contour 556 is Canberra’s new public art festival to be staged from Friday 21st October to Sunday 13th November, 2016
Continue reading contour 556 – Canberra’s new public art festival
Peter Garrett is back
The first track from his coming album, A Version of Now – which is to be released July 15
Your place in community consultations
Here’s another sad tale about the ACT Government’s patronising attitude towards residents.
Canberra Visual Arts being Turnbulled
Last Friday 13th May was sad day, and very much a black Friday, for many in the arts across Australia.
Being Turnbulled
Can it get any worse?
Here’s an article on Malcolm Turnbull’s government and his environment minister and their attitude towards the environment and climate change – and the Great Barrier Reef. Click here.
Neil Young
Time to play this again – After The Goldrush – where it all began so many years ago.
Architecture
The Emperor has no clothes – surely not. Click on image for a story about Frank Gehry.
Civic Square architecture
City planners allow for all manner of formal spaces when plotting out the municipal aspects of any new township.
Being Turnbulled
click on the image for the story about Turnbull and the arts – and then
Being Turnbulled
In so many ways Australia was being Turnbulled by Malcolm Turnbull.
Now he and his treasurer have struck out against women – when will this stop? Click here for the story about the budget.
Places Women Make
Book Review: Places Women Make, Jane Jose, 2016
This book is a celebration of the contribution by women to our cultural, social and urban lives. The book has the secondary title ‘Unearthing the contribution of women to our cities.’
Being Turnbulled
This is the on-going sad story about how Australia has a federal government, led by a Top Hat prime minister, who has now adopted the postion of the climate sceptics. Here’s an article that talks about the latest – with the ACT Government out in front and the federal government continuing to Turnbull the country. click here.
photography
They’re digging up the parking lots
Canberra’s planners in the 1950s and beyond delivered an infrastructure made for cars. There were even major freeways planned (a story for another day).
Cindy Sherman
click on the image for the story from the New York Times
Climarte
click – here – for information about this poster project
Sydney contemporary art
There’s an announcement for a new biennale of Australian contemporary art. Good news – click on the image for The Guardian story – but..
Driving Canberra to Nowra
While some people may enjoy the buzz of living within densely population metropolitan cities, there are definite benefits to being in Canberra and being able to head out into the country in a few minutes, rather than struggling down the crowded toll ways.
Being Turnbulled
Australia is being Turnbulled over and over again. When will the country get rid of this pretend government – that is really a committee of the IPA?
The whole truckies pay debate has been yet another example of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) running the agenda.
Horace and Pete’s
Here’s a program that is absolutely wonderful – a fabulous online drama /piece of theatre / comedy /drama / social comment. Highly recommended.
Rediscovering Cazneaux
click on image for the link to the Daily Telegraph
George Monbiot
Here’s a good read by George Monbiot – Neoliberalism – the ideology at the root of all our problems. Think John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull. Click here.
Being Turnbulled
The government’s response to the Top Hat bankers’ rampage through the economy is yet another case of smoke and mirrors. This is in effect putting the Top Hats in charge of the regulator and at the same time pretending to fund ASIC. Turnbull and his crew are Top Hats looking after their Top Hat mates.
Canberra’s suburban coffee
Sitting down on Easter Sunday to catch up with a friend over a cup of coffee (or two) in Braddon, reminded me of why it is not my favourite place to go on a weekend – let alone during the week.
Being Turnbulled
Australia continues to be Turnbulled!
Harold Cazneaux exhibition
Seeking transparency in ACT Government
There are many things about the current ACT Government that are causing concerns, to me and local residents I meet with often – and I think most of us voted for them.
Big Sugar
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter’s new album ‘The Things That We Are Made Of’ will be available May 6th. Click on image for youtube preview.
Being Turnbulled
Here’s a wonderful example of how the media and the public are being fooled and used by Top Hat Turnbull in his government’s dubious efforts to destroy the union movement. As blogged by Vince O’Grady, here is a post titled: ” More Egregious words used by the liberals. Disgraceful falsification of the facts.” Click here
James Howard Kunstler
Bob Dylan
Melancholy Mood
Bob Dylan has released a song, Melancholy Mood from his forthcoming album, Fallen Angel. The song is also on a four track EP released for Record Store Day. This is his second album of Frank Sinatra inspired songs – the first being Shadows InThe Night.
Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello
Live from 2001 – Wild Horses – click on image for You Tube video
Proud to be a NIMBY
Almost every day I walk by a set of new apartments here in Dickson. These are now part of the history of the push by residents not to have rubbish developments plonked in the area.
Lake Burley Griffin – What would Menzies do?
