Testing, testing, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2.

I’m testing a new template available through wordpress – what do you think?

Look forward to any impressions.

Jess MacNeil – opening tonight @ Barry Keldoulis

In The Shape of Between, Jess MacNeil’s new paintings and videos cross-pollinate the still and the moving, the instantaneous and the extended. This new body of work comes in part out of an extended period of time spent in India

6 – 8pm

Gallery Barry Keldoulis

2 Danks Street, Waterloo

Sydney

Introducing Paul Davies

Nice Shot of Paul in his studio.

I hear the exhibition is a great success – well done! Paul is on his way to becoming one of Sydney’s / Australia’s bright new talents. I’m pleased to have exhibited his work in 2005 @ Two Step Gallery (now defunct) where he was already showing signs of becoming one of the most collectible young talents. Check out Tim Olsen’s Gallery site to see what they have to say. I hear there are only 3 works left so be quick!

Tim Olsen Gallery
76 Paddington Street
Paddington, Sydney

Contact: Toronto Photography Festival 2006

Edward Burtynsky, Bao Steel # 8, Shanghai, China, 2005
via Oakland University

I had started a discussion about photography some time ago at Modenet that was somewhat interrupted by travel to Toronto. I guess you would say that my position was somewhere in line with the common argument that photography is not an art form. It is a medium that has blurred the edges right from the onset, then what doesn’t these days anyway? When is painting, photography sculpture or any other medium art and when is it not? When is the image I capture on my digital camera art and someone else’s not art?

Paul Davies @ Tim Olsen Gallery

Paul Davies opens tonight at the the Tim Olsen Gallery. Paul creates a post 70s post boogie nights feel with his poolside and suburban scapes. One can imagine the pool parties, the speedos, big hair and handle-bar moustaches, aviator glasses, the aspirational lifestyles of the middle to upper middle classes, the excess in all things material – all we aspire to today if only we had the money and the time. Very cool, very now.

New Australian Design Bloggers

I have just come across two new Australian design blogs; Design Arguements according to Joe and Design Critz who offer some home grown discussion on design and Art including the Antony Gormley installation currently on show at the Biennale of Sydney.

Check them out.

Thanks for the links guys and hope the readership grows well.

More on the Toronto Waterfront ‘Revitalization’

I think it's worthwhile adding this link as Archinect has hosted a feisty discussion that will certainly add dimension to what is going on.

There is issue with the use of the iconic Maple leaf symbol as the shape of the reclaimed site as there would be issue here in Sydney if we had decided to use the image of a kangaroo. The Maple leaf is kitsch and cheesy – more a symbol of Canada than Toronto.

Toronto Waterfront Revitalization

It is often easy to forget Toronto is a city situated on the banks of the vast Lake Ontario. The city is divided by a massive highway system that does little to encourage people to edges of the lake and lacking a green strip along the lakeside leaves it wanting for development. In a shocking way Toronto seems to back up to the waterfront where other major cities such as Sydney take advantage of this aspect. According to Christopher Hume, the strip is seen more as a summer-only tourist destination with little sense of neighbourhood and lacking in facilities. Finally Canada is recognising it's growing lakeside population and putting itself on the map.

Up to You – a new shopping concept in Toronto

Welcome to the latest in shopping experiences in Toronto. Located at Queen St East is Up to You, a concept store with a voyeuristic element for your shopping pleasure. Pictured above is the quaint entrance of what is set to become one of the most interesting shopping experiences in Toronto or possibly even further. I'm very pleased to have been invited to visit this intimate residence/ retail showroom to meet with founders Bill and Dimitra – two very passionate lovers of design.

Biennale Effort

I have arrived in Sydney jet lagged, dazed yet alert and ready to post when I recieved a call to say volunteers are required to set up the Biennale Exhibition Installation, Asian Feild, by Antony Gormley – would I be able to assist? Well, what does one do? You guessed it, I raced off to become a part of a small team setting up 190,000 figurines as part of this immense piece.