Exchanging of Gifts at a Glassworks

I was out and about today to a friend's house in Logan Central.  I bussed it to Doug Cartwright's place to help him with starting up a blog for an artist who needed something that was easy to maintain and was in the public light enough that people would find it.  So, of course, I insisted he uses Blogger because it will show up on Google.

On the way over, I found that there was more graffiti tags than art all over the footbridge; but they were very colourful.  So, I took photos of them.  However, his house was full of arty things; and Doug isn't just a glassworks guy.  he's an oil painter too and has had many exhibitions around the place; including the Logan Art Gallery.

Once lunch was, Doug showed me his studio downstairs where there was so much work he had done, glass sitting around in containers for his famous jewelry boxes that are sold at the LAG and much larger pieces standing up in tall slots waiting to be used in other larger pieces of work.  He began working on a small box when I looked on and began working on it my self.

Over the afternoon, I worked on getting the pieces of glass

together and soldering them, then worked on the sides and mirrored bottom.  After each piece, there was the copper sulfate, washing and polishing to do then more soldering.  It was a slow process; not one for the impatient type (which fortunately for me, I can have a lot of patience when it's required).  Doug found that I picked up the glass work very quickly and was impressed that once I put my mind to something like this, I could do it under

supervision.  I had a few problems, but nothing that Doug couldn't fix.  And now, I have a lovely little jewelry box that I had been meaning to purchase from the Logan Art Gallery Store.  Isn't it just lovely?

Doug's boxes come in three sizes and he also makes business card holders and other arty things out of broken mobile phones and stained glass too.  

Mooloolaba Public Art.

I've been here a week and have found the most amazing public art around here.  And the even more amazing thing is that none of it is tagged or graffitied; unlike some of the good public art I see around Logan.  So, it goes to show how good a lot of it is.

There's the work on The Esplanade along the beachfront area of my hotel; what's better known as the tourist strip.  It's full of shops and food courts, but it's also full of cool public art that nobody seems to notice, but Mum and I did.

There's one that is a 3D picture of a surfboard in a good swell and what you're supposed to do is get on it and have somebody take a photo of you at a particular point in the picture.  We tried it, but it was at the wrong time of day; but we understood how it was supposed to work!  And I thought it was great!

Then, there were the thongs that were just sitting there on one of many flagstone seats; two pairs of them.  I can imagine how many people have tried to pick them up and failed!  But they look very much the Queensland emblem.

I found a traffic control box with the most amazing scene paint on it!  Yes!  At last I found one that looks as brilliant as the last one.  And just look at the colours and how the beach wraps around it!  I love it!  I just wish the artists in Brisbane thought outside the square and painted what they wish they could see instead of what they did around them.  But this one is just lovely! 

In the foyer of the Mantra on the Beach Hotel, they had their own art all around too!  I found these fish-like statues and just had to photograph them; however one of them was broken and so I had to cut them from the picture, but the others were okay.  Aren't they amazing?  

We're on our last morning here in Mooloolaba and so I better be going.  The next time you hear from me, I'll be back in Brisbane.  Take care, keep knitting and keep creating.

Public Art and Outsider Art

I've found there's a difference between Public Art and Outsider Art... but it's very subtle.  I do enjoy these kinds of art, yet you find it hard to tell the difference between them.  For example, the two I found yesterday and last night are so similar and yet worlds apart.

The first one was on the footpath and the type I usually photograph for you all.  I loved it that Mum and I stumbled upon it.  It's something we all see every day and yet we seem to ignore or admire but don't get our cameras out for.  I'd love to get my paint brushes out for these, but find it hard to get to these things.  It's a type of control box; and just look at how it's been painted up!  Don't you just love it?

The next type of art was found on the front of a house.  I won't tell you where (as I don't want the residants having people looking too hard), but it's up on the Sunshine Coast.  This one is done by a local artist and they built them into a whole lot of the newer houses around 10 years ago.  When my relatives bought the house, it was included; and I've loved it since, but never got around to photographing it until now.  Isn't it just lovely?  

Today, Mum and I are off on a day trip to Eumundi and the Ginger Factory at Yandina.  You never know what we'll find around that way.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Art in Mooloolaba

Currently, I'm holidaying at the Sunshine Coast for a week and thought to keep an eye out for outsider art while I'm here.  So, what I've found isn't exactly outsider art, but it's art nonetheless.

While at my Aunt and Uncle's house yesterday for lunch, I spotted some great artworks on their shelves I haven't seen anywhere else (well, some of it looked like Chris Trotter stuff; but it wasn't heavy enough or big enough and it was made in China).  

Then, once we arrived here at the Mantra Hotel, I saw the sculpture in the foyar and thought it was a wonderful piece and found it was worthy of being here (as well as 365project).  So, these are the ones I've found so far.  Otherwise, I'll keep you guys posted about any other art I'll find while up here... we have the Eumundi Markets to get to tomorrow.  There'll be plenty there I'm sure.

Meadowbrook Park Public Toilets

I was out today at a Logan City Love Volunteers day and I saw the public toilets at Meadowbrook Park were better-looking than the average toilet block.  Instead of being painted a plain blue colour - which attracts graffiti artists to tag the place - it was painted in the style of families and forests. 

I didn't see it immediately until my Mum came over and told me about it; and then when the afternoon sun hid, I took some photos of the whole thing.  I love the colours and how it looks like it just seem to have a continuous feel to it.  It's a very good way of showing off the natural surroundings of the area I live in; and I hope to see more of it soon.

A Winter Morning Outing

This morning, I had to go out and run a few errands.  The first was to the chemist to pick up a few things; and then to the post office to check the mail.  The days have been getting brisk in the mornings, so much so that I don't really want to get out of bed, but I do so I can get more done earlier and spend more time writing or blogging here.  

On the way down to the chemist the last time I had to go (which was about a week ago), I noticed an advertisement

for a hairdresser's painted up on a wall made to look like graffiti; but I didn't have my camera with me.  This time, I took it along with me in case I found any other photos to take.  Fortunately, I remembered this wall and took a photograph.  I love the colours and the size of the print.  It's facing the other side of Kingston Road so that oncoming traffic can get a look at it while they drive past.  
Next time I'll see if I can grab a photograph of the work in the skate park across the road.