

? by Charles Saatchi

2012-01-05T00:38:00.000+11:00

Reading Saatchi's collection of answers to questions posed by journalists, critics, fans and general members of the public reminded me a lot of eating blue veined cheese - biting, sharp, witty and often surprising (for both good and unpleasant reasons). The questions posed reflected a general want to know what exactly has made Saatchi "the most influential art collector of our time," however his responses make it obvious that he'd much rather talk about his all time favourite Hollywood leading ladies; his go-kart career and his adoration for Nigella Lawson (his wife and renowned chef) - a both cheeky and refreshing viewpoint however at times a little frustrating. Overall I found Saatchi's anecdotes, like a ripe blue veined cheese, nonetheless highly entertaining and imagine that they would make great conversation starters at a dinner party.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

2012-01-02T23:20:00.000+11:00

★ May it be one to remember! ★

Nail it!

2011-12-28T12:54:00.000+11:00

Oh no! It seems that I've fallen onto the nail obsession wave!

A massive thank you to Jess for the Fresh Frog of Bel Air which I have already used twice in two days! And welcome to the family MacArthur Park by American Apparel: avocado colours - I'm a fan!

Picton

2011-12-26T23:51:00.001+11:00

On the Road - Angus & Julia Stone

Today we went on a boxing day road trip to Picton which is about 80km south west from Sydney. We had some delicious food at the George IV Inn (rosemary on chips = yum!) and made quite a few other pitstops along the way and further south (including Mowbray Park - cows pictured above).

ps - I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! ツ

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

2011-12-24T15:00:00.000+11:00

Detouring from my usually non-fiction diet, this week I read The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Reading with the knowledge of its status as a literary classic I was not as intrigued by the plot as much as I had hoped and despite being entertained by Holden's witticisms and darn gorgeous humour, I struggled to merit an esteemed value of his character. However these impressions were changed within the latter chapters of the novel as different voices entered which often conflicted with and contested that of the protagonist, making me appreciate the overall complexity of the perspective which Salinger offers through the book as a whole. By the end, I found what I had initially interpreted as subjective 1st person rant to actually be an experience necessary for the insights of the final few chapters to hold gravity with the reader. Overall, I admire Holden for having such a formed understanding of the world, however more so I admire the innocence of Phoebe and the wisdom of Mr Antolini for changing it.

My 1440: Christmas Rush

2011-12-23T12:08:00.001+11:00

Photo taken a couple weeks ago at the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) in Sydney - I can't imagine what it would be like now!

Pepe Saya Butter

2011-12-22T22:10:00.000+11:00

Pepe Saya cultured butter 250g individual portion - YUM!

The Rocks Village Bizarre

2011-12-18T01:17:00.000+11:00

❝ The Rocks’ Markets by Moonlight has had a freaky and fabulous facelift and transformed into Village Bizarre - a Friday night festival of secrets alleys and hidden rooms hosting experimental arts, poetry slams, silent discos, bespoke tailoring and burlesque gyrations, hula hoop classes and intimate laneway concerts… all on the colourful cobblestones of Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood. ❞

- Time Out Sydney

Hula Hooping with HMAS Heidi Hoops | a very colourful information guide

Beautiful and quirky things from the past are in abundance around the Rocks

Miranda balancing books as part of Applespiel's 'Awful Literature is Still Literature, I Guess' | delicious smells coming from Jack Mundey Pl.

Awful Literature is Still Literature, I Guess | Art History in a Red Velvet Tent with Dr Alan Krell

Ukelele street performances

MOHS Hair and Beauty Bar | The Glitter Militia

☾ The Rocks Village Bizarre ☾

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Recorders

2011-12-15T01:04:00.000+11:00

A Review in Rhyme

The MCA this summer,

reopens some of their doors,

to an exhibition that could not be better -

or funner for that matter -

than Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.

With lightglobes that pulse

to your heart beat;

and a seismoscope which draws

to the the vibrations of your feet;

the exhibition is not only to look and see,

but full of touch and feel and audiences' creativity.

However -

With scanners that copy your bag's contents;

and video cameras which record the way you prance;

And fingertip scanners like at American airports;

'Recorders' is an exhibition to challenge your thoughts.

Is our culture of surveillance something to fear?

Or something to play with; to open up and into peer?

Go along to the exhibition (it's free, mon ami) to judge it for yourself,

record some memories and distort one's self.

Listen to the voices of visitors long gone,

and leave a message for the ones yet to come.

Be part of the artwork
and you may be surprised
to experience yourself back
through a machine's eyes.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Recorders

MCA, Sydney

16th December 2011 - 12th February 2012

10am-5pm

Free

Baking gingerbread with Carla B

2011-12-13T23:46:00.000+11:00

Almost two years on, and we're still baking gingerbread!

Under construction: the MCA

2011-12-12T23:14:00.000+11:00

From the outside it looks like a very sophisticated and sleek addition which enhances, without overpowering, the authority and beauty of the historic base. I imagine that there is a lot of excitement hatching inside! I can't wait to get a first glimpse of the renovations when visiting the Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Recorders exhibition!

Calder & Kabuki

2011-12-11T21:20:00.000+11:00

- CALDER & KABUKI -
Upon stumbling across this bizarrely intriguing photo by Helen White, Miranda and I knew instantly that we had to try to recreate it ourselves. The headpieces remind me of the mobiles of Alexander Calder and the makeup of kumadori - the style of Kabuki theatre. Together they made for a rather epic session of face painting and hot glue gun burnings.

- The End -

Sending lots of ♡ to China

2011-12-10T16:32:00.001+11:00

Lulu, we are thoroughly missing you! Hope you're having lots of fun in China!

Photos from Lu's birthday/farewell party

Streetstyle: Matthew (Sydney)

2011-12-07T22:13:00.001+11:00

The OUTPOST Project

2011-12-05T20:09:00.001+11:00

| NEXT by T-World exhibition - featuring over 1500 t-shirts curated by Eddie Zammit |

The OUTPOST Project is a collaboration between the curators of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, aMBUSH gallery and over 150 artists to transform Cockatoo Island into a display of global street art culture. Amidst the industrial remains of previous prison/shipyard/reformatory buildings and machinery are installations, pastemodernism, tshirts (a highly extensive collection), sculptures, paintings, graffiti art (spray cans and stencils) and even an opportunity for 'cup rocking.'

Some very windy rides on the ferry to and from Cockatoo Island!

"KID ZOOM: HOME - A scale reproduction of the artist's childhood home recreated from early adolescent memory and documentation of the destruction of three Holden Commodores."

Works through the tunnel | 'The Ecosystem of Moon Titan' by Ghostpatrol

Gemma with Will Coles' artwork 'Untitled (mermaid)'

Cup rocking | NEXT by T-World exhibition

NEXT by T-World exhibition

Abandoned building | 'Bullion Bar (Bitten)' by Paul Insect in the 'Oi You!' Collection

Artwork in the Mays: The May Lane Street Art Project

Concrete sculptures by Will Coles | Marilyn Monroe-style portrait of Kate Moss by Banksy in the 'Oi You!' collection

✰ The OUTPOST Project ✰

Liam

2011-12-02T17:26:00.001+11:00

Liam Ambrose's artwork Memory Box (2011) was featured in the COFA Annual exhibition. See the video here.

What course are you graduating from?
I did a Bachelor of Fine Arts and and I'm actually doing painting and drawing - I wanted to try something else.

What's your artwork about?
It's about the layering and filtering of memory over time. As it gets further away from the source of the memory it becomes blurred and distorted.

How did you go about making the film?
The film is based on still images - photographs which I've taken over roughly the last 10 years. I went through and picked ones that stood out to me and I went back to the place a tried to recreate it as a moving image. It's also about the relationship between still image and moving image.

Where did you have to revisit to make the film?
Lots of the South Coast - I grew up surfing down there; the Royal National Park; [points to film] that's my parents' house; Robertson.

How did you come up with the idea of using the projector?
I did a smaller scale thing about 3 years ago - it was a little box with just one silk screen and I had it on a slide projector and I projected just portraits that I'd shot of my friends into it. Then I put that aside for a few years. It was something that I wanted to come back to and I thought that I should do it, whilst I have so many resources at the university.

What inspires you?
Experimentation - people just trying something else.

What is next for Liam?
I'm not sure yet. I'm going to do honors... and I'm not sure after that.

My 1440: sleeping on the bus

2011-12-01T15:11:00.000+11:00

Baked zucchini flowers with cheese

2011-11-28T15:24:00.001+11:00

Olive oil, zucchini flowers and cheese from Eveleigh Farmers' Markets

Eveleigh markets always has such an exciting array of food - I couldn't resist the attempt to try to bake these zucchini flowers with wash rind cheese!*

Recipe

1. To prep the zucchini flowers, pull out the filaments

2. Lay them flat on a baking-paper lined tray

3. Cut slices of the cheese and place them inside the petals

4. Sprinkle salt, pepper and olive oil

5. Bake!

* NB - The result, despite being amazingly cheesy and delicious, was the cheese melting and the flowers losing their shape and becoming completely flat. In the future it would be best to use a firmer cheese such as ricotta. A fun experiment nonetheless!

Streetstyle: Javiera (Sydney)

2011-11-27T00:44:00.001+11:00

Sophie Koh

2011-11-24T00:07:00.001+11:00

Lo-Fi - Sophie Koh (warning: super addictive!)

