Tag Archives: art

BOFA

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We recently ventured to Launceston to experience the Breath of Fresh Air (BOFA) Film Festival. Michael had an entry selected for screening in the short film competition and we thought it a great excuse for a weekend away.

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The festival was held at the Inveresk Precinct. Originally Tasmania’s largest industrial site, it is now an education and arts hub. The original industrial buildings remain

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and are now interfused with some modern elements.

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I love this tree outside the Big Picture School.

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The movies were shown in various buildings throughout the precinct, our first viewing was in The Annexe.

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A fabulous gabion rhinoceros stood guard at the entrance

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or was he heading for the coffee van?

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We relaxed with a coffee in the comfortable lounge

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before viewing a wonderful movie, Kedi. Although not particularly cat lovers, we enjoyed the story of the cats in Istanbul and the interaction with the people in their lives. Perhaps humans could learn a thing or two from cats after all. http://www.kedifilm.com/about/#aboutkedi
We lunched at Blue Café Bar at the precinct, the wood fired pizzas were amazing – we chose pulled pork shoulder, pickled jalapeño, avocado, coriander & crème fraiche.

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Also located at the Inveresk Precinct is the Launceston Tramway Museum. You can step back to the 1940s with a ride on Tram No. 29, Launceston’s only surviving double bogie tram,

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lovingly restored over seven years.

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We returned later to the Festival Lounge to enjoy beverages and the award presentation

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before a walk in the rain and superb dining experience at Brisbane Street Bistro (sorry, I didn’t take photos). Next morning, we started the day with a hearty breakfast at Café one0six. The Breakfast Burger and Eggs Benedict hit the spot.

We headed back to Inveresk for one more movie, the Romanian film, Graduation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBCPZhdJYLA It was quite sombre and gave us much to ponder on our drive home.
Michael’s entry in the short film competition, Invisible, can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdGHAmIEjM8

Makers’ Workshop

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Makers’ Workshop opened in Burnie in 2009 as a place to honour the history, makers, innovators and artists of northwest Tasmania. The building, although criticized by some, won the Tasmanian Architectural Award in May 2010.

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It is a marvellous place to wander and absorb the myriad resident artists and their creations. From hats and jewellery

to glassware

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and hand-painted silk scarves.

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There is an area set out to watch the artisans at work.

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The fantastic retail space showcases the work beautifully and makes it very hard to resist a purchase.

After all that hard spending, you can relax in the café with something delicious

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or take in the latest exhibition in the gallery.

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Both offer a panoramic view of West Beach, moody on an overcast day.

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The diverse produce of the northwest coast is proudly promoted, our world famous cheeses are irresistible.

We can learn about the local potato and poppy farming

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and see the exquisite workmanship of talented luthier, Maria Perez-Pulido.

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You can try your hand at making paper under the guidance of experienced paper makers. Many different fibres are used, including roo poo and wombat poo, apple pulp, lavender and rainforest leaves.

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The beautiful folios, journals, cards and paper products can be purchased.

There are numerous large papier mâché characters in various poses, created by artists Pam Thorne and Ruth Rees between 1996 and 2007.

This magnificent garment was made by Pam, patiently twisting sewing pattern paper into lengths of ‘yarn’ to then carefully knit a gorgeous jacket.

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The northwest coast of Tasmania has so much to offer. If you are passing, do drop in.

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Benabbio church

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The Benabbio church, Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, was first opened in the year 1336.

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The beautiful stone buildings grace the piazza of the same name.

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There is a monument commemorating a thousand years from 983 to 1983.

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Behind the church is a former chapel which has been converted to a museum

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housing religious objects hundreds of years old. One evening before dinner, we were privileged to have a guided tour of the museum, not normally open to the public.

This statue was carved out of a hollow tree trunk in the 13th century

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and the back of this one is an old wooden door.

These two wooden statues, representing the annunciation, were carved in 1394 and are in surprisingly good condition.

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Some of the expressions on the faces within this altar were quite disturbing.

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I like the floor tiles with reference to brothers and sisters.

The church was beautiful with the late afternoon sun creating a peaceful ambience.

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The carved and painted triptych hanging over the altar was made in 1469.

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The church is floodlit at night, a tradition in Italy even out in the countryside and mountains.

Firenze

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While staying at Benabbio, our wonderful friend, Debra, offered to escort we ladies on a day trip to Florence. On an overcast, drizzly morning, we drove to Lucca station and braved an hour long white-knuckle bus ride along the autostrada to Firenze (a much nicer name than Florence). We alighted the bus at the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella.

