the X facta: September 2011

skywatch shot

The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand.

Frederic Lawrence Knowles

Wonderstruck : review

What seems a simple pencil illustration is powerful visual narrative in the hands of Brian Selznick.

I read a lot. Magazines, newspapers, books, websites, blogs. Having worked as a magazine editor, involved in both editing and layout, it's not only the words I pay attention to. The design can carry just as much weight in the reader's overall ability to enjoy the experience. In all my reading, sometimes an article or book is weak in the word department but stunning in the illustration. Other times the words are better than the illustration. It's usually a see-saw game of trying to balance the two. It's not often that both elements are combined so perfectly, you feel what you're holding in your hands is a masterpiece.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, is gobsmackingly gorgeous.Two stories - set 50 years apart - are woven throughout the book, one in words, the other in pictures. This master storyteller beckons readers into a world of wonder. Weaving back and forward through time, it is easy to lose all sense of time. In fact, I read this in one sitting. Simply could not put it down.

Selznick's "Cabinet of Wonders" beckons like a time travelling portal.

This review doesn't give many details of the story, because I don't want to ruin it for you. But I will say this; If you're feeling overwhelmed by mainstream media purveying gloom-doom pessisimism and the cacophony of self-help gurus and online pedlars, I encourage you to dive into this book. Perhaps, like me, you may find yourself re-enchanted with the world again.

I have not been paid by the book's author or publishing company, or any other publication, to produce this review. I purchased the book myself, took photos of two of my favourite illustrations in the book for the purpose of this review, and am sharing them online as my contribution to creativity and finding the X facta everywhere and anywhere.

the art of living

The walls between art & engineering, exist only in our minds . . . and few have the imagination to see beyond them. ~ Theo Jansen

the walls between art and anything

exist only in our minds

art is not something that

only hangs on a wall,

sits in a gallery,

or is collected

for financial investment

when we approach life

in its entirety

as art

and have learned to

live creatively

in even the smallest,

most mundane of moments

that is when we truly

create a masters piece

~ Kel

My celestial calendar says "equinox"

September Equinox marker - spring in the southern hemisphere.

LogHenge - the circular celestial calendar we created on our property.

Soular Man - one of the log sculptures marking the cardinal and solstice points.

For many years I've dabbled in ephemeral / environmental / eco art.
This is the largest completed work to date.

my creative contribution to skywatch

Soba noodle salad

Want something different for dinner? This is what we had, and think it's a new favourite.

soba noodle salad

270g dried organic soba noodles

2 cups shredded vegetables

2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

1 cup toasted shredded coconut

1 avocado sliced

Dressing

4 tbsp lime juice

2 tbsp mirin

2 tsp olive oil

2 tsp maple syrup

Cook noodles and vegetables in boiling water for 5 mins.

Drain well and rinse under cold water.

Mix toasted seeds & coconut through.

Add avocado. Pour dressing over salad. Toss lightly.

Serves 8-10 as a side dish or 4 as a light meal.

the butterfly effect : 2

I usually have a few projects on the go in the studio at any one time. When something else is drying, or I simply want a change of pace, it's nice to have a variety of things to choose from. Interestingly, I started creating my "Little Book of Rorschach Creatures" a few weeks ago, but it took mulitiple sessions to complete the different stages.

One night last week, after a stressful day at work, I just wanted to do a quick journal page and this other creature appeared in a totally separate journal/book.

Believe it or not, until I'd taken photos of the two finished pieces and put them on the computer together, I did not realise a 'theme' had emerged!

Interesting isn't it. How something can be right in front of our face, but we just can't see it. Until a bit of time or space allows us to take a second look from a distance. Then we slap ourselves on the forehead - right where our wisdom eye supposedly resides - and exclaim "But of course!"

What can you do today to create some time and space to "see things clearly"?

Memory making moment

I've seen heaps of photos of "The Bean" sculpture, but they all had crowds of people in the reflection. We arrived in Chicago on the last plane allowed to land due to a huge mid-December snowstorm. The first day was spent finding winter clothing bargains and art gallery inspiration. The next day we explored Millenium Park. We had the entire park and waterfront to ourselves. When walking down to the harbor, and crossing the road, people in their cars were looking at us like we were 'mad' to be out there. But it was a brilliant sunny day and the concept of snow in a city was a novelty for us Aussies.

Millenium Park, Chicago

this my contribution to skywatch

Journalling life

I kept a diary for many years. For a writer, it seemed the natural thing to do.When I wasn't writing in a diary, I was writing letters. A package of them were given to me when my nanna died. She kept every letter I wrote her while Mr X and I were stationed in PNG for two years. This was pre-internet. Snail mail was the only method of communication at my disposal. That package of letters is a fascinating little time capsule.

Nine years ago I started visual journalling (combining diary style writing with imagery), which then developed into art journalling (focusing more on the visual). Creating art - doodles, paintings, collages - in the pages of a visual journal, or altered book. Despite minimal words, these journals speak volumes.

Do you keep a diary or journal? A daily, weekly, monthly written record of your life stuff.
Do you keep a visual diary or art journal? A daily, weekly, monthly record of your visual language.

Song for an Aussie icon

.ship song

The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House are two of Australia's iconic attractions. The Opera House is a fascinating piece of architecture surrounded by the most beautiful natural harbour in the world. Biased? Who me! Well, I was born in Sydney, but actually prefer Melbourne for liveability. But that said, the Yarra river just can't compete with the Sydney Harbour, especially on New Year's Eve!

This recently released video features Aussie artists including Neil Finn, Sarah Blasko, Paul Kelly, Angus and Julia Stone, Katie Noonan and Daniel Johns. But the real star is the graceful dame herself, with full sails billowing harbourside. She makes an appearance near the end of the video. Enjoy a behind the scenes tour first ...

blessing for the dark hours

when it seems as if

the sun is sinking

and something good

is about to end

let yourself absorb

the last rays of light

through skin and eyes

let your body be

a storage unit

of solar energy

let the heat and light

simmer inside

your heart

so when darkness envelopes

and cold seeps in

being soul-ar powered

will hold you through the night

this is my creative contribution to skywatch

this week's art

When life is getting you down, when people let you down, when everything seems to be spiralling down into ever smaller circles, its time to paint big. Life might be trying to squash you into a small box, but don't let that stop you rolling out a large canvas, and splashing some paint around. Live large on canvas - cos life has a way of imitating art. Go on, give it a go. I know you really want to. And when you do, watch and see what manifests off the canvas.

No cash to splash on a big canvas?

Easy, go to your local opshop/thrift store and buy a 2nd-hand roller-blind.

creating balance

On a beach walk yesterday I noticed some thin smooth stones sitting in the sand.

Dropping several in my pocket I continued to walk along. But my jacket started hanging down heavily on one side, banging on my leg each time I walked. So I gathered some more smooth stones and dropped them in the other pocket. It was easier to walk when the weight in the jacket was balanced.

With the weather blowing in, making outdoor activities unadvisable for the rest of the weekend, it gave me an opportunity to set up a mini photographic-studio.Creating different piles of pebbles and photographing them was quite a meditative creative outlet. Time to immerse myself in nature and play in the studio are key for me to feel balanced. How about you?

Boring beauty?

how can something as simple as socks

hanging on the line

against a backdrop of thin blue sky

be seen as beautiful

seeking something special
amid the mundane, boring, every-day-life stuff

can become an obsession
just like matching peg pairs

:-)

this is my creative contribution to skywatch