Sophie Koh is back! And after hearing Lo-Fi, the first single from Oh My Garden (Koh's first album since 2008 to be released in February next year), we hope she never leaves us for this long again!

What inspires you? Food, people, love and clothes, and art.

Favourite artist? It changes all the time but at the moment it's Bat for Lashes - she's amazing. I listen to everything at the moment, I listen to classical music a lot... my radio in the car is always on talk-back or classical.

What has been your most exciting collaboration so far? Ben [Lee] was the most exciting so far... very inspirational. He taught me a lot about the business of music and [there's a reason why he's so famous].

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Vietnamese pho - I love broth.

What influence did your collaboration on 'She Will Have Her Way - Songs of Neil and Tim Finn' have on your career?

I was actually a last minute call up for that one. They had two spots left... I think Missy Higgins took mine which was 'Stuff and Nonsense' [which] was my favourite Finn song and so I was like, let's go for the rockiest, kind of weirdest song, which is 'Charlie'... and that album has put my name [out there], people know it - it's in their CD collections.

Why did you join a dance group [Koh's dance group features in her videoclip Lo-Fi]?

Because I really love to dance but I don't know how to... Not because I want to be on stage, but partly for my own self enjoyment. I love dancing shows, I watch them religiously... I just want to move.

Why did you choose Piedimonte's supermarket as a location to shoot Lo-Fi?

It's just where I shop.

Who choreographed the dance moves for Lo-Fi?

My dance teacher who's never done any choreography on a clip before, and we've never danced in a clip before.

If you could give everyone in the world something, what would it be?

A ukelele

Favourite key to compose in? A minor

Sophie Koh

David

2011-11-23T21:46:00.001+11:00

David is the chef at Flying Squirrel Tapas Parlour in Bondi - yum!

If you could give one thing to everyone in the world, what would it be? A laugh.

What's your favourite food? At the moment, brown rice.

Top three bands at the moment? Queens of the Stone Age, Tool and Ten Foot Pole.

If you could tint the world one colour, what would it be? Blue.

What inspires you? I guess, just people having fun.

What made you decide to become a chef? It was probably more an accident than a dream. My girlfriend was doing chef school and it was just an easy way to have the same hours.

What's your favourite thing to cook? I don't know - I like to change it up.

If you woke up in a different city tomorrow morning, where would you want it to be? Somewhere in the south of France.

Why the moustache? Just because I can.

Brisbane!

2011-11-21T22:55:00.001+11:00

Under Attack by ABBA

Dear Brisbane, thank you for your gloriously sunny weather (☼☼☼); fantastic food and scrumptious coffee (Little Larder, New Farm Deli (NB the Deli Stack), churros + whipped cream & chocolate at South Bank Markets, Harajuku Gyoza (apple pie dumplings!), Aromas, QAG gallery cafe, Spoon Deli at James st); beautiful 'Queenslander' houses; rechargeable Go-Cards and immaculate and punctual buses; music everywhere! (Silent Feature Era, Sophie Koh and Tim Reid at the Powerhouse); inspiring and intriguing exhibitions (Yayoi Kusama: Look Now, See Forever at GOMA, Henri Cartier-Bresson: the man, the image & the world at QAG, Union with Reality: The Art of Leonard Brown at QUT, Prisoners of Age at the Powerhouse); the refreshing beach in the middle of the city; the Hitchcock festival (Vertigo!); the theatre - Songs for Nobodies (Bernadette Robinson is BRILLIANT!); Lipton bikes everywhere; and the playground in New Farm - which is 'sway cool.' Thank you Brisbane for being so cultured, easygoing and homely - there's still $3 left on my go-card which I hope to use soon!

Miranda smelling the (Kusama) flower | churros with whipped cream and chocolate at South Bank markets

We did a lot of walking i: new sandals

At the window | the Brisbane Eye
Yum times at Little Larder
Silent Feature Era at the Powerhouse | in the Obliteration Room Yayoi Kusama: Look Now, See Forever at GOMA

We did a lot of walking ii: Miranda

Flowers: city and suburbia

Me as a dot in Kusama's Dots Obsession (2011)

XX

2011-11-16T17:45:00.000+11:00

XX was created by Vanessa Low, Sharon Chin and Miranda Fagan

It was shot in the Attic and the Garden

Photography, styling, hair and makeup by Vanessa

Song of the day was this

Yum cha break was taken here

Click here to open the full project

Joshua Sofaer

2011-11-15T12:17:00.001+11:00

Joshua Sofaer is an artist based in the UK, particularly acting as a curator, producer and director of many large scale projects and events which explore the ideas of collaboration, public participation, and that of the artist as a leader and leadership as change. Sofaer is currently an artist fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme and is the first and current Thinker in Residnece at Carriageworks.

What inspires you?
Lots of things, really. I think one of the things that really inspires me is the sense of satisfaction that you get when people are understanding what you're doing. And I'm working towards feeling that feeling, I suppose. Actually, everything in life inspires me.

What was the first thing that made you realise that, wow, I really want to do this?
I don't know if there's any one origin point but I've always been kind of doing stuff like this. My initial training was in theatre and then I went to art college afterwards. I had both a kind of training in performance and training in fine arts. And I think my work's kind of come together somewhere in between the two.

What has been the most exciting project so far? What project are you most proud of?
The things that I'm most proud of are the people that have participated. It's them that makes me proud. But in a selfish way, the most exciting thing was working on this project [SFMOMA Scavengers, 2006], in the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco when we finished the scavenger hunt and at midnight we had to start installing the exhibition and the whole technical team was there overnight, for the entire night, making the exhibition. And it just felt like everything was coming together. That was a very exciting moment.

Why was it important to make the prize giving at the end of the scavenger hunt so vulgar?
I wanted to get some kind of edge in it. It wasn't just about people enjoying themselves. There's no critical state if people are just enjoying themselves - there's no movement. So, by creating a spectacle where you're giving one person, or one group of people, a cash prize (£2000) and everyone else gets nothing, it is vulgar. So, it's a kind of a comment.

The idea of a name has been explored significantly throughout history and by artists (such as Sofaer's Name in Lights, 2007 and Rooted in the Earth, 2009), does your name have a particular meaning?
My name, Joshua, has the same derivation as the name Jesus so it means 'Saviour.' And my name Sofaer is a very specific family name, it's an English transliteration of an Arabic pronunciation of a Hebrew word that means 'Scribe.'

| Joshua Sofaer |

The BITE ME Project no.40 Roti canai from Mamak

2011-11-11T23:02:00.001+11:00

What is the BITE ME Project?

No.40 Roti canai from Mamak

Durack: One of the good things (okay, the only good thing) about having to queue at this modern Malaysian Chinatown favourite is watching the chefs twirl the roti canai flatbread in the air. Served with two curry dips and spicy sambai sauce, it's a treat.

Vanessa: Roti, for me, is full of memories - of when I was in Singapore with family and we would eat it for $1.50 at hawker centres, readily available in all its oily and doughy goodness at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Although distant from a hawker centre, Mamak's roti canai is reminiscently undeniably delicious and its bread, which is fluffy and squishy on the inside and has crispy flakes on the outside, makes for an exciting twist on the South East Asian food. The dhal and curry make for tasty companions, even if your spice-tolerance is rather low as it is in my case, however, it is evident that the bread with its layered and flakey complexity outshines them.

Does the roti canai belong in the top 50 foods in Sydney? As Durack says, it is "a treat" however there are many other yummy roti canai in Sydney, despite most of them lacking the on-the-spot flatbread-making, such as at Aseana (Randwick) and Sinma Laksa House (Kingsford). If waiting in line for 45 minutes, the roti canai makes for a great accompaniment with other of Mamak's tasty dishes, but perhaps isn't a 1/50th of Sydney's best on its own.

Roti canai from Mamak - $5.50
15 Goulburn st, Haymarket
9211 668
mamak.com.au

***

THANK YOU! 'Passionate? FourWalls @ Studio 12

2011-11-09T22:12:00.000+11:00

(above) preparing for the exhibition!

Thank you to everyone who came to the 'Passionate? FourWalls @ Studio 12' exhibition on Monday night! Being a part of my first exhibition was such an incredibly exciting time and I learnt so much from the invaluable experience. A special thanks and congratulations to Marty, FourWalls' founder, and congratulations to artists Emmy, Chris and Meng-yu, and to Gemma whose passionfruit slice is an artwork in its own right. I can not wait to be involved with more FourWalls projects and am so grateful for everyone's support! A BIG thank you to everyone who came!

FourWalls fb | FourWalls

click the thumbnails below to open gallery:

Street studio (2011) by Vanessa Low (installation view)

The Cat on the Corner

2011-11-06T13:59:00.000+11:00

HALLOWEEN ☾

2011-11-03T01:12:00.000+11:00

Covering brownies with icing sugar (and blood)

Gamma Ray dressed as Cleopatra

Pumpkin carved by Sofie B

Carla B as a bloody nurse

Ellen wore webs

Halloween delicacies

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween! This year my costumes included a Christmas ornament and a toucan!

Passionate? FourWalls @ Studio 12

2011-11-02T08:13:00.000+11:00

Passionate? FourWalls @ Studio 12

I will be exhibiting some of my photos at the upcoming FourWalls exhibition! Please come along!

Monday, 7th November

Studio 12, Fraser Studios

12 Kensington st, Chippendale (adjacent to UTS)

5-9pm (one night only)

***

FourWalls is a non profit community group. The "company" was created to bring artists of all genres and media closer together and make it easier for them to show the world what they do.

