There's been a big change since Sydney. Yesterday we flew from Sydney to Melbourne, got picked up at the airport by friends who live near Melbourne and spirited away to their place. Their place is not Melbourne at all, but a small town (about the size of Saranac Lake) considerably south of the larger city. The area is best known as the site of Australia's Gold Rush in 1851. It's where all the serious prospectors went when the bloom wore of the rush in California and it has a lot of the feel of the American West.
Today we went to visit some artist friends of our host and hostess and were thrilled with their grounds and studio -- in many ways it is reminiscent of the King's place outside of Malone. (The name of their studio and garden area predates the title of the book.) Their last name is Gray. In the late 90s, they had a show at the Guggenheim in NYC and sold every single piece.
They work in metal, wire, mesh, sheets etc. and also collect utilitarian items make from wire.
Metal artist, Peter Gray, standing in the door of his studio.
And they also have a wonderful garden incorporated with all the art.
I don't know what the top one is, except very showy, but the bottom one-- paging Katherine Hepburn.
This is what I'm talking about with the old west feeling. Of course, there are a couple of other details of interest about this particular structure as well.
And then there were the Roos. We went for a drive this afternoon so I could get some shots of kangaroos. How could a photographer spend time in Australia without getting at least a few shots of kangaroos? Almost as unthinkable as not getting any shots of the Sydney Opera House.
So that mission is accomplished, but be forewarned, there may be more to come.
And no Australian sojourn would be complete without a look at a Kookaburra. So, another check mark goes on the list and tomorrow we head down the coast on the Great Coast Road. Who knows what we'll be seeing there.
Very cool, and different! And where'd you find the blue kangaroos?
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