… Like reflections in a puddle! And a hot shower. At the moment, in the midst of lock-down and with these cold winter months seeming to have been with us for much longer than they should have been, one part of every day that I really love is stepping into the shower and feeling that piping hot water work its magic through every part of my body. It’s bliss!
Today is Day 42 of Sydney’s lock-down and I know the end can’t come soon enough for everyone, but at the same time I continue to feel very fortunate that its impact on me has been minimal. Being able to lose myself in my painting is wonderful, as is having a puppy in my life! We head out each morning to a park where she’s able to run around and play with other dogs, and in the afternoons I take her out on her lead. Both of us are very content. Add to that the new growth I’m starting to see on some of the plants in my garden, and the promise of spring around the corner is incredibly uplifting.
Izzi and I bumped into an old friend at the dog park a few weeks ago. Sam and I met through our dogs – she’d started up a dog-walking business many years ago and we used to see each other a lot at the dog park. Sam has since bought a property and established an airbnb at Narrawallee, on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, and was telling me a little about it the other day. ‘Toastie Toes’ is a gorgeous seaside (and dog-friendly) escape that has been the perfect getaway for so many people who have left glowing reviews about the place itself as well as their host, Sam. So if you’re looking for a break once lock-down is over (and who won’t be?!), this might be the perfect place for you, your family and friends – both two-legged and four.
On a more art-related note, many of those events I was to be taking part in (the ones I wrote about a couple of months ago) look as though they will be emerging in some form or another post-lock-down. The fantastic people who work behind the scenes have been doing all they can to make them happen just as soon as it’s possible, and so I have some new dates (see below). Of course these could well change again if lock-down is extended beyond the end of this month, so if you have any questions about anything, just drop me an email ( manina@bigpond.com ).
One that should be going ahead as planned (as long as lock-down doesn’t extend into September) is ‘Chattels’ – a collection of my work that will be hanging in the rooms at Savills Real Estate in Lindfield for the month, so pop in and have a look if you’re in the area. You don’t have to be buying or selling property to go in!
Coming up (all going well) …
‘Chattels’, Wednesday 1st to Thursday 30th September, Savills Real Estate, 9 Lindfield Avenue, Lindfield (right across the road from Lindfield Station)
‘Small Packages’, Saturday 21st August to Friday 24th September, Sherbrooke Art Gallery in Belgrave, Victoria
Hornsby Art Society’s Members’ Exhibition, Sunday 12th September to Sunday 26th September, Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby
Combined Art Societies of Sydney’s ‘Art in the Mountains’, Thursday 30th September to Tuesday 12th October, Gallery One88, 188 Katoomba Street, Katoomba
Ku-ring-gai Art Society’s Annual Awards Exhibition – now to be combined with the society’s annual Spring exhibition, Monday 11th October to Sunday 24th October, St Ives Shopping Village
‘Postcards from Paris’ – new dates are still to be confirmed
Until next month.