Stinky hippies and buff surfer boys

Just a quick note from the road. 

We spent the first three days fishing in Iluka and surprisingly had an absolute ball. The weather was fantastic, fish aplenty and we managed to find the perfect lil camping ground with ocean-views and all. Bonus.

Now we've been spending the last couple of days around Byron Bay sussing out the area. Not such a big fan of any of the coastal towns to be honest. Too touristy, too many hippies and too strong surfing culture. Just not my thing.

On the other hand, Bangalow area up the hills was perfect. Once I grow up and get old, I want to get a lil house on top of a hill, miles away from anyone, with a dozen dogs and kazillion chooks running around the property and a shotgun to keep the neighbours away. Yes. I could definitely do that.

Today we are planning to drive across the bridge from Tweed Heads to Coolangatta - just so Deviant can say he's been in Queensland.

Also, I need to do some shopping. I must find the ultimate pair of heels as a continuation to my latest video work. But more on that when I get the idea shaped up a bit more...

'I used to have a soul, now I have shoes' (2008)

And there was shoes...

Bring on tomorrow night's opening!

Finally finished my video AND was able to export it in a format that didn't screw with the frame rate once burned onto a DVD. Judging by the pile of fucked up DVDs on my desk it took just as many goes as it felt like.

Just got back from the gallery and was lucky enough to pick a choice monitor for myself too. Can't wait to see my latest baby up and running.

Its been ages since any of my videos have been exhibited (yes, I'm well aware what a lazy old cunt I am) and now I'm quite excited to see people reacting to my work after such a long break.

Especially since this new work is quite different to my old pieces in the sense that it contains no sexual references or pornographic material what so ever...

Such a good girl

Bunnies, I showed an incredible degree of backbone yesterday and turned down a piss-up to finish my latest video.

I was invited to go and see an exclusive live showcase of two VERY cool oz bands (plus a blonde Swedish skanky flashback from the 90's) with my workmates and I reckon it would have been a ball and a biscuit.

Unfortunately I had some work left on my video and as the opening is next Wednesday and I'm planning to go away for the w/e, it really had to be done.

I hope my workmates drank for me too, cause I have a feeling they had a blast.

Oh well, I'll just have to wait for the next time and make up for it...

Shoot - done!

Feel like such a good girl! Finally was able to arrange the shoot for my new video work and so far I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The only problem is, that I just realised that I don't have the tools for editing my video. I was sort of hoping I could use iMovie to throw the stills together, but the bloody thing has very limited options as far as photos or stills go.

Crap.

Do I need to get Final Cut Pro, or is there any other Mac video tools out there that would be great for animating stills?

The pain of inspiration

Oh gawd. That time is starting again. The frustration of the moment before the beginning of the creative process is stepping aside and the pain of inspiration is kicking in.

It started last night. I went to bed normally, but instead of falling asleep instantly as I usually do, I was lying wide awake staring at the ceiling coming up with ideas.

As always, it started with a title. And after that it just escalated. I came up with the idea for the whole video, how to film it, edit it, the lot, all while I was supposed to be sleeping.

It got so bad I had to get up just to write it all down so I wouldn't forget it. Now I can't shake it out of my mind.

The creative process has started and I can't wait to begin the actual production.

No porn this time tho bunnies... this video will be an honest confession without the aid of pornographic material.

Back on the horse - in more ways than one

Such a good girl I am. I *finally* dragged my arse back to the gym last night.

It's been way too long since I stopped going and it felt so good being back. Mind you, I could have thought about my approach just a lil bit further. Just like getting back to running by rushing on a quarter of a marathon, I decided to give the cycle classes a go.

There was a few points in the program where my heart rate got so high that I nearly hurled. BUT I did survive the class, even if I had to take it a bit easier at some stages. Felt fantastic as soon as I got home tho.

***

On another front, looks like my sneaky artist friend has finally found a way to force me back into creating work. He's been giving me these insane lectures every time I see him - telling me that I have got to keep doing stuff and get back to my art practice.

I've been able to escape it so far, but now he emailed me informing that he's reserved a screen for me in a 13 screen exhibition he's curating. How could I say no to that?

Well, I'm actually super excited about this and have some new ideas racing in the back of my head already.

I think this will be good.

Will keep you posted bunnies.

***

And last but not least, here's a few piccies from Miss Pearl's wedding. Don't have a good shot of the happy couple yet, but will surely post one as soon as I get my hands on one.

