Culture in the Centre

We set off for the CBD on Friday 13th planning to visit a number of interesting places and events.   Here is the tale, starting by getting off the tram at the Police Memorial.

We were a little surprised at the graffiti.  As we approached I had noticed a camera crew (just visible through the left-hand arch) but hadn't joined up the dots.  We were then approached by a couple of cops who explained that this daubing was unprecedented and had occurred overnight.  A very pleasant sergeant chatted about the topic and explained a bit about the plaques (eg 'felonious' meant killed by a criminal act - such as shot by a bank robber - rather than dying in a car accident).  He left us to negotiate with some workers who came to start the clean up.

We then crossed St Kilda Rd and walked down Southbank Boulevard.  Some nice flowering trees: some with red flowers ....

... and one with pink flowers.

Before getting to our first stop (the Melbourne Recital Centre - MRC) we came across the Buxton Contemporary Gallery.  Frances was aware of this so we went in to see what was occurring.  An exhibition of the work of Tony Clark  was the answer.   The first work was a painting in his 'jasperware style, accompanied by sculpture by Joanne Ritson imagining from the painting what the 3d object might look like.

Another 2 rooms had a wide range of his work in various series.  The 4th room included a sample of his best known work the Myriorama series (from the German word for 'scenery').

An interesting addition to the trip!  We carried on to the MRC looking at the high rise of Southbank as we went.

As we went I noticed an ad for a Rufus Wainwright show in early February and enquired about ticket prices.  The answer was in two parts: $119 to $139 and "sold out".   I was astonished that an - IMO -relatively unknown Canadian singer was sold out weeks before the event.  Must be something to do with the reputation of his olds: Loudon Wainwright Jnr and Kate McGarrigle.

Whatever.  The reason we were here was an immersive sound installation up the main staircase and around the building.  This was brilliant.  Here is the start of the tour up to the first floor.

This is the schedule of the sounds.  I'd describe it as radiophonic minimalism.  Somewhat unusual but very interesting if one likes minimalist works.  We heard the three in the red box (but passed on the talk by Lawrence Harvey which was kicking off as we left: it is worth following the link to his biography - a whole world I didn't know existed.

A magnificent tapestry taken from a work described in the following text

This is a Spring Isolator.  As described on a card (see below) there are 54 of these under the Elizabeth Murdoch Hall, to isolate the acoustics from outside vibrations.

Two images of the down staircase.  An excellent installation in an architecturally stunning building.

Our next planned stop was St Pauls Cathedral.  We were able to get in, but a Communion was happening so we felt constrained and decided to come back later - the building is magnificent.  On to Bourke St to look at the Myer Christmas windows.  This building opposite was interesting, n=ut looked at risk of demo, with the ground floor boarded up.

The windows were, to say the least a disappointment.  Nothing to do  with Christmas but a set of automated dioramas spruiking Australia Zoo and the Irwin family.  A fair queue (but possibly sounding like a far-Q from Coles-Myer to the punters).  We ducked across the Mall to check out the Royal Arcade which was far more interesting.

Our final destination was the Queen Victoria Markets which was very busy at lunch time on a Friday.

This trio of carolling reindeer - outside the fish and meat hall - were way better than the Myer windows.