Passionate? is an exhibition exploring what it means to be passionate, featuring Meng-Yu Yan, 忻鼎祺, Mad'moiselle Emmy, Vanessa Low and founding artist Martin Webster (From Trees) who will perform around 7:30.

CanTeen National Bandana Day

2011-10-28T00:57:00.000+11:00

Every year the CanTeen foundation runs Bandana Day, raising funds and awareness for the support of those living with cancer between the ages of 12 and 24. The bandanas, designed by Industrie Clothing, represent the hair loss often experienced by those undergoing chemotherapy and thus are a reminder of the physical and emotional strength that are often called upon and demonstrated by those diagnosed. They are also however signs of community, visually illustrating the support that people are willing to offer. Canteen

| click any picture to launch gallery view |

Day 300

2011-10-27T22:32:00.000+11:00

Sunny Soul by Rargo

Variety Op Shop Ball

2011-10-16T22:19:00.000+11:00

Love is in the Air by John Paul Young

Variety was initially founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by a group of theatre owners and showmen who, after upon finding an abandoned child on the steps of a film theatre, took the child in and raised funds for her care. After realising this passion for community, the group began offering their assistance to local orphanages, giving their goods and services to children in need. Variety and its ethos spread throughout the entertainment industry and is now an international non-for-profit organisation assisting children in 14 countries. It was introduced in Australia in 1975 with the actor Paul Hogan as its chairman, and is today known for its immense generosity and in particular for initiatives such as the Freedom Program, which provides funding for mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and buses for special schools and communities. A few weeks ago, Variety NSW hosted its annual Op Shop Ball, with people gathering in their best op-shopped outfits at the top of Sydney Tower, partying for charity. The night raised $20, 000 and ended with a guest appearance by John Paul Young singing his ultimate feel-good song 'Love Is In The Air.'

NB: if you click the photos below, a photo gallery will open for easy and clear viewing

Be sure the check out Sofie's photos from the night, too - here!

Playing with food: macaron landscape

2011-10-15T22:26:00.000+11:00

Playing with my food... if only macarons grew like plants!

Tom and Will, first in line for the iPhone 4S

2011-10-13T22:29:00.000+11:00

Tom and Will are currently the first in line waiting outside for the release of the iPhone 4S, at the Apple store in Sydney city, which will be on sale from tomorrow (Friday, 14/10/2011) at 8am. They have been there since 10:30am, on Tuesday.

Tom (@Tom_Mosca)

Why is it so important to be here?

Because it's the next step in Apple iPhone products, so you know, I'm going get it

What did you think when you found out that Steve Jobs had passed away?

SteeeeeeeveEEE!

What other Apple products do you own?

Laptops; phone; all the cases and adaptors - all that kind of stuff; iPad

What do you think Apple means to the world now? Why is it worth waiting out here, why are there so many people inside this store?

Because Apple technology is unique from any other brand. They think outside the box... new and unique ideas

What is the first thing you will do when you get your iPhone 4S?

I'll set up Siri, and I'll probably say "Siri, I love you"

Will (@Willbatterham)

What do you think is great about the iPhone 4S?

I just really want to get it, and I like Siri

What was your first Apple product?

Macbook

What is your favourite Apple product?

Everything

What do you think Apple means for the world now, why is it so important?

Because Steve Jobs has changed the world, pretty much

My favourite

2011-10-06T14:26:00.000+11:00

Sourdough, avocado, tomatoes, salt, pepper, olive oil

My 1440: tea at the White Rabbit Gallery

2011-10-05T10:28:00.000+11:00

Tea at the White Rabbit Gallery

Primavera 2011

2011-10-02T00:28:00.000+10:00

| artwork: Hiromi Hotel by Hiromi Tango |

As the MCA is currently under some very exciting renovations its annual Primavera exhibition, which showcases young Australian artists, went offsite this year. Scattered around the Rocks precinct, the exhibition featured some highly intriguing works including videos, installations, illustrations and posters. However with works placed in obscure places and little signage, it was very hard to navigate and in actuality turned out to be more of a wild goose hunt even with a map in hand. Perhaps next time to ensure that people don't miss out on seeing the works, a chalk/sticker route on the footpath, or signs that say "Look up, artwork above you," or "artwork down this lane" would be a helpful idea.

OAF, Happy 4th Birthday!

2011-09-24T12:24:00.000+10:00

Toad by Rockets

Inspired by Andy Warhol's silver factory, Oxford Art Factory has been ubiquitous with the Sydney music and cultural scene since its inception in 2008, playing host to a diverse array of local and international musicians. It is also a hub of creativity, with the walls of its Gallery Bar frequently undergoing painterly alteration and the Glass Cube, the permanent exhibition space, is often a site of live performance art. Thanks for the music, memories and cocktails - Happy Birthday OAF! We hope that there are many more to come.

OXFORD ART FACTORY

Summer is just around the corner

2011-09-19T04:17:00.000+10:00

In the Sun by She & Him

However, it feels like it's already here! | Ice tea with Sofie B!

Claire Westover, 2 years on

2011-09-16T09:53:00.000+10:00

Photo by Oly Begg

What do you think of when you remember 2009? I remember saying it was my last hard party before year 12 - didn't happen

Best book you've ever read and why? The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. [It] just gave you a lot to think about.

Favourite foods? Tacos; my mother's chicken and leek pie; avocado on toast with taco sauce

Favourite make-up product? Liquid eye-liner

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up? Nothing special, general plans for the day - I always make to-do lists

What's the last thing you think about before you fall asleep? "Time to give up on the internet"

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be? Just relax, things will get better

Best sauce? Anything with garlic - I love garlic

What's something you've done recently that you're proud of?

It's not something that I've really done, I've just changed my outlook on life. Just do what makes you happy; nothing is so bad that you can't get through it - don't panic... I can also blow smoke rings, that's pretty cool

Favourite plant? Passionfruit vines and coriander

Favourite planet? I'd have to say Saturn... God liked it so much he put rings on it. Also, it has a pretty symbol

How wide are the plugs in your ears? They're 8mm at the moment but I'm upsizing to 10 next week

What was the last dream you had? I was playing monopoly with friends and some seedy ass guy came along and tried to steal all the pretend money. I chased after him and screamed at him to give it back like it was real money that he was taking

Put your music on shuffle - what's the first song that comes up and why is it there?

Brulee by Ratatat - sometimes you just enjoy a song without lyrics. Sometimes you want to add your own story to the song

Favourite artists? Frida Kahlo, Banksy, Rohan Anderson, Sara Blake

If you were an animal, what would you be? An owl, of course

Next tattoo? A big owl on my thigh

When was the last time you were really shocked?When I saw my friend who's been overseas for a year and I didn't know she was back - best surprise ever

Favourite chocolate? Any dark chocolate, really

Favourite musical key? Anything in a minor key, I find them far more interesting than major

Best concerts you've ever been to? Top 2: Sound Relief when the Presets played because there was a big thunderstorm and everyone was dancing in the rain. And Coldplay, where all the butterflies came out

What's something that you've done that you never expected to do? I was vegetarian for a while

If you could only eat at one cafe/restaurant/person's cooking for the rest of your life, where would it be?There's a few: Harold Park Hotel in Glebe, Barzura in Coogee, and home - nothing beats mum's cooking

Favourite quote? Douglas Adams, "Time is an illusion, lunch time is doubly so"- from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galazy

Favourite number? 9

Sending smiles your way!

2011-09-14T00:12:00.000+10:00

Whatever you are doing,

whether it be far or near,

I hope there is a smile on your face,

stretching from ear to ear!

And smile it big,

and smile it proud,

and smile it all around,

smile it up high and to the sky

and then all the way back down!

Hope everyone's having a lovely week!

Day 253: Eveleigh Farmers' Markets

2011-09-10T14:17:00.000+10:00

5 Years Time - Noah & the Whale

Every Saturday morning
there's lots to taste and see,
and eat and smell and buy and bag
at the markets at Eveleigh

With mulled wine and apple juice
and coffee on the brew,
and bacon & eggs, and crepes and pastries -
you'll find yourself with lots to chew

So don't have breakfast before you go,
and stock up with enviro bags,
and fill them with broad beans and sourdough and ranunculus,
until their bases sag!

| Eveleigh Farmers' Markets |

Green tea soft serve ice cream

2011-09-06T23:34:00.000+10:00

$1 Green tea soft serve ice cream from Mizuya! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ

The Fifties Fair, Sweet Sixteen!

2011-08-29T11:53:00.264+10:00

Each year, the Historic Houses Trust hosts the Fifties Fair at the Rose Seidler house, the first house to be built by the architect Harry Seidler (now recognised for pioneering modernist, and in particular Bauhaus, design in Australia). Flooded with people in their Sunday best, the day celebrated the sharpest aspects of 1950's culture including swing dancing, hairdos, jazz music, full skirts with petticoats, trinkets and pyrex, plus food by Porteño and Bodega. This year marked the 16th gathering in the name of all things spiffy, and needless to say we'll definitely be attending next year - pompadours and all!

