GOODBYE TO THE CARNATIONS

 As I’ve mentioned, Betty’s favourite flowers were carnations, particularly red carnations. It’s a flower that I just don’t connect to at all. She owned a painting of carnations by Western Australian artist, Laurie Knott.

Born in the UK in 1921, Laurie Knott studied in the UK and arrived in Western Australia in 1952. An impressionist painter in oil and watercolour, he exhibited his work in Australia from 1963. He was art critic for the 'Sunday Times' newspaper in Perth, and has also worked as an art teacher judge and lecturer in Perth and country areas. His work is represented in Western Australian regional art galleries and institutional collections in Perth and overseas. He died in 1980. Some more information about his work can be found here: https://www.aasd.com.au/artist/9281-laurence-laurie-knott/

To honour Betty’s memory, we hung the painting in the Pink House but in our review of the art we want to hang in Archibald St, we decided not to keep it. We offered it to friends and one of them suggested donating it to the Art for Aid Fundraiser for Medical and Humanitarian for Palestine. I think we were the only donation of work from a deceased artist but someone clearly loved it because tit was sold and we doubly pleased that it’s gone to good home and that it raised money to help with the catastrophe that is Gaza.

We attended the opening night of the exhibition on 25 October, held at the Holmes a’Court Gallery and it was full of people we didn’t know. A reminder that although many aspects of Perth are familiar, many aren’t such as the world of the visual arts and philanthropy. But there was good prosecco on tap, some tasty middle eastern food to eat and of course, we couldn’t resist buying another (small, affordable) print full of colour to replace Betty’s carnations.

Susn with carnations at the top at the exhibition

It seems somewhat inappropriate to talk about Gaza after talking about the type of things we can do and Gazans can't - go to art exhibition, sip champagne, enjoy fresh food. But we should talk about Gaza.

I suppose there are people who don't. People who can't bear it any more. People who are too frightened to express an opinion. People who don't believe that Palestine exists or should exist. But if you're a doctor or a journalist, you can't ignore it as your colleagues are killed. If you're a parent, you can't help but be moved the images of starving children. If you are Jewish or Palestinian Australians, your heart must be breaking albeit for different reasons. And if you work in the arts, you can't escape the horror of Gaza as local companies are attacked for accepting funds from Jewish philanthropists.

I have already expressed my sense of impotence about this conflict in an earlier post (18th June) but this time, I'm going to point to some cultural experiences which might help you come to grips with what is happening in Gaza.

Firstly, there's the brilliant podcast by Willaim Dalrymple, Empire, which has a series of episodes on the history of Gaza.

As recommended by friends, there's a poignant and moving love story set in Gaza, currently streaming on SBS on Demand: Gaza, mon amour. 


An impressive book about the divisions within Israel by NY Times journalist Isabel Kershner: Land of Hope and Fear

A fascinating history of Jaffa, the area near Tel Aviv, through the eyes of three Jewish and three Palestinian families: City of Oranges by Adam LeBor

A brilliant novel about a production of Hamlet set in the West Bank: Enter Ghost by Isabelle Hammad

A moving family drama about living in a West Bank camp: Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa 

A challenging TV series about dealing with social and political differences in an Israeli high school: The Lesson on SBS on Demand

The Oscar-winning documentary on the impact of Israeli settlemens in the West Bank: No Other Land. 

And for those of you who don't want drama but do want some laughs, Tel Aviv on Fire has been recommended (also on SBS on Demand) but I'm afraid that the lead character is so gormless, I just couldn't keep going with it.

As alwys, the arts can teach us more than the algorithmic driven world of social media.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

VALE INDIGO

Image
Today, we sent our companion of nearly 17 years, Indigo, across the rainbox bridge. That's a phrase a friend uses when you have to say goodbye to a pet. With the help of a gentle vet, we put Indigo to sleep.  She's been an indoor cat all her life and apart from a couple of weeks, most of it has been spent within the confines of the Pink House. We knew that it was going to be a risk disrupting the life of a cat who in human terms was in her 80s. She's had more homes in the last couple of months than in her entire life. First there was Glenlyon Rd, then a 4 hour flight to Perth, a short stay in South Fremantle, a longer stay in Loch St and 10 days in the Furbaby Retreat while Susan and I were at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. We were open to the fact that she might not survive the transition and even said so to the vet when we went for her "Fit to Fly" certificate. But it's one thing to say it and another to face up to it. The lovely owner of the Furbaby Retreat ...
Read more

FARWELL TO THE PINK HOUSE

Image
Susan and I decided to say 'goodbye' to 14 Ward Grove, Pascoe Vale South by sharing the moment with friends. Although the house was full of packed boxes, we invited people over to say farewell...and take a momento. We both made bold decisions about art and craft that had been part of our lives for years. For example, I'd had a Gustav Klimt print hanging on various bedroom walls since the 1970s. A tea pot I'd bought from a ceramist in Canberra last century. A Boda vase that I'd been given. There were smaller pieces from ceramic pots to glassware, vases, both antique and modern, knick knacks from all over the world, and even hats. And in contemplating a new home, we needed to leave some space for new acquisitions. This was a clean out where we knew each piece was going to bring pleasure to someone else and so it was much easier to let it go. Debora, Glenda, Jesse, Murray & Loretta Kath, Susan & Julie Gemma, Pam, Dale & David
Read more

THE ROAD TO HELL

Image
The key reason for going to Melbourne this time was to see the musical  Hadestown .  It was created by the singer/songwriter Anais Mitchell in the 2000s but it feels very ‘of the moment’. The Australian production is the original Broadway show recreated by Opera Australia with Australian singers/performers/musicians who are, in my opinion, even more skilled than those I’ve listened to on the Broadway and West End soundtracks. The story is of Orpheus, the musician, and his love Eurydice. It’s a story of gods oppressing mortals. It’s a story of the power of art. It’s a Greek myth  that’s inspired operas and novels, poems and films. My favourite TV series of last year Kaos  also featured this story. Two of my favourite retellings are poems. There’s an exquisite moment of deep hurt in Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem  Orpheus, Eurydice, Hermes . Orpheus travels to the underworld to rescue Eurydice. After using music to soften the heart of the god Hades, he’s allowed to tak...
Read more