Sit yourself down, as there is a story to be told

This image of the latest 'Street Chair' observation was created by a fine young designer Luke Cooper. (Shiftazine thanks him for the use of it ). 
It speaks volumes about how strange real life is. How on earth did this love seat get here?

Where do all the street chairs go? Hopefully not all go to landfill, although on this occasion I would not be surprise.
The streets are full of visual curiosities and delights and useful stuff.
Keep your eyes peeled...take it all in.

A snappy combo

It was the colour of the laces that first attracted attention, then the saffron yellow of the skirt, which complemented the jaunty purple and blue combo of the shoes’ soles, made the story complete.

Drawn

"Graffiti means making marks on surfaces using just about anything, be it markers, spray,  paint,  chalk,  lipstick,  varnish, ink.

Or it can be the result of scratches and incisions.  The aim is to maintain the energy created by disturbance or excitement in the street." 

Barry McGee http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/chalk.html#TDPPDcbUubMLZq53.99

Chalk drawings are all around the streets of any urban environment. People need to see them, noticed them, love them, embrace them. 
People need to create them, fill their world with them. Go and buy some chalk today, pick a bit of tarmac and DRAW! 

I love a bit of glitter

These beautiful tiny shoes covered in sea shells are lovingly made by a wonderful indigenous Australian artist called Esme Timbery.

The work shown on this page entitled ‘Shellworked Slippers 2008’ is a part of the MCA’s permanent collection. 

It is made from shell, glitter, fabric, cardboard and glue.

Shiftazine was fortunate to have visited Esme at her La Perous home on the north shore of Botany Bay.

Her work space, a kitchen table, was covered in tiny shells that her family had collect for her, from up and down the south coast of NSW.

Her place was totally old school suburban. 

And yet some of the most endearing art of contemporary Australia is created in this simple, unpretentious environment.

Esme’s work spans a diverse range of projects including shoes for a ‘Children of the Revolution’ fashion house runway show, 

and no home is complete until it sports one of her shell and velvet covered Harbour Bridges.  

(My friend Gavin bought one for his darling wife one year...lucky girl!)

Wallism_November

Take a drive one weekend around the rapidly changing gentrified, once light-industrial area of Wickham in Newcastle NSW.  

Turning down one small street and up the next was a constant delight with the discovery of one mural after another.
Who does these? Don’t know.

Why do they do them? For the joy of creating something beautiful, witty, loud, I guess.
The walls of the converted factories are groaning with huge murals and images that have been conceived, considered and constructed with great energy and execution.
Exciting!

Issue No.11: The Fifth Anniversary

Nothing Remarkable

A block of flats at dusk. 

Nothing remarkable unless you look at the rhythm of the elements, then it’s a painting, a modernist image.

It’s an Edward Hopper.  Its beautiful. But you have to look past the surface. 

It’s all there.