If you see a picture of yourself and would like me to send you the full quality picture, please send me an email

Click here to open the full post of Fifties goodness

| Click the pictures to make them larger & see details |

| Kitty Van Horne of the Hollywood Honeys |

Pots and pans to Shake, Rattle and Roll | on the lawn outside Rose Seidler House

| Crowds gathering for the best dressed competition |

Ben Milgate of Porteño | treasure hunting

| 1950's coloured glassware |

| Coco Repose |

Delores | the most perfect dress

| Cicely's sequined bow |

| Period cars |

Toy vespa | A classy lady

| Swimming cap |

Thrifting | Vanessa!!

| Colourful patterns from Coco Repose |

Hairdos | Crockery

Things to make your home beautiful | A sharp pair

| Sarah's apron |

| Historic Houses Trust | Rose Seidler House |

Marty Webster

2011-08-22T13:12:00.000+10:00

FILM Vanessa Low
MUSIC 'Can I Borrow These Words' by From Trees
FILMED AT Tastevin
SPECIAL THANKS to Gemma Flynn

Marty Webster is the head chef of the French restaurant and wine bar Tastevin (which recently placed second for People's Choice in Time Out Sydney's food awards). He is also a musician, performing under the name 'From Trees,' and next year will be off to France!

Favourite food? My favourite food is spaghetti bolognese, but it has to be made by someone's mum. It can't just be any sort of spaghetti Bolognese - it's always better when it's made by someone's mum. And I love [that] it's always different... sometimes there's capsicum in it, mushrooms in it, that's my favourite thing. Peas and spices, it changes with every mum and I love that. It's really good.

What's something you're looking forward to? Next year I'll being going to France for my first time

What inspires you? Everyday, music is one of my greatest influences and has been for a really long time. So often my life experiences and the past, or my present life experiences, or future life experiences is what influences my music, hugely. In cooking, again it's what I feel... what mood I'm in is what I cook.

If you could wake up tomorrow in a another city, where would you want it to be and why?
Anywhere in France. Maybe Lyon, I'm really excited for this city, I hear the food there is amazing, the culture is amazing.

If you could bring one fictional character to life, who would it be and why?
Can I be creepy and say Tyler Durden [from Fight Club]... he would be a really animated character to meet

Can you explain the process of how you write a song from inspiration to the final recording.
I write basically what i feel at the moment. Lyrics in my songs change hugely throughout the creative process. I basically will start playing something that sounds good and that I enjoy... and whatever words come to me at the moment is what the general idea of the song will be. Then throughout I'll adapt to have the lyrics make more sense or to have the lyrics rhyme better. And then finally, recording is where it becomes tricky because often you're working with other people where they're going to poke a couple of holes in something you're really proud of. But that's part of the process as well... the final thing is someone else's imput on whether the song's good or not.

If you were a serial killer, what would your trademark be?
If I was a serial killer, or what is my trademark?... I'd be a calling card kind of a serial killer. Maybe I'd leave... a whisk by the side... It'd be something hilarious.

What's your favourite chord?
A C major chord... So many songs are based around the C chord

If you could tint the world one colour, what would it be? Probably blue. A really nice sky blue over everything.

From Trees / Tastevin

Antipodium is coming to town

2011-08-19T17:15:00.005+10:00

Antipodium's recent collaboration with Sportsgirl is on its way - I made this stop motion video to celebrate!
Music 'Antipodium' written and performed by Vanessa Low

Carla's Sundae at Moo

2011-08-18T12:50:00.005+10:00

Carla's Classic Sundae at Moo | Ice Cream by New Young Pony Club

Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton

2011-08-13T23:05:00.240+10:00

Photo taken by Gemma Flynn

It took me quite a while to finish Sarah Thornton's ethnographic account of the creativity, businesses, motives, and quirks that together come to form the complex microcosm known as the art world - Seven Days in the Art World - for several reasons. One reason, most notably, was due to the fact that I found myself continuously reading every second line twice, struck with how simply and accurately Thornton compiles her five years of research (including interviews with 250 artists, collectors, dealers and critics) into such short, however incredibly charged and suggestive, chapters.

After reading Thornoton's book I feel that a more affective title would be 'Seven Days in Art Worlds,' as each illustration highlights just how varied are, and often detached from each other, the ways in which people are involved in the industry, the creativity, the production, consumption and most importantly, the experiences of, art. For example, the students lying on the floor at CalArts for Michael Asher's infamous 12 hour critiques, could not be further from the art dealers and collectors queuing up at the Basel Art Fair for free gelato (as Thornton wittily notes, who can not be expected to carry such small change with them). The worlds extend further to the London artists nominated for the Turner Prize in London, anxious with the feeling of what Lady Gaga would describe as being on "the edge of glory," to the internal conflicts between journalists and critics at the magazine ArtForum. Thornton's book illustrates the complex value systems which exist in each micro-discourse of the art world, in fact perhaps highlighting that there is no one 'art world,' per say, as there is no one perspective.

The other notable reason for which I was so delayed with completing Thornton's book, which I think anyone who has read anything incredibly eye-opening can empathise with, was the inevitable knowledge and fear that it would end. That this book which had led me into the auction room at Sotheby's, through the National Pavilions of the Venice Biennale and into the studios of Takashi Murakimi in Japan, would cease after around page 300. This fear however, did not last forever with the final few chapters seeming to lack the flow of the beginning "days". Although insightful in their own ways, the refined nature of "the Auction" makes for a stark contrast with chapters such as "The Magazine" which by the end of one can't help but feel slightly lost amongst interviews, self-consciousness and references to other days and research ventures. However, that is not to say that I did not find this book incredibly fascinating from start to finish (and further on to other writings by Thornton).

On another hand, I find Seven Days commendable on an ethnographic level, for the task of capturing the zeitgeist of the art world is a challenge that we can imagine to not be easily adopted. I found the majority of the book to take place from a fly-on-the-wall perspective with enough room for the reader to make their own observations. However one can't help but notice Thornton's comments and judgements taking place every now and then and hence with the question of what parts of Thornton's research were left on the cutting room floor? Ideally, the reader would themselves be immersed into the situation, however with Thornton's book, it were as if being immersed into Thornton's mind, then into the art world.

All in all, Seven Days was a fascinating, as well as incredibly entertaining, read that has opened many a new trains of thoughts and has made me all the more interested in finding out about the art world(s) and all its facets. It may not have turned out to be the magnum opus which I initially revered it as, but undoubtably it will be receiving many more creases, dents, underlines and dog-ears to come (no, I don't treat all my books in this fashion, but this is a book to be devoured, read, reread and to be found squashed under a pillow when you wake up the next morning and realise you've lost the bookmark).

Day 223: Style Miles & Avalanche City

2011-08-10T02:26:00.001+10:00

Love Love Love by Avalanche City

Tonight I went to the launch of Contiki's Research Report 2011 - research is conducted annually regarding trends of travel and is each year presented through themes. Last year's was environmentally focussed - 'Shades of Green' - however this year's focus is 'Style Miles,' trends of travel as realised via food, music, art and fashion - revealed to be valued most-to-least by travellers in this order. It is fascinating to note how paradigms and trends of travel have changed over time and likewise to observe how Contiki seems to be changing, too - to be growing up. The penthouse of the Ivy was right out of Peter Sellers' film 'The Party,' but my night was most made by the intimate performance by upcoming New Zealand folk band Avalanche City's Dave, Romelli and Strahan (the coolest manjo player).

Day 222: Jurassic Lounge

2011-08-09T02:32:00.009+10:00

Ed Worland

Every Tuesday night this winter, the Australia Museum hosts 'Jurassic Lounge' - when musicians, performers, artists and dj's as well as films, karaoke and a silent disco are mixed amongst the exhibits, relics and taxidermy. Needless to say, the silent disco is squillions of fun.

My 1440

2011-08-09T00:11:00.000+10:00

Before the concert

Last month I visited the NSW State library which hosted the Sydney Morning Herald's Photos 1440 exhibition as well as the 2011 World Press Photo contest. The title '1440' derives from the 1440 minutes that make up each day, and hence how photojournalists take up the task of capturing these moments. I found the stories, cultures and experiences entrenched in the photos to be paradoxically shocking and beautiful simultaneously and these zeitgeists were reminders that the world - and the people it encompasses - is so much, so incredibly much, vaster than we often give it credit for.

I found the attitude of the exhibition to be one of openness to different perspectives of the world and thought it would be a shame that the spirit of '1440' should end for me after I left the exhibition. Hence, I hope that the mindset stays and to make sure, I will be looking for my own moments to capture and to share. And hopefully next year, I will be able to meet the next 1440 exhibition like a reunion with an old friend, in a cafe one Sunday afternoon, each eager and bursting to tell the other of the adventures they've had since they last met.

After my first pottery class

At the fruit market

An Afternoon With Sharon

2011-07-25T01:05:00.003+10:00

Music Tuolumne - Eddie Vedder

Where is home? Adelaide

What do miss most about Sydney? My friends

If you were a musical instrument, which would you be? Flute

Favourite place in the world and why? Malaysia, because that's where my parents grew up and where most of my family are. And of course, for the food.

If you could buy one thing for everyone in the world, what would it be? Shoes. Everyone needs a good pair of shoes

Favourite Wii game: Mario Kart

What was something you recently did that made you feel really proud? I moved to a new city, without any connections, on my own

If you could tint the world one colour, what would it be? Yellow

I love: shoes and coats (possessions). Travelling, swimming, dancing, singing, doodling (activities). Stamps, jewellery, fortunes from fortune cookies, soft toys, hard drives and usb's (collections)

Favourite time of the day and why? Bed time, which for me is movie time

When I grow up I would like be: a lot of things. At this stage, I'm working towards being a neuroscientist

The most recent pair of shoes you bought? Thigh high purple suede heeled boots

My favourite food is: I don't know what it's called - but they're crunchy noodles and on top was some kind of thick soupy sauce. In it was chicken, fishcake, Chinese spinach... but the main point was that the noodles were still crunchy when you ate it... it's really good

As a child I thought: I would be a ballerina but at the same time a lawyer

If you could swap lives with someone else for one day, who would it be? Galileo

Favourite musicians? Yiruma, Lady Antebellum, Celine Dion, Death Cab for Cutie, Iron & Wine, Joshua Radin, Secondhand Serenade, Norah Jones etc

If you were a serial killer, what would your trademark be? A shoe

Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH!)

