Monday, November 24, 2008

Overseas Visitors and McLaren Vale

On Saturday, November 15 we took our friends Noel and Marie and Marie's son Steven and his partner Tina for a trip down to McLaren Vale. We met Steve and Tina a number of years ago at Noel and Marie's and we were really thrilled to be able to show them some of our favourite haunts in McLaren Vale. Steven and Tina are based in London and both are architects with Tina specialising in designing restaurants. And both like their food!

The itinerary for the day was a pre-dinner stop at Samuel's Gorge Winery which has wonderful views of the Onkaparinga Gorge wall and on the other side of the ridge, the valley that encompasses McLaren Vale, Willunga and McLaren Flat.

We then took them to our favourite restaurant, Fino, at Willunga. After about seven or eight courses (one loses count) we headed to Primo Estate (great architecture) and Hugh Hamilton (great views) wineries.



Marie at Samuel's Gorge



Marie taking a photo of Steven and Tina at Primo Estate



The group at Samuels' Gorge. It's a beautiful place



David at Samuel's Gorge



David and Noel at Primo Estate



Tina at Samuel's Gorge



The photo Marie was trying to get above. Steven and Tina at Primo Estate



Steven and Marie at Hugh Hamilton



Steven at Primo Esate



Noel at Samuel's Gorge



Us - taken by Noel or maybe Marie . . .

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mt Artwork Published



I'm to be published . . . well an artwork of mine, originally seen in the 'Detours' exhibition, Aloft and Aloof, has found its way onto the front cover of a low volume anthology of new Adelaide writing called Small City Tales of Strangeness and Beauty.

This is only the cover concept and it may change and it needs an 'and' between the names of the two editors.

About the book - From the publishers Wakefield Press which operates out of The Parade, Norwood here in Adelaide.

Small City Tales of Strangeness and Beauty
EDITED BY GILLIAN BRITTON AND STEPHEN LAWRENCE
FOREWORD BY BRIAN CASTRO
PB 224 PP 210 x 135 B&W ILLUS ISBN 9781862548343
AU$24.95 NZ$32.90 Anthology/Creative Writing Wakefield Press December 2008
‘In these stories, poems and photographs with Adelaide as its theme, the city sighs with shifting sands. Its mornings swirl with readdressed mail and untended gardens, its afternoons seethe with melting bitumen and its nights crackle with heat, breakdown, the attrition of marriages. The city disgorges stories in the way waste yields coloured glass, not as a collector’s item but as something being halted from passing out of memory.’ - From the foreword by Brian Castro. Contributors include: Nicholas Jose, Jude Aquilina, Rachel Hennessy, Anne Bartlett, Carol LeFevre, Jill Jones, Ken Bolton, Graham Rowlands and John Tranter, writing as Mark Pallas.

A link to the original work:
www.flickr.com/photos/8622063@N04/597925743/

The exhibition it came from:
harveys-exhibitionism.blogspot.com/2007/06/detours-exhibi...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Art 'n' Stuff

On the exhibition front I’ve had the exhibition at McLaren Vale but I’ve also had pictures in the regular Artist’s Voice exhibitions at the Hahndorf Academy. Nothing has sold from there so far but perhaps the Christmas exhibition will present an opportunity to move some stock. I also have a new website where you can purchase my work as cards, poster, prints of various sorts and calendars! Check it out at . . .

http://www.redbubble.com/people/ChateauGlenunga
and
http://chateauglenunga.redbubble.com/

(See live links at top left of this blog)
(If the links are not live you may need to copy and paste them into your browser.)
(Click on the pictures to see them at a larger size)



View of the front page of the Bubble site.



An image of a framed print.




The calendar that is available of my photography - 'Flowers and Foliage'


At the end of February I will be presenting an exhibition of new work at the Rising Sun in Kensington – the same venue I presented the exhibition ‘Detours Re-routed’ in September 2007. Part of the Fringe, it will be listed in the guide and I hope you can all come along.

