silence of the fish

On Saturday last, having noticed a small promo in MX the day before, I dropped by the Ian Potter Centre at Fed Square to take a look at a new exhibition by Australian artist John Davis.

It was one of the best trips I've had to the Potter. There was no major exhibition running there (with this year's Winter Masterpieces happening at the NGV St Kilda Rd and ACMI), so it was really very q.u.i.e.t.! No crowds, no competing to see the exhibits, no jostling for space or trying to see past the human statues who feel the need to try to dominate the space in front of every display; just the freedom to wander at leisure and take in the sights.

I really enjoyed the Davis exhibition, especially his wonderful fish (which would look lovely on my bathroom wall, if they'd thought to sell some facsimiles in the shop downstairs), and the adjoining installations by Mari Funaki. I then took a little more time to wander around and re-visit some old favourites, including Bracks and some new acquisitions by Sid Nolan. I have to make time to go there more often. It's a truly great place to visit, and we're so lucky to have free access to the wonderful exhibits there.

winter at the beach

aaarrgghh... they've won! I've turned this blog into a political rant; not what I ever intended to spend my time writing about. Time for a change of pace.

Although I've lived near St Kilda for the past several years, I've never had much love for the beach. I've wandered down now and then during summer, only to have the masses of tourists, day-trippers, backpackers, sunlovers, cyclists and skaters remind me of how uncomfortable the beach is when *everyone* goes there; not to mention the further discomfort caused by sunburn, salt air and flies.

Last Sunday, in the middle of a sunny but damn cold winter's day, I dropped by Fitzroy St for lunch, and then went for a stroll in the weak winter sun down to Catani Gardens. The St Kilda pier and recently-rebuilt pavilion caught my eye as I turned to head home, and I decided to take a stroll along the pier and take in the view before I left.

Although the wind was, to say the least, brisk! along the pier, it was a delightful stroll, with relatively few other foolhardy souls braving the cold, and the views at the end of the pier, of the bay, of the city skyline behind the boats at the marina, and of the pavilion itself, made it well worthwhile.

I still doubt I'll go back to the beach come summer, but I'll certainly take advantage of the next sunny winter's day for another stroll.

all that jazz in the mall

The impending destruction of Lonsdale House has prompted me to try to get photos of some of my favourite buildings (deco and otherwise) around town in case / before they suffer a similar fate.

This is the beautiful David Jones (former Buckley and Nunn) building in the Bourke St mall. An art deco masterpiece built in 1934, the facade features men dressed in Jazz Age outfits, glazed terracotta panels and spandrels faced with stainless steel chevrons and colourful musical notes.

you know you're from Melbourne if...

Just had to save a few gems from today's Catherine Deveny column in the Age for posterity :

YOU know you're from Melbourne if …

• When diarising anything in September you first consult the footy fixture.

• You were shocked when you found out not all street directories are called Melway.

• You know Sunshine, Rosebud and the Caribbean Gardens are not as good as they sound.

• You refer to rococo furniture as "very Franco Cozzo".

• You felt betrayed when you discovered Melbourne was not the only place in the world with trams.

• You think the slogan on our licence plates should be "Melbourne. The Coffee Is Shit Anywhere Else"

• You think beyondblue does great work but you hate the way it makes Jeff Kennett look good. Which is depressing.

• When you meet someone from Kew, you always ask "Near Kew?"

• When you hear the word ''Bougainville'' you think of Northland.

• You don't judge people on their looks, wealth or status but on the bread they buy, the coffee they serve and the newspaper they read.

• When you hear the word ''Easter'' the first thing you think of is the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal and Zig and Zag. And then you quickly think of something else.

• You were against the casino but, you have to admit, it does keep the bogans out of the city.

Looking forward to the next collection in November!