Mercy vs. Justice

How do I start?

The past week this world has been turned upside down; so much devastation, so much grief. To those involved in the Nepal Earthquakes, my prayers are with you.

Yesterday I was sitting in the bustling cafe area of my uni 'studying' ...aka eavesdropping on the various conversations of the people around me. Topic of the day: Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan of the 'Bali Nine' who faced the death penalty and have just been executed (or murdered, depending on your stance).

I'm going to try to be as diplomatic as possible with this post, which is very difficult given the nature of the death penalty discussion.

First and foremost, I want to honour the lives of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan as they were human just like the rest of us, and many will be grieving their loss today. Whether you see these two Australians as criminals or victims, the fact remains that they were people with mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends and loved ones, and I can't imagine the pain that those loved ones are going through right now. My heart and my prayers go out to you, may God be your comfort and your strength.



The discussions I'm hearing revolve around this idea of JUSTICE vs MERCY. I'm going to be upfront with you that I stand on the side of GRACE. My hero once stood before a woman who was caught in the act committing a crime punishable by death in that time, and He said to a crowd "Whoever of you is without sin, cast the first stone." One by one each man dropped their stones and walked away. He then gave the woman the free gift of GRACE that comes undeserved.

JUSTICE says: the men knew what they were doing was wrong and they were aware of the punishment that went with it, thus they deserve the punishment of death.
MERCY says: they did the wrong thing, but over the past 10 years in jail they have been rehabilitated, they deserve mercy but from the original punishment.
GRACE says: "I do not condemn you either, go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).

I can't say who is right from the stance of justice or mercy, because I see that we all have valid points. You should follow the law of the land that you are in and there are also times in life where mercy is required. All I know is that we all need GRACE. Both Myuran and Andrew turned to the God who loved them first, and I have no doubt that they reside in heaven now experiencing the fullness of God's grace poured out upon them.

During his time in jail, as part of his rehabilitation Myuran learned to paint. I want to end with some of the art produced by artist Myuran Sukumaran in his last days.


It has been two days since the execution and people seem to be already forgetting. I post this today to help keep the conversation alive.
#endcapitalpunishment #Jesus #justice #mercy #GRACE #art #beauty #activism

http://www.theage.com.au/world/bali-executions-eight-prisoners-refused-to-wear-blindfolds-as-they-were-shot-20150429-1mvm99.html

Peace Out.

My First (and possibly last) Gallery Opening

Aloha.

News: I went to the Nicholas Thompson Gallery Opening.

Lesson: If you don't like crowds, don't immerse yourself in the middle of a big crowd.

I was so excited to go to my first gallery opening; I got all dressed up, I even put makeup on and coerced my hubby into the idea that we could use it as a date. We made the half hour trek from our house, drove around the area and found free parking in Fitzroy (a day in the life of a poor uni student... Anyone else feeling me here?) We then walked about a kilometre to the gallery, all the while me saying how it would be worth it just to talk to all of the art enthusiasts.
We walked in the door; the space was packed full... I think it was presumptuousness I smelled. I braced myself, still smiling, and tried to 'wander' around. It was not possible to wander. My excitement quickly dampened.

We squeezed through people with heavy 'arts accents' (a little bit like Queens English... of which my hubby Graeme, who grew up in England, told me no longer exists), all the while being cautious not to knock someone carrying wine. I kept having this vision of me bumping someone and their red wine gliding through the air in slow motion while I dived to save the life of the $10000 painting.
Wine + fancy art + crowded gallery = an accident waiting to happen.

I really did my best to enjoy the artwork but I couldn't even take a step back to see it in perspective. Eventually we decided to go, and that I would come back another time, but to be honest there was nothing that really made me stop and go "WOW".
Whether it was the exhibition itself, or the lousy atmosphere,  I might have to wait for a new exhibition to revisit.
This really does go to show how much more there is to a gallery experience than just art on a wall.

A little deflated, we drove back to our side of town and met friends in Box Hill for Asian delights.