2011-07-25T01:03:00.002+10:00

SMASH! (Sydney Manga and Anime Show) is a convention dedicated to the celebration of Japanese Pop Culture bringing artists, directors, musicians and fans alike together. Highlights included the spectacular array of cosplay creations; checking out the stalls (selling badges, posters, figurines, figma, graphic tablets, coloured contact lenses, plastic guns, cat ears, keychains, manga, anime, illustrations, video games... the list goes on); the Maid Cafe (where we were called 'my masters' by our butler and won the maid cafe prize!); Cosplay photobooth; Q&A with LittleKuriboh (Martin Billany, the creator of Yu-Gi-Yo: the Abrdiged Series); and of course the Cosplay competition.

Arigatou gozaimasu Ellen (Kagami) and Ondine (Tsukasa) who let me tag along and who explained the intricacies of Japanese conventions, cosplay and culture v^_^v

(more photos can be found in the facebook album + if you find a picture of yourself and would like the hi-res version, please send me an email)

Original anime/manga illustration sources: Angel Beats 1; Angel Beats 2; Kikki's Delivery Service; No-face of Spirited Away; Kagami and Tsukasa; Lady Phantomhive; Aqua of Kingdom Hearts

Buon Compleanno, Carla!

2011-07-24T03:21:00.000+10:00

Butter to my bread, Wayne to my Garth -

you are cooler than snow in NYC,

and warmer than layers of knitted beannies

If life were a musical, you'd be my catchy chorus,

If it were a recipe, you'd be my Beef bourguignon,

If it were a week you would be Friday,

however as it is now, you are dear Carla

Happy Birthday!

Little Mons✝ers

2011-07-13T22:05:00.006+10:00

Why do you love Lady Gaga? How could you not love Lady Gaga? I mean, she's amazing in every form of way possible

What did you think of the concert? Well basically I'm left speechless and, you know, and I'm going to hunt her after so I mean, you know of course I loved it. If she just sat there, you know, and was reading a book, you know, I'd still be going crazy

Jen Bern

2011-07-10T21:30:00.132+10:00

photograph Lewis Mirrett

Fill in the blanks: My name is (Jennifer Bernstein), and I am an (artist) from (Toronto, Canada). The first thing I think about in the morning is (usually yoga and meditation and starting the day off on a good note) and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep is (how to calm my mind before sleep. (I get a lot of my ideas from dreams... it's important for me to remember them as much as possible and be aware of what I am dreaming about.))

Your body of work incorporates a variety of materials, styles and techniques, such as photography, drypoint etching, relief printing and the use of both paper and fabric - when and how did you learn to printmake?
One of the great things about being at a fine arts university is that you have access to incredible studios and professors who are extremely experienced and influential artists. I think it was just a natural progression for me to move forward into the printmaking field. But I really learned about the process and technique through school.

What inspires you? My inspiration usually comes from fleeting moments or things that are overlooked, marketplaces, people, stillness, dreams, the list is long!

What is the process, from idea to completed work, of how you create a print?
I tend to let things happen organically but when I am doing print related work I try to have an idea of what an image might look like. Before I got into print, my illustration work already incorporated a lot of elements of printmaking, especially layering - which translated really well once I moved more into print. I sort of look forward to mistakes, or happy accidents, because that is usually the turning point for me when I can put together a final piece.

Last year you travelled to Italy - what were the top three things you liked about your trip?
After I did my first year of university, I woke up one morning with this very strong desire to move to Italy. I found myself on a plane not very long after that and ended up taking 2 years off from school to continue exploring Italy and other parts of Europe. I was working at a holistic retreat centre [Jen has recently returned to Italy and is currently working at the same place] and I feel really grateful to have had a non-touristy experience. If I had to pick 3 things...
1) The village I was living in - everyone is in everyone's business, the older women gather on the same stairs everyday at 4:30 and share the gossip; cows and sheep would be in the middle of the street; down the street from where I was living there is an area that's like a bath/fountain combined where we get fresh mountain water. All of these small elements added up to one big thing that really made me re-evaluate the pace in which I was moving and living my life.
2) the food!
3) learning the language also really enabled me to be fully immersed in the culture and I was able to connect with people in more remote villages who don't speak a lot of english - pretty wonderful stories!

Can you tell us the backstory behind this picture?

I took this at the centre where I work. In June we have a summer solstice festival that revolves around meditation, dance, yoga, and just celebrating life with good friends and good food. This is my friend Meera, from India, making a mandala with rangoli powder (the pigment).

What is your favourite book and why?
I love reading... and it is so hard for me to pick one. But one of my many favourites is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. Firstly, his life story is pretty unbelievable, and his writing is so powerful. Reading Shantaram was like going on a journey, and there are so many points in the book where I wanted to stop and record what he says because it's so true, raw and beautiful.

Have you always desired to be an artist, how have you got to where you are now - what has been your journey so far?
I have definitely always wanted to make art. I am very lucky to have such supportive parents - they really instilled a lot of trust in me and let me carve my own path. I was choosing to go in a direction that may have been seen as "unconventional" but that would make me happy and my family just encouraged that. That truly made all the difference.

If you could buy one thing for everyone in the world, what would it be? Crayons - it's important to embrace your inner child.

What roles do India and Africa play in the creation of your works? What draws you to these two cultures?
It's so hard for me to find the words to answer this. A part of me wants to say that my experiences while traveling really solidified this connection... but at the same time I think it runs a lot deeper. I am still trying to navigate my way through this pull and am continually exploring this through my work.

Something that I always look forward to is: traveling.

If you could only eat one food or from one restaurant or one person's cooking for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I love fruit, and I would probably not be able to give up berries, mango or watermelon. But if I had to choose someone's cooking, it would probably be a family friend from Israel - her name is Basia, and when it comes to food, whatever she makes is magic.

Do you have a favourite artist or art period? It's hard for me to pick... I love art history and there have been so many incredible artists before me but there is also something to be said about many of the contemporary artists today.

Imagine that you are a dj to the world - list 5 songs/artists/albums that you think everyone should listen to and why. Wow, this is a hard question indeed. Okay... 1) Harvest Moon by Neil Young - an always favourite of mine. And since I'm having difficulty with this one, I'll just tell you what I'm listening to right now: 2) Canadian musician Charlotte Cornfield. She is so honest with her music. Listening to her is a beautiful experience. 3) Right now I'm listening to Foster the People a lot... definitely worth a listen, it's good summer music. I like the songs Waste, Don't Stop (Colour On the Walls), Pumped Up Kicks and Helena Beat. 4) Another really wonderful up and coming Canadian artist is Ben Caplan. He has a lot of solo stuff but he also has a band called Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers. What a voice! If you give him a listen, you'll know what I mean. 5) I'm sure many people are already listening to them, but I have to say Mumford & Sons.

You have done some collaboration with the photographer Matin Zad (example on left), how did this collaboration emerge and what are the benefits of working in a team?
Matin and I met in our first year at OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design), we were in the same drawing class. We were always supportive of each others work and the collaboration just sort of happened once I came back to school this past year. I think working in a team, regardless of the field you're in is incredibly important. It's so good to be challenged, to find new ways of looking at something, to trust someone else and their ideas, to just let go and see what you have the capability to create when working with someone else.

What's next?
I am open to whatever should unfold! But for now, I am really happy to be back in school. Ideally, I would love to continue building a life for myself that allows me to see as much of the world as possible, while telling stories of my experiences in life through art.

jen-bern.blogspot.com + flickr

Streetstyle: Christina (Sydney)

2011-07-04T23:23:00.000+10:00

Last Week in Hands

2011-07-03T22:45:00.002+10:00

Emperor's Puff Balls with Sharon

Assisting Jas' shoot for Cosmopolitan

Dying Lucy's hair pink

Miranda in June

2011-06-29T22:30:00.003+10:00

A Walter Volta Collaboration (Vanessa Low and Miranda Fagan)

model Miranda

makeup combined effort

photography Vanessa

Open full post

Day 174: Mick Rock + Carla B

2011-06-23T13:57:00.003+10:00

Carla B and I went to the opening of the MICK ROCK - EXPOSED - Faces of Rock 'N' Roll exhibition at Blender Gallery; tried on silver shoes; bought the New Moon board game (woo!) and had Wednesday schnitzel at Mickey's Cafe.

Carla's nails painted and pearled by Ellen - genius!

Day 173: Art After Hours

2011-06-22T12:45:00.038+10:00

Every Wednesday night, the Art Gallery of NSW extends its hours to 9pm and hosts an array of talks, film and music. This week, Miranda and I saw The Poetry of Drawing: Pre-Raphaelite designs, studies and watercolours accompanied with a talk by the curator, Dr Colin Cruise; Brendan Cowell's very entertaining talk on the Archibald; dinner + Microwave Jenny; and the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes.

