LADY ANNE

Philippine Journey    2009              by Virginia Jean Gow

Lady Anne was invited to Manila for breakfast,

Famous Anne, elegant Anne.

She flew in from Dubbo, for Peter’s birthday

Designer Peter, amusing Peter.

Peter is sixty; Lady Anne is much older,

But they have a shared history,

Have faded past glories.

Whispers of intrigue drew a curtain around them

Surrounding the Lady, who still held her style.

She wore her splendor tied with a ribbon in her hair.

Manila sparkled with renewed vigor

Welcomed the Lady back to her palaces.

We wandered the Casa, so steeped in history,

Where Spanish rule dominated for five hundred years.

We slid into shadows of Chinese Cemetery,

An unusual choice for a sixtieth celebration,

At walled Intramuros, that infamous prison

In the footsteps of Dr.Rizal we followed.

A party of difference,

We learned of rebellion and freedom’s dream.

We questioned the safety of riding a jeepna,

Especially one called “Chariot of God”.

It was a day to remember

A gossamer birthday

Peter is sixty; Lady Anne is much younger now.

memories

SISTERS OF THE FINKE

WRITERS’ GATHERINGS 2010-2011

SPECIAL DATES  2PM 4PM SERIOUS STUFF

•22nd Dec.

•5th Jan

•19th Jan

•2nd Feb

•16th Feb

•2nd Mar

•16th Mar

•30th Mar

•13th April

•27th April

•11th May

•25th May

•8ht June

•22nd June

•6ht July

•20th July

•3rd August

•17th August

•31st August

•14th Sept

•28th Sept

•12th Oct

•26th Oct

A DESERT WEAVING.

“IN HONOUR OF PIPPA”

I named Pippa Miss Universe when I first met her in the desert. She was dressed in white, her slender frame she carried with elegance. Her high cheekbones and polite conversation delivered with an exotic accent suggested ladylike tendencies of a European nature. Only later did I learn that she was of German extraction from Dorrigo. Our connection was casual, but deepened dramatically when we worked together on a project that I called “the bus incident”.

We had said our goodbyes to the Finke River Camp. A bus had arrived to take us back to the Alice. Unfortunately, the river sand was soft and the bus bogged down deep into the earth.

The desert sisters formed a circle and started a chanting. They were chanting a “bubble” around the bus so that it would move. This was too much for some of the party. They realized that no amount of song wishes would move a bus. Why would it? Physical strength and practical knowhow was needed. About eight sisters extracted themselves from the circle and started working. They piled stones under the wheels of the bus, building a solid path for the bus to try to back up on. Pippa was one of these people. We worked like navies till the bus moved.

Pippa and I were invited to ride back with one of the tour men, Ron, in a jeep. One the way we stopped at Simpson’s Creek, and Ron “painted up” Pippa and myself with the ochre from the surrounding clay pans. It was a joyous connection for Pippa and myself. I didn’t wash the ochre off till morning.

The next time I felt Pippa’s spirit was at the Memorial Gathering held at Ulli’s home. I remember the photo displayed on a sideboard, surrounded by candles, offerings, and friends. In this photo, Pippa lay in state, encased in white, eyes closed by death. She was just like Miss Universe, a queen in heaven, God bless her.

Virginia Jean Gow

27/09/10

BIODIVERSITY IN COLOUR

BIODIVERSITY IN COLOUR

Science Week was celebrated at Manly’s North Head, “Sunday at the Sanctuary – a living lab” on Sunday, 22^nd August.

Several artists were invited By Manly Environment Centre to contribute to this celebration of Biodiversity by creating visual images in a range of diverse media.

As a participating artist my response to the concept of biodiversity was to focus on the brilliant colours that surrounded me.

These brilliant colours from Nature’s bountiful palette represented a challenge for me.

Our Australian bush is so rich in subtle shades and tints that the eye is dazzled by the diversity of greens and the richness of browns and ochres.

Everywhere the complementary pairs of red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow were caught in the interplay of light and shadow.

Beyond my easel a brilliant blue sky contrasted with the vivid orange of a gravel parade ground.

I selected Cerulean Blue as my main primary colour and Cadmium Orange as the complementary secondary shade.

By mixing and tinting with a dash of black and a pinch of white my palette became a diverse blend of warm and cool, light and dark, rich and subtle.

From the brightness of fern to the silver green and pink foliage of new gum leaves colour danced across my eyes.

