Dec 30, 2011

Sculpture by the Sea, 2011 (3)

Ron Gomboc - Together in balance



This is my final post of 2011 'Sculpture by the Sea' (Bondi) photos. I wasn't able to find out the name of the artist of the sculpture above, if you know please let me know.


Jane Gillings - Provenance (a gift frame)




Kyoung Kwon Kim - Cover the rainbow



Margarite Sampson - The yearning

Georg Mayerhanser - Angel is born

Alan and Julie Aston - Simply black & white
Although the sculptures are gone for this year, this coastal walk remains very popular all year.

Dec 18, 2011

Faulconbridge

Statue in the Corridor of Oaks, Faulconbridge

The Corridor of Oaks  has an oak tree planted by each of Australia's Prime Ministers (or by a representative) since federation . Joseph Jackson MLA (1874–1961), was the founder of the Corridor of Oaks and donated 20 acres of land for this purpose in 1933 .

Near the Corridor of Oaks is Jackson Park and an adjoining bush reserve. These photos of flowers were taken on a short walk around Jackson Park Reserve. Location map



Triggerplant (Stylidium graminifolium) [left]
It's called the Trigger Plant because an insect can trigger the release of the stigma & stamen column onto the insect, which assists pollen exchange.


 Fringed Violet (Thysanotus tuberosus) [right]



Sir Henry Parkes (1816 - 1896) was Premier of NSW five times, or Prime Minister as it was called before federation, and is known as the 'Father of Australian Federation'. His grave is quite near the station at Faulconbridge, which was named after Parkes' residence, 'Faulconbridge House'

Sir Henry Parkes Grave, Faulconbridge
    Blue Mountains Local Studies

  The Corridor of Oaks is further along Sir Henrys Parade, towards Springwood.  Location map 

Dec 4, 2011

Sculpture by the Sea, 2011 (2)

Belinda Villani - The predators in the park
This is my second post of 2011 'Sculpture by the Sea' photos


Robert Hague - Aporia II
                                       
Simon McGrath - Who left the tap running
This giant tap set was very popular with both children and adults, as were the lions above.

Ayad Alqarogholli - Heavenly kiss

Michael Purdy - Tectonic

The two sculptures below were in 'Sculpture Inside', an exhibition of smaller sculptures, which were housed in a marquee in Mark's Park. Michael Purdy uses Sydney sandstone for his sculptures.

Michael Purdy - red sea


Deborah Halpern - Little princess

Nov 27, 2011

National Art School



The National Art School buildings, in Forbes Street, were originally Darlinghurst Gaol.
Built partly by convicts, and partly by the free labour, the gaol featured a panopticon, which allowed for surveillance of the prisoners from a central position.
Building of the prison commenced in 1822, but due to funding problems, it was not completed until the 1880’s. Convict transportation had ceased in 1840 and treating prisoners more humanely was one element of the much larger endeavour of creating a civil society.


The Chapel building (below) was restored in 2004 and is used for life drawing classes.

The former Chapel. NSA





























                The Art School grew out of Sydney Technical College. The Department of Art was moved from Ultimo to the disused Darlinghurst Gaol site (1922), and after extensive modifications, it occupying five buildings alongside other departments from East Sydney Technical College. The name 'National Art School' was embraced during the 1950's, although it had been used earlier.


The National Art School Bachelor of Fine Art degree was accredited in 1998 and the three-year course began in 1999. NSA has a Gallery in one of the original gaol building which was refurbished and opened in 2006.













NSA is behind the Darlinghurst Court House at Taylor Square on Oxford Street         Location map         NAS info





References:  Dictionary of Sydney - National Art School and Darlinghurst GaolNAS - History






Nov 20, 2011

Sculpture by the Sea, 2011 (1)

Chen Wenling - Childhood horizon

Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi) was held from 3rd to the 20th November 2011, along the 2km coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. The exhibition featured over 100 sculptures by Australian and international artists.