Day rescued.

It may not have been my favourite experience, but it taught me something about myself and something about the gallery experience, and it was definitely an adventure.

Signing off for the day, quite frustrated at the group of noisy first years sitting behind me and talking about their weekend in the library... (Why are you in the library?!?)
And yes, I am that person, my brain ceases to function in noise... which possibly contributed to my bad experience at the opening?

Oh, and here's a photo. I wore red so that you can spot me... and because I love red.

I'd love to hear your horrible gallery visit stories in the comments below,

Renee Bell
Adventuring on despite obstacles.

Life Lessons Learnt ...from the crazy that is my idea of 'doable'

So here's a little insight to my life right now. I decided that for April (the chocolate month of the year!!!) I should quit refined sugar totally and cut down on coffee. I don't know what I was thinking, maybe let's be healthy, and as I love to do, set myself a challenge at the hardest time to stick to that challenge. All I can say is I'm feelin' dem withdrawal feels; bear with me while I adjust to real energy that comes from sleep.

A little bit of info on the progress of this blog. I am LEARNING LOTS very quickly. Three things I've learnt about writing a blog.
1. Bring your laptop/tablet everywhere, and write the post immediately, edit later. I have so far been to Linden, the Nicholas Thompson Gallery Opening, Ian Potter, NGV International, ACCA, some random exhibition in Ballarat, and Bromley and Co. in Ballarat. I've published Linden.. see my problem?
2. Don't set deadlines without considering other work you have to do in the time, rest time, and ample time for things to go wrong. You simply won't meet the deadline, and creative juices do not flow when you are staring at a pile of work that needs to be done (no matter how organized you are).
3. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just press publish.

Just keepin it real homies,
Signing off,
Renee-zilla

Leading at Linden

Gallery Wanderers, Hello!

Here it is, I know you've been anxiously awaiting (for far too long) the REVEAL.

Firstly, the first prize winner, as established by Linden is.......... (drumroll please)



Susanne Castleden!!!

Scrunched Ball (Pacific Ocean)

Building The World (Mark II)

Bermuda Sunset, Rottnest Sunrise

While I liked these works, and could see the aesthetic value, I didn't consider it to be the most innovative and engaging work of the exhibition. I'm aware that this probably comes down to personal taste but the winner for me came from the creative genius of Georgie Mattingly. It was a piece called "Lovesongs from the Kill Floor" and weeks on, I am still thinking about Georgie Mattingly's film and sound recording.





Without further investigation, I was not sure whether the work was supposed to be morbid, political or comical, but as I watched and listened I found my emotions responding with both distress and humour, depending on whether my brain tuned in to the sound of meat being sliced or the sound of the radio playing pop songs and advertisements over the top. It was a very strange experience, but definitely unique. The Artist actually took on an internship at an abattoir to complete this work. That's commitment! Respect to you, Mattingly.

You may be wondering why I included a photo of hanging headphones?
Well, if you haven't noticed (my hubby didn't), the artist has been especially thoughtful about every aspect of the presentation of her work. Rather than hanging the headphones on the wall, they are hung from the ceiling just like a dead animal would hang in an abattoir ready to be slaughtered and carved.
It is this attention to detail that makes me love Mattingly's work more!

What a fantastic welcome to Melbourne from the art world.

Speaking of finer details... You will notice in the coming days and weeks the structure of Leader Follower changing. You all know I'm new to the blog world and learning every day, and this means change and progression. Just as art must change and progress to continue, so must I.

What does this mean for you?

1. One blog post per gallery visit
2. More frequent updates
3. Happy adventurers

How did I manage to do this?

It's simple... Just bring my technology to the gallery, and write the post there. And yes, I couldn't come up on this solution on my own, I had to ask my lecturer for help... Just a little glimpse into my fuzzy wuzzy brain right there.

Logging off feeling like a genius,
Renee Bell

Postcard Pastimes

No good gallery visit goes without a good story.