All That Ails

Not sure what I’ll do about triathlons this season. My knees and calves don’t want to come to the party and be soreness free. I’ve been lazy and haven’t been doing my stretches which I suppose I really need to do every day. We’ll see what happens – anyway the yoga, weights and swimming keep me active so I shouldn’t just immediately turn into a lump of lard.



A not entirely serious self-portrait. I called it Flashdance.

Langhorne Creek Picnic

Our QCar run on October 19 was organised by our friend Hillary. We decided to leave the Mini at home on the day and take up possession of the back seat in Hillary’s 1962 Dodge Phoenix. It was great day out. We had a tour of Bleasdale winery and learnt all about the history of the family that established the enterprise. A rain shower forced us from enjoying a picnic at the local park so we were taken off to Hillary’s relative’s place where we dined in their backyard. They too, the Cleggets, are vignerons and wine makers so we were able to sample their ‘brews’ while having our lunch.



The old disused cellar beneath Bleasdale Winery at Langhorne Creek.



"The cellars, constructed from red gum and limestone, house the old red gum vats and some of the equipment used by previous generations. The splendid red gum lever press, hand-sawn in the 1890's, is well worth a look. Built in 1892, the Press is still used today. The lever weighs 3.5 tons, its 15 metres long and stands 7 metres high. Today's winery has the latest technology but still maintains the family traditions - the Pott's philosophy of producing honest, consistent, reliable wines, which are receiving accolades throughout the world." From the Bleasdale website.

B&B Stay in Angaston for David's Birthday

On Friday, October 10 we set off for the Barossa and a stay at a B&B. On both nights David cooked at the well-equipped B&B which overlooked a swathe of Angaston. We were going to go to a restaurant but the house was too nice to waste.

On Friday David learnt about what I had organised for the nest day, a winery cellar door tour of the Barossa in a 1935 Auburn car.

The tour was fantastic and the weather was great. We went to a number of places we hadn’t been before and of course we had to purchase souvenirs to take home! I took a lot of pictures while we were out including quite a few of that marvellous car.

On the Sunday we went for an aimless sort of drive around so that I could take some landscape pictures. We then decided that we needed lunch so we headed down the road where the Rockford winery is to see if we could find an eatery that used to be there. It was gone but what we did find was the Krondorf Road CafĂ© which is housed in a huge ‘tin shed’ designed by the architect owner of the restaurant who is also a wine maker. The food and wine was superb and we lingered there – it really is the most beautiful spot.



David and me next to the 1935 Auburn we rode in around the Barossa.



The Auburn on the driveway to the Willows Cellar Door.



We went to the Farmer's Market on the Saturday morning. We didn't buy any garlic - we were tempted.



The Krondorf Road Cafe. A magnificent building set in a wonderful scenic spot.

David's Birthday - Rising Sun Nibbles & Drinks

October 9 was David’s birthday. To celebrate, on that night, I organised drinks and nibbles at one of our favourite pubs. I invited all our Adelaide friends and as it was a Thursday night, the weather was good and it wasn’t near a long weekend, they nearly all turned up. So we ended up taking over the pub, particularly it three smallish main rooms. David received a lot of presents which neither of us envisaged or expected when I organised the ‘event’. It was a great evening and David and I thank everyone for turning up, having fun and, of course, for the cards, best wishes and presents.



Clinton & Keith.



Brenton (left corner), Gary, Hillary, Clinton.



Kay, Michael, Michael, Kenneth & Terry.



Terry, Clay, Ray, Mark.



Effy, Andrew, John.



David, Steven & Gary.

2008 Bay to Birdwood

On September 28 we spent the morning by the side of North East Road eyeing off a two hour procession of vintage and veteran cars – the biennial Bay to Birdwood Run. Clinton and Brenton from the car club had organised a barbecue (complete with gluten free sausages) to eat while we watched the cars go by. I had great fun taking photos and took lots and lots.



