San Francisco Mission District

When I was in San Francisco I stayed in the lively and colourful Mission district.

The day we arrived our apartment was surrounded by a throbbing street party. Kids were riding bicycles down the middle of the street, bands and DJ's spinning, great food and smiling locals. I treated it as a sign that I was going to love this city.

Turns out I was staying in quite the trendy neighbourhood. In my research of Mission I knew that it was famous for it's eateries whilst brimming with colour and street art. I was literally around the corner from Balmy Alleyway known for it's religious murals painted onto local residents fences and roller doors. Definitely a fun part of town.

A Day at MoMA

Whenever I travel I always make an effort to see at least one Art Gallery. My favourite day in New York was the day I went to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). We were lucky to be in town when the Rain Room Exhibition was showing. When we arrived at MoMA early that morning there was already a giant queue to go see the exhibition. Turns out the day we picked happened to be the last day that the exhibition was on. I regret not taking a picture as the queue spanned a block! It was quite hot outside and I had no desire to wait in that long queue so we headed inside to cool down and to check out the rest of MoMA.







I have a huge appreciation of modern art and found the Museum fascinating. Some of the work shown were iconic. Pieces by Van Gogh, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Monet, Matisse and Klimt. But what I really enjoyed was that the Museum was a time capsule of all things Modern: Art, Architecture, Design, Film and Literature. It was beautiful to see an Eames Chair and a Philip Stark Juicer nestled in amongst the artwork. Here are some of my favourites from that day.











Turns out not waiting in the long queue paid off. Whilst the line for the Rain Room dissipated in the heat I got to sneak in and see what all the fuss was about. I felt like I had stepped into a cool, soothing ambient dark box. People spoke in hushed tones. It reminded me of a Church in many ways if you ignore the rain pouring out of the ceiling. It truly was one of those awe filled moments. I was lucky enough to see an impromptu performance by a pair of dry dancers twirling in the rain. A pretty magical day.

Empire: A Night Inside The Spiegeltent

 

Last night I had the opportunity to see a show inside the Spiegeltent. What is a Spiegeltent? Imagine a century old lavish art deco tent where the inside walls are adorned in mirrors. Sounds gorgeous doesnt it?

My husband and I were married inside a Spiegeltent last year during the Adelaide Fringe Festival. It has now become our tradition to hunt down a show whenever our path crosses with the tent. It's a wonderful way to celebrate and remember our unique wedding day.

Lucky for us a Spiegeltent always visits our home town every summer. We've been blessed this year with two visits so immediately bought tickets once we found out about the new show called Empire. Flown in from New York with rave reviews it was just too tempting a show to not go. The show is hard to characterise as it is a merging of comedy, cabaret, circus, vaudeville and burlesque.



For the entire show I was held in a state of wonder. The cast of Empire push the limits of their strong and limber bodies. I was well and truly hooked when during the first act the room was flooded with a cascade of bubbles.

I highly recommend if you get the chance to grab some tickets to Empire if you get the chance. It'll be haunting my day dreams for a while to come.

Feel Good Friday

This week has felt like a whirlwind. Can someone tell me what has happened? I need to screw my head back on correctly. At least the sunshine has crept back into our days and spring is finally here! I cannot wait to get outside this weekend. With the weather being so wonderful I am tempted to dust down my bicycle and go for a ride.

I thought I'd try something a little different for my usual Feel Good Friday update today and mention my favourite artist, Shag. I've mentioned him previously on my blog but he's worth his weight in gold to be mentioned again. I would love to have more of his collection up on my walls at home.

Shag has released a new print called The Silver Years. It is a strong nod to the sixties featuring Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgewick and other hip peeps from that swinging time. The print is still available for purchase via Outre Gallery. I'm hosting a party this weekend and his Cocktail Compendium would also just look groovy behind my Tiki Bar. They are all just too cool. I wish I had some spare cash lying around as I would snap this up.




I have always wondered what Shag's studio looks like since he seems to be obsessed with all things retro and tiki like myself. Turns out it is pretty cool. I'd love his Tiki Mug collection alone!

Anyway don't mind me sharing my dream art collection this afternoon. Do you have an artist that you obsess about?

Feel Good Friday

I've been incredibly introspective as of late. Questioning many things about life. I should explain why I seem to be filled with all of these questions. Partly as I've spent a week in isolation with a nasty virus. Partly as my birthday is mere days away.

Birthdays don't normally terrify me. Turning 30 didn't even register on my radar. It came and went in a whirlwind of decadent bubbles. Yet the prospect of 32 feels like I've stepped out onto a windy ledge with a fraying rope for safety above a deep crevasse.

I came across a brilliant piece of writing which has helped me feel more at ease. It is definitely true being in your 20's you feel like you know everything but once in your 30's you know better and realise that for every answer resolved there are infinitely more questions seeking resolution. I have not found peace with these questions yet but I am starting to accept that they will always be there.

