Horror Scopes

One of our favourite pastimes is reading "Your Stars" in the West Australian. The column is always amusing, often quite accurate and occasionally way off the mark.  Today was a typical example of the latter.

My horoscope was side-splitting, advising me to seek professional help in my diet and exercise regime. What regime? I am a short, round woman, who is cheerfully overweight as I adore food and vino. Every now and then, I consider starting walking again, which is my preferred exercise, particularly during winter. Although I am fat, I actually don't want to become too fat as my joints hurt and my enjoyment of life reduces. So, the time is coming. With the arrival of the cooler weather, I am actually looking forward to pounding the pavements and attempting to persuade Michael to join me.

Michael's horoscope was more promising, focusing on his "brilliant best as the stars boost your brainpower". So far, so good. Except the second sentence was a bit of a letdown, describing Michael powering "through paperwork, do research, edit work..." 1. Michael loathes paperwork..2. Research requires reading material of some sort, difficult as he was driving in the Big Smoke's traffic. 3. Michael does not edit. If he wants to write, I edit.

Michael's research and editing usually involve real life and a multitude of ideas in his head. And drawing. On paper or on his steel table with chalk. He follows his intuition in his art. Beginning with a nebulous and fluid plan in his mind, his sculpture evolves with an almost organic life of its own. He may not be happy with the piece, as happened with "Unhinged", so he put this sculpture aside until he knew how to finish it. The completed piece, now named "Unfurled", is quite different from its inception.

Yet some of the traits attributed to us, according to our individual star signs, are surprisingly truthful.

I am Cancerian. I am sensitive, scuttle sideways to avoid conflict and stick my head in the sand to hide from any negative reactions. I love my home, my friends, my children and my pets. I adore Michael and am utterly open about my affection. I am sometimes gullible, frequently talk too much and hate hurting anyone. Prone to recurrent depression, I cope by looking, as much as possible, at the funny side of life.

Michael is a Virgo. An extroverted introvert, he is intelligent, artistic (of course) and a problem solver. He is patient and forgiving. He is an open book to those who love him. His ability to "see" a finished project is legendary. Why else would he buy steel members three years before he needed them? Because he knew. He never gives up. Yet, he is wracked by anxiety and doubt, concerned that because some don't love him, that makes him unlovable. And he makes me feel like the most desirable woman in the world.

So there you have it - the good, the bad and the ugly. Whether we believe the horoscope column or not is immaterial. We always think. And then either roar with laughter or howl with derision. We are looking forward to opening "Your Stars" tomorrow to see what Joanne M Moore has in store for us.

Happy horoscope reading!

exactly.

and sometimes quite unintentionally, like repotting and watering a plastic plant!

Absolutely...

which brings with it almost crippling anxiety.

I couldn't have put this better myself!

Thirty-Four Artists and Counting...

After a day at home after the entirety of Easter in the Gallery, I have had a chance to refresh, regroup and recharge. Yesterday was a total slob day. This is not to say I wasn't busy - I caught up on all the washing and the housework, whilst wearing my passion killer - otherwise known as my dressing gown. The day was absolutely glorious, just what we have been waiting for, after the blast furnace that was our summer.

Today we're off to the Big Smoke. The dog burger situation is more than dire - we have none. Nor do we have any pigs' ears (the Three Stooges' morning treat) or chicken tenders (specifically for Pip the Jack Russell). Just for those items, we have to visit the city.

And I will shop for essentials - like fruit and veg. Having not cooked for nearly a week, any veggies left in the bottom of the fridge were assigned to the bin due to their less than attractive appearance. And we are seriously low on such essentials as meat, deodorant and beer...

Before we leave, I was determined to write a post. Easter brought slow but steady sales ( a relief) and two new artists (a surprise). Suddenly, we have thirty-four artists in the East End Gallery and Giftshop. We are blown away.

Emma Rigby is Red Dirt Art. Martu on her father's side, Emma has lived in the Pilbara and the Wheatbelt. Her dot paintings are astonishing in their detail. All her paintings are done freehand, which requires an incredible amount of concentration and precision. Only a young woman, Emma paints prolifically and is already a gifted artist. Give her another ten years and her artwork will be priceless.

Gay Scadden is not actually from the Wheatbelt, but she exhibited in the Beverley Art Prize, so we have branded her a local artist. Living in Busselton, she captures the drama and beauty of the southern forests. Her oils jump off the canvas, enveloping the viewers with the belief that they are standing in the midst of these majestic trees. We are awe-struck and holding our breath for more of her paintings coming into the Gallery.