I felt very privileged to be sharing this celebration of biodiversity with fellow artists who each expressed a unique response to our site.

Our site symbolized for us the endless variety of Nature’s creative life force, her bountiful expressions through form, texture, colour and light.

As we artists’ worked our own creative magic I felt a surge of grateful wonder at the visual splendor of Nature’s canvas.

Virginia Jean Gow

August, 2010.

|

BIODIVERSITY IN COLOUR

Science Week was celebrated at Manly’s North Head, “Sunday at the Sanctuary – a living lab” on Sunday, 22^nd August.

Several artists were invited By Manly Environment Centre to contribute to this celebration of Biodiversity by creating visual images in a range of diverse media.

As a participating artist my response to the concept of biodiversity was to focus on the brilliant colours that surrounded me.

These brilliant colours from Nature’s bountiful palette represented a challenge for me.

Our Australian bush is so rich in subtle shades and tints that the eye is dazzled by the diversity of greens and the richness of browns and ochres.

Everywhere the complementary pairs of red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow were caught in the interplay of light and shadow.

Beyond my easel a brilliant blue sky contrasted with the vivid orange of a gravel parade ground.

I selected Cerulean Blue as my main primary colour and Cadmium Orange as the complementary secondary shade.

By mixing and tinting with a dash of black and a pinch of white my palette became a diverse blend of warm and cool, light and dark, rich and subtle.

From the brightness of fern to the silver green and pink foliage of new gum leaves colour danced across my eyes.

I felt very privileged to be sharing this celebration of biodiversity with fellow artists who each expressed a unique response to our site.

Our site symbolized for us the endless variety of Nature’s creative life force, her bountiful expressions through form, texture, colour and light.

As we artists’ worked our own creative magic I felt a surge of grateful wonder at the visual splendor of Nature’s canvas.

Virginia Jean Gow

August, 2010.

|

A SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER

A SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER 2010

A high, spiteful wind whips the harbour.

Ferry crossing is rough.

I watch the wind swirl around my cave and marvel

at the peacefulness inside this place.

Universal Mother plays music for my soul

Computer stick connects me to a larger world.

I search the net to find news of earthquake in Christchurch,

Floods in Victoria, Systems of Sound, Wellness and emails.

I ponder at the time I have left here.

Unable to compose a plan, I compose a poem and send it to Annie Castle.

Somehow the reaching out to a friend makes the winds blast less severe.

I go hot and cold, in and out of fever.

Virginia Jean Gow.

bio art

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biodiversity in colour

By Virginia Jean Gow

Tags: art, artist, Australian, biodiversity, bush, colour,greens, hues, nature, paint

Science Week was celebrated at Manly’s North Head, “Sunday at the Sanctuary – a living lab” on Sunday, 22nd August.
Several artists were invited By Manly Environment Centre to contribute to this celebration of Biodiversity by creating visual images in a range of diverse media.
As a participating artist my response to the concept of biodiversity was to focus on the brilliant colours that surrounded me.
These brilliant colours from Nature’s bountiful palette represented a challenge for me.
Our Australian bush is so rich in subtle shades and tints that the eye is dazzled by the diversity of greens and the richness of browns and ochres.
Everywhere the complementary pairs of red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow were caught in the interplay of light and shadow.
Beyond my easel a brilliant blue sky contrasted with the vivid orange of a gravel parade ground.
I selected Cerulean Blue as my main primary colour and Cadmium Orange as the complementary secondary shade.
By mixing and tinting with a dash of black and a pinch of white my palette became a diverse blend of warm and cool, light and dark, rich and subtle.
From the brightness of fern to the silver green and pink foliage of new gum leaves colour danced across my eyes.
I felt very privileged to be sharing this celebration of biodiversity with fellow artists who each expressed a unique response to our site.
Our site symbolized for us the endless variety of Nature’s creative life force, her bountiful expressions through form, texture, colour and light.
As we artists’ worked our own creative magic I felt a surge of grateful wonder at the visual splendor of Nature’s canvas.

Ten tiny linen paintings capture the essence of the interpretation of an idea about biodiversity.

