The Singapore Biennale is now on till 26 February 2017.
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Shine A Light – Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad. 2016 Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Here’s a fun story about two musicians and how they made this album. They hopped on the train and then jumped off at stops along the way to record a song – while making sure they were back on board as the train left. And yes – the music is good stuff. Definitely worth a listen if you are a follower of Billy Bragg and Joe Henry. Click here for more on the album.
Being Turnbulled
The Australian Government has carried on bullying good people
All this and more is happening with the blessing of the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. The country is being Turnbulled again – or is that ‘still’. There are two good articles that address the issue of this officially sanctioned bullying. This is an international disgrace. Here’s the first – click here; and the second – click here.
Women in Art
click on image for the story in The Guardian
George Monbiot
George Monboit identifies the Trump amongst us all
Sadly our political system has been corrupted. As much as we wish we lived in a democratic country–sadly it is not so.
Stanhope to ALP MPs: Take a stand on asylum seekers
click on the image for a good report on Jon Stanhope’s message to his Labor colleagues. Note the link in the story to the full speech – it is worth reading.
Women in Museums
What to do–not to do–with a bowling club
This is a tale of an entrepreneur, a tree and a possible (lost?) good planning opportunity.
Being Turnbulled
The Curious Story of Malcolm Turnbull, the Incredible Shrinking Man in the Top Hat
Here’s a book for anyone puzzled by the current loser who is Prime Minister. I am still reading it… click here or on the image. and here’s an article by the author about his dilemma–click here. Review to follow…..
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker
Yes, there’s a new album out by our man, Leonard Cohen.
Being Turnbulled
Has Turnbull TRUMPed Abbott
a sad story about how Turnbull and his Murdoch allies are doing their best to Turnbull (stuff up) the country’s advances with renewables. Click on the image above.
Contour 556
click on image for more on this public art festival
George Monbiot & Ewan McLennan
George Monbiot & Ewan McLennan – Breaking the Spell of Loneliness
A collaboration between the writer George Monbiot and musician Ewan McLennan seeking to use music and word to open up the issue of loneliness and bring people together.
Drive north or drive south
I have posted previously about driving to Sydney – and – about the drive to Melbourne and the coffee stops along the way. Here’s a few more things to consider.
Another idiot senator
James Paterson, Institute of Public Affairs senator
Just when things were getting stupid in most sectors of Australian politics, up pops another idiot. These people vote!
American exceptionalism
America is exceptional! Because god says so. America has the right to deal with matters anywhere in the world as it wishes – because America is exceptional.
George Monbiot
on democracy – reality or myth?
click on image for the piece from The Guardian.
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama on Trump
She nailed it. How do we vote for Michelle Obama?
Neil Young
Neil Young news – coming to the 2017 Byron Bay Bluesfest – online notice click here.
Dickson parklands under threat–again
Mike Hettinger and the so called LDA–Tradies win win
The revelation by the Canberra Times of a land swap between the Land Development Agency and the CFMEU-linked Dickson Tradies Club opens the way for more dodgy deals that will harm the community.
Canberra Community Voters Candidate Mike Hettinger noted, “The land swap itself isn’t necessarily the problem. It’s what it enables the LDA and the Tradies to do in the future that should really concern us.”
OMG – in the USA today
How far the USA has travelled – down.
Googong or Canberra?
With the debate in Canberra about housing affordability, the ACT Liberals have been using a particular line in their election statements to criticise the current government’s Land Development Agency (LDA) and its handling of land prices.
weatherland
How does the weather affect us?
The creature from our worst nightmare
Image linked from a site by Amy Dickinson – click here
City for Pedestrians
Van Morrison
Music Review: Keep Me Singing, Van Morrison 2016
Here’s an album for the many Van Morrison fans. They will love it.
Art and The PM’s Lodge
NGA art on the walls of the PM’s Lodge
Have a look at the photograph above – taken from the Canberra Times.
The Auditor-General, the Chief Minister and pesky chooks
There were moments during the ‘meet the candidates’ forum in Lyneham a fortnight ago when it seemed that something was not right with the Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.
Continue reading The Auditor-General, the Chief Minister and pesky chooks
Women & Trump
click on image for the piece by Anne Summers
Free speech & Courage
click on the image above for the article from Aeon Magazine
Trust your ABC – no longer
A report that signals the ever increasing problems Australians have with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (the ABC) inaccurate reporting on issues.
ACT Government transparency and accountability 2
A few comments following our previous post on how the Chief Minister is going into the ACT Elections (15 Oct) with the past catching up to him.
Continue reading ACT Government transparency and accountability 2
ACT Government transparency and accountability
An Auditor-General’s report has been released on some questions on the operations of the ACT Government’s Land Development Agency (LDA).