We can hardly believe our good fortune. As I look forward to opening the East End Gallery tomorrow, I am consumed by the thrill of being surrounded by our fabulous artists and their outstanding works.

Take a drive to Heavenly Beverley this weekend and be our guests.

And "Starbirth" is continuing to evolve...

Starbirth

Michael's creativity is on fire. After nearly four years of renovating the Forbes Building, he can now take a breather from the hard work of restoration. Now is his time to shine. First, he produced "Unfurled" and then "Child's Play". Next on his agenda is a sculpture featuring dog spikes from the old railway tracks in the Goldfields.

Tentatively named "Starbirth", this new art piece is taking shape. He has been working on it for the last few days. Ideas are flying around his mind at a rate of knots. I can almost see his thought processes in the air. He is adding, discarding, modifying and embracing this project. I think he is the happiest that I have ever seen.

"The Mask", Michael's first sculpture at age twenty-five, was the beginning. He has decided not to sell her. She is an original, his starting point, the focus of his dreams all these years. She will remain on display in the Gallery as a reminder of how far he's travelled as a sculptor. After playing lip service to his art for ten years, his imagination is opening like a particularly stunning flower.

I am so looking forward to "Starbirth"'s completion. The pleasure of sculpting is intoxicating for Michael. And he is being flooded with future artistic ventures. Finally, he is using all the resources and skills he has been collecting for the last thirty-five years.

To say I'm proud of him is the understatement of the century. I am ecstatic for him.

Anyone for Tennis...BYO Snorkel!

This Easter has produced the most extraordinary weather. We have been in Beverley for over five years and we have never seen rain of this magnitude. We are almost to the end of March and we have had  more precipitation than we normally get by the end of May. In an average year. Which we haven't experienced since our first winter in Beverley.

The Avon, usually dry as a bone until June, has filled this year. Twice. Once in January and once now. The Easter long weekend in Beverley is one of the social highlights of the calendar. So, we have outdoor events such as the annual Tennis tournament over four days. Because it never rains at Easter.

We now stand corrected. Play at the tournament was completely abandoned yesterday. Forlorn tennis players were wandering around the street, wondering what to do with themselves. Legs with goosebumps illustrated the lack of long trousers, unheard of in March. The lucky ones had brought jumpers or coats of some sort. Any manner of plastic material had been fashioned into improvised raincoats.

So, the Gallery was packed all day. We didn't sell many pieces, but that wasn't the point. All these tennis players, suddenly with no tennis to play, descended on the main drag. We were delighted by the turnout and completely exhausted by the end of the day. I went home and had a sleep until early evening.

This morning was still grey and cool. Tennis had commenced once more but the weather remains fickle. We have had passing showers all day. So, the Gallery has been inundated with guests once more, some attempting to shelter away from the uncharacteristically miserable conditions.

My  kitchen has been closed all of this weekend due to illness. I am sick of cooking and too weary by the time we close the doors. We have been open every day since Wednesday afternoon.  And we still have another public holiday tomorrow to do it all over again.

I can't wait!

All roads lead to Beverley at Easter...

for the famous Annual Tennis Tournament...

at the Beverley Lawn Tennis Club!

However, this year's tournament has been hampered by a spot of rain

causing nice weather for ducks!

And sending bedraggled souls...

to the East End Gallery!

Living the Dream

This morning, another gloomy morning, I hopped out of bed to prepare for a day in the East End Gallery. Except, I was not in the least bit gloomy myself. The sky may have been grey but my mood was buoyant. For the first time in my life, I actually look forward to going to work.

Curator of the East End Gallery? You would have to be kidding me...but I am. Michael and I own a gallery and we are surrounded by magnificent art pieces. We now have more than thirty artists represented in our gallery and the majority of them are from the Wheatbelt. Because that's what we are. We are a home for Wheatbelt artists. Our mission statement is that we support Wheatbelt artists. This is our dream come true.

We have finally reached the end of the tunnel and the light is still miraculously on. We have been to the brink of financial disaster more times than I can remember. Yet somehow we have battled on, kept our nostrils above water and survived. The project has inspired us, exasperated us, consumed us and delighted us.

And the work will go on. Repairs and maintenance will be a necessity. She is an aged building - cantankerous, wilful and uncompromising. But the hard yards are done. Yes, we have cracks. Yes, we still have leaks when the rain buckets down. Yes, the floor in the Giftshop is less than desirable. We know the building is not going to fall down anytime soon. They make them tough in the Wheatbelt.
We are one week into the Expansion Exhibition - a celebration of Michael's vision. Easter is upon us. Beverley is alive with visitors.

