Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis FergusonWellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

This amazing Sculptural project appeared around a bend on the road from Orange to Wellington.. I went whooshing past before the image made sense, it was so unexpected my brain shifted to denial !.. Well we spun about for another look .. Glad we did ! .. the main structure is built from some of the remains of a bridge that went down sometime in the Seventies.. with rail-line clips, a madness of steel bits, Stone, concrete and mosaic tiles,.. some painted and fired.. with what looks like blown glass and a set of tubular chimes. A splendid construct for the birds to play in and the curious to delight in.. filled with images of poignant history and sweet sentiment…, presented on a canvas of a perfect Autumn day.   Francis Ferguson was the Visionary and chief artist responsible. We parked under a beautiful large old gum and drifted in and around it for awhile before gunning it for Rosie’s old “hood” , Armidale, NSW for a bit of a break for a few days with not much of an agenda other than to pay a visit to Armidale and New England Fibre and Print Artist, Rhonda Ellem’s home and studio…. more about her tomorrow !

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Wellington Gateway Sculpture , Francis Ferguson

Pleasant Breakfasts ! what nicer ? Hard to leave the Lucky Strike and the friendly Proprietors,Wendy and Robert Zimmerman follower, Gary,  in Clunes..Beautiful artworks there too by one Mark Payne..We left however to check out Malden, Vic. nearby’ish. Thought we were headed for the proverbial “one dead horse town” .. but no !.. Easter Fair !, in an extraordinarily picturesque place that was chokkers with visitors .. all eating pies everywhere we looked .. And an old Bloke who had left the [lace at 12 years of age and was revisiting. On every other corner he was there again for my willing ear.. taking me back some 60 odd years to the halcyon days of his boyhood there .. what a treat !.. We, Rosie and I that is, had a look in at the Art show … Some fine work there of Janet Tresdale transported me to a family beach holiday.. beautiful gesture and tension with an underlying story to ponder… wish I had a photo..(or better yet, owned the painting). Also a very good print Gallery in the town next time you are there ! That evening we headed back to Hepburn Springs for dinner in a most romantic restaurant belonging to blacksmith, Stephen Viola of Dorrigo fame’s Mother Maria !! Brilliant evening.. Charmed ! .. “Lucini’s”, Tasty-as meal and bottle of red .. then back through the night to Clunes and onto Bendigo the next morning where we wound up witnessing the Bendigo Easter Parade, a BIG DEAL in the Bendigo calendar ! Everybody in it an a whack of great Dragons and fireworks! (Crackers in a can style) .. the whole town and district there to line the streets .. Even a little vignette bronze sculpture in the street on the pavement at one spot.. a deck-chair, wodden crate , baloon, drum and stool. (Ghosts of parades past? poignant with the present placemarked folding chairs all around it. Also had a gander (as opposed to Google) at the big Bendigo Easter Art show .. There are so many who turn their talents to painting ! Many hundreds of paintings in the old Town Hall .. Dare I say it , I am just about “arted out” , sitting here, back in West Wyalong headed North, in the Ace caravan park this evening, the setting sun, trucks in the distance rolling on the Newell highway, with the prospect of a train passing  just close by tonight ! But wait ! The Latrobe Uni Gallery had an Exhibition of sculptural works by Trefor Prest !.. Wow ! Strange mechano-anatomic mainly metal and some wood..sailing-sky-vessels in old new-made copper, bronze, steel(?) structures.. Intrigue ! Google him for a gander ! On the way here to West Wyalong we were traveling along a part of the “Long Paddock” .. Passed mobs of horses, cattle and sheep.. amazing to see the amount of trash thrown, from cars, that has been exposed by the grazing. I was counting about one piece per 350mm or around 10inches !..YOBS !! .. so over the length of a car there would be enough to fill a Yob’s hat and cram it over their ears?

Rosie in Lucini’s

Bronze street sculpture in Bendigo .. Easter Parade site.. top seats !

Dragon in the Bendigo Easter Parade

Dragon’s House ?

Lost yours ? Might they be in Maldon, Vic

Look for these signs ! this one in Maldon, Vic

Hammer and Hand wkshop Clunes ?? !

Dragon (Not in Bendigo)

Night Bloggin’

Long Paddock, Newel Highway

Wendy in the “Lucky Strike ” Clunes

 

It’s Good Friday. Parked down by the creek at Clunes where Rosie’s Grandfather was born… opposite the old Gold diggings that Rosie’s Great-Grandfather worked.. Chilling today ..tho I have been working on this WordPress site .. setting up a re-direct to my Facebook page for posts here and also Rosie has helped me (Saved my sanity) install “Google Analytics” to count visitors to the site .. (none !.. Flat-lining !) and the other day..the ability to comment was set up in a miraculous shared effort from Jen, Oskar (the Master Mind) and myself.. But Alas and Alack .. the only comments are from myself and one from Rosie .. !!>?! but I’m counting them anyway.We had coffee this morning in “Widow Twanky’s” , Clunes.. Where we were informed that that’s the name of Aladdin’s mother !!… and a popular tea!.. (like Twinings) in the eighteen hundreds… Whereupon I informed the owner of the FAAAARR more important connection ..,of the Blacksmiths Guild’s Journeymen’s song “Twanky Dillo” sung upon a saint’s day while drinking copiously and cavorting .. ( I have first hand experience of Blacksmiths cavorting ) ..  Anyhow !! …a comment please ….(kind if possible?) …and be assured that after today anybody looking at my site will become a treasured and valued.. Nay !.. CHERISHED! statistic.