Steve Croquett - Heads up


Keizo Ushio - Moebius in space planet


Alison Lee Cousland - 11:11

Orest Keywan - Above the line

James McCallum - The library


Byeong Doo Moon - I have been dreaming to be a tree


Lucy Barker - Sea change

Nov 13, 2011

North Head to Manly

City skyline from North Head (telephoto)

The Barracks
                                                 
This Sydney Excursion follows on from my North Head Sanctuary post. The other aspect of North Head is its military history. The headquarters for the Army School of Artillery was established at the North Head Barracks in 1946.
In 1998 it was relocated to Puckapunyal in Victoria, as North Head was no longer considered suitable.

You may also see references to the 'Australian Army Artillery Museum' which was located at North Fort.  It was also moved to Victoria in December 2010.
                                                                                                                               The North Fort Memorial Walk and memorials, honour those who have served in the defence of Australia in both war and peace. It spans the period from Australia's Colonial past, World War 1, World War 2 and Post-WW2 conflicts.                           Peacekeeping Operations and Civilian Services such as the Merchant Navy are included.



The heavy clouds cleared, making the mostly downhill walk back to Many wharf very pleasant. Along the way we passed Collins Beach and Little Manly Cove

Collins Beach, Sydney Harbour

Little Manly Cove, Sydney Harbour


Little Manly Cove



Thanks to Judith who led the group on this interesting and scenic walk

Nov 6, 2011

North Head Sanctuary

North Head was the home of the Army's School of Artillery until the late 1990's. The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust opened the Sanctuary to the public in 2007.

Sydney Harbour from North Head















The sanctuary provides protection for for the flora and fauna of North Head, which includes an endangered population of  Long-nosed Bandicoots.
 

Bandicoots were once common in Sydney where they foraged in parkland and back-yards but now are declining in numbers, due to numerous threats, including collision with vehicles and predation by dogs, cats and foxes.






Hanging Swamp, North Head

To reach North Head we caught a Manly Ferry from Circular Quay, then a 135 route bus from West Esplanade, near Manly Wharf. Our bus went as far as the entrance to the Old Quarantine Station, so we needed to walk further along North Head Scenic Drive, to North Fort (former artillery museum).
- see the map for Sydney Buses Route 135 (quick search in right hand column)

              Location Map                   North Head Sanctuary info.              Extra photos & frog call video


Oct 30, 2011

Warrimoo to Sun Valley

On this walk we followed fire trails through the valleys near Warrimoo in the lower Blue Mountains.





Sun Valley is a small, somewhat hidden semi-rural community, not far from Springwood.

Sun Valley Oval & Reserve

Sun Valley Oval (above) is an open area used by the local pony club.  Sun Valley is an unusual landscape, the result of a volcanic vent. The very rich soils have provided excellent native grasslands and magnificent stands of Mountain Blue Gum trees. Reference: Bruce Cameron, Sun Valley, 'The Dictionary of Sydney'



We started this walk at Warrimoo station and walked along Rickard Road, then followed various firetrails through the valley to meet Rosenthel Lane, Sun Valley. We returned to Valley Heights station following a rough reserve track (above) uphill to 'The Chase', then 'The Valley Road'.

Thanks to Judith who showed us this less well known walk.   
                                                        

Oct 23, 2011

University of Sydney


The University of Sydney Quadrangle Building is glimpsed in this photo from Victoria Park Camperdown. (near the intersection of City Rd. and Parramatta Rd.) 

Lake Northam, Vistoria Park, Camperdown

Sydney Law School moved from its Phillip Street building to a new building (below) on the main campus near Fisher Library. It was completed in 2009.




Sydney University's Parramatta Road Gate Lodge (also known as Baxter's Lodge) and gates (below). The Gothic revival style gatehouse was constructed in 1939 - 1940, when the University entrance was changed from the original location, which is now part of Victoria Park.