Extraordinary art

My recent stay in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges included a visit to the extraordinary William Ricketts Sanctuary.

William Ricketts was a naturalist, environmentalist and sculptor who dedicated much of his life to exploring the connection that Aboriginal people have with the natural world.  (For further information, courtesy of culture.com, check out this link - A brief history of William Ricketts Sanctuary

It was a great day to visit too, with temperatures in the mid teens (C)

and occasional brief showers which released the wonderful

fragrances of nature throughout the walk.

Joining in Our World Tuesday

Amazing art

En route to Victoria for Christmas and the New Year,

I stopped off in the South Australian country town of Coonalpyn

to admire the extraordinary and amazing artwork on the

town's silos.  The paintings are of local children.

Follow this link to ABC news for the full story

Artist Guido van Helten

What a phenomenally gifted artist!   I am sure you will agree his work is outstanding and brings on-going benefit to the small town businesses

as travellers driving between South Australia and Victoria

now stop and spend their dollars rather than continuing their journey.

Joining in the fun at Skywatch Friday

- thank you Yogi for hosting. Happy New Year!

Crazy piano!

During my recent rambles around the Fleurieu Peninsula, I spotted this artistically painted piano in a shopping mall.

(I doubt this is how Mr Wertheim anticipated one of his masterpieces would be used, but nevertheless it made a clever and colourful addition to the surroundings!)

 

Visit Our World Tuesday to see a variety of other scenes from around the globe.

(and a BIG thank you to the ladies hosting that site)

Creative wall art

The above clever and cheerful creations were painted on the side wall of a building 

on Langley Street in downtown Victoria, BC.

What a marvellous, imaginative & uplifting addition they make to an

otherwise sombre and uninteresting brick wall - hats off to the painter!

Two in One

Here, in a shop selling previously treasured items, are reflections of

the adjacent streetscape in both the shop's window and a decorative mirror

hanging inside.

Linking up with James' Weekend Reflections

A very happy and adventurous weekend to all

(and thanks again, James, for hosting this site)

Is that a ghost?

During my recent visit to the Clare Valley with a life-long friend, we (perhaps naturally!) visited two of the many wineries in the region.

This shot was taken through a viewing window from a first-floor gallery exhibiting works by local artists (see following images).

Contributing to James' http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

Happy weekend to all.

The following two exhibits (on display in the gallery reflected above) appeared to have been made from wire and beaten copper.

Decorative cages

These birdcages seen through a shop window appealed to me because they don't house real birds.

Visit James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/ to see other reflections from around the world. (thanks for hosting, James!)

Happy weekend to all.

Behind every face . . .

On the lookout for "different" photographic subjects a few days ago,

we visited Doran's Antique Reproduction Furniture shop at Hyde Park, and were generously given permission to take photos of (and post in this blog) various items on offer. The following masks caught my attention - fabulously creative work and, for some reason, the second to last mask brings to my mind Tina Turner!)