Dear Diary - USA

I was thinking about my friend who had moved to Boston. You know, the one who is bad a writing back to long, detailed emails I send to him...or maybe he is just busy studying. Or maybe that crappy stupid company hasn't sorted out his computer like they should have.

Sorry, back to my story. I was thinking about my friend and I thought it would be funny to read my travel diary from when I was in Boston way way way ago. It wasn't funny at all, so I won't be sharing that. I overused the word interesting and spent too much time describing the lobster I ate for lunch, which I noted was pregnant 'with black goop inside'. Future food writer in the making.

I flicked through the entire journal and what I was good at doing was:

a. describing the weather

Left rainy Sydney...it was a lovely day...drizzling start to the day...woke to a gorgeous day...sunny, beautiful, busy day...it was really, really hot

b. sticking every single thing I came across into my journal

boarding passes, maps, brochures, business cards, maps, wildflowers (oops), toy parachutes, lottery tickets, casino wipes, a shell, coins, ice cream cone wrappers and plastic snakes and lizards

c. using lots of exclamation marks!!

Huge day!! Woke up to snow!! $142!!DISNEYWORLD!! Empire State Building!! Now it is time for shower and bed!!

d. writing useless descriptions

Texas is flat and hot...Target was unreal (wtf???) The drive to Salt Lake City was fairly repetitious though interesting at first...

The Hopetoun Hotel

I just read in the Sydney Morning Herald that the Hopetoun had closed it's doors.

For those who grew up in Sydney with a love of independent music, the Hoey was one of the best venues around. It is also one of a handful of great music venues left in that town. Once a week I'd be at rock against work (rock against uni in my case) watching bands for free and drinking Melbourne bitter.

And on Saturday nights it was packed - the front bar with the bands, and downstairs (or was it upstairs?)... the dark dingy room with pool table and arcade games just made for me.

I still remember being at that front stage looking at Kim Salmons fucking cuban heel boots. The girls wore denim shorts and black tights with doc martins, and the boys flannel - it was heaven.

I couldn't even begin to list all the Australian bands I saw at the Hopetoun, but my favourite memories are seeing the Hard Ons, Hell Kitty (Rat Cat),Box the Jesuit, Kim Salmon, Smudge, You Am I, Magic Dirt and the Welcome Mat.

I guess I was lucky to grow up in Sydney during those happy days where you could see a great band even if you lived in the suburbs. But it makes me sad that so much has changed.

No more great bands at the Dee Why hotel where I saw the Ramones, PIL, They Might be Giants and Pop Will Eat Itself. I even had tickets to see Nirvana there - but they ended up canceling because of some drama. Then the good old Sands Hotel at Narrabeen, where I remember seeing the Lemonheads and swooning at Evan Dando with all the girls. Even the Brookvale Hotel had good nights. You Am I would play and Tim Rogers would end up chatting, all drunk and ego. And finally the Manly Vale - ripping off Mass Appeal by working the door for Mergatroid and sneaking bits of cash to the side. All these venues in a 10 kilometer radius, and now you never would know.

Without those pubs, bands like You Am I wouldn't be around today. So many music venues were available to up and coming bands, and without them, those boys would still be in Blacktown reminiscing about their old skateboarding days.

Then there were the city venues, like the Lansdowne Hotel, which is now a fricking backpackers. The Lansdowne was where you saw everything from Louis Tillet and Ed Keupper, to the Beasts of Bourbon. Then there were the usual suspects of Smudge, Rat Cat, Welcome Mat, Godstar and the Half a Cow crew. Interstate bands like the Meanies and Screamfeeder would play there when in town, and it was just one of those times where everyone kind of knew everyone - without knowing anyone.

Oh Sydney - what happened? Bring back the days when it was easy to start a band and find somewhere to play. Those days where people would go to watch, because thats what you did, and it was the best fun - because music is everything.

Anyone seen 500 days of Summer?

If you have you will appreciate the irony.

If you haven't - think of this when the credits roll.

We were going up the escalators in Dendy, as the boy who broke my heart into little bitty pieces was going down.

With him, was the woman he fell out of love with me for.

With me was a friend who had never met said boy, though had heard the big long sad story.

The friend I was with said two things at the candy bar, that I dare not repeat on the internet. What I will say though, is while that movie was like a fucking documentary about getting your heart busted, the same can be said about its depiction of friendships - so the collision of art imitating life happened twofold for me tonight.

Happy Birthday Merry

It is my friend Merry's birthday today and I made this painting for her. It is a series of hearts about places she has lived. There is a heart for America where she was born, Exeter where she grew up, London where she went to uni, Orlando where she had an adventure, Manly where she moved and Brookvale where she lives.

The Walking Dead

Charlie Virtue and Taffy love this publication. When Charlie went way away, Taffy was sad that he wouldn't have anyone to talk to about it. I said I'd read it, and to be honest when I saw the cover and title I wasn't sure if I'd like it.

But the thing is I do. I love how you can read it quickly. I love the drawings. I also love that although it is a series of illustrations with not much text, you are somehow still drawn in, and are engaged with the characters.

In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally start living.

