There’s so much about life – about people – that I struggle to understand sometimes. En suite bathrooms, for example. What’s the appeal in having your toilet in such close proximity to your bed? There was a time it could be found as far away from the house as was reasonably possible. Not anymore.
The quote: ‘You come into this world alone and you die alone’ While the last part is so often, and sadly, true, the first part seems as far from the truth as I can imagine. When are we ever closer to someone (our mothers) than when we’re born? Not to mention all the others in the room - a team of health professionals, a partner and quite possibly another friend or relative. Coming into the world alone - I don’t think so.
Abbreviations! Why is it that we have to reduce so much of what we say to letters? The latest I’ve been hearing is Ts and Cs. How hard is it to say Terms and Conditions? And how about those who sign off on their correspondence with no more than a letter – is it really so hard or so time-consuming to write your own name? Others sign off with ‘Best’. Best what?
So, technology, life, the universe and everything else aside, what’s been happening? Some weeks ago I paid my $20 fee to take part in the Biblio Art Prize, run by Blarney Books and Art in Victoria . What a great concept this is. I was so pleased to learn the following day that the book I’d been allocated was Vanessa McCausland’s The Lost Summers of Driftwood. Not only was it a really engaging story, but I knew immediately how I wanted to translate Vanessa’s story into a painting. And having posted a couple of details of my work in progress on Instagram, Vanessa responded with: ‘I absolutely love your painting. I feel you’ve completely captured the atmosphere of my book!’
This year Blarney is using only Australian titles published and released in the last 12 months – their way of supporting authors whose book releases may have suffered due to Covid-19. And there’s exciting news on that front, too, as they’ve included Sophie’s Sister in their list of allocated titles. Thank you to Jo Canham at Blarney Books and Art.
Coming up (all going well):
Ku-ring-gai Art Society’s Spring Exhibition at the St Ives Shopping Village (14 to 27 September)
Open studio (24 and 25 October)
Until next month.