All cultural and shit with Sydney Festival

Bunnies, it has been a good week.

Work's been hectic in a positive manner. I've had shitloads to do, but I've been able to concentrate on what I was doing well enough to enjoy it. I have been creating something I could easily stand behind and believe in.

If the customer has the balls to go with it that is. But hey, here's hoping.

On another front, I've finally been able to get active on Sydney Festival. There's so much to see, its impossible to know where to start!

A workmate of mine offered me a ticket to see the new performance by Chunky Move, so I suppose that provided me with a starting point as good as any. All the good old drunkards showed up and we were treated to a very entertaining - even if a bit technology masturbation heavy - show. It was great to see everyone again after such a long break and we enjoyed the rest of the night drinking outside the Spiegeltent.

That was Thursday. On Friday, I was alerted about a Finnish act playing at Angel Place.

A mate of mine had spotted a local radio advertising a quirky Finnish jazz act Iiro Rantala New Trio. What made them interesting is that they have replaced the drummer with a young lil beatboxing kid. Now, usually I really am not into scratching or beatboxing of any of that crap, but fuck me this kid was good!

And last but least, I caught an article on SMH introducing this bizarre Finnish man and his accordion. Kimmo Pohjola is apparently the new born Jimi Hendrix of the accordion and surely enough I had to witness his act.

Conveniently he was on at Angel Place right after Iiro Rantala New Trio so we ended up being both last night. The amount of bizarre demons this guy could magically summon with his electronic accordion was truly amazing. A fantastic show!

Chunky Move

Iiro Rantala New Trio

Kimmo Pohjola

universe from the creator of we feel fine

universe by jonathan harris

another brilliant online work of art. not quite as easy to get lost in as we feel fine, but still very engaging and impressive. even more so after seeing this video of the artist discussing his work.

good shit

i don't think i've been this inspired by porcelain since i first encountered jeff koons! justin novak bunnies. give him a go. [via]

brilliant stop motion art

quite enjoyed this even tho i think it could have been cut down to the magical length of 3 mins...

tuesday, sunny tuesday...

well, today seems to be starting a lot better than yesterday.

not only did i wake up with deviant tightly wrapped around me (which is by far my fav way of starting a day) but also, the first thing i read this morning was an email inviting me to submit my work to another exhibition in europe.

this london based curator emailed me suggesting that i should submit my work to be considered for her next exhibition in london. the event sounds perfect for my babies and what's best, the dl for the submissions is 3 weeks after my viva voce. so i have enough time to do this one well too. sweet.

london would be cool. that'd be one of the big ones ticked off my list.

--

also, today is potentially a good day for house hunting. i'm seeing apartment no4 which is on a street i love and sounds fantastic. keep your fingers crossed bunnies!

save uws arts

i received this email from sari and decided to post it since i know a lot of uws ppl read this blog.

Dear all,

As past students of UWS Fine Arts and as Western Sydney artists we are concerned both about the future of this course and effectively the resilience of art in the west without such a course to nurture and support future generations of Western Sydney artists.

We have set up a blog to initiate dialogue for all interested parties and on which we will post details of any upcoming events or protests that will promote the necessity of preserving Arts in the West. Please forward this email to any current students, past students, Western Sydney artists, and other interested parties.

Click on the link below to access the blog and please post or email any comments or suggestions you have as well as any relevant websites you would like us to link up to the blog.

http://saveuwsarts.blogspot.com/

From: Sari Kivinen (Spokesperson)

inspired out of my brain

funny times bunnies.

i've been so incredibly inspired this week that its borderline scary. i'm coming up with new ideas for art works every day and its getting so overwhelming that i'm starting to forget them. i've actually had to start a new journal on macjournal just to store the ideas.

i've got 5 new works on my to-do list and all of them have formed in my head between monday and thursday.

mebbe the inability to vent out the creative energy through sex has transformed into a need to create? fuck. does this mean that to be inspired i must stop having sex? now there's a scary thought if i've ever seen one!

anyhoo, the latest one popped up in my head yesterday as i was walking home from work. and now i need a polaroid camera. i've always wanted one but since the film is sooooo bloody expensive, i've never been able to justify buying it.

what's a good (and cheap) polaroid camera? where can i buy one around cbd sydney / online .au stores?

by the way, if any of you mac using uber-bunnies are also blogger / livejournal users: macjournal kicks arse.