Continue reading ACT Government transparency and accountability
Quarterly Essay: Trump
Enemy Within: America politics in the time of Trump
This essay by Don Watson, is totally recommended. If you are wondering what is going on with the USA and what is happening to democracy, then read this. It is not necessarily about Trump, but more about Don Watson’s observations of the American people and how they have ended up in this place – it is logical. This is in fact where the USA is today.
Facts Matter
Barbara Streisand on Trump
Good to see people at last calling out Trump on his habitual lies. click here.
Inner south residents and Kurrajong candidates
On Tuesday night there was another debate between the Kurrajong candidates and the electorate – this time staged by the Inner South Canberra Community Council.
Continue reading Inner south residents and Kurrajong candidates
ACT Heritage Forum – rating the candidates
National Trust of Australia (ACT) hosted a public Heritage Election Forum at St John’s church hall in Reid last Thursday night 22 September.
Carmageddon Beckons
Trams for Canberra
Oh- what a silly debate – Trams for Canberra
The ACT Election is happening right now. Every forum or debate eventually gets hijacked by the Liberals in the campaign to oppose the tram. Continue reading Trams for Canberra
Being Turnbulled
click on banner for the piece on The Guardian
My vote before & after the candidates meeting
I share with many others the dilemma of how to vote in the coming ACT elections.
Continue reading My vote before & after the candidates meeting
architecture
click on image for story
Being Turnbulled
New Strain of Fact-Resistant Humans
Scientists: Earth Endangered by New Strain of Fact-Resistant Humans – click on image for story
Harold Cazneaux
Harold Cazneaux at the Australian National Maritime Museum
The photographer, Harold Cazneaux is an important early 20th Century artist in the history of Australia photography.
Mawson shops on hold – why?
Earlier this year we drove south to the Mawson shops (Southlands) to shop at one of the specialist supermarkets as well as to take in a Middle Eastern brunch.
The Griffin Legacy?
From the Guardian: Canberra’s vision of the ideal city gets mired in ‘mediocrity’ by Paul Daley
Architecture
award for the worst architecture
Now here’s an idea. Should we recognise the worst architecture?
Dealing with right wing nut jobs
It was indeed a sad story to see serious journalists and scientists trying to debate with the latest of the Australia’s right wing nut jobs on TV.
It should be known well by now that there is no use in using the usual polite and logical approaches with such people. It just feeds into their well practised weird ways of arguing or debating.
Government Architect – what’s that?
Canberra is usually referred to as being a designed and/or planned city. Continue reading Government Architect – what’s that?
Architecture
more on the debate around those horrible tall buildings – click on the above banner
Cheap Milk
One would like to think that it would be reasonably easy to work out what is happening with milk pricing in Australia.
Being Turnbulled: equity
click on the image for some more wise words from Kristina
Nick Cave
A new song from Nick Cave – one you may need to stop and listen to especially when you realise when he wrote it – just after his son had died. Continue reading Nick Cave
Ageism and Women
From The Guardian UK – a piece about ageism – and how it effects women – and men. click here
The Boris legacy
Click on the image to read about the worst of Boris
Shared Spaces
contour 556
More news about Canberra’s new public art festival – to run Friday 21st October to Sunday 13th November 2016. Continue reading contour 556
Ageism and ACT politicians
Following weeks (or was that months) of questions over land dealings and major developments, and now audits being announced into departmental processes, the Chief Minister has gone on the front foot and announced an idea to change his government’s methods of consulting on ‘Urban Redevelopment’.
The weird in the arts
weird things can happen within the art world – as in all aspect of life.
Being Turnbulled – welfare
Here’s three articles that demonstrate just how bad the present federal government is when it comes to having a safety net – looking after the country’s disadvantaged peoples.
Monitoring the far right nut jobs
Keeping a perspective on the movements of the far right in Australia.
Trump to lose – nope
click here for the story – by Michael Moore on Trump’s strategy
Megalo
The art work by Annie Trevillian plus others..
Here’s a review that points to the great work being done by artists working within Megalo – a Canberra based open access print workshop. Click here.
One day soon I must tell my version of Megalo when I worked for the organisation as it was then from 1986 to 1991.
About privatisation
Another insightful piece from John Menadue – this time about: Privatisation is costing consumers and damaging economic reform. Click here.
John F Williams (1933 – 2016)
We recently heard of the death of a great Australian photographer. click on the image for more…
The Census – Turnbulled again
The government cuts the funding and now complains! Click here for the reality check – fact check – on why it happened – and who is really to blame. Yep – we have been Turnbulled again!