Widow Twankie’s Cafe Clunes

Bruce Pringle contemplating pumpkin and spinach muffin

This just went up so I am splashing it all over the place ’cause it’s my birthday and I can !!!  Open this link here to read… ME ME ME !!!

ME ME ME In my Birthday Oilskin Night-gown !

If you find yourself in the main st of Daylesford Vic and venture into an alley because of a sign on the wall suggesting you visit “Sister George” and you may find Hats and stuff up there, you will need to be intrepid and keep your eyes peeled for clues ! .. up the laneway a small arrow will point you further and up ahead on the side of a building you will be encouraged to “Keep Going” .. then a couple of small, helpful and positively sympathetic signs will encourage you to persevere.. It is SO well worth it.. around the corner in Duke street, parallel to the main st where you started is the domain of Sandra Broman of “Sister George Productions”  Studio Gallery, Inhabited by the most extraordinary Hats, Garments and a brilliant collection of quirk-full and delighting paintings, prints and cards, full of humour and cheek ! Sandra steered us onto “door 3” Ceramic workshops and gallery in a complex of sheds, where there is a huge Auction Gallery filled with fine works of art and top end antiques.. What looks like the studio of David Bromley (closed).. He paints those wonderful 50’s style  ‘boys own annual’ style pictures amongst other sculptural works and jewellery.. Great stuff. Also there is the workshop of “Overwrought” Iron Art.. a very inventive metal artist… and another studio space with mind-blowing exterior going on.. It was great to connect with these spaces .. perhaps another visit will reveal more… We also sought out Jackie Gorrin, printmaker nearby but unfortunately found her away and the beautiful looking studio closed…..So we headed out to find sculptor Stephan out at Sailors Falls in his Gallery “Paradiso Arts” .. Hauled him out of his workshop where he is deadlining in on a prestigious exhibition in Toorak, Melbourne, to show us his work and share his enthusiasm around his architectural and votive inspired sculptures in timber and steel..His paint finishes and passion for motor vehicle constructs .. (A 1/4 size Bugatti style letterbox graces the entrance to the Gallery ) !  Back in town we visited Artist and Sculptor Michael Parker’s Gallery “ Red Pepper Gallery”, Full of a fine collection of artists work from the region.. He has a ’sister’ gallery “Stoney Creek Gallery” just near Stephan’s place. I met metal sculptor Darren Gilbert of “ Monkey Tail Designs” there while he was bumping in some of his new Sculptures and we shared ‘metal workers scars” with one another ! .. That about did it for the day .. Beautiful kind and helpful people populate these chilly southern climes.. Going to light a fire now and thin down a little amber fluid in a glass with just drop of Daylesford water…..

 

Sandra Broman of “Sister George Productions” in her fabulous studio/gallery

 

“Sister George Productions”

 

Door 3 ..Clayspace

 

Auction and gallery fine art space

 

some David Bromley art work weathering

 

some David Bromley art work weathering

Stephan out at Sailors Falls in his Gallery “Paradiso Arts”

 

Stephan’s Mailbox

 

Darren Gilbert of “ Monkey Tail Designs

a 

Phoenix creates

 

Found a few concrete sculptures in Echuca..!!!!… “Poor Ned, you’re better off dead..at least you get some peace of mind” (Redgum)

Poor benighted Silos Too !!.. Bullied from dusk to dawn ….the annual Silo Kick ?!!? And a fine piece of tin can barrel art (no kicking !)

In Elmore Victoria.. I stepped into the darkened Muddy Water Gallery, where a bloke appeared in work fluro and informed me the owner was away. I asked him “ is this the gallery?” He replied, “ No, there’s only these pictures and stuff on the wall”.. Around the corner up the street was Richie’s Art Gallery .. Richie is at the easel. Retired at 42 and been painting since .. 20 years?.. A happy fellow!!! Now it’s breakfast and coffee in Castlemaine, after arriving at our brisk and chilly destination, Daylesford Vic. last night .. (Top camping at Jubilee Lake campgrounds!)

On our way to brekky at Castlemaine, we met Sculptor Issa Ouattara and his beautiful family – Monica, his lovely wife and sweet daughters Angela and Sophie at their sculpture garden, restored church and atelier .. He is amazing, this guy, cutting sheet steel with snips and gas welding fabulous sculpture! Loved meeting these guys! I highly recommend a visit to their place on the road from Hepburn Springs to Newstead. There is a pic here of him with the balustrade he built and him hand cutting sheet metal also a hopeless pic of one of his beautiful sculptures.

