I'm certain they mean "route" rather than "root"
Mix & master
35 years of Robocop
I remember seeing the film in the cinema while in high school and enthusing about it to my friends.
Then, when it came out on video, I was unable to watch it again for years as it'd been reclassified as R-rated!
Unlike the R-rating shown in the US advert here, Australia's R is restricted to anyone under 18.
Anyway, I showed the film to my kids last year since they are all in high school.
It stands up well, despite the decades and development of various technologies -- including police robots.
Artists wanted
Red Earth Ecology is looking to commission four local artists for the "Leeton Memories" project, which will transform reminisces of older residents into shop front displays
"We have a small budget to cover materials and contribute something toward the time of the four contributors."
Edited extracts from recorded interviews with longtime residents will prompt and inform a series of shop front installations and be linked to these displays using QR codes.
"The idea is that you'll be able to hear a recorded commentary from older residents and that will inform the experience for viewers seeing the artworks," says Jason.
"We hope people will think broadly about what materials can go into making a display and the budget should help to realise their ideas."
Each display will be promoted with a profile of the contributors and discussion about the themes raised in the interview.
"We will also share our CASP application for this project with the artists, so they can get an understanding of what goes into a successful funding proposal."
Afterwards Red Earth Ecology will consider assisting with grant applications from the artists for the development of future projects in our region where they relate to the aims of that organisation.
"Red Earth Ecology was incorporated to enable projects that link people to the landscape, whether through plant regeneration activities or cultural practices like making artworks," says Jason.
"There's also a need for pathways in the Riverina so artists can develop local projects and we're willing to provide guidance."
"We want this Leeton Memories project to be the start of something that will create new memories in Leeton for years to come."
Leeton Memories is supported by Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW through funding from the NSW Government.
Screw Youtube
Youtube's automation of copyright claims should be questioned
A recording of my drumming, in fact two recordings of my drumming layered together, has been monetised by a company claiming I'm infringing on their copyright.
Someone else is collecting ad revenue from my material based on an automated response!
Youtube is facilitating this spurious claim and I think their system needs to be scrutinised.
Art is for everyone
While there's definitely space for professional artists, I think art should be for amateurs
If reading Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way taught me one thing, it's that creativity is our human birthright.
There are almost as many ways to make art as there are to be creative and creativity is where innovation happens.
Yet I see my kids increasingly losing interest in learning to make art, partly because the model of education is based on emulating the teacher.
We need to foster creative expression in our communities since it seems as though their individual differences are disappearing as the world shrinks.
I believe everyone should have an expressive habit or two.
These outlets reflect individual experiences by channeling passing thoughts and dreams while refining techniques -- maybe even inventing new ones.
The problem with making a thing professional is that one ends up becoming a manager.
This is something I learned at university, even without studying management.
When I worked there it was kinda bizarre to observe that academics would move into management roles.
These were people whose passion had led them to specialise in fields that became increasingly obscure as they got more qualified.
There was a tension between managing students while achieving research outcomes.
Yet all the time they were researching their expertise, the university would dangle jobs in management.
Career progression for many probably stalled with the casualisation of the workforce (driven by management consultants), so the only job security that seemed available was moving into something managing the casual staff.
I feel like I've seen the same phenomena in the arts world, as one-time artists become administrators and consultants.
It makes sense as one has to learn to justify the passion to create by developing a business case to apply for grants and navigate processes like running a board, buying insurance, marketing creative outcomes, etc.
The drawback is it becomes isolating as artists share less of their inspiration, which is the stuff that makes their creative output meaningful to audiences.
As an audience I don't want to be told something is important, I want to know why it's important to the artist.
Human interest stories are engaging and the best teachers make it feel as though you're on the journey with them, discovering the outcomes as they explain their development.
In some ways it seems a similar outcome to the academics who no longer teach their specialisations, since it's the process that reveals the intricacies of a subject to an increasingly educated population.
However, the qualifications in our communities are now increasingly administrative ones.
As a result, we see the justification for creative practices framed in terms of economic values.
Maybe the move toward government budgets recognising well-being will see a new framing for the arts?
Winter warmth
Part of me regrets putting smoke into the local environment and burning logs that have the potential to be habitat.
Another part recognises the awe that stirred my ancestors as I look into the flames and let their flickering light guide my thoughts.
My family know I'm strict about when we'll have a fire and the general rule is the forecast maximum needs to be less than 14C or the minimum less than 4C.