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flash fiction

HANGING OUT WITH THE TASMAN POETS

It was a symposium, a gathering of mind-mixing poets from home and away

Spanning the Tasman, Kiwi and Aussie

Blending their energies by making presentations

Participating in audience, bonding with words

Effective cross-cultivation of accents and ideas

Four poets sat at the ‘bridge’ table, papers ready

Willing faces beamed back at them

Currents flowed with witticism

Mind sketches of vibrating rhythms

Oh, listen to tall Samoan Princess delivering a saga

Long Pele hair, cascading over ruby lace top

Then picture a vision,

A teller of talking stick, exotically carved by renown artist

Imagine it held proudly in the hand of winsome Poet Laureate Michelle

Opened up a vista of legacy passing over

Shifting human endeavour to another level

Oh, memorize the line of another voice

Who likes to go under the bridge?

And talk of pigs and chicken wire

Aeroplanes soar and roar

Whilst peanut butter is given a triple serve

Rippling lyrics hold the air

Only a silver slice is served

So this is a symposium, what a poetic mix!

Glad to be hanging out with these folk

They add abundance to the cultural fix

Following the thread of a yesterday

Catch the ferry to Cockatoo Island

The sign “Have a Ferry Happy Day”

Welcomed one and all

Follow the slim, silken thread

Seamed together, warm sandstones, marbled in rich ochre

Tunneled into cliff, cut out of an olden day prison

Man’s monumental natural art gallery of shipbuilding past, soaring umber rusted cranes

Huge bolt lathe holders, like Easter Island protectors

Preserved on this island for us to gaze at and enjoy

Wander around, hanging out with the Tasman Poets

Ferry home was named “Friendship”, good call.

VIRGINIA JEAN GOW 13/09/10

BIODIVERSITY IN COLOUR

Science Week was celebrated at Manly’s North Head, “Sunday at the Sanctuary – a living lab” on Sunday, 22^nd August.

Several artists were invited By Manly Environment Centre to contribute to this celebration of Biodiversity by creating visual images in a range of diverse media.

As a participating artist my response to the concept of biodiversity was to focus on the brilliant colours that surrounded me.

These brilliant colours from Nature’s bountiful palette represented a challenge for me.

Our Australian bush is so rich in subtle shades and tints that the eye is dazzled by the diversity of greens and the richness of browns and ochres.

Everywhere the complementary pairs of red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow were caught in the interplay of light and shadow.

Beyond my easel a brilliant blue sky contrasted with the vivid orange of a gravel parade ground.

I selected Cerulean Blue as my main primary colour and Cadmium Orange as the complementary secondary shade.

By mixing and tinting with a dash of black and a pinch of white my palette became a diverse blend of warm and cool, light and dark, rich and subtle.

From the brightness of fern to the silver green and pink foliage of new gum leaves colour danced across my eyes.

I felt very privileged to be sharing this celebration of biodiversity with fellow artists who each expressed a unique response to our site.

Our site symbolized for us the endless variety of Nature’s creative life force, her bountiful expressions through form, texture, colour and light.

As we artists’ worked our own creative magic I felt a surge of grateful wonder at the visual splendor of Nature’s canvas.

Virginia Jean Gow

August, 2010.

|

BIODIVERSITY IN COLOUR

Science Week was celebrated at Manly’s North Head, “Sunday at the Sanctuary – a living lab” on Sunday, 22^nd August.

Several artists were invited By Manly Environment Centre to contribute to this celebration of Biodiversity by creating visual images in a range of diverse media.

As a participating artist my response to the concept of biodiversity was to focus on the brilliant colours that surrounded me.

These brilliant colours from Nature’s bountiful palette represented a challenge for me.

Our Australian bush is so rich in subtle shades and tints that the eye is dazzled by the diversity of greens and the richness of browns and ochres.

Everywhere the complementary pairs of red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow were caught in the interplay of light and shadow.

Beyond my easel a brilliant blue sky contrasted with the vivid orange of a gravel parade ground.

I selected Cerulean Blue as my main primary colour and Cadmium Orange as the complementary secondary shade.

By mixing and tinting with a dash of black and a pinch of white my palette became a diverse blend of warm and cool, light and dark, rich and subtle.

From the brightness of fern to the silver green and pink foliage of new gum leaves colour danced across my eyes.

I felt very privileged to be sharing this celebration of biodiversity with fellow artists who each expressed a unique response to our site.

Our site symbolized for us the endless variety of Nature’s creative life force, her bountiful expressions through form, texture, colour and light.

As we artists’ worked our own creative magic I felt a surge of grateful wonder at the visual splendor of Nature’s canvas.

Virginia Jean Gow

August, 2010.

|