Since I had so much free time on my hands this past week I have created another music mix for your listening pleasure and please have a wonderful weekend.

Mix from lanavsmith on 8tracks Radio.

Thank you to artist Alberto Seveso and Arte Limited. The artwork above is called 'A Due Colori V'.

Recovering Artaholic

I am recovering from my purge of artistic delights some of you might know as the Adelaide Festival and its young rival, the Adelaide Fringe. It was a short and very sweet experience this year for me as I had only 4 days to immerse myself before flying overseas.

During that brief time I was blindfolded, tied up and then dragged through a sensory maze of delights, frights whilst meeting the most caring strangers. Pulled through a secret door into a wonderland of you-wont-believe-what-happened. (If you must know I was transformed into a beautiful unicorn sparkling with pearls and bling but my camera was confiscated so I don't think you'd ever believe me.) Watched a loveable larrikan tumble and fumble on stage. Listened to a marching band play sexual healing whilst I watched a good friend get married inside Barrio. Found myself a lovely derby girl & got hitched myself before dancing the night away under the stars.

Not your average art adventure but that is the point. Art is meant to be what you want it to be. That is why I love my town and its quirky sense of fun. So what does a recovering artaholic going to do now??

All life affirming art suggestions welcome.

Adelaide Festival Picks

Last week I informed you of my favourite picks from the Adelaide Fringe Festival. This week however, its all about the Adelaide Festival.

The Adelaide Festival in my mind is one of those risk taker events that thrusts art passionately in your face. I go a little mad during Mad March because of  it's lustfully exciting line-ups tempting me to consecutive sleepless weeks. I come out the other end of the Festival feeling a little bit like Alice having come back from Wonderland. Tired, swooning and a little heart broken that its all over.

Very much at the top of my list are the theatre performance group, Ontroerend Goed. They love to create intimate, individual performance pieces which turns normal theatre on its head. For the Adelaide Festival they have created 3 different shows one of which I am lucky to have the tickets for, The Smile Off Your Face. I will be blind folded, strapped into a wheelchair and whizzed off into the night. Lets hope I come back in one piece.

I love the German Club so I cannot wait for it to be converted into a late night smoky cabaret venue. Being able to see a show here excites me almost as much as the show I want to see The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. Whenever the word word rambunctious appears in any type of review you know that you at least are going to enjoy some hearty loudness, the ability to drink beer whilst sitting in your seat, maybe a sing-a-long and some cheek. I for one am looking forward this show as it should be a fun night out.

Heading into a different direction completely the Festival is heading online to capture our hearts and imaginations this year. How can you be alone in a city full of noise? Being quiet, letting thoughts sit and process can sometimes be a perfect methodology for a healthy state of mind. Quite amazingly this year the Festival has sponsored Stereopublic a TEDXPrize City 2.0 Winner to do just that. I for one cannot wait to see what this is all about.














And finally, Barrio. The hottest ticket on the Mad March calendar last year is set to come back again in 2013. Every night is different from the last. Get their early. Bring a shrine offering. Be tempted by the greatest night out of your life. If anyone asks you a random question say yes.

Here is a link to one of my highlight shows from Barrio last year, Abbie Cardwell & The Chicano Rockers. I only expect Barrio to become even more of a simmering melting pot this summer.



Well thats just my opinion, what are you most excited about this Festival season?

Adelaide Fringe Festival Picks

Mad March is fast approaching. What does that mean? Adelaide is soon to come alive with both the Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe to swing open their peacock and sequin encrusted doors. If you can't find something fun to do in the city soon there might actually be something seriously wrong with you. With hundreds of shows all vying for your attention I've done the hard leg work and sorted through the shows for my top picks for each festival.

First up, the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

I fell in love with the Adelaide Fringe when I was a young girl. I was 13 & I had convinced my mother to let me go to the Fringe Opening Night. She dropped my girlfriend & I at the top of Rundle Street with a wave and a well wishes for our evening. Honestly, I dont know what I said to her to let us go without her. Rundle Street had been transformed into a bedazzled infectious creature of a street party. I remember a Drag queen on a float drifted down from her lofty height to give me a magic wand. I was showered in joy, confetti & light. That was the most exhilarating night of my entire young self's life. Because of that night I have been forever in love with the shimmering & fabulous world of the Fringe.

Anyway enough daydreaming, the Fringe begins in a week!

If it feels like the Fringe has well and truly taken over Adelaide, then you are correct. The crowd favourite places to hang out are back. Any night of the week you can drop by the Garden of Unearthly Delights, Tuxedo Cat, Gluttony, The Rhino Room or The Big Slapple to see something guaranteed entertaining. But this year there is a newcomer space that I've got my eye on, The Depot.

The Depot is the newest fringe hub to be created. Perfectly nestled behind China Town in the CBD it is set to be a fun date night out (Ahem, Valentines Day anyone?) destination.