Walking gum
This River Red Gum outside Bingara looks like it could walk around
Unfortunately the scale of the tree isn't apparent in the photograph, but I could've climbed through the space underneath this amazing tree.
Cool reports
The end of semester means reading reports about the education of my children
Usually I only pay attention to the comments and look to get a sense of how much effort their putting into subjects.
Then I'll ask my kids how they feel about the report and usually they agree.
It raises some questions, since one section details how they're learning more than a year's worth of math but acknowledges the measurement isn't indicative because the difficulty of modules varies.
I pity the kids with reports saying they're learning less than a year because who knows what discipline might be delivered in the privacy of households.
Winter sucks, right?
Anyway, I like the new reports but wonder if other subjects can do something similar.
If math can provide numerical detail, maybe English can start spicing up their comments with exotic superlatives and hyperbolic verbosity?
Art in the age of mechanical reproduction
My grandfather had a collection of paintings on his walls
When I was a child I was curious about the art produced by my uncle, but otherwise I never thought about the rest until after he died.
Then the paintings were divided among his children and my father started having paintings on his walls.
I thought it was cool that one was by Pro Hart, since I'd heard of him.
(I'm not sure who it's by, sorry I know that I should have an acknowledgment.)
So it might've been because I like riding bikes, but I hadn't really liked the painting.
I think I might've thought that the wavy lines seemed to ruin the image.
The result seemed a bit vague and indistinct, but now that's one of the things I like about it.
It's kinda dreamy and dynamic.
That was one of those lightbulb moments, when I realised how the process of painting contributed to the resulting image.
It reminded me of how colour photography works with layers to produce a representation.
Yet, rather than a chemical process, I could see how the brushstrokes built up the image.
Since then I've learned about blocking, the colour undercoat that sets a tone for a painting.
Now, when I see the painting of the cyclist, I surprise myself with new details that I admire.
The wavy lines capture movement, both in their representation and in their physical process.
Lately I've been appreciating the colour palette, particularly the light blue and lime green and brown.
Platinum jacket
Last week the high school called to say my son was getting an award
On Friday my partner and I went to see the presentation during the school assembly.
We checked in at the front office, received our visitor passes and were led to the auditorium.
I scanned around to see if I could spot my sons and found my youngest sitting at the front of the room.
They began reeling off details of my oldest son's contributions to the school.
It was interesting to hear them describe him as an "all-rounder" since his interest in sport is limited.
There were performances with the choir and school musicals, representing students on the SRC as well as debating and chess competitions.
They noted his subjects included extension English, advanced maths, chemistry and music.
Then his name was called and there was a rapturous applause.
Afterwards the teacher asked if it had been a surprise.
Oscar said his friend had spotted Jo and I, asking him why his parents were here, which had led him to assume that he was getting the award.
The platinum jacket will appeal to him, since he's been wearing the shirt given in Year 10 almost everyday.
It's good to see Oscar's efforts recognised.
Dreams are weird
Woke from a dream in which I'd written a profile of Russell Crowe for Rolling Stone
There was a formatting issue and they needed me to resend the piece and I couldn't find it.
I was living with Taika Waititi and came home to go through my laptop, only to find he had friends over.
They were watching TV loudly and I needed quiet to look through my files in a panic.
Embarrassingly I started yelling at everyone.
Taika kept his cool, but his friends began chastising me.
I think my subconscious is telling me not to apply for the feature-writing mentorship that I saw yesterday.
Naviarhaiku 441
Naviar Records have chosen one of my senryu for their musical prompt this week
It's been a good week for senryu, with news that another poem has been selected for a journal.
Fivebough in Coonabarabran
Got to see (and hear) my contributions to the Inhalare exhibition developed by Kim V. Goldsmith
At the event last weekend we discussed how to progress the exhibition.
Mortar see
This brick wall in Jerilderie caught my interest
The building overlooked the Billabong Creek, which runs through town.
I mentioned it to a local, who explained their husband had memories of walking along planks to reach the nearby primary school.
Wunderpus
Photographer Wu Yung-sen has been deep sea diving and photographing marine life for four years
Cryptic
There were also a couple of young roos and we ended up sliding backwards into the Murrumbidgee River.
I opened a window to get everyone out and Eden didn't answer,
Had a feeling I'd seen emus on the Bridge in a previous dream.
Apparently they're a symbol of family and it's interesting that male emu will raise chicks.
Dreams are weird.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)