The wifie and the wifi

Thanks Cros for the title......spent two days trying to get this computer sorted. So, advice to fellow Churchill travelers, give yourself time to get settled and legislate for things that don't quite go to plan! I am happy to say, thanks to Next Byte and Telstra, I am wireless, backed up and can get photos on line ..... soon.

Hobart is a delight, tomorrow's appointment is on and will reschedule todays. Onward and upward... Welcome to Tasmania!

Printmaking in the bush

Jeff Gardner and Kareen Anchen have established a fabulous printmakers workshop, gallery, studio, framers and home outside the picturesque town of Maldon in Victoria. The workshop editions prints of a number of prominent artists working in Australia, including Rob Maclaurin and Wendy Stavrianos. Kareen is also the youth programmer for the Castlemaine Arts Festival (more to come on this) .....

The M25

is what Rob Maclaurin refers to as his route to work ... it is actually a beautifully peaceful pathway up the garden to his amazing studio on Hoopers Road in the bush near Chewton, Castlemaine, Victoria. ... What a wonderful situation he and his family have here, isolated but near friends and within striking distance of the all important fishing. Rob, Jean, Angus and Rosie love the peace, natural environment and friendship offered so generously by many who live in the area. His landscapes in oil on linen capture the soul of Australia and record silence, colour and scale like no other ... his plein air work has a freshness and energy about it and along with his larger works tell the story of a wide range of remote parts of Australia. Rob works extremely hard to maintain his practice and to be true to the beliefs and traditions he established whilst at Edinburgh College of Art. The successful life he has created for himself and his family are testament to hard work and determination to live here after winning a Sir Robert Menzies Fellowship in 1995/6 to the Dunmoonchin Foundation Studio Residency. Rob is represented in Europe by Osborne Samuel, London and by Axia Modern Art in Melbourne.

Castlemaine XXXX

Apparently Castlemaine XXXX was started here but is now made in Brisbane ... This is a fascinating area, gold rush, first alluvial digging for gold ... must buy a spade ... Have just visited Castlemaine Art Gallery to meet the Director - Peter Perry, Curator - Kirsten MacKay and Education Officer - Kate Stones. Excellent collection and developing education programme. Huge opportunities coming up in the next year to build new audiences as they plan for an exhibition of 10 artists who came from Scotland and settled in Australia. Rob Maclaurin is one of the contemporary artists, a fellow Hospitalfield student, now living in the bush in Chewton with his family. Visiting his studio this week.

For a small regional art gallery that is privately funded mostly, they are innovative in their practice and committed to showing works of those who have not been well represented in other Australian collections, which makes this a special place to visit. Thank you to Peter, Kate and Kirsten.

Melbourne

Picked up a brochure - Autumn in Melbourne - in March there is the Melbourne Fashion Festival, 2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the Food and Wine Festival....Autumn in March.....hmmm. It is like a lovely summer day at home. Had 3 hours sleep since Friday am, I want more but need to stay awake till 8pm tonight, apparently, so just 6 ish hours to go......roll on

Leaving...

just about to board the flight to Dubai....last night at the Sculpture Workshop got some great contacts from Andrew, Stevie and Callum...thanks guys! Here I go........

Nearly ready to go

well, ok not quite, but itinerary is now set with some great projects, individuals and schools to visit ... Australia here I come! Leave on 19 March and arrive on 21 March .... weird, where do the days go .....