Sparrows on the Deck: August 2013

Friday 30 August 2013

Gladstone .... from the Lookout

Gladstone.....550 km north of Brisbane,

home to the Port of Gladstone, exporting coal,

alumina, cement products and liquefied natual gas (LNG)

Taking the advice of the motel manageress, on arrival I immediately

hot-footed it up to the Lookout. What a surprize!

I wasn't expecting to to see that Gladstone is beautiful.

it's obviously a town of heavy industry...dirty industries...

mostly mining-related, but the view from the lookout

of some of the 14 off-shore islands, shows how stunning the area is.

I know many of the new-locals don't see it that way,

and I can't help think of how it must have been 100 years ago,

before all the development, and 'progress' of the 'mining boom',

but with the sun setting over the marina and Port,

and a warm balmy evening approaching, I'm impressed.

I have a couple of days planned to visit some coastal holiday-hotspots,

and I'm so looking forward to the tour of the APLNG construction site.

and warm weather .....and warm sea water!

Jo :)

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Tuesday 27 August 2013

'sand,surf, and sunscreen'......

These little fellows were started way back in February! they've taken a while!

I wanted to use a restricted colour palette... with not as many bright primaries

as I normally use. I succeeded somewhat, but not entirely!

....colour...I can't help it!

'Sand, Surf and Sunscreen'
Jo-Ann Hunt ©
'The Child Within' Series
H122x122cm
H48x48ins
Acrylic on Canvas
sold

'Sand,Surf and Sunscreen'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt ©

they've finally been given their finishing touches, varnished, and now

they'll get their first look at the world on 31 August,

from the windows of Suburban 312 Gallery, Brighton.

my mini-exhibition will be on whilst I'm away....plane tickets bought,

accomodation and car still to organize.... I've never been to

that part of Austalia so it will be interesting! can't wait!

Jo x

'Sand, Surf and Sunscreen'
detail
Jo-Ann Hunt ©

Sunday 25 August 2013

men at work.....

It's been a chaotic few weeks.

I have a mini-exhibition of work going in the windows of

Suburban 312 Gallery .....I'm working on sketches for a commission

for a lovely family in Queensland......

and I'm frantically trying to organise time in Gladstone, Queensland

for an impromptu visit with my son.

having been involved with 'the Arts' all my life, I don't often get

the opportunity to get amongst heavy machinery and dirt!

Curtis Island Liquid Natural Gas construction sites

so with its first-ever 'Open Day for Families' scheduled , who could miss

this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not me!

he was always interested in building/constructing/designing.

...from blocks and lego... to this.....

roof raised on QCLNG tanks, Curtis Island

Queensland Curtis Liquid Natural Gas tanks
Curtis Island, North Queensland

check out the size of the bus... that will be me in there soon :)

....who would guess! ......getting excited! :)

Jo x

work in progress
Jo-Ann Hunt ©

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Wednesday 21 August 2013

Mount Martha Beach....an update

a boat shed owner with his box of salvaged items
picture: Susan Windmiller
source:News Limited

I didn't realize that I was witnessing a new era in the life of our beach boxes.

last nights news showed graphic images of the erosion and trouble-spots

around the bay......tip-trucks full of sand being dumped on Blairgowrie beach,

beautiful Portsea so ugly now with its sandbags, Clifton Springs under threat.

Souce: Peninsula Leader

Mount Martha Beach boxes
picture: Jason Sammon
source: News Limited

beach boxes Mount Martha
source: Seven News

I thought they said the deepening of the Bay would not be an issue.

....now come on!

haven't the Port of Melbourne advisors ever made a 'dam' at the beach

and watched the tide come gushing in? even a child could work this out!

photo: DioBach.com

it's a big job ahead to sort this mess out!

Jo :(

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Monday 19 August 2013

Mt Martha Beach

A cold wet day spent with my mother at the doctors and specialists

gave me the opportunity to catch up for afternoon coffee

with a friend that's made a sea-change.

it's a very pretty part of the world but it was a wild and woolley day

at Mount Martha Beach.

a wintery Mount Martha Beach

the beach boxes were deserted, lots of 'white horses' galloping

over the surf....now that's a term you don't hear much anymore....

an old fisherman's , an old 'salties' phrase....my dad used it a lot.

it was awesome, just had to stop and snatch a photo

before I got blown off the cliff!

Mount Martha Beach boxes

.....there's nothing like a gale to clear the cobwebs!

Jo x

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Monday 12 August 2013

Hart Art .....a nice surprize!

A very pleasant surprize....a prize!

at the Hart Art Exhibition this little painting won an award....

'Highly Commended'.....and a red dot too!.....always a bonus!

I thought it would be ideal for Father's Day .....I wonder if

it was a gift for a dad?

I also exhibited 'Swim, Surf and Sun' .....these little nippers

found a new home as well.

I assume they found their way to the walls of a beach house

or holiday home. I wonder where.....Sorrento? Inverloch? Anglesea?

.....it would be nice to know.....email me if you know :)

(note change of hair colour.....you know I love to mess with colour

.....on the canvas and on my head!)

Jo x

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Wednesday 7 August 2013

Hart Art Show 2013....

Hart Art 2013

I'm looking forward to this show.... it's held every two years

and the inaugural show held in 2011 was fantastic. (especially for me

because I was honoured to win a prize!)

I'm very excited to be invited to be involved again.... it opens

tomorrow night.....and I'll be delivering work today....

..........now to leave this computer and get on with it!

Jo :)