Art Stroll

Art Stroll: National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia

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The first day Julie, my husband and I arrived in Melbourne, it was raining and so we went straight to the National Gallery of Victoria. A beautiful building filled with wonderful artwork. I am not showing everything we saw, only a couple of my favorites, either for their subject matter, composition, material, texture or else.

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Shield made of bark I assume and I loved the scenery depicting typical Australian animals.

 

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The Australian Indigenous Art was amazing. These wooden sculptures were intriguing and beautiful.
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This Painting made me happy with it’s texture and the colors- yummmmmie!

Asher BILU, Yuga ii, ca. 1966 Melbourne, mixed media on composition board

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I love how Jenny Watson created texture and dimension in a grid on this oil painting called House painting: Box Hill North, 1977 Melbourne

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Rosalie Gascioigne, Flash Art, 1987 Canberra, tar on reflective synthetic polymer film on wood

Rosalie made assemblages from found objects found around her home in Canberra. The piece above is made from retro-reflective road signs, which she cut up and rearranged. She once said “Most of the things that I use have been exposed to the weather and in that sense, mine is an art of the outdoors.” I love that- I have never thought about this when you use found objects that have been part of the world outside :)

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Constanze Zikos, Fake Flag, 1994 Melbourne, thermo-setting laminate, enamel paint, crayon, metallic and plastic self-adhesive tape on composition board

In this painting Zikos uses everyday materials and inserts stars symbolic of other cultures. It reflects his examination of cultural identity and the concept of authenticity.

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I could not stop looking at this! The colors were so vibrant and the dots were pulsing.

Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, Marlu Jukurrpa (Kangoroo Dreaming), 1987 Yuendumu, Northern Territory, synthetic polymer paint on canvas

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Trevor Nickolls, Third eye, 1986 Adelaide, synthetic polymer paint on canvas

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This painting was so mesmerizing- I love the depth of it and the limited color palette.

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This one is also by

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Trevor Nickolls, Wrestling with the white spirit, 1990 Adelaide, synthetic polymer paint on canvas. The details and symbolism of this painting !

 

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This artwork touched me deeply. It refers to the experience of Indigenous people as outcasts.

Sandra Hill (born 1951) , Beyond the pale, 2010 Balingup, Western Australia, synthetic polymer paint on plywood, painted wood

Sandra Hill was taken from her parents at just seven years of age – the third generation of her family to be removed and placed in an institution.

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Gordon Hookey, Aboriginality victorious, 2008 Brisbane, oil paint, plastic and metal on canvas, paper, metal and metallic and oil paint on boxing gloves

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Wait…who are those people here ? Goof balls- LOL

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Limpi Tjapangati, Waputi and Tatupa, 1979, synthetic polymer paint on canvas

This painting provides an aerial view of how the artist perceives his landscape. We will see the landscape entirely different from our perception of the same landscape. I love this concept and idea!

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This was massive.

Lorriane Connelly-Northey, Possum-skin cloak: Blackfella road, 2011-13 Vistoria, rusted iron and tin, fencing and barbed wire, wire

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Djambu Barra Barra, Preparing for ceremony, 1988, synthetic polymer paint on canvas

The colors – the details – swoon!

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I hope you enjoyed this art stroll through the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. It was such a different museums experience and we spent many hours there.

Comments (6)

  • Joi @RR

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    Wow – amazing pictures. What a place. Thanks bunches for sharing these Nat. Just awed. XXj.

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  • Sue Clarke

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    What a wonderful tour for my Sunday morning.
    Thank you Nat.
    I especially l Wrestling with the White Spiritike .

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      so glad you liked it Sue! I love putting those together as it makes me relive the visit :) Have a wonderful week!

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  • Joyce

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    Thank you for this tour through this museum broading the mind with new insight and possibilities thanks for shsring

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Joyce, I am glad you enjoyed the little tour ! Have a wonderful sunday!

      Reply

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Inspired by Melbourne, Australia

 

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Julie, my husband and I had such a fab time in Australia and we started off in Melbourne which I really loved. A very green and vibrant city, with a great public transportation system, wonderful houses, street art and good food. Paired with good company …it was a a good spot to be for a couple days before our Mixed Media Circus Workshop at Artified.

