Thought

collage by VUHwex @ deviantart

"a word is a microcosm of human consciousness"

- L.S. VYGOTSKY

Somersault

I don't intend to only be writing about films lately. There just happens to be a lot of powerful movies that I have watched recently that I have so many thoughts about! So I shall continue commenting on them...

Although released in 2004, it wasn't until this week been that I finally had the chance to view Cate Shortland's film Somersault. I didn't have a clue what to expect with this movie, I just knew that it was Aussie, it starred Abbie Cornish, and that Decoder Ring made the soundtrack for the film. In fact, I purchased the soundtrack so long ago, I've been intrigued to see the imagery that goes with what I'd recognised as somewhat whimsical music.

Somersault is barely whimsical. Aside from the scenery and cinematography you experience via Heidi's walks and her drive home, the movie proves to be more of an occer, sex-centred, smack in the face. But not in a bad way.

It speaks about adolescence and egocentricism; the choices you make at this time in your life, and amongst all of this; an exploration of sexuality.

Though seriously engaging, it wasn't until the following day that I thought, 'shit, I love this film'. Well, probably not just like that, but you get my meaning.

From my own personal reading of the film: I loved the inclusion of the boy with Aspergers Syndrome. Heidi originally doesn't know what this "disability" is, and seems to be very contemplative about it once it is explained to her. I like to think that she finally understands the consequences of her actions and how they effect others (how she hurts people) when meditating on this. My reading, of course, would differ to others who have seen the film.

And then there's the soundtrack I mentioned... Just amazing. I forgot how much I love Decoder Ring.

Somersault just goes to show, Australia's got talent.

The Muse Bids Farewell

pencil

Song

"...the origins of speech lie in song, and the origins of song in the need to fill out with sound the overlarge and rather empty human soul."
David Lurie in Disgrace - J.M. Coetzee

Above artist unknown

Cause and Effect

An overcrowded car park at the Burswood had us abandon seeing 'Nowhere Boy' at the outdoor cinema in the Parklands there, only to go on an adventure to UWA's Sommerville Auditorium:

to sit;
to eat;
to see the extremes that love and relationships can push you to.

And by extremes, I mean the utterly insane things you will do for a lover, and your own happiness.

Leaving (a French film playing for the Perth International Arts Festival) attempts to put you in the shoes of a middle-class woman who is in a boring relationship with her husband of 20 years, finding herself in a position of falling for another man who is far less well off. For me, it challenged what's considered "right" and "wrong" by social standards, by having you connect with this woman and her emotion for this man, and boldly contrasting it with the relationship she had with her husband.

While adultery, stealth and murder are all crimes frowned upon by society, the film made me think... Well hey! I can't say I wouldn't be so crazy to want to do all of those things for the person I so loved either... And I would not put up with an abusive psycho husband either...

And then of course you end up confused because you'd hope you'd have more brains than this woman if you did find yourself in this position, because she really just fucked things right up now, didn't she?

It's a bit of a Catcher in the Rye moment - and is definitely a film that will just as easily stick in my mind for some time.

Bright Star

If ever you seek the most beautiful of worlds, it's possible to find the entry to such place via the scenes, words and portrayals captured in Bright Star (produced by Carolina Hewitt, Jan Chapman, and David M. Thompson)

"She found me roots of relish sweet,

And honey wild, and manna dew;

And sure in language strange she said,

I love thee true."

Christmas Faerie

Wishing you all the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year; Have a magical 2010

Chloe in Frankie

Mistaken Youth

coloured pencil

To Think

watercolour

There was a rather thick layer of dust covering my art things when I pulled them out today. It's been a while...

Imagine

Imagine... Yoko Ono's advice to artists and musicians: "Just keep creating"

She may have got some laughs when she rambled on about the "wide ocean" that we consider the universe, but she made a very good point. Just to paraphrase a fair bit: if you are creating and getting your ideas and work out there, it's influencing somebody or something, somewhere and somehow. Never think that it's not reaching anybody.

If we start off small, we're going to have some sort of impact... which might end up being bigger than we could imagine

Spring

life works in cycles
we are forever changing and blossoming
we are extraordinary

What's the Go?

Just an extended update on recent events


As of yesterday I officially finished my first prac! Amazingly I passed. It was definitely a learning experience. There is so much that you find out about yourself when you're thrown into a situation where you're forced to teach groups of teenagers, and all the while you have people judging you on your level of skills and knowledge.


Being a shy person, just speaking to large groups of people on a daily basis was a big step forward for me! So really I don't mind if my delivery got picked on by my mentor or supervisor, or if they tell me I need to work on particular things. I've started to grow. I'll keep on growing. I now have some idea as to what is required for me to be the best I can be :) A little bit of scrutiny can be a good thing in this respect.


Not only did I learn so much about my planning, presence and delivery, I also learnt how much knowledge is out there that I still need to get my little hands on! Books, books and more books. Resources upon resources. Photocopy upon photocopy. I took so many photocopies of resources away with me, I'm going to struggle to go through them. It's incredible. I was so excited to find these little gems and be allowed to take whatever I pleased.


