My response sought to capture the sepia wash with a dirty Rhodes-style keyboard.
Below are the contributed recordings responding to this haiku.
A sepia wash
The third haiku shared by Naviar Records as part of the collaboration Crossing Streams is one I wrote on the coldest morning this winter.
I can still remember the noise as my car retracted an ice-covered antenna when I stopped outside Narrandera and took this photo.
My response sought to capture the sepia wash with a dirty Rhodes-style keyboard.
Below are the contributed recordings responding to this haiku.
My response sought to capture the sepia wash with a dirty Rhodes-style keyboard.
Below are the contributed recordings responding to this haiku.
Shoot straight you bastards
I'm entertained when I visit the bathroom at work and see the alleged last words of Harry "Breaker" Harbord Morant on the wall above the toilet.
It brings to mind the touching moment when he holds hands before facing the firing squad in this scene from the film Bruce Beresford directed.
An expression of love
“Encouragement is the greatest form that love can take” — Barbara Blackman
Years ago I had a girlfriend who worked at the National Gallery of Australia and I used to enjoy getting a personal tour of the exhibitions she'd helped put together.
While looking at the Federation exhibition she remarked how one painting had been loaned by the Australian Government from the Governor General's residence, where it had accumulated years of smoke that needed to be cleaned off. This reminded me of a sociology lecturer's remark that the rise and decline in tobacco smoking had been one of the biggest social changes in the 20th Century.
One of the last exhibitions this girlfriend invited me to see was Joy Hester and Friends in 2001 and Barbara Blackman was at the opening.
I didn't meet Ms Blackman but she made an impression on me as she was holding onto my girlfriend's arm. I'd arrived late to the opening and the two of them were standing near whoever was opening the exhibition.
My girlfriend smiled at me when she spotted me in the crowd and I was surprised to see that Ms Blackman's head turned toward me in response.
Even though I could see nothing had been said between the two of them, the blind woman had also registered my presence.
It's been an example for me about how many other senses we draw on everyday. Humans use sight as their primary sense and I often wonder whether it's a detriment that we don't better use others.
Encouragement is the theme articulated by Barbara Blackman in the quote above and if she hadn't made an impression on me at that exhibition opening I might've missed her opinion in The Guardian today.
I am very grateful for the encouragement I've received from those who love me. At different times it's made a difference to my life.
Years ago I had a girlfriend who worked at the National Gallery of Australia and I used to enjoy getting a personal tour of the exhibitions she'd helped put together.
While looking at the Federation exhibition she remarked how one painting had been loaned by the Australian Government from the Governor General's residence, where it had accumulated years of smoke that needed to be cleaned off. This reminded me of a sociology lecturer's remark that the rise and decline in tobacco smoking had been one of the biggest social changes in the 20th Century.
I didn't meet Ms Blackman but she made an impression on me as she was holding onto my girlfriend's arm. I'd arrived late to the opening and the two of them were standing near whoever was opening the exhibition.
My girlfriend smiled at me when she spotted me in the crowd and I was surprised to see that Ms Blackman's head turned toward me in response.
Even though I could see nothing had been said between the two of them, the blind woman had also registered my presence.
It's been an example for me about how many other senses we draw on everyday. Humans use sight as their primary sense and I often wonder whether it's a detriment that we don't better use others.
Encouragement is the theme articulated by Barbara Blackman in the quote above and if she hadn't made an impression on me at that exhibition opening I might've missed her opinion in The Guardian today.
I am very grateful for the encouragement I've received from those who love me. At different times it's made a difference to my life.
Flood waters recede
This haiku by Julie Briggs is the second in the series of poems about Narrandera that are being shared by Naviar Records:
Flood waters recede
Narrandera eucalypts reflected
Which way is up?
Below are the contributed recordings responding to this haiku.
Eclipsed by a comic typo
It's no secret that I love reading horoscopes and also love typos, so finding the above was a doubly entertaining moment for me today.
Inspired doodle
I appreciate that my daughter Neve encourages me to draw because it really does make me feel more creative within a few minutes.
Dry July
It's interesting for me to look over previous years on here and see annual trends.
For example, July seems to be traditionally the time of year where I have little to add.
I look over the months and see it's the month where there are consistently less posts.
This drying-up of content suggests I should develop a theme to focus my efforts.
Maybe something like the "May I share" posts during May or the "March into the archives" that I've done during previous Marches.
One idea off the top of my head is to reflect on things that I'm grateful for in my life.
Many people tell me they gain benefit from expressing gratitude and I'm sure I'd be surprised at some of the results.