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We stayed in a beautiful AirBnB with some great artwork located in Fitzroy.  We had  a nice roof terrace, which we couldn’t use too much because it is fall in Australia and it rained a lot. Mhhh – writing this my eyes drift through the window and I realize …it is spring here and it rains nonstop at the moment …

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Below are the three of us on the right of the screen on our way to the National Gallery of Victoria (post coming soon).

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As I mentioned in an earlier post there is a huge amount of street art in Melbourne, fun signs and a lot of grungy texture. For us it was a feast for the eyes.

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Look at the texture and the color combination on this wall – yummy!

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Where the garbage cans are:

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And a feast for the belly – LOL. We ate so much …but since we walked a lot too we did pretty good.

We often started with a “healthy” breakfast …ahem…

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And then we tested about every possible dumpling place in Melbourne and we actually rated our dumpling experiences. Below are the second best dumplings we had …and they were delicious.

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We found a really nice Art Supply store in the city and went for a shopping day for our workshops and took another day to pick those supplies up.

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Just to realize AFTER we did that, there was an art supply store RIGHT NEXT to our apartment – we just never noticed because we never went into that direction and the sign was hidden. If you know Julie and me, you might imagine the laughing fits we still get when we talk about the “art supply moment” . BTW – speaking of art supplies, I cannot believe how much more expensive art supplies were in comparison to here or Europe. It is insane and makes me appreciate even more the hoops my Australian students have to go through!

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We loved the parks throughout the city and the amazing gigantic trees and flowers

 

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Everything is just so green!

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Oh and here is a gum tree with some gum nuts – I love those !

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more street art …told you…it was everywhere

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And of course there was lot’s of silly photo taking too ;)

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We also met Kass Hall for lunch. It was great to see her again!  She has an awesome new book out – Amplified Art – Dynamic Techniques for High-Impact Pages –  check it out!

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As you can see we had an amazing time in Melbourne and I would love to come back some time.

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There are still way more pictures to come in the next weeks from the Australia trip – I am trying to spread it out a bit for you :) Next up I take you on an Art Stroll again ;) Have a wonderful day

Comments (6)

  • Joi@RR

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    Always love seeing you and Julie together Nat – you guys make me laugh!! PLUS… I can only imagine the joy you bring to your students too!

    Loved seeing these pictures – dear me – they DO have giant trees and flowers!!!

    And what fun to see all the street artwork. XXj.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Joi- glad you enjoyed the photos and yes – ha those flowers and trees were pretty gigantic :)

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  • Mary

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    Glad you guys loved Melbourne. Plenty of street art. Fitzroy is a great area to wander around in.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Indeed Mary- I loved Fitzroy- it reminded me a lot of parts of NYC and Jersey City – but then …of course it is yet so different :)

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  • Rachel Greig

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    Love seeing your photos from melbourne!! It’s a fabulous city! :)

    Reply

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Inspired by Street Art in Melbourne, Australia

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Now if you know me…you know I am crazy about street art – and so Melbourne is a pretty amazing place to be for street art. There was street art EVERYWHERE , best know for it’s street art is Hosier Lane right across from the National Gallery.

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Nothing goes unpainted in this laneway :)

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This one made me laugh!

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Even the garbage cans are spayed and add to the picture

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I really loved this one for it’s stencil work and because it was only two colored- it stuck out in the bright color-spray-paint abundance

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Wonder what is in there? mh mh

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Lot’s of pasteups as well – which I really liked

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Here is AC/DC Lane …now I wonder why….

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Love the texture and the framed piece on the wall.

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Massive mural

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This is so cool too :

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and funny stuff

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Can you tell the three of us had a good time?  LOL- what a bunch of goofs we are ;)

This was a great first day after a 22 hour flight – since it was raining the color boost awakened us – we really needed that.

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Hope you enjoyed this colorful journey through Melbourne- there is more to come :)

Comments (7)

  • stephanie

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    totally cool!

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  • Seth

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    I remember that alley way. It is as amazing as ever!!

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    • Graeme Allen

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      I have been to these lanes in Melbourne since I was 15yo and now I am 51 ,and the artwork has evolved with the city,I would love to have taken photos from the different era’s it seems to get better and better everytime I go into the city . But you have done a great job showing the talent Melbourne has to offer.