This first teaching prac was jam packed full of inspiration. The work that upperschool students were creating was amazing. I got so many ideas for my own practices from them (mostly because I never studied art in upperschool myself, so have only learnt some mere basics at uni), as well as books I was shown, and first-hand crash-courses - such as the one provided by Trish the technician. She showed me some basics in using watercolours, which was lovely of her. She is an incredible watercolourist / botanical artist and I hope she illustrates magical children books one day!


You know what's terrible... I'd never seen the feathering technique using coloured pencils before a couple of weeks ago at the Year 12 exhibition. So I gave it a try and gave some poor girl a crappy nose and a mong eye, haha.




Today I also went ahead and bought myself some "end of prac" presents



They were expensive, but will be worth it - and I'm so excited about owning them! I had been shown 'The New Acrylics' by the technician / seen it on the bookshelf in the Art Dept. at the school, and it's just packed full of some great techniques and information. So this version will be very useful. As will the 'Complete Painting and Drawing Handbook' for explicitly teaching concepts that I just automatically might go and do in an artwork without thinking about. Some great ideas in it!

So yay. Now I have a week "break" - which is really just me working on boring assignments that are due one on top of the other for the rest of the term, so yay for me and my wonderous uni life. Before I know it, Summer will be around and I'll be turning 21!

Speaking of Summer... Do watch '500 Days of Summer'. Funniest, most devastating movie, ever.

All That Shines

Sometimes we all need a little reminding that

life is full of opportunities and endless possibilities

In the midst of my uni studies, I'm getting the opportunity to work with students with special needs (yet to happen, trying to organise that). I'm also about to go on a Professional Practice at a Catholic college close to home for 3 weeks to learn about the school environment and the rather complex role that teachers play. I get to play teacher!! To all those big kids who once died to play "schools" when they were younger, wanting to get first dibbs on teaching the "class"... Eat your hearts out. I'm insanely anxious and excited all at the same time.

And now that I finally have my drivers license... well! I am looking forward to one hell of a summer. Please come out soon little Sun? And keep me warm?

"We cannot meet or be met if we don't speak up, or take a chance. Let's all boldly talk to new people!" - SARK

If Time Really Was Physical Money (...I'd be rich right now)

I suppose one bonus of being home is that I've actually had time to draw...

original pencil drawing has been photographed + hue, midtone and contrast very slightly adjusted (digitally)

Busted Strings

Tickets to Josh Pyke's Variations Tour go on sale tomorrow, and I'm keen keen keen to get my paws on them! I've never seen this fellow live before, and I believe sooner is always better than later.

His Perth show is going to be held at the Fremantle Arts Centre on November 6 (probably exam time for the good majority of uni students), and I imagine that with the booking fee the price will be somewhere between $45-$50 each.

I figure I'll just buy two and see who waves their hands in the air to be my super-dooper company for the evening :)

I've Heard of Blue Monday

...but why do I get to endure a Blue Tuesday?

I'm still sick with this cold/flu like thing, and I'm really keen to just get better!

Cold n' flu tablets are my best friend at the moment, seeing as they seem to keep me functioning to some degree.

Also enjoying heading out to the cinemas a bit lately, and apparently needing the whole popcorn/chocolate/diet coke experience (hello winter kilos). I've had my dose of magic thanks to finally seeing Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince with the sistie on the weekend, and as for today... well... with too much shame to name the movie, I was inspired to learn the Hoedown Throwdown. Ohyeah, that's right.

Now all I need is some sleep and to see if I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow afternoon - eek!

Safe & SOUND

Favourite Bands of All Time

• Angus and Julia Stone
• Coldplay
• Gotye (one-man-band?)
• Tool
• Gyroscope
• Karnivool
• The Mars Volta
• MUSE
• A Perfect Circle

When I think of favourites, I think of bands whose CDs I own; who I've listened to over and over in my adolescence; who I still love now and have never managed to get sick of over so many years. For that reason, a lot of bands I do really like haven't made the list (I might not be so well acquainted with them as the ones listed above). A lot of older bands that I appreciate aren't in that main list either, mostly because I've never spent a lot of time listening to those bands - and can't digest that era so well... Otherwise I'd def be mentioning The Beatles and possibly some other classic bands that were the geniuses behind the genres.

I also failed to mention amazing singer/songwriters, as I wasn't sure if they were meant for this list. I'd have to include Jack Johnson, Josh Pyke and Lior. I'm considering adding Missy Higgins and Lisa Mitchell to that list as well.

There's always a little self-revelation that comes from writing these lists, which is what makes me love writing them. Today's lesson: I MUST EXPAND MY MUSIC KNOWLEDGE. I feel terrible to not have a better idea about the music of past eras. Sure, I've heard a good deal of songs thanks to dad, but I've never really sat with them and made time to really get to listen to them. There's a difference between hearing and listening for me. Unfortunately I need to get hold of entire albums to do this, otherwise it just doesn't happen. There's something a little less magic about music downloads on the computer.

Perhaps now's the time to raid a 70s-music CD collection

I Am He As You Are Me...

Image by Fairy-Bluebird @deviantart

"If we do not use fully who we are, then who are we?" - SARK

Difficult To See You In This Light

A series of drawings to come... hopefully; Inspired by recent events.