Friday, February 27, 2009

Phunny phony Trek

A talented Photoshopper has been having fun with some Star Trek novel covers.

Check out: Mighty God King's blog!

I can't make up my mind on a favourite. "Collectible Plate" is pretty hilarious, but so are most of the others!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

depouiller - to strip off

My friend, Sydney political cartoonist and children's book illustrator, Eric Lobbecke, sent me an invitation to the opening of his new exhibition at NG Art Gallery, Chippendale. I simply had to brave the steady rain - and my new head cold - to get there, and what a fun night! Thanks Eric!

Lobbecke 1
I counted fifty people not long after I arrived and this number
quickly seemed to double!
Eric is towards the back of this pic, the smaller figure in the white shirt.


Lobbecke 2
The topic of the exhibition is politicians,
stripped of their accoutrements, until they are all the same underneath. I think.


View from gallery windowwhiteLobbecke
The former church windows revealed sculptures and a herb garden perched on the roof,
although this wasn't part of the exhibition.
The mural on the next building, seen through the right window, makes it look like stained glass in this pic!


Lobbecke 3
Eric is again to the right of the middle of this pic, in the white shirt.

With all the fat naked men on display I was quite flattered that Eric hadn't asked me to model. And the rest of the world breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Daisy Sunshine - in the sunshine

Susanne Gervay book launch

On yet another of Sydney's string of very warm days, I was off on the train into the city this afternoon, alighting at Central for a brisk, if very sweaty, walk along ever-colourful, if now slighty worn-down, Oxford Street, through Darlinghurst, Paddington and then Woollahra, to the beautiful and stately Hughenden Boutique Hotel!

I had been invited by author Susanne Gervay to attend the launch of two "Making Tracks" books for children: Felicity Pulman's "Turning the Page" and Susanne's own "Daisy Sunshine". These are the final two titles in a series published by the National Museum of Australia, with each fiction book highlighting an artifact from the Museum's amazing collection of significant, historic Australiana.

Because Susanne's book is set squarely in 1975, and focused around some feminist memorabilia of that decade, there was a pervasive presence of cork platform shoes, long dresses, hippy headscarves, and a rousing chorus of "I Am Woman".

It was fun hobnobbing with the members and friends of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators of Australia, and renewing many old acquaintances. A great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The Hughenden is owned by Susanne and her sister, and is just around the corner from another very famous building, which also has a strong link to Australia in the 1970s. I had some time to kill before the book launch was due to commence, so I took a nostalgic stroll down...

Moncur Street

... to see...

Moncur Flats
Moncur Flats, 83 Moncur St, Woollahra...

...otherwise known as...

Number 96
Number 96, Lindsay Street, Paddington!

On the way back to the station, I was on the look out for the ATC of the TH...

Paddington Town Hall

Sunday's magic number: 96.4. Walking in the heat of the day. Did it help?