Outback in May (continued)

We were away for around a week, cutting an arc from Broken Hill, through to White Cliffs, on up to Tibooburra and surrounds, and back down to Broken Hill. Len was glad to be back in his old country, and I was taking it all in as a new thing, once we were 1/2 hour out of Broken Hill.

We took a little run along a creek in that creek country an hour out of Broken Hill, noticing the thick vegetation borne of the summer rains. Impassable scrub- driftwood hanging high.

Len drove out to Mootwingie on the chance of it being open. It wasn't. 50 km, buck, yaw, banging hazardous- note- all for want of a sign at the road in blokes!

Horizontal mutterings. Past Nuntherungie-  lunch and a look in and around the dried creek.
 Middens, goats and hawks were about, ancient voices seemed possible in the wide curves - the afternoon falling momentarily silent of human discussion as we walked seperately.

On re-connection we spoke of place- and seen wonders. Standing observation of the looming afternoon revealed western potentials for downpour, and with us being about 800 metres off- road in eroded sand, the decision was taken to get out onto the road, and immediately off to visit White Cliffs township. Some rocking horse 4wd'ing, some cigarettes & standing guidance, and away- wide- eyed- and away..

( to be continued )

Hydra, or Serpent in the Sky

 from look o'er skye
there ever
 amongst the dark
 light
shines
 an eternal beam

 in woman & boy
heart to heart, dancing

Over earth, over ground
 geared ratios and
desire proud and present

where sleeps and fires fly in wind, sighing


modern atmospheres
 stampede
in exhalation
 in dreams
 in talkings
stampede in rest

 stars and elders
 witness elders to be


navigations, tribulations
under feet of seasons
followed,
worshipped,
stars wander dark



 watched
by listening stars








( to be continued)

Outback- a week in May

I was very generously offered an opportunity by the wonderfully capable artist Len Vodic to tour his native far north-western New South Wales. Len would come to rue my incoherent preparations and ridiculous baggage, however we emerged relatively intact from a week away, with Len able to celebrate mother's day with mum , who most graciously supplied us with shelter on entry/ exit nights of our tour. Thank you Ola.

The country was in rare shape, grass all over and animals numerous on the back of big summer rains. Big black wedge tail eagles, hordes of 'roos & emus, goats, and a wonderful array of birds. Green creeks , profuse to confusion. I particularly enjoyed seeing the numerous raptors.

We book-ended our mini- odyssey in mythic Broken Hill, the magical city, the silver city. I love to see it; the lateral black firmament behind Argent Street. The Iron sheet alleys, the broad streets with deep gutter preparations. Suburban South, West and North,  the infrastructures, grids, radio, the B.I.U,  the wonderful women and the mythic men, the underground soul.
Len's city- centre sandstone sculptures- Job in the Civic Centre garden.  Feel the history , past and future, with pieces yet to place.

Distilling Australia as city,  an oasis bared to wild airs and the red ground and eternal seasons of outback.

( to be continued)

Going bush

Going bush

Going bush for 10 or so days.
Packing gear, art gear packed.
 Food & clothes now.

Hope to return with a good body of work.

Cheers,
      

Steve

The homebuilt car of an enterprising restaurant owner, Unley

watercolour with electric filter, 12x8 inches

Grey day, Mount Pleasant

watercolor on paper

Time re-arranges my think furniture.
At the doing I howled in protest- "this picture is killing me". However, this picture now stands as account of the most pleasant time of my week passed.

'The Men'

'The Men' was a dramatic presentation seen in the Spiegeltent in 2002. Presented by Theatre Susso, this piece  focussed on manhood and it's challenges of social & economic distortion.

These sketches were drawn during the performance.

Big brush & the other paint

Deed Street was a watercolour sky study painted with a big # 12 brush in seven minutes. Salisbury is acrylic on board, (1/2 hour).

Totally Gourdgeous

A visit of the ancient upon the society electric. Charcoal sketch, 12 x 8 "

Saturday afternoon

Modern Saturday. Leisure & work mingle until night's swing .

Moonlight Buddha

A resting place, a moon, full and across

Rest & ready; trumpeter, Spiegeltent

 Afternoon's convergence into the light musical .

King's July Road

Watercolor and electric media

Oh, clock; Afternoon Shift

Found the clock, above the door through which I shall walk home.
- Afternoon employment, on a printing press floor.

American Graffiti- Drive In Thursday

I like old cars. I was able to partake in a product launch, a generous offer. A hot- rod theme took place- at the last remaining Drive In Movie theatre in Adelaide.


( thanks to Bob Wallis, Frieghtliner, and my brother)

Sunny Sunday, Rymill Park

Access sunshine. Boats. Ducklings and babies learning, curvy swans. Fresh & actual.

Beach Holiday

Watercolour

New Year Eve

Make way for a sketch-  margheritas soon, will with friendly fun & a billion stars, arrive.

Summer afternoon in Leasingham

For you- For you

I was painting the wonderful gap you see here between these two houses. A motorcyclist rode in, up through the carport, and away, into the back yard. A while later, an electrified voice excited invisibly from the house, loud and dead-pan, filling my ears-

" F___ YOU.                                    .. F___ YOU."


   I was the only person in sight. Thus equipped, anew with transistorial experience, I continued the sitting, aware of a blinking, lonely strangeness arrived upon the dry possessions of suburban Australia.



Watercolour, Arches rough 300 paper

Wednesnight

I took a muso friend to the studio. The band starts to jam. Hungry, I stroll next door & order pizza. I painted this 'in-between' moment, in between slices, al-fresco. (Watercolor, Arches 300 medium paper)

Under wings

Tin sheds- old man memory banks. Beanstalks & washing lines sway lazy with Boeings. En-route with thier thousand eyes.

Brush big out front

Here I use bigger brushes.

Internet communication has limits- such is here, a distorted glimpse.

Pigface

Plien- air Watercolour on paper