Homage to Chuck

Turns out he likes the squirrel

Shopping I have no way to justify...

So, did you know they have shops in Byron? LOTS OF THEM.

I managed to buy a stack of stuff that I don't really need, has no real practical use, and therefor I am unable to justify. Except I'm going to give it a red hot go.

Pretty blue and white smock dress. I call it my Greek dress. I called it that even before I bought it (while I was trying on a Romanian and Austrian numbers) Seems I got away lightly with just one, but truth be told I have about 12 similar style bag like dresses, and if I can't wear a new outfit to work then I really shouldn't buy it...Fail on justification.

Red felt bag. We walked into the shop and Justine demanded I buy this. She can be really scary sometimes. And can I tell you a secret? When people aren't watching, she sometimes pinches me really hard. I already have 2 red bags. I guess now I have 3.

Rabbit Ipod holder. It is too big for my Ipod, but it will still protect it through cuteness. Won't it?

Wallet. Mine broke, so I need it. Except I have other unbroken ones. Still failing..

This is a beautiful handmade shrine. I wanted to buy 2 others but showed some restraint. I can't really justify this, except at least it is handmade and I'm sure by buying it I've helped a nice Mexican community. Plus it has religious iconography on the inside, and I once did Communion.

Two candlesticks. They are pretty aren't they? I'm not even going to try.

Wooden squirrel. I bought it for Barney. It was his birthday while I was away. Okay it was his birthday - he turned 10. I bought him nothing. The squirrel is mine. I am a bad person.

What a difference 12 hours makes

Before: Left a beautiful warm and sunny day in Byron

After: Came home to cold rainy Canberra

I met a boy

He owns a cafe called Succulent in Byron.

His name is Frankie.

Street Art

You wouldn't expect to see interesting street art in Byron - well I wouldn't...but there it is. Above this text. See it?

There is also a great gallery called Retrospect which had some fantastic Jeremyville skate decks and sketchels.

There was some work by Doug Bartlett, and one print I am very tempted to go back a buy, because, you know... I can claim it on tax .That's my justification anyways.

If you are in the Byron area from the 25th September the Doug Bartlett show 'Global Boom' starts and runs for 3 weeks. Go see it. Retrospect Galleries 52 Jonson Street, Byron Bay.

Please explain

I don't understand this sign

Why exactly can't a person stand there?

Red sky at night

Daffodils

Do you like the daffodils I bought with the $20 my mum gave me? Come on, at least I bought flowers with the money. Could have bought a packet of fags and a longneck.

Where did all the Law and Order go?

Something bad has happened. For some reason Law and Order isn't on 5 channels at once. I'm not sure why the people at pay tv land would do this to me....I pay my bill on time and all.

Now I have to go read a book. Or watch Lateline, though quite frankly I feel a bit awkward watching that after hanging out with Tony Jones at Parlour Bar.

Someone is good at drawing stars, someone not so...

With paid work being so busy and the markets making me nuts, I hadn't been out for ages, so some friends and I went out to celebrate the fact I didn't have to spend the night making bunting.

Hoorah!

I ended up driving which is ironic, and surrounded myself with tipsy folk and a permanent type marker. One small star like shape ended up with two sleeves full of...well on one side un-star like shapes and a good star with song lyrics by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

It was just easier to concede defeat and be coloured in...but the bad part happened when I went to bed. See, I have this funny habit of sleeping with my arm covering my face - a bit like how a bird sleeps. It started off to block out light and now I just can't stop. And what started off as a permanent marker ended up transposing all over my face. I spared you the ugly photo of me waking up...but just imagine all that crap shown below,all over my face (though in reverse). Classy.

Handmade Market

Thanks to all my great friends for coming out to visit me and help me at the handmade markets. But seriously, thank frick thats over with until Christmas.

Chien, Dog, Hund

I need to stop making stuff and start finishing stuff. See you at the Handmade Markets tomorrow!

Bunting

My house is a mess of red newspaper heart, unfinished paintings and just stuff. A friend came over last night to help reign in some of the chaos, and we made bunting for my market stall.

B Head helped by not walking in the paint. Amy didn't walk in paint either. Thanks Amy.

Slipper fetish

So Barney has a thing for slippers, and he has spent the last three years or so, systematically removing the wool off the top of my ugh like boots. He usually does this while I'm asleep in the hope it will make me get up. Learned behavior really, because without fail, I spring out of bed to chase him down and to get that polka dot boot back.

Why am I telling you this? Well the other day my stepdad saw some dusty pink slipper boots (with poms poms off the side). He bought a pair for me and mum....lucky we don't live in the same town or that fashion faux pas could have been awkward. Imagine bumping into her at the shops with the same pink pom pom boots!

Anyway, my mum posted them to me with a card that said "They don't look too bad on". Now thats about as rude as my mum gets, so the translation is that those damn boots are UGLY. Thing is, she also slipped a pack of home made liver treats inside the boots. Ummm, liver smells. That smell permeated through the plastic bag, and the liver was inside the boots for I guess three days? So the combination of dusty pink wooly fluff, pom poms, and liver = heaven for Barn Head.