Art After Hours at AGNSW

Day 171: Shooting, eating, walking, watching, listening, walking, eating

2011-06-20T00:29:00.000+10:00

Assisted Hayley to style a photoshoot for Westfield Sydney (model Noni @ Six Wolves; stylist Hayley Hughes; photography Ken Leanfore; makeup & hair Vanessa Collins - make sure the check out the July issue of Fashion Journal!); lunch = chicken, cranberry and camembert pie from Pie by Mick's Bakehouse; quick visit to the AGNSW with Julia, Miranda and Gemma + green tea cupcakes with lemon icing (I know. Gemma: what a cook!) + taking the Botanic Gardens route; 'Looking Again at Picasso's Guernica' talk by Professor T. J. Clark at the Conservatorium of Music (+ Monique!); dinner at Chefs Gallery (dellllllish).

Day 170: Kawa, MOS, 52 Suburbs, MCA, Zia Pina

2011-06-19T21:50:00.002+10:00

Lunch at Kawa Cafe with Hayley and Henry; 52 Suburbs Exhibition at the Museum of Sydney + talk by photographer Louise Hawson with Miranda; ice cream from gelatissimo (lemon sorbet = sooo souurr); the MCA (last day before it closes for 8 months! Breathing raccoon artwork AHHHhhaahhh); dinner at Zia Pina (cheeeesey).

The Reading List

2011-06-19T01:02:00.005+10:00

There is no hiding the fact that I love print. The touch, the smell, the different grades of paper, and over time I have acquired quite a collection. However the act of reading is another story. I love to read, to learn and to escape, to go on experiences and enter the minds of characters, people, times and cultures. However it seems my habits of acquiring have surpassed those of reading and as I looked over my bookshelf which lost a sense of order a long time ago, and hence the piles of books which now tower like cityscapes all over my floor and pianotop, it is definitely time to realise that action needs to be taken.

And so begins the Reading List! Time to remind myself why I love books in the first place, not because of the typeset or binding or oh-my-gosh-this-is-a-first-edition-of-Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-factory, but because of the ideas, worlds, complexities and joys they hold. I have acquired so many books which I have either read the first chapters of only to for some reason not pick it up again, or almost reached the end only to find that by the time I come back to it I've lost the train of thought, or I've forgotten it just as quickly as I'd acquired it. I don't think I would be successful to aim for a book a week, like the very inspiring and dedicated Natasha, however I will quietly keep this as my aim. In the picture above is just one of my many stacks.

This week I read: Breath by Tim Winton. Recommended by Gemma. Breath has always seemed natural, but in this book it is heavy. It is an inhibition of life rather than its fuel - it is not a given, but a tool for manipulation, an experience sold on the black market, sourced from the deepest caves of emotion and harvested at all other costs. Beautifully written, this book was like going for a dive down into the deepest waters in an ocean of angst, jealousy and pain that is the human condition and surfacing between the zones of sanity, fearlessness and memory. Frustratingly simple and raw in some parts, and frustratingly complex in others, there was no sense of a happy ending, only a sigh and a croak in the dead of night when the wind is so cold that it makes your nose run.

Oxford Art Factory: Patrick James and Lange Theory

2011-06-18T01:22:00.023+10:00

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Matt Walters

2011-06-17T13:30:00.079+10:00

Carla, Miranda and I first saw Matt play at the Metro in 2009 when he was the support for Jenny Lewis. We've been hooked ever since. Who was this singer who threw off his harmonica in frustration, sang such delicate narratives and worked the guitar with such talent? Two years later now, after many more support acts, Matt has brought out his first album since, and after living off the four songs on his 'Echo On' EP and past albums, it can be said that it was well worth the wait. Carla, Miranda and I interviewed him after his first headline show, at the Vanguard, for the release of his new album, 'Farewell Youth.'

How does it feel having your first headline show?

Very overwhelming. It's just been a beautiful journey. You do what you love and what you're passionate about and good things come; good people come into your life. I'm really interested in doing a career so the way I'm going about it is exactly how I want to go about it. Put music out and play the shows, put another album out and just keep going.

You mentioned [during the performance] having difficulty with recording albums. (Matt has already made two: 'Like Therapy' (2001) and 'The Moon, the Stars, the People')

Well, 'Like Therapy' - I was fifteen when I made that. It was terrible. Then I quit for a while and went to uni and then I couldn't take it anymore.

What did you study at uni?

Film, at RMIT in Melbourne. I wanted to be a filmmaker.

How has your album making journey been? How many have you made, or tried to make?

Well, when I got signed back in '08, we tried to make it in London. That didn't work out. I just wasn't happy with it. Then, in Sydney we gave it a shot, and then Melbourne, and then I headed back to Sydney and made it - and that was that record. It felt right and good... I wanted to be happy with it and it took me a while to get to that point.

Where does the title 'Farewell Youth' come from?

For me, I feel completely different about where I'm at and who I am now. So at twenty-five, I feel very comfortable, feel very happy to be doing what I'm doing, don't really care what other people think as much. Younger years are filled with a lot of anxiety... so it's about all that stuff - anxiety, self consciousness. But now I feel really happy to be alive and really loving what I do, and I love music. So it's all the stuff that came out of that time. Also, it's a really pop-y record, for me.

What do you think about when you're on stage? What does it feel like?

It's f**king weird. I feel like a bit of a clown. But I've gotten better at trying to enjoy playing the song.

Do you have a favourite song to play? St Peter's Gate

What are your inspirations? Books, a lot. Other music, definitely.

What was the last book you read? A music biography about a band called the Blue Nile. I love music biographies, I really like non-fiction.

What's your songwriting process? Painful. I get an idea - so that as well is part of the Farewell Youth thing - an idea would circulate in my mind for a while. And I'm not a very proactive person with creativity. In every other aspect of my life - I have a really clean room, I'm not an all-over-the-shop person. But with creativity I'm completely all over the shop. So, I'll get an idea, think about it, then I'll doubt it, and I'll think 'Oh, it's actually pretty good,' well maybe that theory could work. So it's slow. I'm trying to get a little quicker at it. So those songs [on Farewell Youth] are over of couple years.

Is it like being a perfectionist? Maybe. You just feel right when it's cooked. It's like being a chef, I guess - you know when it's right and ready to do something. There's nothing worse than having something that's undercooked.

Where's your favourite place in the world? New York City

Who've you enjoyed working with the most?

Meg Washington was pretty cool, she's very talented. Kim Richey, on the album. Pete Karpin, who signed me at Universal, he's amazing.

Where do you hope to be in five years time? I move to the States next year. So I guess, I'll be there.

Where abouts? I'm going to be based in Austin, TX for a while - there's a really cool music scene there. Also, I just did a publishing deal, so I'll be writing a lot of songs for other people as well as myself.

Myspace

♥ Happy Birthday, Ellen ♥

2011-06-10T19:33:00.000+10:00

Winter Preserves

2011-06-08T17:31:00.001+10:00

A few weeks ago, I styled a shoot for On the Streets of Sydney - 'Winter Preserves' Part 1 is now up! Inspiration came from the colours of winter preserves - of berries, marmalades, honeys and jams, oranges, mulberries, strawberries, gooseberries.

full post

Stylist: me

Photographer: Rachel Kara

Hair & Make-up: Sarah Scott

Model: Xanthe from Priscillas

see the rest of the shoot here

(I've always wanted to say "stylist's own" ^_^)

Alex Trimmer, designer of SOSUME

2011-06-05T22:49:00.000+10:00

Sourcing eco-conscious materials from across the globe, SOSUME designs tread lightly on the earth. Alex Trimmer, the brains behind the three year old Melbourne-based label, tells of the journey so far...

Fill in the brackets: My name is (Alex Trimmer) and SOSUME in three words for me would be (sophisticated), (timeless), (understated)

Put your itunes on shuffle - what is the first song that plays and explain why it is there/why do you like it.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Ain’t No Easy Way. It’s there because my mate used to make these amazing mixes for us all when we backpacked. This was the second track… It’s a good sounding track, what can I say?

You originally have a degree in commerce - have you always been drawn to fashion, or has your involvement begun recently?

I’ve always had an appreciation for some types of fashion but yes, I’ve only been seriously drawn to it in recent years, since the inception of SOSUME.

What is the best piece of advice you've been given?

Go with your gut and know how to turn negatives into positives.

SOSUME was established in 2008 - can you recap where the idea first came from and how it was evolved?

I saw a gap in the market for contemporary sustainable fashion. I remember always seeing very dull, clichéd garments that were claiming to be organic or “green” in some way or another. The fabrics were coarse and the drape was unflattering. I embarked on a mission to source sublimely soft jersey that are cashmere to the touch and are sustainable, even more so than organic cotton. I’ve evolved over the seasons and offer a larger range of styles with varying sustainable fabrics.

If I could only eat at one cafe/restaurant/friend's kitchen forever, it would be: my mother would rank highly although I would have to say Il Solito Posto in Melbourne

Why is 100% Australian manufacturing important to SOSUME?

It’s about quality control, flexibility in manufacturing cycles and processes, keeping the Aussie textile manufacturing industry alive, supporting Aussie jobs, minimising freight costs (and pollutants!), and retaining relationships.

What inspires you?

What I see on the street through to history and even costume design from old films. Everything really. Colour usually comes from interesting interiors- they always seem to nail colour coordination.

Fill in the brackets: As a child, I really liked (BMX bikes), and hated (spiders)

If you were reincarnated as a character from a book/film/myth, who would you want to be?

