Traversing Antarctica

Emperor Penguins and chicks, Weddell Seal, Cape Petrel - there was so much more to see than I had imagined. Our local art gallery is hosting the amazing, interactive exhibition 'Traversing Antarctica'. 

Yesterday our homeschool group visited the exhibition and were treated to a fascinating talk and question and answer time with Graham Cook, a local who has spent around six years in total in Antarctica as a station leader.

Antarctica is over twice as large as Australia and around one and a half times the size of the USA. Australia has three permanently manned stations/bases there where much scientific research is carried out. It is home to 100,000s of Emperor Penguins, the largest penguin in the world, standing around 120cm/4 feet tall. Husky dogs have been banned from Antarctic since 1991 along with all introduced species (other than people). We learnt many, many interesting facts about this vast frozen continent but this was literally just the tip of the iceberg!

Having looked at the internet and some library books, Miss E, Miss V and I returned for a leisurely look at the exhibition this afternoon - and had the entire art gallery to ourselves. Miss E tried her 'How to Train a Dragon' pose before insisting on having her turn behind the camera.

Somehow I think I gained even more from this exhibition than the children.


Sharing at Weekly Top Shot.

Quilt Inspirations

Red Bridge and Wisteria by John Millington

Pyramid Rock Waterfall by John Millington

Claude's Bridge, Tribute by John Millington

Forest Pool by John Millington

A visit to our local art gallery to view my cousin's work last week yielded far more than I had anticipated. Patrycia's work was thought provoking and her co-exhibitor, Jan Pilgrim, had some amazing three dimensional fibre art to share. Both are local artists which happened to grow up in the same street as each other in Sydney. 

However it was the work of another local artist which really caught my eye. John Millington's exhibition titled Bridges to Abstraction was filled with bright colours, sharp lines and beautiful images. The quilter in me was fascinated by his use of colour and shape and the effects he produced.

Unfortunately I cannot share more than the images above as I have recently discovered no photography is allowed at the gallery. Above are photos of the images on gallery's literature which I collected. I hope to return for another visit before these exhibitions are finished.

Very old entryway to a local chemist/pharmacy

Children's wear at our local Target store last weekend

I'm discovering quilting inspiration in unlikely places and now that I have a phone with a useful camera, I can quickly capture these for future ideas. So nice to find inspiration in the real world to supplement the ocean of ideas online. Where do you find creative inspiration in the "real" world?

Sunday Snapshots

Familiar walks, a fun visit to the art gallery and first flights - a wonderful winter Sunday.


Sharing at Sunday Bridges, Our World Tuesday, Communal Global.

Bright and Beautiful?

Camellia Sasanqua

Azalea

Geranium in a nearby garden

Something rather interesting at the local Art Gallery

Miss O having a closer look

Last, but not least, a bright little grasshopper.

Sharing at This or That Thursday.

Industrial Desire

Our local art gallery has had some amazing scale model concept cars on display, produced by students at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

These quarter scale models were brilliantly made from special high-density foam and automative paint.

Master J first saw this "Industrial Desire" exhibition Friday on a school excursion for Design and Tech. He was keen to have another look today so we all went  and also viewed the other exhibitions, all of which concluded this afternoon.

 Some models contained details of their interiors too.

The art gallery has a lovely little street-front garden. Today the waterlilies were in bloom, I couldn't walk past without catching a photo of their natural beauty. What man produces is quite stunning, but God's creations are even more marvellous to me.

"Tree & Leaf"

Late yesterday I had the pleasure of attending (most of) the opening of an exhibition at out local art gallery. I had never attending an exhibition opening before and this one was rather special as the artists, who are sisters, are cousins of mine. Patrycia is giving details of one of her paintings here while Jenny watches from the corner. Some of the pieces, like the ones above, were collaborative works.

 

It was a thrill to be there and hear them speak of places and people familiar to me as family, then take time afterwards to have a chat and a closer look. Two of my daughters came also.

Their exhibition is titled "Tree & Leaf" and will be on view for several weeks. Both cousins were excited to see the addition of some red dots after their artist's talks.

A wonderful display of local landscape paintings by Peter Lane was also opening yesterday in another section of the gallery, well worth a look for those who may have opportunity to enjoy a visit.