Week Twenty-Three / Day One
Though Melbourne seems to me to have more of a San Francisco vibe than any other city with which I am familiar; similar to Chicago, it has installations of outdoor art virtually everywhere. A freeway isn't built without some sort of Abstract Something that offends some and engages others (isn't that one of the purposes of art?) but definitely breaks up any monotony of concrete and steel, billboards and the backsides of apartment and office buildings.More than that, though; throughout the public spaces in the city, one regularly encounters the expressions of artists from impressionistic to surrealistic and from fantastic to whatthefick!
Within a block of my building are a raft of examples of accessible, touchable sometimes interactive public art... Simply looking down from my balcony...
Stepping out the door of my building, immediately across Waterview Walk (from which, actually, one cannot quite see any water) is this little guy. "Little" being relative to the neighboring art installations and towering buildings, mind you...
Strolling past this dog/rabbit just a few metres, I am at the base of that sculpture I showed you from my balcony. "Continuum," per the artist (Michael Snape), is about the climb of life and the value of aspiration. He goes on to say that we can afford to aspire, and that reaching up is not inevitably flawed...and that "community" supports this.
I embrace what I believe he is attempting to articulate or espouse, here. What makes it stand out, to me, is that such philosophy runs counter to a powerful subtext in the culture of this country...often articulated as the "tall poppy" culture.
Ergo, the perspective of this artist on aspiration and community is refreshing and just a tad subversive, imho...
Across the street is "Aurora," celebrating the history of Docklands as the site of Victoria Dock, once the industrial transport hub of Victoria. The sweeping curves and net-like upper form refer to cargo nets from the early days, and the piece is named for the Roman goddess of the dawn. 
At night, this sculpture is lit internally in homage to the Aurora Australis.
Now, THIS one is titled, "Shoal" and according to the artist sprung from a mental image of a "shoal" of fish, swimming past him in the air as he walked down LaTrobe Street. It certainly conveys movement...
From here, can you tell what this is?
Why, it's "Cow up a Tree" - what else!? 
I'm tellin' ya; I live in a VERY interesting neighborhood...
This building is pretty cool; the facade on the right is a great geometric expression, while that on the left (you can see all the narrow light fixtures embedded therein) flashes and glows in multicolored visual cacophony, at night...
And here we are, at the other end of the quay, with "Shoal on the Fly," evoking for the artist the wake of a ship or boat as it passes through the harbour; and the shoals now hidden from view by the ongoing development that is taking place in this neighborhood.
Finally, a simple, pleasant shot of the marina, a few metres down the street from me; this is where I await the tram, in the mornings...
My interactions with the people here just keep getting better and better. I was at Victoria Market, yesterday, buying chicken and meat for the week (Nine steaks and a big chicken to roast for a grand total of AU$31.00 - that's just over US$25, today). I passed by Vicky's Italian deli, of whom I've written, previously, and she called out to me by name, again. Most cool.
I was in and out of the market in about 20 minutes; now that I know where to go to get what. A big part of the market does have "tourist" stuff; but the locals go there for food, sauces and oils, meat and poultry and fish - and it is a blast, no matter when one goes...at least it has been, whenever I have hit the place.
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As to the language barrier; by George, I do believe I may be Getting It... I have discovered that I am perhaps more acclimated to Oz than I had previously thought.
Yesterday, in the midst of a killer Chiropractic session, my Chiro was talking about cooking, and mentioned that he had a "...killer recipe for Spag Bog..." which made me burst into laughter; as I immediately realized he was talking about Spaghetti Bolognese!
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After my ruminative meanderings through the past, last week; I received a number of wonderful emails from many with whom I have worked, in the past. These communications, I have to share with y'all, were exquisitely well-timed and bore an accumulation of funny, loving, supportive anecdotes and commentary that proved to be a profoundly effective virtual shot in the proverbial arm for me.
The effect on my psyche and demeanor was immediate, cleansing, enlightening and inspirational. I often say that I have been lucky to work with the best people; who care deeply about what we do and are committed to the work, the experiences we create, the missions we endeavor to fulfill and to one another of us, doing it. These notes and letters from you, these past few days, have been revitalizing and have refreshed some long-held memories.
Thanks, y'all...
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And, for those of you who've asked or wondered; though the pain of separation never really ceases, all's well...
(at 50...a few years back)
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