For example, July seems to be traditionally the time of year where I have little to add.
I look over the months and see it's the month where there are consistently less posts.
Maybe something like the "May I share" posts during May or the "March into the archives" that I've done during previous Marches.
One idea off the top of my head is to reflect on things that I'm grateful for in my life.
Many people tell me they gain benefit from expressing gratitude and I'm sure I'd be surprised at some of the results.
Looping around town
This week the collaboration with Naviar Records begins with a poem by Greg Pritchard.
I've recorded my audible response to Greg's haiku and look forward to hearing how others interpret his words.
The results will be part of an exhibition planned for the Narrandera Arts and Community Centre in late October.
Below are the contributed recordings responding to this haiku.
The results will be part of an exhibition planned for the Narrandera Arts and Community Centre in late October.
Below are the contributed recordings responding to this haiku.
Nice owl
My friend Rebecca Tapscott is an artist who's difficult to pigeonhole.
In recent years she's branched out from painting into ceramics and print.
I observed some of the results and wrote about them here after attending the Feather and Leaf exhibition at The Roxy Gallery in Kyogle.
Today I saw this owl on the Rebecca Tapscott Facebook page and am really taken with it. She wrote:
In recent years she's branched out from painting into ceramics and print.
I observed some of the results and wrote about them here after attending the Feather and Leaf exhibition at The Roxy Gallery in Kyogle.
Owl watercolour over Bogon moth and cockroach cyanotype. 18.5 x 12.5 cm. $40
Useless superpowers
My kids play this game called Useless Superpowers, where they invent unlikely comic book heroes.
Recently they were playing the game while we were driving home from Queensland and it was pleasant to hear the excited chatter from the backseat.
Yesterday Neve drew this picture that I think represents a kind of useless superpower.
Recently they were playing the game while we were driving home from Queensland and it was pleasant to hear the excited chatter from the backseat.
Flying a drone for the army
I was picked out of 34 people to fly on a giant drone for the army. It had a really comfy chair and a seat belt. It was two metres in width and two metres in length. I had been equipped with a big purple parachute so they could see me coming down. They had given me a really small backpack with a full packet of M&Ms, gobstoppers, Oreos, a Snickers bar, a Mars bar for...
The Breville Dead
Big guitar
For a while I've been meaning to try Narrandera's guitar, which is
reputedly the largest playable instrument of its kind in the world.
I'd heard it's out of tune, so I wasn't in a rush but a haiku needed a photo of it this weekend.
When I walked into the Visitor Information Centre there was a family taking photos with the guitar.
While I waited, Sally at the counter engaged me in conversation and we discussed how the instrument was approaching its 30th birthday.
When there was opportunity, I stepped onto the step that allows access to the neck and plucked at the strings.
Some of the notes were so low as to be almost inaudible but I was interested in how the different gauges of rope imitated the look of the wound strings on an acoustic, while the higher strings seemed to be varying gauges of nylon -- much like the instrument at a regular size.
Then I put my head toward the soundhole and plucked the lowest string and was awed by the deep rumble that resonated in the body of the instrument.
It was like a passing truck and, given the number of trucks that pass, I'm not entirely sure it wasn't.
As I continued talking with VIC staff about my interest in recording the guitar, they asked if I'd like to tune the instrument.
Discussion is required with Council's staff who oversee management of the Centre, but I'm hoping to return soon and get samples of this unique instrument.
When I walked into the Visitor Information Centre there was a family taking photos with the guitar.
While I waited, Sally at the counter engaged me in conversation and we discussed how the instrument was approaching its 30th birthday.
When there was opportunity, I stepped onto the step that allows access to the neck and plucked at the strings.
Some of the notes were so low as to be almost inaudible but I was interested in how the different gauges of rope imitated the look of the wound strings on an acoustic, while the higher strings seemed to be varying gauges of nylon -- much like the instrument at a regular size.
Then I put my head toward the soundhole and plucked the lowest string and was awed by the deep rumble that resonated in the body of the instrument.
It was like a passing truck and, given the number of trucks that pass, I'm not entirely sure it wasn't.
As I continued talking with VIC staff about my interest in recording the guitar, they asked if I'd like to tune the instrument.
Discussion is required with Council's staff who oversee management of the Centre, but I'm hoping to return soon and get samples of this unique instrument.
Neve Amethyst?
The items on the right look like ears, tail and some kind of weapon. I'm going to have to ask if this is a paper cut-out doll to be assembled and where the inspiration came from.
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