A bird. Flying is awesome.

SOSUME's designs use emu leather from North Queensland, lyocell (made from vegetable matter/wood pulp) from South Korea, micro modal (made from 100% beach wood cellulose) from France, GOTS certified sheep wool from Uruguay and PETA certified raw silk from India - What is the importance of sourcing ecologically conscious materials, particularly for the fashion industry?

It’s showing that you don’t have to sacrifice your current style to wear sustainable clothes. All of these fabrics have beneficial properties such as high breathability, good absorption rates, warmth, comfort, etc, not to mention have significantly reduced water consumption, potential landfill issues, and reduced chemical runoffs to their conventional counterparts.

My favourite place in the world is: New York

What actions have you taken to reduce your personal carbon footprint?

Well I started an eco-friendly company in the hope to take over the market share of other non-sustainable companies… besides that I sold my car, work close to where I live, wear a lot of my own designs and use energy saving lights throughout my house!

What is your favourite piece from SOSUME's newest collection? Why?

The Long Coat (see middle picture below) because I’ve never made a piece like it and it feels so dramatic. When someone wears it, they look so powerful and dominant.

If you could make a public holiday, what would it be called and what would the day's customs involve?

I would make a public holiday the day after another current public holiday and call it “another day off” and you wouldn’t have to do a thing. Everyone loves 4 days off ☺

Describe the process, from inception to the final product, of how your designs are made.

Source inspiration (history, interiors), sketch and annotate images, discuss with pattern maker, go to toile, fit, correct if needed, go to first sample, fit, correct if needed, go to second sample, fit, should not need any corrections. Duplicate for sales and press, then start showings! Apply to about 40 designs and hey presto!

From where does the name "SOSUME" originate?

“So sue me”. It was first reaction to the fact that someone in Canada had the naming rights to my original brand name idea!

If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Hmmm, white tee, black jeans, leather jacket, and desert boots. Seems like that would work. Or Pyjamas- gotta be comfortable!

Do you have a favourite artist/artwork?

I actually love a lot of the works you see in cafés around the neighbourhoods of different cities.

Where do you see SOSUME this time in 3 years?

I would like to see a collaboration of some sort, whatever that might entail. I would also like to expand my Australian wholesale accounts, not to mention keep slugging away in the US. I would love to see a following from Europe but I’m really interested in expanding in East and South East Asia first.

If you were a serial killer, what would your trademark be?

A smiley face- it creeps me out.

SOSUME website

Streetstyle: Zanita (RAFW)

2011-06-02T20:41:00.000+10:00

Photos of Zanita I took for On the Streets of Sydney, check out her blog here

Before and After: brownies + m&m's

2011-06-02T20:17:00.000+10:00

Ode to Colour: Green

2011-05-28T12:07:00.004+10:00

clockwise from bottom left

Thick green cardigan from markets; green scarf my godmother knitted; green Batik dress; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling; cookbook from Magnolia Bakery, NY; American Apparel pouch; green ribbon from Yu Chau st in Hong Kong; Kikki-K alligator ipod cover; a copy of Heidi which we found in our roof left by the last owners; the most handy shopping bags ever from Woolworths with elastic strap for rolling up

RAFW 2011 by Vanessa Low

2011-05-27T10:24:00.000+10:00

Sometimes moments rush by us so fast, we often get caught up in the whirlwind - worried that if we blink we will miss something, if we sleep we might wake up and realise it was just a mirage, if we stop we might not start back up again. This is a video I put together after I looked back on the footage I took at RAFW, from the beginning of this month, in hindsight.

MUSIC / BearHug - Origami Sun (Seekae Remix)

The BITE ME Project no.2 Mrs Jang's home-style fried eggs from Billy Kwong

2011-05-26T23:35:00.000+10:00

What is the BITE ME Project?

No.2 Mrs Jang's home-styled fried eggs from Billy Kwong

Durack: These are not your normal fried eggs. Cooked throughout Kylie Kwong's childhood by Mrs Jang, her uncle Jimmy's mother, they have been on the Billy Kwong menu since day one. The eggs are deep-fried to produce crunchy puffs of golden-brown whites, then shallow-fried for extra crispness and creamy, runny bright-yellow yolks, before being doused in spring onions, fresh chillies and oyster sauce. Kwong says it's all about texture, texture, texture. We have to agree.

Vanessa: After I began today with eggs on toast and ended it with Mrs Jang's, I can really appreciate how accurate Durack is when saying "these are not your normal eggs." These are not the eggs you add to the cake mix; they are not the eggs you mash with mayonnaise for a sandwich; these are not the eggs you have with a breakfast special with bacon and sausages; no, these are not the eggs we know at all. Mrs Jang's treats the egg both complexly and barely at all - the crispy, flakey top makes for an exciting contrast with the silky, soft-as-tofu, gooey white and yolk, recognising and pushing each part of of the egg's anatomy to its culinary potential however reminding you of the simple delights, the beauty and the flavour of the natural egg. The diced chillies and spring onions add intense bursts of flavour (this is no simple scrambled/poached/easy over) with the oyster sauce narrating the whole story. A drama, an epic, a love story? For me it is the latter: I simply can not wait until I find myself with a waiter setting down a plate of these eggs in front of me, again.

Mrs Jang's home-style fried eggs from Billy Kwong - $19
3/355 Crown Street, Surry Hills
9332 3300
kyliekwong.org

Review: Born This Way (album) - Lady Gaga

2011-05-24T23:09:00.005+10:00

Love her or hate her, Lady Gaga is back. And boy, is she bigger than ever. Already, the reviews are starting to pour in for her second album, Born This Way (including myself). In fact, I have written this as soon I finished the album. And what. An. Album.

Gaga plays every character imagined - a hooker, an immigrant, a biblical figure, to name a few – all while spreading her message of love. The songs were recorded all over the world – Paris, Sydney, Milan, even her tour bus. Her styles are diverse, from mariachi bands (oh, yes) to club beats to drum lines borrowed form Queen for some rock n’ roll. And English is not the only language. German, Spanish, French – Lady Gaga has no restrictions on any areas she touches.

Opening the album is Marry The Night, a dance track about her commitment to not wallowing in self pity and instead, going out and facing things head on. This flows onto Born This Way, a song that has already become an anthem to many to celebrate who they are.

After this is when things get weird. Songs like Government Hooker and Americano are not the Gaga we know, but it is definitely the one we love. Both songs have a musical feel about them, as in, I could see them being part of a show, especially Americano. The song positions Gaga as an immigrant falling in love with a woman and is what I consider to be a standout on the album. It’s Latino feel, her singing in Spanish, repetitive ‘la la la’ are all topped off with the catchy ‘Ahhh, america, americano’ and ‘I don’t speak your, I don’t speak your, Americano’. The dance beats and the mariachi band are an amazing combination I would have never seen as working, but it does.

The album continues in this manner, with a lot of religious imagery and messages to love yourself and then spread this love to everyone else. Yoü and I is a classic rock tune, with help from Queen guitarist Brian May. The production on this song is wonderful and worth giving a listen to. Gaga is in her element here, the energy and passion she feels radiating through as she sings her guts out.

The album closes with The Edge Of Glory and is the perfect end. Overall, the album is good, although some songs are stronger than others, and reflects a lot of hard work. While the album will not sit well with everyone, there is no doubt Gaga is the face of Pop and will continue to take over the pop world. And personally, I do not mind.

Carla B

Day 143: Red Cross Blood Donating

2011-05-23T22:47:00.002+10:00

Today I donated to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service - everyone there is so lovely and helpful; the chairs are squishy and reclining; and I got to watch the Amazing Race Australia on the massive tv. And of course a strawberry milkshake afterwards ^^

1 in 3 people will need blood donations in their lifetime, but only 1 in 30 donate - why not have a look?

Day 142: The Home Show

2011-05-22T11:20:00.000+10:00

Went to the Home Show with my mum today, this is a poem about the day:

---------------------------

The Home Show by Vanessa Low

Mops and doors

and polished wooden floors.

Fly screens, builders,

pools, spas and saunas

A new house? Prefabricated?

Double story? Buy now specials!

Food dicers, vacuum robots,

no added chemicals!

UV paint, Australian made,

extendable either way.

Buy now, pick up later,

take home today, no delay.

Everything you need to make,

to cut, to paste, to renovate,

all you do is

take your pick! -

I really want a

vitamix

---------------------------

Day 141: post LBL brunch + AGNSW Open Weekend

2011-05-21T23:13:00.000+10:00

Went to Live Below the Line brunch - not used to being allowed to have such an abundance of delicious foods! It's quite weird to try and shift back to prior ways about thinking of eating - now I consider if it is really worth it, can it wait, am I actually hungry, do I need this sugar or should I instead get some protein? After living below the poverty line, it hard to grasp just how immensely lucky I really am.

Then I went to the Art Gallery of NSW's Open Weekend in celebration of the new contemporary galleries, including the John Kaldor Family Gallery, which currently holds the family's collection and will next year be combined with that of the gallery. I loved the buzz of the gallery! Activities everywhere you turned, people up for conversation, the sound of The Rescue Ships filtering through levels; what a great vibe. I watched the film 'I Shot Andy Warhol' (it was the first time I'd been in the gallery's fantastic cinema - and it will definitely not be my last!), joined in on the Zoetrope Workshop (run by Ricky Subritzky), joined the Architect's tour of the new contemporary galleries (led by with Andrew Andersons and Anne Flanagan) and attended Tracey Moffat's talk.