My highlight show to see at the Depot is Colourpalooza. There is definitely something in the water with colour events taking off all around the country. And it seems that Colour + Music is a winning formula with the fun-at-heart crowd. Straight after the Fringe Opening Parade its set to go off!

I always set aside time for the Circus every Fringe. There's something about beautiful strong bodies making contortions & feats of strength look effortless that I admire. It wows me everytime. This year I've bookmarked seeing Freefall at the Adelaide Town Hall.

Another one of my favourites I'll be heading down to the Wheaty to check out The Hushes for some laid back beautiful tunes.

If all else fails & you are finding Fringe time overwhelming. I recommend braving the Fringe Bus. Jump on for an adventure you wont forget. The Fringe is about flirting with your comfort zone. Some of my best nights out during Fringe I just wandered the streets. Be brave, find a friend and wander down Adelaide's alley ways. You never know what might jump out and bite you.

Next week I'll update you on my favourite picks for the Adelaide Festival! Stay tuned.

Awe inspiring Anish Kapoor

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to see a truly ground breaking artist, Anish Kapoor at Sydney's MCA.

Anish Kapoor, is an Indian-born British sculptor. His work explores his interest in the relationship between the contrasting forces of light and dark. He uses colour, form, size and medium to challenge perception, developing immersive and sometimes unsettling experiences.

On first glance the works look simplistic. Its not until you come close & interact with them that you will perceive the beauty within. In my eyes the man is a genius. Each and every time I went to look at a work I found myself completely drawn in. I found everything was highly interactive and awe inspiring. It was like I had fallen down a rabbit hole.

My personal favourite from the exhibition was the elegant S Curve. Wandering its length both sides I found other people's bodies swirled, curled, disappeared and reappeared whilst my own image stared back at me unaltered. It was truly unsettling.



Kapoor's Exhibition will be at the MCA until 1 April 2013. I highly recommend checking out Kapoor's website to see more of his work as they are truly breaktaking. 

Let there be light

Recently I got a ticket to attend the Adelaide Festival 2013 Season Launch. Under the applause and hushed vibe the poster was lavishly presented to the crowd. It is eerily dark and temptingly inviting at at once. I wanted to crawl inside the light square box and see what was inside. All the launch was missing was a Wolf howling to the moon & I would have had goosebumps.

It was love at first sight, again. I knew at once that I'd seen the work of this artist before - Benoit Paille.

Benoit Paille is a Canadian Artist who takes incredible thought provoking photos. I particularly love her illuminated landscape images. So enchanting you feel like you have stepped into another world. I cannot believe that they have not been edited digitally later in Photoshop.I was able to find some of her work on This is Colossal. I recommend you check out their cool blog.





I am really looking forward to the Adelaide Festival in March 2013. Known for being the risk taking Art Festival in Australia it dares to be different. I have traveled to festivals interstate and you can definitely tell where Adelaide dares and succeeds, the other festivals follow.

Outbound with the In Crowd

I am completely head over heels in love with the work of Artist, Shag. His brightly coloured retro inspired world is pure hedonistic fantasy. 

My taste in art has developed overtime but there is something cheeky in Shag's work that keeps me coming back.  One day I can only dream that he gets inspiration in the form of a bedazzled pineapple. Until then I will send him Jedi mind control thoughts.

If you are in Sydney (or Melbourne) check out Shag's latest exhibition, Outbound with the In Crowd at Outré Gallery. 

Choose Your Own Adventure in Turkey

Earlier this year I jumped on a plane and flew to Turkey for my Honeymoon.

It completely blew me away. The people were generous & kind. The food was addictively good. The weather was warm and I barely saw a single cloud in the sky the 3 weeks we were there.

One of the highlights of our trip was taking a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. At one point when we were floating over the land we were up in the sky with another 50 balloons. I took as many photos of the balloons (250 photos in 2 hours) as I did the alien landscape.

My personal highlight was our boat cruise down the Turkish coastline from Fetiye to Olympos. Our days were spent swimming in the warm buoyant Mediterranian water or climbing over small remote islands scattered with ancient ruins. By the end of our cruise I had turned a gorgeous honey brown colour from all of sun. Absolute heaven.

I will always remember how Turkey made me feel. The sweet smell of the orange tree's lining the streets. The comforting & mood lifting apple tea. The quiet solace of a tap dripping in a Public bath. A refreshing chill creeping up through my feet from cool floor tiles.

It truly is an old ancient place where old superstitions die hard and the land offers up so many unique almost mystical natural wonders.

I tried to bottle up a small amount of Turkey and take it home with me but it was hard to recreate in the cold dark days of winter. Now that summer is finally here I can stand outside in the sun, shut my eyes and dream that I'm back climbing up the side of a mountain, walking through a field of wild growing thyme in search of another lost city.