One of the pleasures of this city is to sit down by Lake Burley Griffin in the evening to watch the light fade.
Continue reading Lake Burley Griffin – What would Menzies do?
how cycling changed New York
Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution
Author: Sadik-Khan, Janette; Solomonow, Seth
New Book – here’s text from the publishers: As New York City’s transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan managed the seemingly impossible and transformed the streets of one of the world’s greatest, toughest cities into dynamic spaces safe for pedestrians and bikers.
George Megalogenis
The latest in this great series – Quarterly Essay – by George Megalogenis on Balancing Act: Australia between recession and renewal – hits all the buttons and makes the case for urgent action on how the country is being run – or more to the point how bad our governments have been for at least the last decade on so many things that effect the long term viable of the place.
Being Turnbulled
Australia is being Turnbulled, again
click on the image above for the story from The Huffington Post
Urban Redevelopment Awards for Canberra
Sometimes you do have to wonder about things that come your way. Today I have to report on a media release that was sent around today on a new set of federal awards.
Being Turnbulled
There was another of those special announcements by the Prime Minister today that was supposed to impress.
After so many months of muddle – we now have ‘decisive’ and bold’ actions. Sadly they have so far proved to be mostly hot air. But the press has been impressed.
Wei Leng Tay—The Other Shore
Click on image for the exhibition details at China In The World (ANU)
Dickson Parklands
Dickson supermarket DA
It will come as no surprise to anyone that knows me that I will be lodging comments on the revised Dickson Development Application: 201426717.
Being Turnbulled
Australia is being Turnbulled – again
Australia has had its shared of ‘being turnbulled’ this week. Most of the press as portrayed the Prime Minister’s announcements in a positive light. Whereas the truth is that he has continued to make a mess of things.
Architecture
Most people normally go to a speech or presentation expecting to enjoy themselves and possibly to learn something or to be challenged by a set of views put forward. Here’s one presentation that mystifies!
Supermarket Monsters
Book Review
Supermarket Monsters:
The Price of Coles and Woolworths’ Dominance
This is yet another excellent quarterly publication by Redbacks Books – a subset of Black inc Books – publishers of The Monthly and the Saturday Paper.
Shetland
Review TV program on DVD: Shetland
There are several good crime dramas coming out of the UK that have a common theme – being a police unit in a region of the UK well away from metropolitan areas. Shetland is one these – the stories being located on the islands off the north east of Scotland. It is a good series – and for those who like their frequent dose of crime/ police/ dramas – this series is definitely recommended.
Being Turnbulled
There are many nasty things about the current Turnbull government. Granted he is not Abbott, but he has instead installed a very strange set of protocols for how he deals with – or not deals with – many difficult issues.
Canberra needs more trees, not less
The first impression of Canberra from the north is of trees.
CULTUREGRRL by Lee Rosenbaum
The frustration of reading visual arts reviews is that many reviewers no longer express opinions.
Elton John’s Photos at the Tate
Helen Muspratt photographer
click on image
IMPRINT: photography at AGNSW
Imprint – photography and the impressionable image.
Art Gallery of NSW till 18 May 2016
Modernists at the AGNSW
Modernists: highlights from the European collection, till 25 April 2016
Colesworth dominance of Canberra
It has been absolutely no surprise that the ACCC has given the go-ahead for Coles to buy out five Supabarn stores, with three of them being here in Canberra.
Searching for Canberra’s planning authority
The good people of Canberra, when they are in an optimistic mood, still believe there is a planning authority (ACTPLA) that consists of a learned group of experts who collectively make evidenced based and objective decisions on planning and development.
Continue reading Searching for Canberra’s planning authority
Mediocre design comes to Dickson
I don’t think the residents will be holding celebrations about what is being proposed for the new supermarket complex here in downtown Dickson.
Malcolm Turnbull cultural vandal
Feminism has failed and needs a radical rethink
International Women’s Day 2016
Malcolm Turnbull cultural vandal
click on image for story
The failure in Canberra’s domestic architecture
Along with some very pointed questions that were posed at the recent talk at the Albert Hall, there were a couple about the lack of government leadership in emphasizing the value of good design and the importance of architecture.
Continue reading The failure in Canberra’s domestic architecture
Econobabble
Book Review
Econobabble: How to Decode Political Spin and Economic Nonsense, Richard Denniss 2016
This is the latest in the excellence series, Redback Quartery. And it is a good read – recommended.
Malcolm Turnbull cultural vandal
Mike Jones, University of Melbourne and Deb Verhoeven, Deakin University. This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Mount Ainslie lookout designers announced
Take a very hot day, take a small crowd of press and politicians and a few designers – and where would you head on a day of 36 degrees in Canberra.