1.Piazza di Santa Maria Novella

The Basilica di Santa Maria Novella was stunning,

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a sample of thing to come.

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Our first stop was Caffe Giacosa for coffee and calories

followed by an amble along the main shopping street, window shopping along the way because we couldn’t afford to stop and buy.

Debra pointed out this interesting chap watching from the street corner.

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We made our way to the Duomo di Firenze and with the sun shining it was absolutely breathtaking.

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Nearby, the Baptistry, one of the oldest buildings in the city, constructed between 1059 and 1128, displayed its spectacular Eastern Doors. Described by Michelangelo as the Gates of Paradise, the panels took 27 years to complete.

There was a very long queue to see inside the Duomo so we opted to climb the 414 very narrow stone steps to the top of Giotto’s Campanile.

The view, as we climbed, was stunning

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and looking down on the Duomo highlighted the intricacies of the façade.

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There are seven bells in the tower and as we were standing at the top taking in the panorama of Firenze,

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all seven rang in the hour of mezzogiorno, a truly memorable moment.

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A quick look at where we had been

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and our excursion continued to the Piazza della Signoria and the statue of David

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in the shadow of the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall of Firenze.

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He is in good company with Neptune, Hercules and Perseus

and a bit further on, more friends at the Galleria degli Uffizi.

On the wall of the Palazzo Vecchio is a Michelangelo graffiti, a profile etched in one of the stone blocks.

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The Ponte Vecchio was our next destination,

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a medieval stone bridge spanning the Arno River

and occupied by an array of beautiful shops.

It was first built in 996AD and after being swept away twice, was rebuilt in 1345. Downstream….

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is the Ponte Santa Trinita, destroyed in 1944 by the retreating German troops. The original stones were retrieved from the river or taken from the same quarry to reconstruct it in 1958.

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Debra finally let us have a break and we lunched at Trattoria Bordino, a small ristorante in a very quiet lane.

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After a wonderful meal and a little vino,

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we were fortified for the afternoon. We visited the Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, the longest continually operating pharmacy in the world. The sculptures and frescoes were magnificent as we wandered through the many rooms.

Founded in 1221 by the Dominican Friars, all products are still handmade in Firenze.

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Our day was coming to a close and after a quick look around the leather market, we boarded the bus for Lucca and another animated drive home. Thank you, Debra, for those very special memories of Firenze.

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Eden Project

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We had been told about the wonders of the Eden Project by, believe it or not, a friendly parking inspector while visiting Bath. On an overcast morning, we drove to St. Austell to see for ourselves. Created in a reclaimed Cornish clay pit, the 35 acre site was a spectacular vision.

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White domes bulged from the surrounding landscape,

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their magnitude truly appreciated the nearer we walked.

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Eden Project is intended to make us think about the relationship between people and plants, as well as the sustainability of our planet. The tropical biome is fifty metres high and four of the world’s rainforest environments are re-created in nearly 4 acres.

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I was reluctant to expose my camera to the hot, steamy atmosphere

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and very relieved to enter the Mediterranean biome and a more agreeable climate.

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There were some interesting installations

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including sculptures depicting the Rites of Dionysus.

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The Greek god of the vines and his followers seem to be enjoying themselves immensely.

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The outdoor gardens represent the temperate regions of the world with more than 3,000 plant varieties.

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Meandering our way along the paths, we encountered many surprises.

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The living sculpture of Eve is made mostly of clay from Eden, she looks very relaxed amongst the trees.

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The Giant Steel Man sculpture keeps an eye on the Hemp exhibit

The Industrial Flame Plant is a comment on fossil fuels. We are warned that most varieties of the genus ‘Industrialis’ extract energy stored in fossilized plant remains from ancient forests. They convert raw materials into a variety of useful products and harmful emissions. Widespread overplanting causes environmental damage and climate change.

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WEEE Man is a 3.3 tonne, 7m high structure representing the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) the average British household throws away in a lifetime.

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The Core building is an education facility with interactive exhibits, the structure of which is based on a sunflower.

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The Nutcracker was designed to get us thinking about how much energy and resources we often use to do simple things. A wind of the handle transports a hazelnut through a series of cogs, wheels, pulleys and cranks before it is eventually cracked.

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Seed was fascinating. The 70 tonne sculpture is at the epicenter of the Core building and is carved from a single piece of granite. The complex pattern of protrusions are based upon the geometric and mathematical principles of plant growth.

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There was so much to see at Eden Project, I’m sure we missed some of it. We shall have to return one day.