“In nature, every distraction is an inspiration.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover

I was visiting my sister in hospital, and we became distracted by a mother and daughter feeding the birds.

It was a sweet way for a parent to engage with her teenage child who was having a difficult time.

A simple way to enjoy being together without touching on any triggers.

Feeding the birds was also nourising their relationship.

Maybe we all need to think about how we feed our birds?

Linking with #NaturesNotes

And just like that - Lights out!

VIVID is over for another year. I'm always a little sad when this day comes. I've spent a few weeks racing around seeing the displays, joining in the music and other evcnts. With friends, by myself, rushing to an area before a show, managing to squeeze as much in as possible. 

And now, it's over.

Now what, Sydney?

Until next year.... 

A note to visitors - VIVID is Sydney's Winter festival. It's outdoors and on the nights of the Drone show, it can get very crowded. I had no crowd issues on any of the nights I went, including a Saturday night (but in a different area to the drone show). Don't let the negative reports put you off. It's wonderful. There's plenty of food trucks and some of the prices were high but there's also all of Sydney's normal shops and restaurants too. The dates vary each year but it's well worth a visit if you are in the country at the time. 

Also the details of the film I mentioned in a previous post are here. It's called Nowhere to be and it's the expereince of 31 film makers in lockdowns around the world. Fascinating and well worth watching if you get a chance. The Australian premiere was at VIVID.

#Allseasons runs Thursday - Wednesday each week.

Add your posts that reflect a season, or something that is seasonal below. Please comment on the host and at least one other post. 

Short Stories - what have I been listening to?

 A while back I posted about some radio plays I'd enjoyed so I thought I'd post about my most recent discovery.

The New Yorker has this brilliant free podcast where authors read short stories by other authors and then discuss why they like it and the craft and meaning in the work.

It's like a short little book club and a great way to discover the work of authors you may not be that familliar with.

I went looking for the Patricia Highsmith episode (after watching Perfect Days, the Wim Wenders movie, I'm on a roll with her short stories) but got distracted by the Shirley Jackson one instead. I'm keen to listen to all the Alice Munro and Haruki Murakami episodes too...

I am listening on Spotify but I'm sure you can get it elsewhere.

Linking with #MonthlyBookWorms #SeniorSalonPitstop #Bookdate  #SundayPost #Stackingtheshelves & SundaySalon (if this is allowed?) 

Even More VIVID

 I loved the atmosphere on the Goods line, less lights but the fires and 'shows'. 

In the School of Business they're screening a documentary of people around the world's experience of lockdown. Worth dropping in for five or ten minutes. I really cant get out of my head the guy in New Zealand who did it in a van....

Just outside is Window Dressing, a fun show in the windows of the building. So fun.

This work in Darling Harbour outside the ICC is great too.

Last days, VIVID ends this weekend! 

#Allseasons runs Thursday - Wednesday each week.

Add your posts that reflect a season, or something that is seasonal below. Please comment on the host and at least one other post.

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“Few people go to art exhibitions. The power of Street Art is that it goes to people’s daily life to be seen.” iNO

 

We have a new mural going up. I told the artist I thought it was great and she smiled broadly. Afterwards, I realised I should have got her name but I'll go back when the cherrypicker has gone and find the signature...

Last night after the train decided mid trip to not stop at five of the listed stops due to congestion, I travelled around trying to make my way home. The only bonus, as I wasted my time, was this train that lit up with all the reflected lights around it, looking like it was painted neon. 

Sometimes the smallest amusements make you smile.

"A museum is a bad place to look at art; the worst context for art is other art" Banksy

Linking with #SundayBest #ThursdayArtDate #MuralMondays #WeekendReflection (for the train)

Tell us about Beauty

I have already written a lot about beauty. Some of my posts around our relationship with beauty fall under these headings:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder In this very early post I try to explain the beauty I see watching the Dakar trucks fly through the sand dunes in the desert.

Don't be scared of your Blue Horses The story of how the Nazis had a strict view of beauty in art and Eric Carle learning to see the beauty in the forbidden art of Franz Marc. 

Exceedingly Handsome Guy - pondering on superficial beauty A post on beauty standards, and how they vary from country to country. 

“In The Right Light, At The Right Time. Everything Is Extraordinary. ” ― Aaron Rose A reminder that beauty is everywhere if we really look. 

“Let the beauty of sunrise keep your heart warm.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

The beauty every day in sunrise or sunset is free and almost always guaranteed. 

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. –Vincent van Gogh There is an abundance of beauty around us, even on inner city dog walks if you tune into nature.

This time, I want to talk about something different. Summed up best in this quote "The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw". (Havelock Ellis). There are people that are so good-looking, they're almost like a cartoon. A charicature of beauty, if you will. Henry Cavill is one example that springs to mind. A very good looking face but not attractive. 

When watching tv, I'm finding more and more I like the wrinkled, rumpled faces of the European and Asian actors than the botox'ed & lifted Hollywood stars. While youth is always good looking , it's the expereince and difference that makes people attractive. Or maybe it's charisma? (young people take note. You are as good looking as you'll ever be, you just don't see it. I promise you, you'll look back on photos and be surprised!).

I think the biggest mistake we make is thinking beauty is perfection, when really beauty is in unique imperfections, that catch the eye, or engage emotions.

There was a quote on Pedestrian TV talking about the Saltburn actor which I think sums it up perfectly.

"Sabrina looks drop-dead gorgeous, Barry looks hot in a weird way". I think we need to worry less about beauty standards and realise that everyone is beautiful in their own way. And I don't mean in that cheesy platitude, I mean really beautiful, if you really look.

The Rone exhibition is extraordinary in part because it makes ordinary things beautiful. So beautiful. 

In the same way I can walk down the street to the shops and it's just a busy urban, inner city street or I can walk the dog and there are beautiful flowers and delightfully playful shadows dappling through autumn leaves, it's not the street that changes but my view of it. I'm choosing to take the time to really look at it.

I guess that is the secret. We just need to really look.

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” ― Confucious

We need to not over think it, not sit in analytical judgement but just feel something when we see it. It's reward is the smile, joy or inspiration we feel when we see it. Our reaction to it, or as Rumi says "The beauty you see in me is a reflection of you" and that's where you really find beauty. 

And Perth people, one of the most hauntingly beautiful exhibitions is coming your way. I was literally moved to tears by it's beauty. Book tickets to Rone as soon as you can. It will sell out. (My experience here)

Linking with #TellUsAbout

(And #AwwMondays & #SaturdayCritters for the beautiful eyes of the sheep!)