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  • Gayle

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    Phenomenal Exhibit! Thank you Nathalie. Makes me wonder if the motivation behind street art may be a response to disenchantment with the world around them. These artists’ way of proclaiming: ” If you can’t fix it, paint it!”

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      you should go Natalya – I can see loads of amazing art by you with photos taken there!

      Reply

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Mixed Media Circus Workshop at Artified in Melbourne, Australia

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I am back from Australia where I taught some amazing Art Journaling Classes with my friend Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. Here are the photos of the 3-day-class at Artified in Melbourne where the wonderful students created an art journal – from painting pages using loads of art journaling techniques and creating a nice cover to binding everything into their own book together in the end.

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We started Friday with loads of fun coloring techniques.

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They were all in such a wonderful mood- and some traveled very far from Tasmania and even far away from Adelaide.

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I really make a grumpy face when I create something- but I assure you ….I am in a good mood :)

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Look at those amazing patterned and colorful pages and … hands :)

 

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Loved seeing my new stamp sets in action :) It always inspires me to see how students use them !!!

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Even if used on an apron- LOL

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This is sunday afternoon – I love this photo- everyone creating and painting and the light is so beautiful in the classroom.

 

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Of course Julie and I also goofed around a lot … I mean- hey …the circus was in town ;)

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And what is not to love about this:

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Look at all those pages – everyone holding up their favorite:

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And here are all the newly bound art journals

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And thank you Chris, Kelly, Margaret and Margaret, Anna, Carol, Abby, Pat, Bec, Deborah, Ngaire, Karen, Nicole, Evi, Katherine, Wendy and Angela and Mel for loads of chocolate, the Tim-Tam-Slam, Vegimite Songs, Twists and licorice, pick-ups and lunch-lifts, beautiful books and necklaces and loads of laughter, creativity and good spirit!

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Thank you for joining the circus :) Look out for more class photos and heaps of other inspiring photos of my trip to Australia in the next couple weeks :)

Comments (17)

  • Shelley Menhennet

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    Wow! I hope you have another class in Melbourne soon as I would love to get in on the fun! And posting the variety of ways your stamps can be used is the perfect way to advertise why they are MUST HAVE items.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Shelley- I hope I will be back some time again- I loved Melbourne!

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  • Tracy Moloney

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    WOW – what FUN :)
    I’m especially inspired by the “if plan A doesn’t work” philosophy!!!

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  • JoAnn Campisi

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    Love everyone’s work – I am curious about the ribbon binding – I have taken Julie’s Junque Journal class that uses a different type of binding – would love to know more about the one you used – any ideas? Future on-line class?

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  • barb macaskill

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    Can’t wait to get my hands on all three of these sets!! They look like they will be very versatile and fun to use!!! LOVE your products! TFS!

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  • karenajo

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    I would love to win one of your new stamps – great inspiration here and on the other Stampendous hop stops ! Class looked like so much fun!
    – from Colorado

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  • Victoria Banaszak

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    This looks like a bunch of fun. I can’t wait till i finish moving so I can play. This was very inspiring to just see what everyone did.

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  • Elaine

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    Lots of creative fun!

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  • Amanda Rhodes

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    That looks like a fun class! I love all the paintings!

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  • Barb Charlotte, NC

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    It looks like you both had some fantastic students. What fun to visit a different country, meet new people and enjoy your career. Way to go.

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  • Judy B

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    It looks like everyone had a fun time getting inky and making art. Thanks for sharing.

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  • Greta H

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    What a wonderful class! Love your new stamps & stencils! Hoping to be one of the lucky Stampendous! winners!

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  • Pam B

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    These stamps are so cool & so much fun!

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  • Becca Yahrling

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    Oh my gosh, that looks like it was so much fun!!! Thanks for the inspiration to play & have fun.

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  • Dee Ann O'Brien

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    An amazing collection of inspiring examples of the foam stamps to create unique art!

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  • Julie Curtis

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    Looks like a lot of fun! Very creative and it gave me a lot of ideas! I love how the stamps look with all of the art when the projects were done!

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  • Sue Clarke

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    All those stamps and foamies make me want to play!
    Looks like a great room to create in with all that natural light.

    Reply

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