To me, the people are a part of the artwork. 

Most artists agree that an artwork does not exist on its own unaffected by the space, but rather the space around it either adds to it or takes away from it. Many artists spend longer planning the placement of the artwork in the gallery space than they do planning the artwork. I think there is a good quote about this, I'll have to find it!

But more so than the space contributes to the experience (Linden was a great space), for me the people can make or break the experience (as you'll hear about when I tell you about my first experience at a gallery opening). People carry an atmosphere, which impacts upon perspective.

I love people, and that is probably a part of why I feel that the audience is such a big part of the experience of viewing an artwork. Everyone brings something different to contribute.

On that note, here is what truly made Linden a unique experience for me, it was not the art on the wall but a postcard of a work titled 'Bread' from the much-loved open entry Linden Postcard Show that stood out to me. While I was perusing the various postcards from the history of the exhibition, I met a lovely lady (we’ll call her Anne) who was a local and frequent visitor to the gallery. 

Anne told me about a few of the pieces that she had personally seen when they were displayed. I asked her about “Bread” my own favourite and she surprised me with the most wonderful story. She said, “I can’t remember the artist’s meaning but I can tell you why it is significant to me.”

Anne went on to tell me a bit of her story. The way she spoke of her experiences as a child was beautifully romantic to me, and though it would have been many moons ago, it was still very real to her. 

Growing up Anne's family were quite poor, but her Mum was a good cook, she cooked simple foods well. Anne remembered how when guests came over, her mother managed to stretch the food by buying little accompaniments so that everyone could be fed. One of these times, Anne’s mother sent her to buy a loaf of white bread that would be sliced thin and shared between the guests. Anne was only a little girl and she was so hungry that as she was walking home she began to pull at the white fleshy inside of the bread. By the time Anne arrived home she realised that she had eaten all but the crust. She thought to herself that her mother would be so angry that she had eaten something so precious. Anne gingerly opened the front door and carrying empty shell in her hands presented it to her mother. She said her mother's response was something she would never forget. She was not angry but gentle and kind, understanding that Anne was only a little girl, she comforted her explaining that what is done is done and they would just have to get by without bread that night.”

Anne told us how when she saw this artwork, the crust of a piece of bread, it reminded her of that moment, of hard times and of the beautiful forgiving nature of her mother.

Everyone brings something different to an artwork. Whether you are visiting galleries because you are new to a city like me, on a holiday, or just going on an adventure; I encourage you to not just look to the art on the wall as a lone entity, but to embrace the people around you and let their presence add to your perspective.

I promise you will be better for it.

This city is already beginning to feel like home.

This adventurer is ready for a cup of tea and a good night's sleep.

From one explorer to another, happy sleeping.

Renee Bell

*name changed by request of individual

Writers Block, Technical Difficulties, an Anniversary and a Linden Walk Through

Hello!
Welcome to the dramatic world of my last few weeks.
My sincerest apologies for the lack of activity the past little while. I had a serious case of assignments coming out of my armpits. And we all know that one cannot write well while stressed.

Nothing cures stress better than an anniversary weekend spent drinking good coffee, eating fine food, and going go-karting. Happy 1st Anniversary to me (and hubby)! It's been a huge year but we made it. I love my man, no one makes me happier than he does.
In the spirit of wedding anniversaries, here are my three top tips for marriage. 1. Choose love every day. 2. Remember the HALT principle. If you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired... HALT before you say anything you'll regret ;) 3. Have fun, don't take little things too seriously.

You will have to bear with my eccentricities and stories along the way, as adventure and emergency seem to follow me... but back to the purpose of Leader Follower.
Finally, here it is, the beginning of that Linden walk through that I promised ages ago.

The following works I deemed to be not quite cutting edge but rather following trends or practicing skills and techniques innovated by artists of the past. I might even edit this blog in the future to include the artists and artworks I could recognise as having influenced these artists. No judgement here though as these works are by students who graduated from their degree last year. Really it makes me have more admiration for the two artists I consider to be stepping out from the flock in this exhibition.. but we'll leave that for another post.



