the softness of the earth

the softness of the earth

marshmallow in the palm of my hand

beneath the pale earth

the leaves of the forest floor

I’m here to watch

the trees change to a light

swirly, delicate green

beneath the greyed-out moon

of the night sky

the softness of the earth

lend me your ears

with the music of the tree

when it becomes night the

forest starts again

the trees take my place

they bring me life

with a sweet blend of light

the rain comes slowly 

softening

Buy yokel

Last night I was listening to writers talking about being based in regional Australia

It reminded me of this quote from a Siberian musician:

Most creative projects here are concocted by people in their free time. “Amateurism,” says Sharifullin, “is what defines provinciality. On the other hand, it’s hard to stay professional when you’re surrounded by philistine stereotypes. People think you’re a weirdo if your happiness doesn’t depend on the size of your bank account. So you must have balls of steel to do arts. It’s not that bad if you have a few like-minded people around, though.”

For me being regional provides opportunity.

Anytime I think I'd like to try something, I know that I can put my hand up and have a go.

If I make a mess of it, no one is likely to notice.

It's kinda empowering.

And the like-minded people don't have to be physically nearby, since I can share my work online.

New couch

For years I've wanted a new couch 

Over a decade I told myself when my kids are old enough, I'll buy a comfy seat for the living room.

About a week ago I decided the time had come.

There was a special on a couch I'd been looking at online and there was money in my bank account.

So I made the order.

The couch arrived last Friday and it sat outside until Saturday, when there were enough hands to help move it inside.

We took off the packaging and screwed in the legs, then placed it where the old futon had been.

Everyone agreed it was an improvement.

Then I made lunch and started reading a book.

Soon I was interrupted by noise in the living room and realised there was panic.

It turned out someone had spilled soft drink on my new couch.

One of the kids was wiping a spot with a wet washcloth.

I yelled for a towel and then felt myself getting angry.

"How is it that it took less than two hours for one of you to spill something on my new couch?!"

They agreed they were both to blame and that they were sorry.

"Didn't I say not to eat or drink on the couch?!"

They agreed I had said not to consume any food or liquids on the couch.

"Seriously! You're idiots!"

They didn't agree but quickly disappeared to their rooms.

It didn't take long for me to clean the drink off.

Later that night, after I'd sat on the new couch and watched a movie, I called the kids into the living room.

"I'm sorry I got angry with you earlier."

They said they understood.

"I can get always another new couch but I want you to know that I love you."

They said they loved me too and we sat on the couch together.

"You don't have to apologise," one of them began.

"Yes, I do," I said. "It's important for me to show you that being angry is temporary."

Pickl-icious

Green tomato pickles with turmeric, oregano, mustard seed, chilli and apple cider vinegar 

Music for The Lost World

Silent movies were never silent and I wanted to raise awareness of a gem from 1925, so I’ve made music for it

This remarkable feature was the first to use stop-motion animation and also the first screened on a plane, at a time when nitrate prints presented a serious risk in wooden aircraft.

The story was written by Arthur Conan Doyle, who “frequently mentioned that Professor Challenger, not Sherlock Holmes, was his favorite character among his creations.”

Willis O’Brien’s visual effects are a large part of the film’s charm and he went on to animate King Kong in 1933, as well as earning credit for the story in the first on-screen encounter the giant ape had with Godzilla in 1962.

Another bit of trivia from Wikipedia:

In 1922, Conan Doyle showed O’Brien’s test reel to a meeting of the Society of American Magicians, which included Harry Houdini. The astounded audience watched footage of a Triceratops family, an attack by an Allosaurus and some Stegosaurus footage. Doyle refused to discuss the film’s origins. On the next day, The New York Times ran a front-page article about it, saying “(Conan Doyle’s) monsters of the ancient world, or of the new world which he has discovered in the ether, were extraordinarily lifelike. If fakes, they were masterpieces.”

The Lost World remains entertaining, from the opening slapstick comedy through to the intergenerational romantic rivalry and, of course, the handmade dinosaurs.

You can see the film and hear my soundtrack by downloading the album.

This project is supported by the Country Arts Support Program, a devolved funding program administered by Create NSW and Western Riverina Arts on behalf of the NSW Government. 

Yielding autotune

Reading "The Yield" by Tara June Winch and find myself wondering what box could give this effect:

"There was a box taped to the mouthpiece and her voice came out in autotune." 

The book itself is enjoyable for including history from the corner of the Riverina where I've been living in the last decade, particularly the Warangesda Mission in nearby Darlington Point.

A Day in the Life Of

A Day in the Life Of, 2009

Courtesy Raqs Media Collective and Frith Street Gallery, London.