Yellow, House, U

Here is the end result of all those yellow hearts. They are pieces for VIP bags, and I'm kind of attached to them now. Do I really have to give them away?

The text is about the definition of the words 'yellow', 'house' and 'U'.

yel⋅low  [yel-oh] noun, 1. a color like

egg yolk, ripe lemons; the primary

color between green and orange in the

the visible spectrum, house noun 1. a

building in which people live;

residence for human beings. U, noun,

3. something having the shape of a U

resi

The National

Another weekend getting ready for the markets...today has been filled with yellow hearts, which kind of makes me happy.

I've had a really productive 24 hours, and I have to admit, I'm a sucker for the buzz of working under pressure. I think I pull together the better bits of work when I've had little sleep and a lot of nervous energy.

Last night was a late one, and I was kept company by The National. Taffy gave me their Alligator CD a month or so ago, and while I'd listened to it - I hadn't really listened to it (if you know what I mean).

Well I've pretty much had it on repeat all night and day, and I love it. The album is so restrained and lyrically quite perfect.

Daughters Of The Soho Riots

How can anybody know
How they got to be this way
You must have known I'd do this someday
Break my arms around the one I love
And be forgiven by the time my lover comes
Break my arms around my love

Break my arms around the one I love
And be forgiven by the time my lover comes
Break my arms around my love

24 Hours Berlin

Really? Was it a year ago that I submitted my short film to 24 hours Berlin? It was the first time I had ever made a film, well it really isn't a film - just 60 seconds of moving images and words. I used my little digital camera and my laptop to cobble it together and it was pretty awesome to see those moving pictures on a website for the world to see.

The whole project is an incredible idea and all comes together today - well once it hits today time in Germany. You can watch it all unfold here.

24h Berlin – A Day in the Life

24h Berlin is television's longest programme ever: No actors, no screenplay, no tricks – just real life. A 24-hour documentary, told in real-time, airing September 5th at 6AM.

The journey begins

On September 5th, 2008, a story both intimate and exotic began in Berlin, a story told from the perspective of the people. Exactly a year before the broadcast, 80 camera teams immersed themselves in the lives of Berliners, for 24 hours.

The film strives for an up-to-date image of life in a modern metropolis while simultaneously providing broad evidence of our present: The reality of work, family life, city spaces, fears and dreams, fleeting moments and relationships in their naturally colourful forms – they all interact with one another, with the city as the stage that binds them together.

Behind-the-scenes technology and logistics

On September 5th, 2008, 80 camera teams under the overall creative direction of Volker Heise were busy for 24 hours capturing images in HD that were then assembled into a single 24-hour television programme. These crews followed a precise plan that had been in preparation for more than a year.

In addition, anyone in Berlin could have themselves filmed while telling about their lives at one of the many Talkpoints spanning the entire city. Videos shot with one's own camera on September 5th could also be uploaded to the website, from which a selection was chosen that will be included in the 24-hour television programme.

Ultimately, a total of 750 hours of material was compiled for the film. That's 18 terabytes of data – an 18 followed by 12 zeroes. The entire material will be catalogued and permanently archived at the Deutsche Kinemathek Foundation.

The project and the city

During the September 5th broadcast, events will take place in Berlin that incorporate the viewing of 24h Berlin in public spaces, in cinemas and in bars – all around the city, in our midst.

Mystery Mail

So I came home the other day and checked my mailbox to find a postcard....a gift of poetry from an anonymous source.

Old Roads by Eilean Ni Chuilleanain

Missing from the map, the abandoned roads

Reach across the mountain, threading into

Clefts and valleys, shuffle between thick

Hedges of flowery thorn.

The grass flows into tracks of wheels,

Mowed evenly by the careful sheep,

Drenched, it guards the gaps of silence

Only trampled on the pattern day.

Signed - National Poetry Day September '09

Leonie Richardson

Ages ago I threatened to write a series of posts about artwork around my house. I guess I've been too busy with the shameless promotion of my own work to pay much attention to anyone else's.

Leonie Richardson is a New Zealand artist and I came across her work when I made a trip to Christchurch with my friend Julia. We had a fricking awesome long weekend and spent much of our time in the Arts Precinct, eating, drinking, taking photos and papping dogs.

Leonie's works in transposed onto thick glass and this piece lives in my bathroom. The images on display were a clever series of pictures combining little kitsch Maori dolls with stereotypical images of New Zealand. I found it really hard to choose (as I'm sure Julia can confirm) but this little one ended up coming home with me and I love it.

Does it frost in Spring?

Spring?

I know nearly all you people in Canberra can't wait for spring and warmer weather...but seriously where has Winter gone? Why are people telling me how many weeks are left before christmas? Why is there now a Law and Order UK?

I had every intention of getting home early (in daytime hours), to take the dog for a walk and photograph some of the beautiful blossoms around the suburb. Another simple task failed - but in the end it might have worked out for the best.

I got home just before 6.30 and went walking as it was getting dark. The blossoms contrasted beautifully with the inky blue sky, and the air was all crisp. You could smell spring in the air, but not like you can on those kind of warm days. It was hard to explain, but the mix of daphne and plum blossoms was kind of balanced out by the damp cool air. I think you had to be there.