Iraq, U.S. Elections, Novel and Various Events

[tcpip]

Dr Daniel Mandel, of the history of department at the University of Melbourne, made claims that the west didn't really support Saddam. The editors of The Age had the good sense to publish my reminder to him this morning.

Iraq, as we all know in el-jay land, featured highly in the U.S. mid-term elections where the results were a thumpin' for the pro-war forces and the quagmire they have put themselves into. What is also worthy of mentioning is was also the first ever election of a self-identified socialist to the U.S. senate.

My novel, The Outcast Girl, is going well although I am a little behind in the NaNaWriMo recommended wordcount. Historical fiction does have its own difficulties, especially when one is including anthropological hermeneutics. The experience is very much making me want to take another visit to Java and Bali.

Various other events of the last week include re-presenting my talk on Open Source Economics at Linux Users Victoria on Wednesday, once again dovetailing with Jon Oxer's Pragmatic Idealism presentation. On the lagamorph front, Astaroth rabbit has lost his balls but has recovered without incident. On Saturday, caseopaya and I travelled out to the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley, specifically to visit the William Rickett's sanctuary. Appropriately Joel Wright of the NTEU gave a good presentation at the Unitarians the following day on the Stolen Wages campaign.

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

A typically DNA way of talking about animals getting their 'nads removed.

He had reached "that age". I felt sorry for the poor fella, but it was either removal of 'nads or release him into the great blue yonder.

but I don't like William Rickett's sanctuary

Why not? You're always allowed to be unpopular around me.

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

I like the place, but not the art.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

More disembodied heads floating about?

Some of the symbolism I found a little superficial. But when returning through Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs I realised that even superficial spiritual symbolism would be too confronting to the majority.

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

I thought it was actually all too conservative and decorative.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Stylistically you are quite correct; it was conservative and decorative, but even that would be confrontational to the white masses that Rickett wanted to pitch to. I can also see why the Arrente people were more than a little perturbed with realistic presentations of their deceased.

The other thing I found interesting is that the overall output didn't seem that great.

[severina-242.livejournal.com]

It's like the recent exhibitions that the NGV has had - crowd pleasers, like the recent Picasso exhibition - nice and safe, people know his name and have been told that it's okay to like Picasso, so they all go and rave on about what a genius he was because someone conservative has told them so. I get the same feeling at the William Ricketts sancuary, people raving on about the art because someone has told them it's okay to like it. People not actually considering whether they like it or not.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I think the majority of what people get out of it is not the art as such, but the art in the location. Certainly that was my overall feeling.

Pretty place in the Hills

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

For the 'location' part, go find loudehill. If you get bored with the formal gardens and modern art, head off into the wild woods. (look for "Rangeview" under that link.) So good, Brian Froud drew a picture of it when he visited.

(Cloudehill was also the site of usuakari and tooticky's wedding.)

Re: Pretty place in the Hills

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Oh, pretty. And an opportunity to buy more plants.

[omnot.livejournal.com]

It's probably because I spend way too much time at traditional/representational art shows, but although William Rickett's sculptures don't move me noticeably, they don't offend me with their naf-ness either. I usually respond to less-than-breathtaking art by homing in on technique. I would not mind being able to carve/sculpt like that, to be honest. ;-)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

From the little I know of the subject I believe clay is a lot easier to work with than other material.

Like yourself I'm in between on the moving/nafness side of Mr. Rickett. I suspect severina_242's critical eye comes from being an artist that appreciates confrontation in form. She once said to me that you can get away with being average in subject matter or technical execution but not both. Wise words, imo.