STARS OF BRISBANE

 

Hello dear readers

After years of dry seasons, we are enjoying a hot, humid Summer with frequent storms.  The roses are loving it, and producing flush after flush of short-lived blooms.

The storms are often violent, and we have had roof damage (now fixed), internal wall damage (have found a man to do that) and a lightning strike which destroyed Mr. Cardinal's computer.  Not a happy event.

All is well, and insurance gave him a new computer and he spent three weeks re-installing his entire electronic life.

The new stove is still waiting to be installed, but fingers crossed, a tentative date has been set.

Queensland Ballet, back in the day

I went with my sister to the 60th Anniversary Gala of our beloved Queensland Ballet.  The programme began with a video tribute about the previous Artistic Directors and former stars of the Ballet, including interviews with many of them.

Happy memories...

We sat two seats behind the wonderful current Artistic Director, Li Cunxin, of Mao's Last Dancer fame (she says, name-dropping).

During his tenure, the Ballet has risen to world-class excellence.

Some highlights of the evening (google images):

Chopin Pas de Deux (Charles Lisner OBE)

Don Quixote - wedding Pas de Deux, Act III

(Marius Petipa)

Carmina Burana - Tavern Scene (Jacqui Carroll)

Cloudland - pas de Deux, (Francois Klaus)

Etudes - (Harald Lander)

It was all tremendously exciting - I could hardly sleep that night...

The company is much bigger these days, with many international dancers and guests artists. 

 Happy claps for Queensland!

To round off the week of International Women's Day, here is a sculpture from the collection of the Qld Art Gallery:

Daphne Mayo, Australia [1895-1982] 'Olympian' c. 1946, cast after 1958

Daphne Mayo was a significant 20th-century Australian artist, born in Sydney and educated in Brisbane, receiving a Diploma in Art Craftsmanship from Brisbane Central Technical College in 1913.  In 1919 she received an art scholarship to go to London provided by Queensland Wattle League.  She was accepted into the Scupture School of the Royal Academy, and on graduation in 1923 she was awarded the school's gold medal for sculpture, and with it a Travelling Studentship to Italy.

She considered the human body 'a superlative piece of sculpture' and 'Olympian' illustrates this view.  There is speculation linking the casting of 'Olympian' with the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne.

Back in Brisbane, Mayo became prominently known for her work, particularly the tympanum of Brisbane City Hall and the Women's War Memorial in ANZAC Square, Brisbane.

These works are seen daily by workers in our City as they go about their business.

Brisbane City Hall

The Tympanum, by Daphne Mayo

Here is Daphne Mayo in 1932 in front of her work, The Anzac War Memorial and Fountain.

Mayo devoted her life to the pursuit of her artistic profession, receiving many public commissions.  With her friend, artist Vida Lahey, she founded the Queensland Art Fund to purchase works for the Queensland Art Gallery.  In the 1960s she became a Trustee of the Gallery.  Daphne Mayo's work is represented in Art Galleries throughout Australia.  She was appointed an MBE in 1959 for services to the arts.  Daphne Mayo passed away in 1982.

Daphne Mayo in her studio.

 Did you know Brisbane is now a preferred venue to host the 2032 Olympic Games?

Have a wonderful week.

XXXX

PS This post has been edited to correct the date for the probably Brisbane Olympic Games. It is of course 2032.