Paintings and parmigiana
Had a relaxtion day on the cards for today.
Mostly because T came home a little intoxicated after midnight and for some strange reason, was feeling ill today. I have no idea why, hmm.
Last night I stayed in and watched TV for a while... Most of the night though, I playing Wii with Clint. Interesting. I think I'll stick to the playstation, but it's fun all the same.
Since T went back to bed come lunch time and there was little on TV I grabbed my Art Alamanac out of my bag and looked at what was near Abbotsford - I didn't feel like catching the train. And incidentally, Connex (the train provider/company) had another incident this morning. With power lines across the tracks, they were delayed for quite a while... Around 2 hours I believe, unless that was an exaggeration on the news.
So anyway, in the Almanac I planned where to head off to. I saw a few galleries around the corner the other day, so I knew where to start... And I found a few more. I was a very pleasant 3 hours.
On Johnston St (Abbotsford), I took in:
- Victoria Park - Wannabe avante garde, small space, wasn't impressed.
- Chapman & Bailey - Nice staff, small space... somehow I was invited to an opening for that evening (Juris Cerins).
- 4cats - Loved this gallery. The staff were friendly and the space was great. Emmy Mavroidis (Playing the line) is on show and is a nice exhibition that ends Feb 17. Next show is Juana Beltran (Feb 20-Mar 10) that I also got an invite for, but can't make it obviously... since I'll be back in Perth.
I then made tracks up to Smith St and Gertrude St (Collingwood/Fitzroy), where I visited:
- Hogan Gallery - This wasn't my scene, but the scultpure from old car and electrical parts was interesting and innovative. Lack of management it seemed, so I didn't get to chat to anyone or anything, hmm.
- Collingwood Gallery - An artist-run space that seems quite nice. Great location with heavy pedestrian traffic. The show was by Michael Porter (Rougesque - his first show) and I chatted with him for about 45 minutes. He's done quite well for a first show - sold probably 65% of what's on show. His work was heavily marketed for the Midsumma Festival, so may have had influence on that. But all the same, he is talented and one to watch out for in Melbourne since he's still very reasonably priced. Also on show were a few small works by Jo Parkin that were cute. Actually, they were quite nice.
- 69 Smith - Another artist-run space. Had some nice work inside by someone that I don't remember, hah. In truth, it was a little mixed and didn't tie together as a 'show'.
Around the Gertrude St area I also wandered past a few other galleries but they didn't take me in from the window... Gertrude Contemporary, Charles Smith, Port Jackson, Seventh, and Dantes.
So with the 'business' out of the way for another few days I waddled back home to Abbotsford.
Once Clint got home we were off out to the Park with some more of 'the boys' for dinner. He has been crying about this Chicken Parmigiana since we got here. I went against convention and ordered Salt and Pepper Squid. Aside from that, one of the others ordered steak... the other 8? Chicken Parmigiana.
My squid was a large serve, but too salty. Like make you gag after half the plate salty. Doesn't pass the Andee taste test :P ...I tried some of the parma and it seemed alright. It had an interesting taste to it, almost like the chicken had been marinated in wine but it may have just been the sauce. Not how I make it anyway, but I'll say it was good. I don't know if I could have eaten a plate of that either.
In any case... based on the fact that my England won the cricket, it was a good night :P ...That's two in a row now, watch out skippies.
