Dowd adventures in Bologna: settembre 2012

martedì 18 settembre 2012

Back in OZ, but just a month

So we arrived in Melbourne on the 31st July for a month stay. I had an exhibition "The Grand Tour" at MARS gallery, and it was a chance after nearly 18 months away to see our family and friends. So it started us being picked up at the airport by mum and dad in a stretched 10 meter limo, which the boys loved, though l could not help think of the amount of bucks parties and second rate rock stars that had sat in the 80's style layout. Of course this was not the first time mum and dad had been in the limo, ohh no, they were out at the airport the night before to pick us up, as the Ethiad itinerary had us arriving then, they had failed to account for the extra day of travel. That along with the limited legroom is a reason l may not fly with them again. So take two they finally picked us up, and we did the long way home, as a 10 meter car cannot drive down every road. We left Bologna's hot humid temperatures and arrived in the coldest winter Melbourne has had for quite some time. Bologna is empty in August due to the heat, but there were times when Jayne wished she was back to escape the cold.
The first day was in Melbourne, and it was good to see mum and dad, and see how little things had changed, in fact l still had a bag of clothing there from when l left, which thankfully was winter clothing. The boys found some toys they used to play with, and l had a coffee with Tim Edwards, something that was a bit of a ritual when l was in Melbourne. The biggest change we found was the cost of living, l could not believe the cost of a coffee or a meal, ridiculous, and without sounding rude, the food was generally average, but the cafe latte's were still the best, though the expressos need help.
In an overview we spent the month driving back and forth to Melbourne from Teneriffe, and the occasional trip to Ballarat, other driving was across town in Melbourne ( which the traffic seemed worse than before) we had some meals with friends and family and truck loads of coffees.
It was all very exhausting and tiring, but it was always a delight to see our friends and family, and too realize nothing had changed ,it was as if we had left the week before.
So first we had my exhibition of paintings l had done of cities and towns we visited in Italy, all painted on IKEA cardboard, along with a series of woodcuts of Rome. I was fortunate to have the incredible Flip Shelton help me with media, and she did such a good job l was busy as a bee that first 10 days. We had an interview on Italian radio in Melbourne, which was a hugh success as many people came to see the show from that, another radio interview on 3AW with Dennis Walter, and then a couple of articles in the Age newspaper. But the art market is a bit sad and so sales were very minimal, one! But a great picture sold to some wonderful friends and collectors of my work. As all artists say, they dont understand me, you wait, the world will discover the importance of them one day!. But it may be the fact that cardboard was just too foreign for most, much as l mentioned Ian Fairweather's name to them. Anyway enough of may banter, on with the adventure. Ohh one thing we did, which Andy at MARS organized, a workshop in the Dandenongs at Folly Farm, sixteen people came, and we had others wanting to come, but that was the limit. We spent the day drawing the garden and still life, and when l say we, it was Antonio Postacchini who really helped, Antonio came over from Bologna a few days after us and spent most of the time traveling in the back seat with the boys. Antonio runs an art school in Bologna and is a dear friend of ours, and takes the boys on a class every friday. Antonio has a soft nature to him, and when we split up the group to do some drawing, l noticed only 2 came outside into the cold with me, the other 14 remained inside with Antonio as he taught them still life drawing, Morandi style. I of course put this down to the cold, but l think it may be the fact that Antonio is a great teacher.
After that we had a lunch in the near by village and back for some more drawing in the afternoon, finally leaving around 4pm to go back to Teneriffe. We had some lovely reports everyone enjoyed themselves, so that was nice!
Teneriffe was in good nic considering the time away, we have a couple looking after the garden and lawns and general upkeep, they live in my studio / apartment and look after Gus (dog). One thing we realized was how big the house is, after being in a small apartment, but it was great to have a big kitchen, and we all missed the space, that was the common thought with us all, and also for me the horizon line. Antonio found it very expansive and commented how he just could not take it in easily, only before we left did he start to understand the landscape l think. He was fortunate to see two large roos boxing, and lived in fear of what animal might harm him, as the boys told him a few fibs in the back seat.
We caught up with our good friends, Nedra and Tony and their son Finn who is the boys best friend, and of course Simon and Kym and Ranni. I luckily had two wonderful body treatments by Kym, which l had really needed, and the boys had a sleep over at Finns. When we picked them up one night from Nedra's l saw the most warming sight, the four kids in the dark standing around a bomb fire cooking marsh mellows, something you would never see in Italy. No one around them in the middle of a paddock, just chatting away, perfect. I wont say more, just it was a delight to see our friends in the country, and it did make us a bit homesick.
We travelled to Noosa, mum and dad were up there, and l had a very relaxing time, finally able to do very little and have some good sleep. It was warm, in fact we went swimming a few times, got a bit of sun, and had the usual perfect walks in the national park. The boys love it there, both eager to go fishing of the jetty or the boat, Hunter seems happy to spend hours out there. Ewan discovered the paddle ski and went on adventures across to the spit all day, often taking Hunty with him, Hunty sitting in the front and Ewan paddling. They build castles and went on adventures, on their own little tropical island. They found a diamond trevally half alive in the shallow water, which we got them to hold up as if they caught it, it was a hugh fish, the memories of my Golden trevally back in 1985 at Fraser island came flooding back.
Noosa is the perfect place, nothing changes, even after 30 years, we went down and got our boost juices, and Ewans card still was active, so got a free juice a couple of days later. It was great having mum and dad there, as dad kept the boys going on the fishing, and took us out on the boat, and mum kept their maths and reading going, plus more rest time for me. And of course the noosa market, what a delight, the foods, the breakfast and the good feeling you get going there.
Jayne went to Ballarat a couple of times, and l came with them the second time, along with Antonio. Jaynes parents seem to be in good condition, and l am sure were happier to see her. Ballarat was cold, but whats new in that, the lake was lapping at the edges, and l must say it is a lovely place. I caught up with Watto, who now teaches there, and life there seems to suit him.
Had a visit to Melbourne Grammar school, in particular Wadhurst, for the boys to see what it was like and to get them to do a test to see where they are up to. As expected, Ewan was fine and Hunty needs to do a bit more work, but then again he is a great actor and painter and sports person, so you cant have everything. We went for a tour of the school, the boys were very impressed with the first rooms, art, drama, music, science, singing, they thought this school is perfect, it has all the things we love, they they spoilt it by taking us upstairs to the english, maths and language. Finally we went on a tour of the library, as we entered this amazing building, that was full of computers and magazines , not a typical library, Ewan held my hand and asked , Dad is this the gift shop?.
The rest of the time , we visited the doctors, dentists, caught up with a few friends for dinner, and coffee. Finally it was time to go, and l must say l was happy to get on the plane and have a rest. As l always know l will be coming back to live in Australia, and nothing really has changed.