Malcolm Turnbull cultural vandal
Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister is overseeing the vandalism of this country’s national cultural institutions. And he smiles so patronising while this is happening!
Manuka oval development proposal
There’s one thing you can say about the present Chief Minister and his government, is that when it comes to dealing with residents over matters to do with urban development, they really know how to get people off-side right from the start with any and every proposal.
Canberra Tales: Lake George
Let’s start with the reality of this claim. Lake George is not in the ACT.
Dickson planning ad hockery
Anyone who has been through the Dickson shops lately will have noticed an unsettling trend. The number of vacancies is increasing.
photography
The fog around Heritage Strategy
The ACT Government has commenced a period of consultations for the development of a five-year heritage strategy (see links below this post).
Greening the city & health
Here’s a few links on current research and commentary on green spaces, our cities and health.
ACT Planning Minister seeks an idea
On a recent visit to Wollongong I observed the notices for and then read about the consultations for a major project: Wollongong – A City for People. Being a frequent visitor to this wonderful coastal city, I have some understanding of the urban issues facing that city’s local council.
Taking time in the landscape
I like to drive. I enjoy the drive to and from Sydney. It is not everyone’s favourite drive but I find there is always something happening and there are always changes due to the weather and/or the season.
National Gallery Singapore
click on image above for the story about this very successful new national gallery.
Wollongong
Brand Canberra follies
Mansplaining a qualification for being a federal bloke
another male federal politician, another of Malcolm Turnbull’s chosen boys, demonstrates how being patronizing to women must be a qualification for being in the Turnbull government.
Continue reading Mansplaining a qualification for being a federal bloke
Urban Renewal in Canberra
There’s a talk at the Albert Hall here in Canberra on Tuesday 16th February. The title for this session definitely sounds as though a focus group of bureaucrats have signed off on it.
Natalie Merchant
Credlin & Co
Credlin & Co.Wollongong – urban opportunities?
There is some brilliant work being delivered within the public realm by local governments across Australia.
Australia’s shameful behaviour
Australia continues with inhumane treatment of people who were legal refugees.
Talking Plants
Interested in all things to do with the garden – and listening to people’s discussions around gardens? Talking Plants is a recommended program from Radio National on the ABC. Here’s a link to the program’s web page – click here.
Someone had the audacity to call green-walls – nothing but horticultural bling! Yes – totally agree.
Shimmer at Wollongong City Gallery
Brandy Clark
Video above for Brandy’s new single (2016) and for her 2013 album – click here.
Public Art Festival – Contour 556
Advance notice for a Canberra Public Art Festival for later in 2016.
Contour 556 is to be a three-week public art festival in Canberra 21 October – 13 November 2016 on the foreshores of Lake Burley Griffin (and other locations). Continue reading Public Art Festival – Contour 556
Billboards – what billboards?
Billboards have long been part of our culture and have been popping up here there and anywhere all over the place throughout the world. We seem to love to clutter up our landscape with anything that makes money.
River
TV Review: River
A new six part series shown on the BBC late in 2015. Totally recommended.
This is not quite your usual detective drama. In fact it is so good, that I along with a couple of commentators hope that they do not try to make a second series. It was a great series and the ending was very complete – they do not need to revisit this story.
Sculpture walk through Civic
When reading the latest thought bubbles from the property lobby, it was difficult to avoid laughing out loud.
Neil Young
Australia Day is as good a day as any to replay this video clip – just a reminder of what we used to be – but as yet are yet to put aside.
Northbourne Ave
The ACT Government has released an updated overview of its planning for the redevelopment of Northbourne Ave.
More dogs, ducks and dubious decisons
A couple of follow ups to the previous post on Dogs, ducks and dubious decisions
Public Forum: Urban Renewal
Photographs of 1930s China by Stanley O. Gregory
Canberra Sculpture Walk proposal
When reading the latest thought bubbles from the property lobby, it was difficult to avoid laughing out loud. In their quest to improve Civic business activity, the Civic property lobby has recommended that the ACT Government should hand over money to assist in the refurbishment of the Melbourne and Sydney buildings.
Dutton spud
click on image for the story from Independent Australia
Singapore International Photography Festival 2016
Open Call – Singapore International Photography Festival 2016 – click on graphic above
photography
Helen Levitt at Laurence Miller
Dogs, ducks and dubious decisions
The Dickson Wetlands have been a success both as a water-engineering project (providing water for the nearby sports grounds) and as attractive open space parkland.
Canberra Tales: Parliamentary Gardens
There are many tales to be told about the design and the delivery of Australia’s Parliament House. There is one that involves a very clever person who realised he had the opportunity to use an everyday object as part of his own business branding.