Poor Ned

So you wanna be a sculptor? Mass concrete sculptures at Echuca Vic

Mirool NSW..Tin Can Sculptures.. home of the Silo Kick

Mirrool Pub ! Full of Silo kickers on the 2nd Oct no doubt

Richie

Entrance to the Issa Ouattara Sculpture Garden and Studio

Sculpture .. Issa Ouattara

Issa ! hand cutting steel..
Gun welder with a oxy torch too .. Sweet running beads.

Poor kicked Silos at Mirrool NSW

 

These beautiful distances with  “Clouds like headlines on a new front-page sky” (Tom Waits)…”Music of “The Tallest Man on Earth” on the Ipod from Josh’s collection … Lunch at a billabong by a shady tree (sans Swaggy) and now we are in West Wyalong ! Late Sunday arvo and we luckily found Matthew Cumming fixing up a Cafe area in the new seven month old Splatter Gallery , run by artist Clairre Wishart …. A really good Exhibition space and teaching venue that must be a welcome addition to the town.  Stopped in at a Glass gallery run by and showing the work of glass artist Elaine Marshall. She produces very colourful and skilled slumped platters bowls and a range of diachrotic jewellery.(if i could spell that I would change my  profession and become a smart-i-pants) .. Just prior to finding her Gallery we saw this big tin shed “ART GALLERY” painted on the side and front, with a mangle of iron out front behind a chain-lock fence which upon closer inspection, proved to be something of a menagerie of sculptural constructs .. there is humour and imagination in skip-loads and despite the junk-yard look of the place I wanted to have a bit if a squizz around in that humungous shed ! .. Alas! and Alack!.. the gates were chained and locked and there may have been a dog !.. ?! “Baked bean Olive n’ cheese chuck-about” for dinner and on to Daylesford Victoria tomorrow.

Big Sky Riverina

 

Billabong Bunyip

 

 

 

Splatter Gallery..Rosie and Matthew in the soon to be Cafe space

Elaine Marshall , Glass Artist

Elaine Marshall , Glass Artist’s Gallery

Metal Menagerie

Metal Artist’s yard and Gallery/ Workshop

Saturday night in the beautiful town of Coonabarabran.. Lovin’ it !

Night life , Coonabarabran NSW

Found Pinnata gallery Dorrigo NSW..now in the Food Angel Cafe , an amazing Gallery in new circumstances.  Rosie noted no less than 13 Artists whose careers she intends to follow up on ! I was charmed by a pair of small ceramic sculptures by Sally Hook called “The yo-yo players” I could feel the “expert’s” judgment as the younger yo- yo’ist’s yo-yo rested, slack stringed on the ground! … The Cafe is large and stretches out to the courtyard, Wi-Fi and power points everywhere !!!  Good coffee too! The Pinnata Gallery now in a long side room mostly, shared with old books and Cafe tables.  We returned to the ‘Mountain Metal Art’ guys for a look at Steve’s Forge and a hit of Coke-fume as he lit up the thing and showed me his “you bueat’ Norwegian Anvil”, then onto Bendemeer where we checked out the Autumn Arts And Craft Show … Hundreds of entries !!!  So many artists ! These country towns pull in so many incredible artists from the back of beyond and all about. Some of it wonderful and some horrible and all a joyous exercise in ART!, and it is how we met the wonderful Metal artist and activist Fran Wachtel in Murrurundi NSW two years ago… So we never pass one of these shows without a look.  Camped at Lake Keepit near Gunnadah . ….Stuffed.. Baked beans olives and cheese for dinner.. an episode of “Janet King” on I’View and up this morning to a flat battery ’cause I left the ignition on all night .. *#*^! …So we meet “Smilin’ Gary of Gunnedah NRMA”..  Taking the afternoon off in a campground in Coonabarrabran now, reading  Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey and writing this.

Stephen Viola in his forge making me look little.. lucky I’ve got a hat !

Food Angel Cafe and  Gallery, Dorrigo NSW

Pinnata Gallery .. sorry !

Pinnata

Smilin’ Gary of Gunnedah NRMA

I’m keeping the flies at bay , waiting for the NRMA

Snoofing around town in the early evening , we found “Mountain-Metal-Art” at 47a Hickory St…and Inside , Katiuska Cruz, Jewellery maker plus and Stephen Viola, Blacksmith !  The Talk-fest was on ! Yay ! .. Beautiful and friendly .. with a realy great Gallery/Studio/Shop.   They told us about a big ‘SteamPunk Party’.. held annually in Dorrigo.. 2014 date still to be announced…. Sounds like a seminal affair in the SteamPunk world and by all accounts a HOOT .. as is also, we were informed, the Annual Bluegrass festival here that we may well return for..! ….. Stephen teaches Blacksmithing up here and these guys seem well connected to the community in the Bellengen Shire .. Loved meeting them and Steve is a Uke player !! (Plunker he says ?)    Writing this in a camp site near Danger Falls.. Magpie chorus, Cups of tea, Cow- Pong and Green andSunnyVistas .

Stephen and Katiuska of Mountain Metal Art Dorrigo NSW

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