2016 ACT Election dilemmas
There has been a recurring conversation of late around how to vote. It was very evident during the Federal elections and has continued here in Canberra as we head towards the 15th October elections for the next ACT Government.
Why arts schools matter
Why arts schools matter, not just for art’s sake but for urban renewal in Sydney and other cities
The Art Newspaper – Still Wrong on The Bishop Museum
An update on the issue of a misleading article in The Art Newspaper. Click here and scroll down the page to see the latest on this story
Women in Politics
Being Turnbulled – The Arts
Click on the image above
Portraits of William Eggleston
click on the image for the story about the exhibition of William Eggleston
Blame the Griffins – Really?
When about 250 citizens venture out on a cold night to hear about plans for the foreshores of West Basin one would expect that they would be taken seriously.
photography at the V&A
click on the image for more…
Dickson DA goes to ACAT appeal
Following the disappointing actions by the ACT Government to approve what remains a very questionable development application for a major mixed use development on the flagship shopping centre site in Dickson, appeals are being jointly lodged by the landlord of the Woolworths supermarket plus key local community associations.
The Art Newspaper – Wrong about The Bishop Museum
An open letter to The Art Newspaper( 29 July) plus correspondence (5 August 2016)
Over many years I have accessed the Art Newspaper and when appropriate have either passed on links or have posted articles online that have links back to the Art Newspaper.
Continue reading The Art Newspaper – Wrong about The Bishop Museum
The City to Lake scam
There’s been a load of positive mainstream press about the wonders of the ACT Government’s major project for the centre of Canberra, The City to Lake Project.
Being Turnbulled – Business lobbyist
click on the image for the story from Michael West
Coffee breaks Canberra to Melbourne
Apparently if you chose to drive straight through to Melbourne from Canberra, it can take as little as just under seven hours.
Equity in the arts
click on banner for this post on The Arts Museum
Climate Change – a wake up call
click on the image for the story
ACTPLA fades away to a myth
I do not have a positive view of the planning regimes here in Canberra. Surprised?
great women on Britain’s streets
Click on image for the story of the lack of public statues depicting women in the UK.
the best of the Archibald finalists
Patchwork, ironic, serious and kitsch: the best of the Archibald finalists
Photography at Nishi Gallery – Beauty In This
Beauty In This is a wonderful photography exhibition, by Maryanne Voyazis, on for a short time at Nishi Gallery, New Acton.
Continue reading Photography at Nishi Gallery – Beauty In This
ACT Government cancels Dickson consultations
The question on the minds of residents within the inner north at the moment is how to deal with the latest shenanigans by the ACT Government around decisions for the Dickson Group Centre.
Continue reading ACT Government cancels Dickson consultations
Is planning an issue for the ACT elections?
When the ACT Government made its announcement that the DA for the supermarket complex in Dickson had been approved, it set off a curious chain of events.
Continue reading Is planning an issue for the ACT elections?
photography
Review International Center of Photography New York
There’s something going in within photography – there’s something going within many of the centres and galleries devoted to photography.
George Monbiot
The Judgement of History
Here’s George Monbiot’s piece on the crimes committed by the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ and the UK Chilcot Report. click here
Architecture
Share your space
There’s a 1989 song by Pere Ubu, Flat, that has the following lyrics, “In the early part of the 20th Century, Deep inside the American wilderness, In the state of Kansas – 82,000 square miles of flat -There were two automobile cars. On July 5th 1904 they ran into each other”.
Arts writing, Tracey Moffatt & Degas
Article and essays about the arts have become threatened species given the downturn in the newspapers.
The number of arts writers has continuously being reduced. So it is wonderful that a few survive.
Was that a dog-whistle, Chief Minister?
Sometimes the words of local politicians are a thing of wonder. Here’s a very curious story.
Dickson monstrosity approved
What does it take for the ACT Government to have vision for developments in and around my own suburb of Dickson? I’ll get back to the question.
George Monbiot
George has offered a positive take on the Brexit vote. He has published his thoughts on seeing the opportunities despite the nastiness of those who championed the exit vote. Click here.
Turnbull a FIZZA on women
The evidence continues of just how bad this man has been as Prime Minister. Click here or on the image for this sad tale. and
Turnbull – Fizza- Medicare
JOHN MENADUE. Privatisation and the hollowing out of Medicare
Here’s an article that deals with the lies being told by the present Prime minister on Medicare. Click here.
Turnbull – FIZZA – Arts
Click on the image for a piece on Turnbull avoiding a question about his destruction of the arts
Turnbull – FIZZA – housing
There’s a must read article on the lies and myths put around by the current prime Minister on the housing issue – sadly for the country and young people he is of course too close to the property lobby to fix this problem. click here.