One of today’s main news items is that residents of south-east Queensland are preparing for Cyclone Alfred’s arrival – something we should be spared down here in Sydney, but I’ve been thinking about it because it was apparently to be called Cyclone Anthony. The decision was made to find an alternative ‘A’ name, however, so as ‘to avoid any confusion’ with our current Prime Minister, according to the Bureau of Meteorology! I’m not sure who might confuse a sitting PM with a cyclone, but there you go.
So I’ve been thinking about other famous Alfreds – Alfred Hitchcock comes to mind, as does Alfred, Lord Tennyson. There’s also Alfred Nobel and Alfred Pennyworth (the butler in Batman), and my favourite, Alfred E. Neuman from MAD magazine. But having done a little Google searching, I see that Al Pacino is really Alfredo, and that just doesn’t seem right! It’s interesting how people – the whole package we know them as – become a sort of fixed image. Al Pacino fits him perfectly; Alfredo Pacino not so much!
The picture above is one of Sydney’s lighthouses – Robertson Point Lighthouse – and forms part of my current series, The Gumleaf Collection. It’s now hanging at Mosman Rowers Club, a really lovely venue overlooking Mosman Bay, as part of their Art@TheRowers exhibition. So why not head over there for breakfast, lunch or dinner, enjoy the water views and the exhibition! Details of that and other shows I’m taking part in follow …
Artists of Mosman: 2088, Mosman Art Gallery, 1 Art Gallery Road, Mosman (NSW), until Sunday 16 March
Art@TheRowers, Mosman Rowers Club, 3 Centenary Drive, Mosman (NSW), until Friday 21 March
A4 Art Australia, Herring Island Gallery, Melbourne (Vic), until Monday 21 April (check website for open dates), then online until Monday 31 June
KAS Autumn Exhibition, St Ives Village Shopping Centre (NSW), from Monday 10 to Sunday 23 March
Port Stephens Art Prize, Port Stephens Community Art Centre, Cultural Close, Nelson Bay (NSW), Friday 14 to Sunday 23 March
Lifeline Art Show, Fred Hutley Hall, 200 Miller St, North Sydney (NSW), from Friday 4 to Wednesday 9 April
The Village Kitchen, 83 Old Bells Line of Road, Kurrajong (NSW), Friday 11 April to Friday 16 May
Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney Olympic Park (NSW), from Friday 11 to Tuesday 22 April
Australian Society of Miniature Art Pop-up Exhibition, St Ives Shopping Village (NSW), Monday 12 to Sunday 25 May
Until next month!