Come and see us this long weekend and enjoy the celebrations!

And now - a snippet of the East End Gallery -

Interested? Come on down...

Catching My Breath

Am I the only person who is somewhat alarmed by the pace of this year? I'm sure that Christmas was only a few weeks ago, that 2000 was only a few years ago and that all my rock and pop idols seem to be having an unfortunate habit of dropping off the mortal coil at present.

I've been at the House that Rocks, catching my breath, for the last couple of days. Caught up on all those essential, but brain-numbing jobs that need to be attended to from time to time. What a relief. I had a welcome chance to stop the world and retreat to home. Now, all is clean and tidy, the washing is almost up to date and Michael's taller body and longer arms have efficiently vacuumed up all the spiders silly enough to take up residence indoors.

Hence, I'm back in the East End Gallery this cloudy March afternoon. The change in the weather has been rather a shock to my system. I am wearing smart jeans, a red tee shirt and a shirt. I am aware that my toes are a tiny bit cool, as I'm in sandals and there is a cool breeze coming through the open door.

Luckily, we haven't moved into winter just yet. The forecast for the weekend is dampish but warmer, so I'll be able to get back into skirts and dresses. In the lower south-west, the weather usually breaks at Easter. Before and after, the days may be dry, but the long weekend itself is often inconveniently wet.

Unless we have a deluge, the roof is more or less watertight and the Gallery will be warm and dry. Easter is the start of our tourist season and Beverley is hosting a multitude of events. The Annual Art Award, the Tennis Tournament, the Station Gallery, markets, the Tournament Sundowner and of course, all the other establishments, including the East End Gallery.

Looking forward to greeting all our visitors in Heavenly Beverley over the next six days!

Hang onto your hat and enjoy the ride!

The Launch of the Expansion Exhibition

Yesterday, the dream was realised. Yesterday, the whole one hundred and fifty square metres of the East End Gallery was opened, officially, with the unveiling of the Expansion Exhibition. Thirty artists, one hundred and fifteen different displays with over one hundred and thirty different artworks.

Something for everyone. Prices from two dollars to seven and a half thousand dollars. The Gallery and the Giftshop. Michael's vision for the building is pretty much completed. The Forbes Building will always require repairs and maintenance. And love. Which we have given her from day one.

When Michael first plunged, torch in hand, into the disastrous space the building had been, I thought he had finally lost the plot. That he was biting off far more than he could chew in wanting to save her. I had to walk through six times over eighteen months before I could see a glimpse of her potential.

Michael saw the building as she is now. This has always been what has driven this project. The goal. An artist's precinct, providing a permanent home to Wheatbelt artists. Sitting here this afternoon, listening to Lawrence Jones on guitar with his extraordinary voice, we are quietly ecstatic.

To share that I am so proud of Michael is stating the obvious. And I am completely gobsmacked at my transformation into curator and front of house. How on earth did a short, round woman in jeans, joggers and a tee shirt turn into a short, round woman in a frock with some knowledge and tonnes of passion for our artists and the East End Gallery? If you had asked me that question ten years ago, I would have fallen off a chair laughing hysterically at the suggestion.

We have had a steady stream of guests all weekend. Sometimes that stream turned into a deluge, then petered out to a trickle for a while. At the moment, the gallery is almost empty and I am grabbing a chance to catch my breath and write a post online. We have sold two paintings, Michael's spiders, some felt and silk scarfs, jewellery and Mick's wood turned pieces. Wow.

We unwound, with Lawrence, in the Gallery after closing last night. Today, I am a bit tired...But the thrill and the adrenaline are carrying me through. Suddenly, we have four guests in the Gallery and I am talking again!

Winding down. We are off to Larissa and Brett's farm for sunset drinks after we close. Bliss.

And tomorrow, I have a day at home to tidy up the chaos before we start all over again for the Easter weekend.

We look forward to welcoming all our guests to the East End Gallery. Come up and see us sometime soon!

Sculptures by Len Zuks. Installation by Michael Sofoulis.

Billy Right and Cabilla (foreground)

Billy Left and Billy Right

Billy Right

Cabilla

Kangaroo

Live music by Lawrence Jones

Back of Giftshop. 

Len Zuks' artwork (right) with Christine Davis (top left) and Chris Shannon (bottom left)

East End Gallery with guest Peter near closing time

Thank you Lawrence Jones, for a great evening of music

End of night.

Delivery of a Scorpion by Wayne Doyle

Resident in the Gallery

The East End Gallery, Sunday 20 March.