Show Me The Treasure

Home Archive for 2016

at 12:45

Winging It - Christmas Decs

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For several years I've made a Christmas installation, this one, which is two wings ( see below) is fixed to the front door (yellow ain't it?) and is an anti-wreath of sorts, a signal that we are taking off to summer holidays. The wing is modeled on the wing of the Beach Kingfisher, and frankly does it no

at 08:48

Tickled Pink - The Roseate Lane

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Walking down to Gas Town, downtown Vancouver has its quirks, this pink and lemon lane, like a left over film set, or field in a pollen powder pinkness - here I am imaging how a bee might see it, it intrigues. Advantage Vancouver, play on. Walking down to Gas Town, downtown Vancouver has its quirks, this pink and

at 18:58

Rock Legs - Seat Yourself by the Bow River

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Rock Legs - Seat Yourself by the Bow River Image

Walking alongside the fast-talking Bow River, near Lake Louise, there are plenty of invitations to contemplation, this bench, collegiately long, though shy on legs, being one. There are others too, demonstrating, Alberta's fine sense of make-do, their outdoor hospitality and feel for place. Bravo Bow River. Walking alongside the fast-talking Bow River, near Lake Louise, there are plenty

at 02:24

Canada-ing: Maple de Jour

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This water colour sketch is at best a palimpest, a pale imposter of the leaf itself. A fall from grace, one might say, a ghost of form. This water colour sketch is at best a palimpest, a pale imposter of the leaf itself. A fall from grace, one might say, a ghost of form... This

at 08:18

The Larder Spruce or Squirrelling Away

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The Larder Spruce or Squirrelling Away Image

The first found, neatly placed mushroom is a puzzle, the second, slightly higher up is a clue. The answer is squirrels, their thoughtful and perfectly poised provisions seem seem to be both a food guide to wild mushrooms and a map of their territory, an insight to how squirrels think. How do they navigate back to find their

at 06:02

Afternoon's Reversal of Morning's Clouds

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Afternoon's Reversal of Morning's Clouds Image

Lake Louise, Alberta, the snow capped peaks, the kind of scenery that gives grandstands, start off the day a little coy, cloud-hidden, perhaps ascending forever. Late afternoon the cloud chapeau drops to show off the mountains' considerable decolletage. Lake Louise, Alberta, the snow capped peaks, the kind of scenery that gives grandstands, start off the day a little

at 09:04

A Fish-ancy - Best Manhole Cover in Vancouver

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A Fish-ancy - Best Manhole Cover in Vancouver Image

I keep an optimistic eye out for stylish manhole covers, though well designed ones are rare finds outside of Japan. But then I saw three of these wonderfully fishy-man ones on the corner of Jervis and West Georgia Street, Vancouver. Perhaps there are more, somewhere else. I hope so, I am in complete agreement with the evolutionary aptness

at 01:14

East meets West - Orienteering at Stanley Park

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East meets West - Orienteering at Stanley Park Image

Why a rock looks photogenic is anybody's business, though I suspect it is the tenacity of the tuft of tree on top that clinches it for this orphan by the sea wall at Stanley Park. Then there is the curious business of why it seems Eastern, and really why has this antiquated reference endured Post-Copernicus, and why do

at 11:16

Pre-Pixelated in a Whalish Way

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Labels Douglas Coupland's pre-pixelated Orca takes the worry out of focus, or I should say the focus out of worry? Vancouver's sea-wall walk with its aerial boat shed, or is it a grey gantry for a tall stevedore, is similarly loaded with the ambiguous. Some may say it is a leap of faith but I'm saying pull

at 01:30

Granville Bridge's Curlicues and Berries

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Granville Bridge's Curlicues and Berries Image

Arriving to rain in Vancouver, not unheard of here I'm told, the lovely bookends of Granville Bridge are best seen from the ferry wharf. The charm of these small and sturdy ferries, plying the river, is in best seen as they pull into the jetty. Granville Island's Food Market is a robust collection of mongeries, though I doubt

at 08:25

Casaurina -Upscale and Down

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As if fallen from some improbably large Casuarina, this radiate metal casuariana pod, has evidently released all its cargo of seeds, no doubt with metallic wings.The possibility of further, less vicarious, travels, abides in those charming dolly wheel feet. Not, of course, that the wheels are botanically accurate but they do give it a certain faunal charm. The

at 19:05

Take Two Cymbidiums, A Cup of Water and A Conical Flask

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Take Two Cymbidiums, A Cup of Water and A Conical Flask Image

August is the month for orchids, and the pale extravagance of this stem of white cymbidiums, suggests both waywardness and a certain self-assurance. Like a stop-motion on an Olympic gymnast, the stem demonstrates a series of poses very like a somersault with a half-pike. The single bloom, detached, in a minor fall from grace is winsome in a

at 10:11

Where there's Smoke - Or Why I Need a Dyson Hair Dryer

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Where there's Smoke - Or Why I Need a Dyson Hair Dryer Image

at 09:12

Select Episodes from The Mr Farmhand Series - A Real Collectors Item

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Select Episodes from The Mr Farmhand Series - A Real Collectors Item Image

