Happy first day of 2013! The new year came in with a big bang here in Melbourne and a roof-top party to view all the fireworks.
I now have 15 pledges for my palm poster and a week to go to get ten more. If you can think of anyone who might be interested please pass on my blog address: whereisra.blogspot.com.au
None will be printed unless I reach the goal of 25.
A first since I left New York, a heater in my room. Luckily it isn't needed, but the temperature is down in 50s at night. Yesterday I went to the Botanical Garden and among many other lovely things, saw a Titan Armus. A very rare plant to see in bloom. It was 108 mm tall - the bloom, not the plant. LIke the flora and fauna there are many extremes in architecture here, like they are trying too hard to compete with Sydney. Today a book market at Federal Square was disappointing, one rare book table, nothing local. I was hoping to be wowed like the San Juan book fair. Tonight its Shakespeare in the park. Small audience for Romeo and Juliet, small production, but well done. The principals were very professional as the flying foxes screeched through their dying. I've walked lots, even though I bought new pass for tram, bus and train. They charge $6 for the card then fare on top of that. Did I mention Australia is expensive? Another thing with money is that they don't use pennies, totals are just rounded off and change given accordingly. That makes sense to me. Next day, and though I intended to go to Frankston beach and find the sand sculptures; I got caught up in the big state library with wonderful exhibits and it got too late.
Took the ferry to Darling Bay on a bright sunny day and spent an hour and half in the aquarium. The highlight was a manatee, I have never seen one before. Saw the tail of a platypus, the rest of it hidden under a log. Lots of barrier reef type fishes and creatures. The underwater walkways were cool, and the sharks, etc. scary. The ferry stopped at Luna Park an amusement park and a lovely neighborhood named McMahons. This city could take years to explore.
I have mentioned that I am creating a poster to share some of my impressions of the tropics and cultures of the southern hemisphere. I put many hours into the art and in trying to present it on Kickstarter.com. The art is good, the technology isn't. As a last ditch effort I have decided to "go it alone" and set up my own financing using the same concept that no one pays unless the entire amount (or more) is pledged. I can use PayPal to handle the money. Sorry Kickstarter.
Here is what I am proposing: a hand printed, off-set lithography poster of an original haiku and drawings of various palms all created by me on this journey of the tropics. I have found an exceptional print shop to work with here in Sydney that prints on a large format press. You can check out Lucas and the Big Fag Press online at: www.bigfagpress.org. This will be top quality printing on quality paper, approximately 24" high by 18" wide, suitable for framing. Each will be hand signed and numbered, with a maximum edition of 75.
The attached photo is taken with my tablet so it gives only a low quality snap shot of the finished art work. I intend to use an off-white/eggshell paper with a dark green ink.
The cost of printing and paper is $1,000, mailing from Australia to the US is $18, or $450 for 25 posters. Post-press expenses will be extra, no estimate but hopefully not more than $2 or $3 per poster. And PayPal fees - no charge to sender. Basic outlay is over $1500, then the cost of food & hostel in Sydney for about ten days while printing will be another $800. I need to reach $2500, or 25 posters sold to go ahead with this project.
Would you like to pledge to buy one of the posters for $100, or more? The first ten people to pledge will also get a page from my sketchbook with a preliminary drawing. I can print more than 25 posters if I receive more orders, but will limit the edition to 75 maximum. And obviously there won't be any printed at this time if I don't reach the minimum of 25.
I am setting January 10, 2013 as my deadline to reach the $2500 goal of pledges. Remember I am a day ahead so the US deadline is actually Wednesday January 9th. I will not order the paper until I reach my goal. Hopefully I can order the paper on the 10th and be ready for a tenitive printing date for the week of January 14th.
I will let everyone who pledges know the progress of this project as pledges come in, and the final outcome on the weekend of January 12th. If it is a go, you can go to PayPal.com and transfer money to me at:
rah@efn.org
The money goes directly to my Newport Federal checking account. I believe it is a safe transfer. Again, don't transfer money until the project is confirmed in January.
