North to Alaska (Well. No. North to the NT.)

Life has been a bit full on for the last month or so.  I finally decided to move to Darwin and have now been here for nine days.

The reason for the move was to find work.  I was a bit sick of sitting at home collecting the dole, which went nowhere near providing enough money to pay the mortgage and eat.

Anyway, within five days of getting here I found a job which pays more than twice what I was getting at the factory in Tasmania, so the move seems to have worked out.  (Taps self on forehead and says 'Touch wood'.)

There have been a couple of big monsoonal storms since I got here, which is lovely (I don't think the cats would agree.).

So... I have a well paying job which starts on Wednesday, I have an airconditioned bedroom and I'm around people I've known for most of my life, and we are all getting along well.

I'm pretty happy and can deal with the sweaty weather.

Having fun in the studio

I've been playing in the studio quite a bit lately.

Here are some bits and pieces:

She  has a new home.  A friend in Canberra has bought her.

Called this one Mouselini:

 

 And this one is one of my faves:

Oh Whoops.  Can't find it in the morass that is the brain of my marvellous Mac.  Maybe later.

Here she is:

 

Anyway, plans continue for the big shift up North.  This week I'm going to sell most of the furniture.  I hope this will pay for the move.

It's great to be playing around with the arty stuff.   Makes life far more bearable.  Provides a little purpose.

It's nice to see several paintings at the same time.  I had thought I was being horribly cliched by doing only paintings of cats.  But now I see they are all quite different.  So maybe I'll keep playing with them.

Playing around and trying to be a bit less SERIOUS.

Well Here's one of the things that happens when I try to get stuck into arty worky:

Cats, computer, beer, phone.....

And here's one of the results. 

What a funny looking couple.

Choices, choices.

Ah well.

I've been  applying for jobs in Tas for several years now.

Almost goes without saying that this has been without success.  I'm not related to the right people!  I've never lived (and tried to find work) anywhere that it's this hard to find work without the right relations.

Strangely enough,  I think I might've been discriminated against because of my qualification as well as my relations.

Soooo, I think I've decided to leave.  Even though I love the weather and the ground.  Such a wonderful place to grow a garden.  But it's time to go.

Have been doing a few paintings, and can do this anywhere.  Here's one:

Kind of liked this.  I know it's twee, but it was fun.

Hello Again

Well, it's been a while.

Have spent the last few months looking for work and contemplating moving state to get work.

So anyway, I went to Darwin over the weekend.  It was surprisingly pleasant.  So now I'm looking for work in Darwin.  I haven't given up on work here, but it  looks like there is well paid work up there and bugger all down here.

It was great to be up there and good to catch up with lots of people.  On Monday I had lunch with a friend who lives in Sydney.  We lived down the road from each other in Bungendore.  She moved to Sydney and I moved to Tasmania.  By pure coincidence, we were in Darwin for the same three days. 

I stayed with my brother for one night while up there.  He lives at the place my parents used to live in.  It's a gorgeous tropical paradise.  Here's a little indication of what it looks like and what one might do while there:

Feet up, beer in hand. Seriously can't complain.

Back in Tas now and I've decided to apply for work in both Tas and Darwin and see what happens. 

It was great to be around people I know and in a place where I feel comfortable.  As much as I love it in Tas, I haven't been able to establish myself here other than having a mortgage on the house. 

I think I'd like to spend more time sitting on the verandah drinking beers with my brother.

Very Happy

I've had a wonderful couple of weeks. Very Lucky Me!

The opening of the exhibition in Hobart was a huge success.  There were about 150 people there, which is pretty impressive.

The work which won the major prize was this one by Susan McArthur

'Engagement' by Susan McArthur of Burnie

It's a combination of headwear made by Susan, plus her daughter wearing it and giving a very significant look, and memory of her son serving in Afghanistan.  A really strong work.

The Premier came in and chose her favourite, which is this lovely piece:

'Just by Reaching Out' by Pam Thorne also of Burnie

The whole process of collecting work and setting it up was made an absolute (although exhausting!) delight by the many people who helped.

I feel privileged to have been part of the whole process.

In the meantime, there has been cooking of home grown produce and an intrigue in the workplace.  More later.....

Golly I'm Excited

For the last four months, I've been working on curating an exhibition of Tasmanian women's art.  It's a competition with a ten year history, and now it's all coming together.

Here's the final selection for exhibition at the Moonah Arts Centre

The show starts on Friday and is being opened by the Premier.  I'll be driving down on Wednesday with a carload of gorgeous art and spending Thursday hanging the show.

Can't believe how excited I am about this whole plan coming together.  It's such a great opportunity and hopefully more work will come from it.