OK, it's here and you can all rush over to the Puncher and Wattmann website to buy your very own, limited edition, hard copy of the book Select Episodes from the Mr Farmhand Series.- click on the title for the link, or go to https://puncherandwattmann.com/books/book/select-episodes-from-the-mr-farmhand-series/. Too easy hey? OK, it's here and you can all rush over to

at 21:36

A Gulf Containing Carpentaria

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Though technically a dock, this gulf, in the Maritime Museum of Brisbane, does contain the whole of the lighthouse boat Carpentaria. Given that language must be allowed some latitude, I think one might as well pick Carpentaria as shining example of the benefits of illumination. A fine tropic for conversation. Though technically a dock, this gulf, in the

at 20:38

Shovel Trove - Sturm and Strang at Balmoral

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Shovel Trove - Sturm and Strang at Balmoral Image

Beach combing isn't what it used to be, this salvage of plastics spades and rakes, little castles and moulds, a minion, a fake fish, an endearing wheel, tea-cup, two pegs, a play time oto-scope, a float, foam cricket ball, one airplane, and a lone barnacle to represent the natural world, a decent trove, that must be balanced with

at 20:14

In Good Company - or Ned's your Uncle

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In Good Company - or Ned's your Uncle Image

Appropriately bailed up by road art on Apple Tree Flat Road, out of Jerry's Plains, it is feels like I am in good company, notwithstanding how shot up Ned's hat is, the blue sky and those lines overhead all seem to suggest a poem might be lurking. And indeed, they are, point in case being the latest

at 19:00

Gashapon Conference

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Two birds, one sea pig and the Easter Sonny Angel meet. It could be a set up, the Cockatiel seems wise, or at least leery of the set-up. Wisely so. Two birds, one sea pig and the Easter Sonny Angel meet. It could be a set up, the Cockatiel seems wise, or at least leery of the set-up.

at 09:38

Gingko and Cockatiel Fabrications

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The gingko nut, a dense and finely texture treat, might appeal to a cockatiel, even one made of micro-bricks. Certainly the charming gingko leaves in jelly and hard sugar paste pivot on the axis of too sweet -too charming to eat. And just behind it all I see the sleeve of construction - my old red sweatshirt which

at 11:37

Carrot Umbrellas and Sonny Angel Bunny Boy

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Carrot Umbrellas and Sonny Angel Bunny Boy Image

Post Easter here and there are still these faux carrot chocolates left in their vase hangout with the strange boy sonny angel with those rabbit ears. It seemed right to\add a dab of Orton-ish filter to make the thing just that sillier. Post Easter here and there are still these faux carrot chocolates left in their vase hangout

at 10:14

The Bedside Table - or Damaclese's Reading Stack

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The Bedside Table - or Damaclese's Reading Stack Image

Vertical bookshelf or current must-reads? Here is a teetering mix of things finished and unfiled in proper shelfs, books in progress, books that are not quite being read and not ready to be abandoned, things to read or re-read, a box with a few bits and pieces, including a watch and a boxed set of Vietnamese porcelain dolls.

at 09:48

Subsidence in Suds

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In an episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants, he gets the Suds, which is strange in a sponge which is already made of 3-D contiguously tightly packed heterogeneously assorted thin walled spheres, albeit more stable than suds but very like it. Unlike Sponge Bob I like suds, its airy mallow, baroque exuberance and ephemerality are fine qualities for

at 08:27

A Knit Bomb of Rodin's The Thinker?

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A Knit Bomb of Rodin's The Thinker? Image

The pensive model is probably pondering how the wavy, perhaps reverse cable, was executed, I know I am. The finial to her angora cap looks like it might be a transmitter. I suggest you double click to enlarge and appreciate the details of double-knits. The pensive model is probably pondering how the wavy, perhaps reverse cable, was executed,

at 08:21

A Bug's Life o La Vida de La Cucuracha

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A Bug's Life o La Vida de La Cucuracha Image

While there are obviously views of epic proportion laid out in the Blue Mountains it is worth while keeping an eye out for street life, or street art, such as the discreet and ubiquitous wheat paste bug. No need to squash even as it's already simply two-dimensional. While there are obviously views of epic proportion laid out in

at 10:19

Radiating Style

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The original French radiators still in situ in the Hydro Majestic come in two types and two colours -black and white. This white warmer is curlicue cosy, and the new carpet accordingly takes its cue. The original French radiators still in situ in the Hydro Majestic come in two types and two colours -black and white. This white

at 20:45

Examples of Foreverness

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Like that rare quality of forgiveness, for-everness is sought but not quite ever attainable.Still, setting aside its true geological rigour, and not even contemplating galactic time frames, the Megalong ( no coincidence in this name) Valley's superb approximation is not be underestimated. Like that rare quality of forgiveness, for-everness is sought but not quite ever attainable.Still, setting aside

at 11:28

Whiter Shades of Classic Moves

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Seemingly in a slow motion calisthenics class, the powdery quality of the light filling the air like suspended talc, the installation of classical and be-plinthed figures of antiquity catalogues gesture. The White Rabbit Gallery's ground floor installation by Zu-Zhen pivots between reproduction and homage to Buddhist multi-armed statutes, and just maybe the chaos of indicators in art work.