Our friend Malcolm took part in the Bay To Birdwood for the first time in his newly restored 1948 Wolseley.



The Wolseley.







The magnificent machines.

Yorke Peninsula Weekend Away

On September 19-21 our car club, QCar, had a trip away to Port Broughton. We stayed in nice cabins at the Port Broughton Caravan Park, on the foreshore of the town. On the Saturday we drove inland and visited a few towns, the highlight being a visit to Melrose and the North Star Hotel and the cellar door which operates from there. They make a good sparkly red.

That evening we visited Robyn and Julie’s shack just down the road (they organised the trip away). We got there just in time to watch the sun go down. And unfortunately also just in time for the mosquito horde to descend. That night we dined at Palate to Palette in Port Broughton’s main street.

On the Sunday we visited Port Germein and Wallaroo. We took a drive along the beach at Wallaroo and went for a walk down to one of the most unique houses/shacks I’ve ever seen. The shack is 100m from the shore on a spit of rocks in the main bay of the town and it is surrounded by public land and beach. A colony of shags seem to reside a few metres from the shack’s front door.

We had lunch at the new pub, restaurant, apartment and docking facility next to the new canal estate in Wallaroo. We saw the new ferry too, that takes cars across the gulf saving drivers 400km off their trip.

Lunch was great and as it was a beautiful day, David and I hung around at this lovely spot for a few hours and ended up staying for an early dinner before heading back to Adelaide – and we missed all the traffic too.



Everyone and their cars.



David rescuing Julie's dog from a passing doberman.

Neil in Adelaide

Neil, my brother, who is a primary school headmaster, was down from Queensland for a conference during September. On the Saturday he was in Murray Bridge we were in McLaren Vale at the exhibition conducting a ‘Meet the Artist’ day.

(The day was only moderately successful and the exhibition itself closed without a sale, a new experience for me. The work was well received but there were no takers. All of the work had been exhibited before, so I didn’t have a formal opening for it, and perhaps that accounts for the lack of sales. I’d always have a formal opening for new works.)



The exhibition in the Rosemount Barrel Hall - Great venue.

We managed to nab Neil for meal on the Monday night. We went Greek and dined at Estia on Henley Square. We even got him to try whitebait! A few reds, great food and a lot of chat – a good night out.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Lately . . .

The year is speeding by. It's a cliche but "Where has the year gone?" I've been asked to design Christmas stuff at work . . .

I have another exhibition coming up. Called 'Views, it will be held at the Rosemount Estate Cellar Door in McLaren Vale - locals will be more familiar with it's old name - Seaview. The exhibition is an opportunity to hang works from the past two years and give them another airing. You're sure to see something new though - I don't think anyone has been to all my exhibitions (Oh, except David and he's even missed one opening!).

Click on the pictures to see them at a larger size.


The exhibition poster.

Something new! We're both doing yoga. Our friend Effy Kleanthi, who opened my 'Detours' and 'Detours Revisited' exhibitions invited us along to a couple of sessions. David went first and I then went along with him. It's Bikram yoga which is practiced in 40 degree heat (or up to that temperature). The heat means you sweat a lot but it also protects you from injuries. I reckon the sessions are as hard to do as a half triathlon - and they take longer, one and a half hours! It's amazing stuff. I've been inspired by it.


Some people are just unteachable and just never do the right thing . . .

We recently went on a car run through the Adelaide Hills. What was special about this run was that we were privileged to do it in our friend Malcolm's 1948 Wolseley. A beautiful car, David and I had each had a turn in the front and back seats. It's spacious up the back, enough room to cross your legs! Up the front its a bit squishier but great fun to be in. And its very quiet!

Activities for the day included a trip to Melba's chocolate factory, Udder Delights cheeses, the Birdwood wine and cheese shop and a lunch at the Blumberg Hotel. The pub does a good steak.


The Wolseley lost some water but only because it was parked on a slope.


The view from the back seat. In sepia - as everything was in 1948 I'm reliably told . . .