If you would like to help make this a reality please send this information on to whoever you think would be interested. The more posters sold the longer I can stay in the sunshine. ART SAVES LIVES.
Cheers from Australia!
Ruth Ann
Please send an email with your pledge to rah@efn.org
Did you know Australia pioneered plastic money - here is a $50 bill, costs me about $55 US, I love the transparent spot where you can see my finger through the bill. Plastic money lasts longer, made of recycled material and is harder to counterfeit. And where did I learn all this? The Powerhouse Museum drew me in with an exhibit of Wallace and Gromet contraptions, but wowed me with lots more. There is a contemporary lace exhibit that is simply marvelous. The designation "lace" is wide open and spanned all sorts of materials and cultures. A model of the Strasberg Clock, operating steam engines, contemporary fashion for Muslim women - apparently a big Internet business. And an exhibit of award winners for engineering and design. A delightful way to spend several hours.
Yes, it is a great city to discover, explore, contemplate. I spent a good part of today at the Anish Kapoor exhibit. His work disrupts normal "seeing" and my relation of being in space. I have seen a number of these sculptures before, but they remain fresh and confronting in an almost spiritual way. And with Red Earth the subtle scent of wax.
First, my big internet discovery - a printer with an exceptional press, The Big Fag Press in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. Lucas does hand printed, large scale offset litho-prints and is willing to help me make my poster project a reality. Now to figure out the logistics, present the project on kickstarter.com and realize a dream. I hope by this time next month to be mailing the posters out.
Now I must add some photos. There is a sculpture by Anish Kapoor in front of the contemporary art museum where an exhibit of his work opens tomorrow. He is the artist who created The Bean in Chicago. This one is very simple by comparison and only from one angle can you see buildings reflected. I am excited about seeing his show. He spoke the other night about his work. Apparently the tickets for that sold out immediately so even if I had know about it I would not have been able to get in.
And of course the Sydney Opera House, again. I will have to tour it before I leave.
And here too are a few shots of the Harbor YHA Hostel showing how they built around the archaeological dig. And my new friend Moon, who I met there, and who is flying home to South Korea as I write.
Okay, no doubt about it I love big cities. As soon as I got checked in to the Harbor YHA, which is fantastic, the perfect hostel; I took off exploring the area around The Rocks and Circular Quay where the large cruise ships dock, the famous Opera House sits and the bridge spans. Here are my first photos... I know it is hard to see, but those are people up on top of the bridge by the flags - climbing the bridge is one of the "to do" things here. And wonderful view from hostel's rooftop lounge, it is right next door to the Sheraton, and built around an archaeological dig. More photos to come! Happy Solstice everyone.
I am currently in Newcastle waiting for the Sydney bus. I am so glad the YHA manager in Cairns recommended staying in Port Stevens. Newcastle is a dirty, old port city. It would be depressing to stay here and just watch the tugs taking big container ships in and out of the harbor. Exporting coal of course. Port Stevens YHA is a group of cabins in rainforest set around a swimming pool. There are beaches on the river/bay side and on the Pacific ocean side - but you have to catch a bus to get anywhere. Not a problem, just a little planning needed. Lots of birds around the bay, took a ferry to Tea House, a little village up the river, saw dolpins on the way. Met really nice people in Port Stevens, could have stayed longer but I have a meeting in Sydney tomorrow with a printer. More about my kickstarter.com project later.
More photos of Jaipur, the pink city: a beautiful, five story palace in the lake, only two floors above water, Jah Mahal, is being restored and will be open for visitors next year (a good reason for a return visit); Nahargarh Fort where you can ride up the mountain to it on elephants; and Lakshmi-Narayan a fantastic white marble temple that I visited alone as well as a temple across the street, with all the stairs, for Ganesha.