at 12:02

Mrs Woo's Adverse Possession of Brass Acres

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Mrs Woo's Adverse Possession of Brass Acres Image

While it has now been years since Bart Brassica mysteriously disappeared, Mrs Woo - the great aunt of Eight Feet Pete has got a foot in the door, or perhaps three or four, into the farm, utilitarianly referred to as 'Brassica's' and now morphed by either wit or linguistic laziness into Brass Acres, and on the axiom of

at 08:04

A Sign of Persistently Good Manners

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A Sign of Persistently Good Manners Image

Hirafu in Niseko does lunch on the ski slopes very well, and as we see from this sign at Boyo - a great place for ramen, or seared salmon, salmon roe and nori on rice, they stay polite,. Hirafu in Niseko does lunch on the ski slopes very well, and as we see from this sign at Boyo

at 19:51

Bus Stop Self -Playing Piano

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Heading towards the loo's on bus trip pit stop between Hirafu and Chitose Airport, a great racket not so much as wafted but barged up the stairs. Wondering how anyone could actually play that badly, the answer, like its version of a Strauss waltz, come like a punch in the musical nose. No One was playing, the brash

at 10:01

Mount Yohtei - Volcano with Ice

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Mount Yohtei delivers an abject lesson in the deceptive nature of appearances by being entirely imperceptible for six days, and on the seventh, reconfiguring the scale of what I thought was the lay of the land.Who was it that said about the scales on the eyes? It does say there is a lot to learn. Mount Yohtei delivers

at 20:14

Wearing Winter Whites

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Snow on branches, a single leaf, those strange yet promising bud points offered up to the milky winter sun, nothing is as elegant, or effortlessly well dressed, as the tree in winter. Snow on branches, a single leaf, those strange yet promising bud points offered up to the milky winter sun, nothing is as elegant, or effo... Snow

at 09:01

Man Under Board -Voila Another Cover

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Man Under Board -Voila Another Cover Image

Ah, nearly e sense of relief to find a manhole cover in snow bound Niseko, or to be more precise the main street of Hirafu Here the council has kindly heated the footpaths to keep the snow at bay. If on a winter's day a traveler was looking for the sun in Hirafu this is the most likely

at 12:08

Cosplay Beau Peeps

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In the wine department of Daimaru in Sapporo, I pestered these two Cos Players for a pic. The two rabbit ear fingers still seems to me an ambiguous sign, but the speed in which they downed their shopping and assumed their pose, the instant agreement to be subjects is laudable. We need more Cos Players everywhere. In the

at 08:50

Play Sydney for Me

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Sydney Habour has that habit of flirting, darkly, brightly, the complete coquette, here in just past sunset's monochrome, the architecture of clouds wins out, or does it, over the Bridge and Opera House. Sydney Habour has that habit of flirting, darkly, brightly, the complete coquette, here in just past sunset's monochrome, the architec... Sydney Habour has that habit

at 20:14

Winging It - Ray-son de etre

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A group of manta rays, winging through the aquamarine water of Heron Island. The elegant take-away ray message here is clear: No to Dirty Coal being trucked through the Reef. A group of manta rays, winging through the aquamarine water of Heron Island. The elegant take-away ray message here is clear: No to Dir...

at 21:09

Salt Crust Sunset

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The ferry trip to the Quay, has a constant once-upon-a-time-ness, a feeling that at any minute, you might suddenly shift into a novel.Like Elizabeth Harrower's The Watch Tower, which I have just finished reading. It as just been reprinted in the excellent Text Classics series, and while I might rightly chastise myself for not reading it before, I

at 08:00

Museum Pieces -The Man on the Bus

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I'd seen a cavalcade of vintage buses on Australia Day, precarious double deckers and these single decks, museum pieces, leaving the leaving the Leichhardt Bus Depot, and then in the city, this one trundling down Philip Street. That it seems to be flying under the banner of the Museum of Sydney is apt. That lone, illuminated passenger pure

at 10:51

Manifestations at the Studio Ghibli Museum

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Manifestations at the Studio Ghibli Museum Image

My agent abroad, asked to snap up any interesting manhole covers, sent back this one-off gem, a pure Ghblii-ism, the functional ears and riveting smile say it all. My agent abroad, asked to snap up any interesting manhole covers, sent back this one-off gem, a pure Ghblii-ism, the functional ears and r... My agent abroad, asked to snap

at 21:48

Goldilocks Planets -An Egg Sample

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Somethings make such passionately good visual metaphors, are so illustrative of something profound yet ineffable ( and yes, I admit that so far this post is entirely content free) that you feel honour bound to construct some half-poached back story to so the visual hyperbole gets an outing. Here my tenet is that for every dark ( though

at 09:03

Starfish Dance Moves

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Albeit that it moves a little slowly, the starfish shows a lithe fluency, an elegant twist to its moves. Party time in the star fish pool. Flex! Albeit that it moves a little slowly, the starfish shows a lithe fluency, an elegant twist to its moves. Party time in the star fish pool... Albeit that it moves a