Heavenly Beverley : Perceptions

Out of nowhere, I was reminded that our perceptions are not static or standard. We may have held a particular perception for a second, minute, hour, day or lifetime and then somebody comes along and rattles all that we think we have seen or believed. To be capable of changing my personal views comforts me that my mind hasn't become stagnant or set. Heaven forbid.

From art to values to religion to politics, we are all capable of expansion or divergence, if we open our ears and eyes to a different point of view. Our brains are not static. Our brains are meant to be challenged and stretched. Even if we return to our original opinions, we need to have considered the merit of others' thoughts. Our perceptions may become less fixed and more fluid, less hard and with broader expression.

This is learning. This is education. This is knowledge.

Anyway, enough esoteric weasel words for now. Back to the original concept of this post. As I sit in our beautiful Gallery surrounded by our seventy + artists and their stunning art pieces, some works are simpler in their design for this average front-of-house to understand and appreciate. The landscapes, the birds, the animals, the flowers and the people all reassuringly and easily communicate their beauty. The abstracts are something else.

On Friday, I welcomed a chatty and interesting Vietnam vet into the Gallery. Mort, his wife Viv and the grandies were on their way to a veterans' weekend in Bruce Rock. As a proud Noongar man, we discussed his preference of being introduced. His opinion of being referred to as indigenous raised scorn - "Every time we get a new government, we are called something new". He identified as Aboriginal, Noongar or even mixed-race. "I'm not sure which part of me is Danish...maybe my right leg!" Mort joked.

One of my perceptions changed, even if just for Mort. Then he dropped a clanger. "Love that painting of the horse right there" he enthused.

I tried to follow his finger. I was blind to his interpretation. He must have concluded that I was the resident village idiot, so he humoured me and brought me to stand right smack in front of a stunning acrylic and resin painting, one I only knew as "Swan Lake".

In brilliant splashes of emerald, silver, black and white, Gracie's painting of a swan moving gracefully across the water seemed to me to be exuding peace and calm and beauty - an idyllic addition to a lakeside or rural home.

Mort explained. He pointed out the flashing eye, the streaming mane, the outline of the horse's face and flaring nostril, the neck at full stretch. Suddenly, this painting's character was turned upside down. Here was a horse in pure flight, galloping with speed and skill, all concentration on the journey.

I was transported to images of the Australian Brumbies hurtling through the scrub, sure-footed, as one and confident in this harsh environment. Or the stark courage of the Lighthorse or the Whaler or the Quarterhorse, all bred and trained to become a single entity with the rider and respond to a gesture, a tug, a roar. Or Winx or Black Caviar or Makybe Diva - three powerful mares who all seemed to relish the thrill of their racing.

I was left in a quandary by this revelation. I could still see the gentle wake of the water as the swan moved across it, but I was also transfixed by the drama and passion of this horse.

So, a rename. "Paradox" has been born. Still a fantastic painting, now with additional depth, boldness and quite contradictory themes. What was in the eye of Gracie Courtney has now been pushed way out of the original title.

So, I've become inspired to relook, rethink, reimagine. "Twin Worlds" another abstract by Gracie, has suddenly become about power and speed. I wasn't sure what was there before, but now I see Donald Campbell's Bluebird streaking across Lake Dumbleyung in the Western Australian Wheatbelt to break the world speed record on water. This painting can now be raised on a pedestal to honour this little-known corner of Australia and the steely determination to channel raw energy for his personal quest - welcome to "Rocket Man".

Paul Kendall's "Heroes and Villains", Len Zuk's "Pilbara Poetry", Andrew Taylor's "Mirror", Sharon Ellis' "The Bride/Peaceful One" are some other pieces in the East End Gallery that could provoke new thinking and wonder. Then we have "Love Hurts" and "Pi" both by Greg Burley, which deserve far more than a casual glance. Look for "Pi"'s joke, along with "Bat Out Of Hell", Paul Kendall's reverential nod to the glory of motorbikes. "Tardis 1" by Kerrie Di Cataldo is an amazing and complex photographic piece that will leave you wondering.

A couple of my friends, the joyous Linda Lewis and the slightly enigmatic Brenda Pitcher both love Christmas and along with our gorgeous Vanessa are fully into the throes of the Festive Season. In particular, Vanessa enjoys pointing out the lunacy of certain decorations and other items that the shops are telling us are Must Haves for Christmas Day. And she has promised to give me a fetching festive hat which I'm sure will be the highlight of my Christmas outfits.

On a more sober note, Remembrance Day is a week away. We have some very moving music and storytelling CDs by Vic Dale (Goldfields) and Kelly Newton-Wordsworth (Wheatbelt) which would appeal to history buffs. In particular, Vic's CDs honour those who have returned and the aftermath of their service. I plan to remember all defencemen, women and animals, current civilians and refugees caught in horrific situations and ask the universe for peace.

Back to our reality. Today is a beautiful sunny and breezy day in Heavenly Beverley. Families have come into the Gallery and given us wonderful compliments. A couple of kids have eagerly embraced their mandalas to take and draw at Pa's house over lunch. A young hand-in-hand couple paid a short but admiring visit with promises to return. Families have been enjoying Sunday lunch at the Red Vault.

All is well in our world.