The following post about the National Gallery of Victoria is all the work of 15 year old Acerules, after we went to Melbourne this week.
When your'e a kid one of the most iconic places in Melbourne is the Narional art gallery. Not because of the art, but because of the big water wall. Every kid who has been to the art gallery can remember running their hands along the outside of the wall. Then being disappointed because the water isn't on the other side. You may not remember the paintings and sculptures but I guarantee that you will never forget the water.
The Art gallery is fun, they have a lot of permanent collections . Next to the lobby there is a room with visitors desk and escalators going to the other levels. In the middle of the room is an installation, this time it was a very impressive chandelier sculpture.
We went up the escalator to level one, we would have photos of the Asian art we looked at but The iPad went flat before we could. It was amazing to see these ancient statues and carvings from not only other countries, but other times. There was this glass and porcelain Chinese snuff bottle that was amazing to look at. But my favourite would be a carved lacquer wear Burmese box. It was carved with scenes of a fight between two gods. It had an enscription and the bottom had the makers signature.
After that we went to level two and went to a really interesting collection. It was filled with strange and wonderful things. They were grouped together in little alcoves with stuff like them but some of it was kinda funny. Like in one of the cupboard spaces was this giant jug with a dragon coiled around it but they had paired it with a little charmander pokemon! The charmander is actually one of my favourite Pokemon so that was great.
The Great Hall
The ceiling
The NGA is definitely a good place to go if you have time in Melbourne.
All the blues music here is by Honeyboy Des, who I interviewed and photographed when he was performing in the street yesterday. He plays gigs around town, and regularly in the street, which he says pays better. He's a one man band, playing harmonica and singing along to his own pre recorded music. He was packing up early to go to his son's birthday party, where he and his son would both be playing. I think Des is very good. There's a raw simplicity there that's a good antidote to our rat race cities.
This is great, and just up the road a little from where we saw him:
For years I've sat down, or stopped still in front of good buskers with my kids. They seem to like it. Many have been happy to have a brief chat. We always put in our little bit for the concert. Musicians need an audience, just like writers need readers. Don't be in a rush next time you see a busker, stop and enjoy them.
Pic by Paul Livingston.
We got into Melbourne town yesterday , butt weary after many hours on the bus . Often, we have our breakfast at Hungry Jacks, egg and bacon muffins.
We headed off into suburbia to pick up our eBay purchase for the Venetian ball we are having, (see my series of posts on the preparations for that.) They are a pair of statues for props/prizes.
The problem was, the disruption to regular public transport services, due to the (10 year ) digging of the Metro train tunnel, meant two trams and a bus each way instead of only one tram. Slightly stressful if you have bad vision like me. We got through it all, however, and headed to the Arts Precinct in the city, to make the long trip to the city more fulfilling. We always enjoy the art gallery, where the permanent collections are free entry. We also went into the building below, with the spire, to use the facilities.
Des playing :
LIVING DOLLS
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This busker sang very well. Her doll- like pink and powder blue outfit and big smile made her look very appealing.
A tram is behind her.
Acerules at the famous water window at the National Art Gallery of Victoria. It's been a rite of passage for generations, for kids to touch the stream. The water flows down the outside, so Acerules got lots of photos through the glass of fascinated wet pawed children, and since I love a silhouette, I got some of my own living doll. There's something about a simple outline of a figure that puts things into perspective.
It was relaxing to listen to Des' blues CD when I got home. No complications on there, just simplicity. The blues beat does sound like a train or a tram, though. Hypnotic in its own way.
I'm supposed to be asleep right now. Someone mentioning The Green Man in something I read, set off a whole series of memories. I never read the words "The Green Man" without remembering one particular friend called A. I was in my twenties, and A was a good friend from when I was 18 until I was in my mid thirties, when we lost touch, due to me living interstate, and being in the chaotic existence of bringing up an ADHD child.
The Green Man was a café that a group of us often went to in the eighties, at night, I think. It was small, with acoustic live music, and poetry readings. Here is a video I found of it, it contains virtuoso guitar music, and goes for 9.50 mins. The music is how I remember it. Unfortunately there's no sense of the comforting envelopment of the old building, the quiet unravelling of interior lives in conversations, the history in the old floorboards, the mural of The Green Man, a mythical figure from antiquity. I was very sad when I heard it had closed, A was too.
I remember A in association with the cafe, because of his habit of ordering a cup of hot water to drink. I don't remember why he did that, when the rest of us were having tea, coffee, coke etc. He must have told me the reason at one time,because I was just as analytical then as I am now, and I would have got it out of him, as we were close. We would write each other letters, yes, in those days with a pen! Mine of course were very long. He made me mixed tapes. (Music). We could talk about anything. In those days I always had one boyfriend or another, but also some platonic male friends, all of whom drove me places. A. would drive his family's huge old Chevy. There was enough room in the cavernous back seat to do the deed, but we never did. He did once take me to a lookout with a twinkling view of the city and try kissing me, but I saw him as a precious friend , not that way.
I remember his family had a beautiful big magnolia tree in their front yard, and I once made an embroidery of it on white satin, which I turned into a case for lingerie and gave away as a birthday gift. I think it's the only gift in my life that I somewhat regret giving away.
We went gallivanting to many places with our friendship group, and I remember A being a fantastic dancer, the kind that a lady knows will lead her in the complicated steps correctly and make her dizzy with the fun of it. There were many 18th, 21sts, engagements and weddings during those years. I showed up to one party as 99 from Get Smart, in my mother's "Chanel " type suit. My boyfriend naturally went as Maxwell. He had his shoe phone. But we were upstaged, as A appeared as 99 too! This is a man who sported a beard...Wearing a tight skirt suit and bob cut wig did not slow him down as he was chased all over the garden by some young children.
There were many nights out, too, for pizza meals around long tables, nightclubs, pub bands, trips away. One "pizza night" stood out for me, as I was wearing a fashionable dress that was above the knee, 1960 s mod cut, black spliced with dark green, and had a zip at the front from neck to hem. I remember a couple of the boys saying to pull the zip down further, A was among them, and my fiancé saying no, keep it done up! A was like that too, when my fiancé would tell me to push my skirt over my knees when seated, A said to push it up if I wanted to. I guess he didn't like how my self was being subsumed into coupledom. I guess I didn't either, briefly, as I remember writing a poem about it.
A is Italian/Australian , so his wedding to his beautiful wife was enormous. The last time I saw the two of them together was at my son's christening, sitting in a marquee my hubby and father in law had put up in our backyard. They danced so well together at functions, I had told him, years before, you too will meet the perfect person for you. I wonder now if they are still together, I hope so. I heard they had kids.
He introduced me to my first husband at one of his parties, and years later closed the circle by being there at his funeral, travelling interstate, a true friend. Indeed, he rallied some of hubby's friends to make the journey too. That was the last time I saw him. When I read the words "the green man" or hear Dire Straits, or at some other times, I miss him. I miss others too from those days, but they deserve their own stories.
It would not matter what song of Dire Straits I chose, as they all remind me of putting on those mixed tapes in my radio cassette player in my green and aqua front bedroom of my parent's house. Here's one, therefore, for my long distance friends around the world.