I was in two exhibitions for the South Australian Living Artist Festival. I had two pictures up at the Hahndorf Academy. both were originally show at the Tin Cat Cafe earlier this year. I had another picture in an exhibition at the Austral Hotel in the SA Central Flickr group's show.


The show at the Hahndorf Academy for the South Australian Living Artist Festival


The picture I put in for the exhibition at the Austral Hotel, Rundle Street in the city.

As usual David has been busy in the kitchen. His most recent enthusiasm has been Japanese cooking. The source for this enthusiasm was a trip to a wonderful Japanese restaurant when we were in Broome and a new Japanese cookbook which I brought home from work.


Involtini of eggplant (aubergine) filled with ricotta and green olive and served with a tomato and roast capsicum sauce.


The occasional tea towel gets incinerated too.

After about three weeks of physiotherapy, Ned the guy I went to see, fixed up my initial complaint, the knee ache I felt when riding my bike. With that gone I thought I was home free. Wrong. I then went for a run. After a kilometre or so I felt great shin pain and then had to hobble to a stop. It passed and I could run for a while longer but then the same thing would happen. Now, with three months more physio I think I have the problem sort of under control. All I need to do is stretch my legs before I run and if I feel like the pain is coming on again I stop and stretch again. The stretches have to be extreme and prolonged to be of any effect though. I suspect, when triathlon season starts again, I'll be the only one who stops to stretch mid-way though the run leg of a competition! I'm hoping the yoga will help too!


My running gear - can't run without music, mobile phone and money for emergencies and the house keys.

We have a self storage locked at Norwood and recently we decided to clean it out as we couldn't fit anything more into it and it was needed to safely store my unsold artwork. The locker was piled up a metre high right from the front door. It took two Saturday afternoons to sort it out. Oxfam will be receiving 20 boxes of books, mostly novels. At the same time we went through our clothing - we removed what I though must have been close to 1 and a half cubic metres of clothes - it went to the Salvos. I swear our wardrobe sighed with relief.


One of our friends said 'books breed when you're not looking'. I think he must be right. Above, some of the boxes of books awaiting a new home.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Craig and Scott Visit

Last weekend Craig and Scott visited from Sydney. They arrived on Thursday night, flying in just after my exhibition opening finished at Zest Café in Glenelg (you can catch the exhibition until July 20).

For the first two days we did the whirlwind sightseeing thing.

Friday morning it was off to Zest to have breakfast and view the exhibition (Did I say it was on view until July 20 and you are all invited to go have a look) and then we headed off to McLaren Vale. First we dropped into Rosemount to see Graham Starr the cellar door manager there. He supplied the wine for the exhibition opening (still open until July 20 by the way) and he showed me their gallery space. I might have a show the in the future.

After that we headed to one of our all-time favourite restaurants, Fino at Willunga. Seven courses later, they were small, we headed off to the most beautiful cellar door in the McLaren Vale region, Primo Estate. Forget the wine just drink in the building!

We then headed home and David cooked.

Next day we walked along The Parade at Norwood before having lunch at the Hahndorf Hill Winery, another favourite spot. We then checked out the view over Adelaide from Mount Lofty and headed on home where David cooked. And cooked. From 8pm until midnight out came course after course of Japanese food – tempura oysters, deep-fried tofu, sprout salad, prawns in savoury custard, a fish dish and more.

Sunday was a much more relaxed affair. We went shopping in town and drifted in and out of a dozen menswear shops . . . I was the only one who bought anything.

A fun weekend.

Attentive

Listening attentively to the wine guy at Primo Estate - you don't want to mix up your Cabernet Sangiovese with your Shiraz Nebbiolos.

At the Summit

David, Craig and Scott at the Mount Lofty Lookout. And below what they were looking at.

Turbulent Cloudarama

Swirly dark clouds and streaming sunlight.

Craig on the Jetty

Craig on the jetty at Glenelg after visiting the exhibition at Zest (which closes on July 20)