Grafitti

Some one drew this object with out the face, so I whipped out my texta and put a face in it making it a bit more positive. First time Ive actually drawn graffiti, but I think its ok coz it gives better vibes out.

Disappearing Things

Growing up in Katherine from 1960s meant that after awhile you get used to things disappearing. It causes alot of anxiety though when its people. Right up to about 6 years ago our family had this practice that when some one would go on a journey in the car or plane or bus you would have to ring the minute you got to your destination to let those left at home know you had arrived safely. This was brought about by a an environment where people would set of to go to Darwin and either get killed on the road (drunk), or die in the Darwin Hospital or after being sent "South" for treatment. There were also alot of people who would run away from their husbands or wives and the talk around town was "such and such has shot through with someone". I don't know how we found out because most people wouldn't ask questions, considering the white town folk were mostly there coz they were running away from something "down south". All kinds of fights used to break out when someones past from "down south" caught up with them after a few too many ales.

Sometimes its a good thing that things disappeared, like when some one had an "accident", it would be gone the next day due to decomposition not like down here where you have to wait to the next summer.

Other things that disappeared and I still wonder about were the magazines I subscribed to when I was about 18, paid the full subscription for the year and didn't receive one magazine from "down south". I didn't have a phone so couldn't ring them up but I did write to them but never got an answer. I also tried again when I was 20, same deal. Looking back I'm thinking it might have had something to do with the post office staff, needing something to read. And the other thing that's still a mystery to me is the chocolate fudge that I made that was stolen out the dads beer fridge.

Sometimes I wonder if
1. I should stop wondering
2. I should go on a trip "down south"
3. I should be an offsider for a magician

Shapin Up

I like this building because it looks like a rusty iron waterfall.

Antonio Guidi 1852-1926

This Architect ( a devout Catholic) is a genius who took notice of nature and continued to build a cathedral in the old method of using the number 12 instead of 10 for the maths. He greatest achievement is the Holy Family Cathedral that is still under construction in Spain and he left mouldings for the future builders to follow. Even though there has been war and some of them have been broken or missing they are still able to refer to the moulds to invent the missing parts. No computer program of this day can be used to assist the process, however they have modified some aeronautical software that can do some parts of the maths and geometry.

"Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator" AG

NPG - Draw In

The Young Marie

As this darling girl fades away, I have the good fortune to see these pictures of her as a young woman.

Floriade 2010

Hungerbuster

When I accepted the invitation to volunteer at Galong, I assumed they would provide me lunch. All was going well until 11:30AM and I got hungry. You know me well enough to know what this means. The nun breezed through and said "would you like some music in here" and I said "no, Id like some food". Everything went quiet and even the kids were staring at me. Nothing had happened by 12 noon so I went out side and smelt a barbie cooking. I went over to the blokes and said "Ill have a piece of steak and a sausage, no bread please". They said I couldn't have the food till someone showed up to take the money. mmmmm this is a problem. Anyway I turned away and went back painting until 15 minutes later and I could not stand it any longer. I went over to the blokes and said "is the food ready yet?" They said "yeah, but still no one to take the money." I immediately launched myself in to this pathetic plea. "I'm volunteering in the art space and I need food now or I will pass out… " everything went quiet again and I said "Ill have two pieces of steak please". One bloke piped up and said "we have no plate or cutlery". I said "no worries ill just hold it in my hand and lent over and took one steak and started nawing on it while they just stood and watched me like I was someone from Katherine. I also got another piece of steak and ate that. When I left I said, that was fab boys- thanks so much!! everything was still quiet.

When I got back to the art room a Filipino girl who was also volunteering said “Kim you have a real gift” I'm thinking to myself “try telling that to the family” then I asked why and she said "I liked the way you told sister you wanted food instead of music, that was funny" and we both cracked up laughing.

Galong Fare

I was asked to sit the Artspace and paint rocks with kids as part of the fare. And it was fun. Some of the mothers and grandmothers who were telling the kids what to do, kept steering them away from the rock painting saying things like "its nicer if you paint on this paper" Don't paint the rocks because they are dirty" so glad the kids cut loose with their wishes and come over and had a ball. One girl (20 something) who was also volunteering asked me as soon as I arrived was I Catholic and I told her yes but don't attend regularly any more, so she said she is a charismatic and that I should go to her church because it would be more interesting for me. I then asked her if she wanted to paint some rocks and she said "No" I piped up and said "What too charismatic for you?" I laughed to myself at the end of the day when I saw her putting her rock in her backpack to take home.

One little girl with a humorous way called her rock Rocksanne which was the highlight of the rock painting sessions.

They also had Bell Ringers live there and I have been trying to upload the video of them but its not working for now. Ill keep trying. It was really wonderful.

oh, and some views on the drive, Navgirl took the X-trail off road which was a bit feral.

Drought Horses

My mum used to work with Drought Horses when young and had a real way with them, I remember her saying "woo back and "getty up boys" when we would play horses. I believe the person doing the ploughing is some relation to me as he lives in the area that my grandfather came from in Northern Ireland. And the talking is so fast at the start that I cant understand it but sounds like Ive always known it, if you understand what I mean.... Its intriguing how the horses walk in the rows so beautifully.

Jhuny-Boy Borja - nutha Katherine boy