The new contemporary galleries are vast, as Anne mentioned, many people were surprised that such a space existed under the galleries and was so easily converted for public viewing. The Kaldor Family Gallery is exactly that, a gallery. Its own comprehensive unit with a collection rather astounding. This new gallery, and the renovations/extensions of pre-existing sections of the same level, adds a whole new 'level' of excitement to the AGNSW - it's not just an exhibition, it is a completely new space - a new era to be filled. Walking through it for the first time - seeing not only the works but the gallery itself - was like opening an early Christmas present. Where my eyes once quickly scanned a wall of Picasso before heading down the escalator, there is now a deep gallery filled with Koons, Chrsito, and one of my favourite of Bill Viola's. I look very forward to spending some quality time with Lower Level 2.

Open Weekend 2011 :: AGNSW

*This also makes me really excited for the MCA's new galleries

Day 140: styling + midnight feast (end of Live Below the Line!)

2011-05-20T23:44:00.016+10:00

Sarah doing Xanthe's makeup

Today I: styled (!) for an On the Streets of Sydney shoot + waited for midnight to hit so I could eat a week's worth of protein and flavour in one hit (I ate two avocados with salt/pepper/olive oil (the feeling of when a hit of flavour hits a tongue for which five days has been denied the pleasures of taste is enough to make you sigh and wonder how your could ever forget what it was like); two crumpets with butter and honey; one cup of tea; two pieces of chicken coated in lemon/salt/pepper.

Thank you so much to everyone who supported me and Oaktree Foundation this week!

Below are two pictures of Hachi, Hayley's dog who really loves toast - 1. sitting perfectly and staring not at the camera but the toast I was holding behind it, 2. what happens when I moved the toast slightly to my left - too cute

Crumpets with butter and honey

Live Below the Line Diary #2: Cravings

2011-05-19T22:33:00.004+10:00

The past few days have gone by relatively quickly indeed, but not without major waves of cravings and longings for certain foods - actually, any kind of food with an inkling of flavour. At first, it was not so much the hunger (my stomach begins growling promptly at 11:30 each morning), but the temptation of constantly being surrounded by so-close-yet-so-far delicious foods, which makes Living Below the Line a challenge. Strolling down food shopped lined streets almost everyday is particularly the most difficult part - knowing that no matter how hungry I am, how much I want it, how much money I have, how cheap it is - no. I often find myself reminiscing of foods I have had in the past, reliving the moments. And it is the knowledge that I am lucky enough to have these memories, and know that after Friday there will be opportunity to continue them, which makes me feel so grateful.

With barely enough protein or sugar, I find myself continuously exhausted. It is hard to imagine how so many living in poverty must feel when exhausted from work but without a spacious bed and pillows to fall into, who struggle to have enough food let alone a tap which flows with clean water, and who don't have the knowledge of when this poverty will stop (the way I know it will this Friday) / if it will at all.

My breakfast of two pieces of toast and 1/5 of a can of fruit salad is my favourite meal of the day, as the fruit salad, especially in contrast to my following meals of the day, is so sweet and tangy! My lunch of 100grams of pasta, 100grams of yellow split peas and 1/5 of a can of diced tomatoes, is best warm and tastes like nothing but the highest quality of blandness. My dinner of rice and mixed vegetables is quite the same as lunch, however on the first night my rice was extremely gluggy.

I'm wishing that I had bought less rice, more pasta, a proper bottle of pasta sauce and a pack of salt.

Thank you to everyone for your support!!!

p.s. If you have a spare moment, why not play free rice to support the World Food Programme

Live Below the Line Diary #1: groceries

2011-05-15T16:03:00.003+10:00

Being a person who doesn't so much eat to live, but lives to eat, the thought of the 1.4 billion people who live in poverty across the globe is both easy and extremely difficult to empathise with. It is perhaps symptomatic of the culture of consumerism which many of us live in, and indeed indulge in, that food holds so many connotations other than what it essentially is - fuel to keep our bodies functioning - paradoxes such as having access to fresh fruits and vegetables and yet choosing to eat the highly processed and packaged; ultimate indulgence rather than a necessity; as a threat to the thighs rather than as a means of sustaining them. Shopping for Live Below the Line was an experience that made me feel immensely grateful for a privilege that I have always had - choice, that I not only have access to good food, but I can pick what I want; I can have standards, I can have favourites, I can do things like the BITE ME Project, I can go to a restaurant and look at the menu and know what the different meals on the list are. It is this ability to choose which I am most able to empathise with. This week my choices have shifted from what flavour of cupcake shall I get, to should I eat this piece of bread now and get hungry later? From thinking about flavour and satisfaction to whether or not I can afford to cover the 5 food groups.

As Sarah convinced me whilst shopping in Aldi that $2.19 for a dozen eggs was just too expensive and that eggs - one of my all time favourite foods ever - were a luxury (not just a given in everyone's kitchen) a man with a fairly full trolley pulled up next to us. Not super full, in fact it was probably rather empty by most standards. But at the time, the sight of oranges, olive oil and cookies... words can not begin to describe. And here I was coming to the realisation that I was going to have to downsize my packet of pasta.

Hence, this week as I Live Below the Line (the global poverty line is $2 a day), I hope not only to bring awareness to those who live in impoverished situations (and who make $2 cover a lot more than just food) but also to the privileges in our daily lives that many of us take for granted and the fact of how incredibly lucky we truly are.

My groceries for this week:

2kg of rice (Coles) $2.99

1 loaf of bread (Coles) $1.09

500g pasta (Woolworths) $0.65

500g Yellow Split Beans (McKenzies, from Coles) $1.21

400g diced tomatoes (Aldi) $0.69

1kg frozen mixed vegetables (Woolworths) $1.59

825g fruit salad (Coles) $1.49

Total: $9.71

(full post)

Review: Matt Walters, Farewell Youth album and launch - the Vanguard

2011-05-14T16:31:00.001+10:00

MATT WALTERS' ‘FAREWELL YOUTH’ ALBUM LAUNCH AND ALBUM REVIEW by Carla B

Music is a very powerful thing. It is one of the most important aspects of my life and one of the only constants as everything else changes. However, it can also be very hit-or-miss. Sometimes it just doesn’t speak to you or touch you on a personal level. I am glad to say that while this does sometimes occur, it is practically erased when you listen to the good.

Let’s introduce Matt Walters, a lovely, intellectual singer-songwriter who hails from Melbourne. I first saw him perform live two years in what has always remained a magical experience for me. As the opening act to Jenny Lewis, I had no idea what to expect from him. But it was definitely a hit. His voice is extremely soothing and his guitar work is amazing. He doesn’t rely on only love songs to tell a story and instead sings about many different aspects of life, such as friendship, hell and murder.

So, when you wait for someone to tour for two years, and after you’ve hyped up the experience in your mind, it can a bit scary going back. What if the magic didn’t exist? What if it’s lost, buried in a memory and cannot be revived? Needless to say, going to see Matt Walters this past Wednesday did not disappoint. The magic has remained.

Matt’s new album, Farewell Youth, has just been released and this record release show at the Vanguard was exactly that for him; as his first headlining show in Sydney, to a room of people there just for him, it was a definite departure from his earlier days of being the opening act.

The lovely Leena fulfilled this role, with her pretty melodies and delicate “anti-love songs”. Switching between piano and guitar, she belted out harmonies with her guitarist, Steve, and was ever so grateful to the audience. Her charisma on stage was charming and she even got a cry of “I love you” from one eager audience member. Not bad for a support act.

Matt then took the stage, with a full band in tow. This was the first time he’d played with a band in a couple of years and you could tell he was enjoying the accompaniment. Mainly playing songs from his new album (something he eventually stopped saying, when he realised it was fairly obvious), you could tell that these songs all meant something special to him and he was glad to share them. A lovely acoustic version of the non-album track Talking In My Sleep was a stand out, as he rocked out all alone on the stage, but completely in the zone. He humbly thanked the audience and shared stories of his long journey to record the album, stating he was really proud of it. Always nice to know.

The debut album is an amazing array of songs, showcasing Matt’s abilities and proving he not only loves what he does, but that he does it with his whole heart in it. The backing band is a welcome addition to his music and flows so naturally with his sound. Personal experiences make up the album, along with songs that sound like love songs, but are actually about murder, something Matt kindly pointed out. The album also features many guest performances, including Megan Washington, who is also quickly increasing in popularity.

One of my favourite songs on the album is Conversation. Check out the video and be sure not to miss this guy. Who knows where he’ll be in five years time.

Carla

p.s. I request You and Your Holy Ghost for the next show.

Top of the Week #2

2011-05-14T16:15:00.002+10:00

This week I: Wrote some essays on the impact of photography on our representations and perspectives of reality, and primitivism in late 19th and early 20th century art; got excited for Live Below the Line; saw Matt Walters' first headlining performance at the Vanguard; saw my cousin in the hilarious Med Revue - Surgery Street; shopped for Live Below the Line with Sarah W; had brunch at the Seasalt Cafe in Clovelly; played Plants vs Zombies with my brother on his DS. Tonight - Ben Folds and Kate Miller-Heidke

The weather has abruptly become so cold! Nights are freezing.

I always enjoy book browsing with Miranda because no matter what section you are in,

she can always recommend or recognise something and tell you a story or interesting fact about it

Jane Eyre with spectacles and a moustache ;)