Raymond Carter- Stripes 4 Black, 2014, Cloth tape on MDF
I might appreciate it as looking trendy in the home of someone with a greater appreciation for interior design then I, but as an exhibit in an art gallery, it just didn't hit the spot. I want my eye to be led somewhere, I want to go on a journey with you Raymond. It doesn't have to be emotional, it doesn't even have to be about anything, but it does have to DO something. I mean, Donald Judd's minimalist works are not philosophical or emotional, but I could gaze at them for hours in appreciation of his innovation. He changed art forever, though minimalist, they have that spark. Yes, Judd was influenced as we all are, but he was also an influencer and an innovator.

Julian Aubrey Smith:

Crafty, 2014

MT Space, 2013

Amanda's after Jeff, 2014

Julian Aubrey-Smith: Basis, 2013, oil and acrylic on canvas
I can actually really appreciate this work for the technical elements required to paint it. On technique Julian is nailing it, when you look at this in person whether near or far, it legitimately looks like cardboard stuck on canvas (it's actually oil and acrylic on canvas), but what it lacks is innovation. However, Picasso was a prodigy in terms of technique before he created his own style and became an innovator. I believe Julian has the potential for greatness, and in the next few years I hope we see him rise to it.

Stephanie Leigh- Feminine Flatpack (reclining), 2014, Enamel paint on marine plywood

Stephanie Leigh- Feminine Flatpack (yellow), 2014, Enamel paint on marine plywood
I've got to be honest, I really wasn't a fan of Stephanie Leigh's work to begin with... My attitude was "What's the big deal?" BUT my mind is changing the more I look at it. Every time I view it, I like it a bit more. I might come back to her work again, and do another critique once I have figured out where I stand. For now, Stephanie, thanks for intriguing me.

...

That brings the first snapshot of 'honourable mentions' to a close, check back soon for the star/s of this exhibition in a bit more detail.

What have I learnt from the chaos of the last few weeks?
Never make a promise to post something "in the next 24 hours", you are just asking for things to go wrong. I'm not going to blame the little things, I'm going to take responsibility and try not to over-commit myself to an unrealistic time limit again. After all, this experience is about learning by throwing myself in the deep end, isn't it?

Amateur blog-writers, learn from my mistake.

Peace out and happy reading! More to come... soon.

My Maiden Voyage: Gallery Visit #1

Hello!
I'm back and maybe too excited for my adventure now... I've really got to find a happy medium somewhere soon.

I went exploring St Kilda this weekend past and while there I went on my maiden voyage into the lands of Melbourne Art. Hubby and I visited the Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, a gorgeous old space for showcasing New Art.

The Gallery was hosting the Linden Art Prize which had its opening on February 27th and runs until May 3rd (my birthday!). The Linden Art Prize is an art award established for Artists graduating from a Masters or PhD in 2014. This year the Artists are Celeste Chandler, Georgie Mattingley, Jessica Ledwich, Julian Aubrey Smith, Raymond Carter, Stephanie Leigh, Susanna Castleden, and Yandell Walton.

No spoilers here, I won't tell you the Winner until the end.

I think I will dedicate a short post to each Artist, but I may change my mind part-way though and do two in one go*. I've never been the decisive type. Oh and there's a postcard bearing surprise story in the midst of these, because who doesn't like postcards and surprises?

Honestly, these Artists are all brilliant in their own right, but that is not the point of this blog. Who leads and who follows? We'll soon see.

Check back in the next 24 hours for more.

Signing off, excited and hungry for dinner,

Renee Bell
Adventurer Extraordinaire

*for the record, I did change my mind and decided to split the gallery visit into two posts, one on honourable (or not) mentions and another on those works really leading the pack. Some artists were not featured in either, but that's where you get to be Dora the Explorer and decide for yourself where they sit.