LIFE IN A HUMID CLIMATE

Hello.

 Here's a shot taken at the Art Gallery Cafe, as we sat beside the water feature sipping Sunday coffee and pondering the reflections.  

We took Little Aussie in to the children's art centre.

Here he admires the work of Yayoi Kusama.

But on to the topic of the day:

Did you watch the Oscars?  

Here are a few of my favourite frocks:

I like white.  

Margot Robbie because (a) Chanel and (b) she comes from our State of Queensland.

Jane Fonda for elegance and maturity.  

And I like her hair.

Laura Dern.  Nice.

Our Nicole.  Sculptural and Stunning.

And always fabulous.

I like cobalt blue too.

I think this might be Jennifer Garner.  Not sure.

Helen Mirren.  Flawless and maturity.

Blush pink, because....

Busy times, but not much happening..

do you ever feel like that?

I am spending hours putting together our next holiday trip.

Flying off again to a few countries we have never seen.

Art and Music is the theme.

Have a good week

XXXXX

ART AND AUSTRALIA DAY

Happy Australia Day to all Australians as we celebrate this week.

I have been on a long break from the Art Gallery...

but here is a peek at some very special porcelain on display these days:

By an unknown artist in 19th century China, 

I love this exquisite porcelain 'Bowl with Goldfish'...

Fun to find a ladybug in your teacup!

Trio: (the golden canary) c. 1760, Dr Wall (Worcester), James Giles, Decorator.

Ewer (yuto) Japan, 15th-16th century (Muromachi period), artist unknown.

Mr Cardinal took this great picture of tiny Japanese Netsuke.  

In an attempt to cheat the heat, we celebrated Australia Day with the neighbours, at our Annual Street Party, after sundown.

Barbeques on the lawn, 

Salad table on the street..

and card tables in parking bays.

A good thing we live in a very quiet cul-de-sac...

I thought about wearing my Wattle Brooch...

 (copy of the one presented to the Queen by Australia back in the day)

sourced from the Buckingham Palace gift shop on our way to Ireland in 2016...

but that seemed excessive.....

Do you like fine porcelain too?

Tell me what you love...

Have a beautiful weekend

XXXX

LET'S DO PASTELS

Had lunch with my girlfriends at GoMA,

 in the cafe attached to the lovely

Matisse: Drawing Life exhibition which finished yesterday...

Wasn't the drawing room for local artists just gorgeous?

Ladies, there is a veritable feast of art by and about women on its way to Brisbane:

Exclusive to the Qld Art Gallery,

Modern Woman: Daughters and lovers 1850-1918

is coming direct from the Musee D'Orsay in Paris.

Degas, Renoir, Manet, Cassatt, Rodin, Bonnard, Morisot:

lots of the most famous Impressionist artists will be represented!

The excitement starts on 24 March, thru to 24 June!

Here is another preview peek:

Woman in blue, Eugene Boudin.

Mr Red Cardinal and I enjoyed a night of Strauss, Mozart and Janacek,

with our lovely Queensland Symphony Orchestra -

mmmmmm, blissful!

On Sunday we took 91-year-old Grandpa to lunch on Tamborine Mountain;

he loves the rainforest so much!

He always enjoys a bit of antique fossicking -

which comes in handy because lookee what I found for $8.00:

A fantastic long string of vintage, facetted beads in a great retro green - Bargain!!

Our daughter saw these Easter festive crackers in Ottawa:

Pretty in pastel; has anyone seen them in Australia?

I wonder if they will come here too.

Have a great week ....

DAPHNE MAYO AND A QUEENSLAND SUMMER

Have you ever noticed this sculpture, the tympanum high above the entrance of Brisbane City Hall?

It was done by a woman in 1930, Brisbane's own Daphne Mayo.

Daphne was Australia's leading sculptor of the twentieth century, and she was about 35 when she undertook this amazing commission, entitled
The progress of civilisation in the state of Queensland.

The figure in the centre is the figure of the State, arms out to protect her people.

On the right, the explorers William Dampier and Captain James Cook, then figures representing the agricultural and pastoral industries holding a scythe and a ram,

and finally a book and palette: The Arts.

On the left side are colonists, with cattle, advancing upon

retreating indigenous people and native fauna -

yes, it makes us cringe now, but in the context of the 1930s,

it reflects the ideas of that time regarding the advancement of 'civilisation'.

In 1929-30 Daphne also carved a tympanum and stations of the cross for the
Church of the Holy Spirit, New Farm,
the church where the Red Cardinals were married, just 40 years ago.
(I was, of course, a Child Bride :)

There is a wonderful exhibition at Qld Art Gallery these days,

showcasing the life and work of Daphne Mayo, with many beautiful portrait sculptures,

as well as her medals and other awards.

She was a great friend of QAG, and established a fund to give works to the gallery in the early years.

This is a great show about one of Queensland's most successful women.

While we are in the 1930s, here is my Nostalgic Christmas display:

Most of these pieces came from op-shops.

I found the teapot in England, for 50p.

I found this bright bunch of candy canes at Spotlight today. 
Onto the Tree with them.

Someone spotted - shock horror - A Gap on my Christmas Tree!!!.

All gaps will be rectified without delay ...

Now that the summer heat has arrived -

in November, too (Not Fair!!)

I fear the Annual Injection of New Sandals is long overdue.

So these little Spanish Senoritas have come to live with me.

My red cardinals are doing their bit for

NOEL

Bye now..