A bike ride around Stavanger...

My jewellery has made it to Norway!

I have sold a collection of works to a beautiful jewellery store in Stavanger, Norway. Works include the leaf ring and a range of melting point stud earrings that are quickly getting snapped up!

So if your first response is, where is Stavanger? Well, the little yellow dot on the map to the left should answer that question. It is situated at the South West of Norway.

So if you are in this side of the world or this side of Norway, please drop by and see Kirsti. Her english is far superior to any tourist norwegian you could throw at her.

Gullsmed Kluge
Søregata 11,4006 Stavanger
Storhaug (Sentrum Øst)
p: 51 89 00 82

Craft Revolution

Curated by the talented Cate Brown, below is an introduction to a new exhibition opening in June 2008 entitled CRAFT REVOLUTION.
My SYMBIOSIS work will be featured at the exhibition.

Craft Revolution
5 June to 13 July 2008

Craft Revolution explores the idea that craft is radical and revolutionary.

Rejecting the dominant culture of consumption and the loss of community, craft is a means of creation and engagement that is slow, purposeful and often cooperative. It is this rejection of the dominant consumptive culture and the return to historic or traditional practices that makes craft revolutionary.

Craft Revolution is a celebration of craft in all its naïve and sophisticated forms. The exhibition intends to reclaim the word craft and reject the negative associations this term has acquired. Essentially, Craft Revolution recognises the importance of a practice that has been a part of all cultures for thousands of years and rejoices in the impact craft has had and continues to have on the world.

Curated by Cate Brown, QUT Art Museum Intern
Presented by QUT Art Museum, Brisbane, Australia

Just a quick update on the latest with Craft Revolution, which opens at QUT Art Museum next week. Artists being featured in the exhibition are:

* Andrea Fisher
* Ann-Maree Hanna
* Clara Ngala Inkamala
* Elaine Kngwarria Namatjira
* Joanna Bone
* Judith Inkamala
* Marisa Molin
* Maribella Ngallametta
* Peace Woolla
* Rotanna Ngallametta
* Tallulah Filloy

Perito Moreno

Visiting Perito Moreno has been one of those experiences that has stayed with me. Even now, i write this a month after i visited, yet i still remember that sinking feeling of being insignificant next to something so majestic.

As I travel, so many towns blur together and become distant memories until I look back at the photos. This one day can be recalled so clearly and entirely at any moment when I hear its name mentioned.

I hope to return one day.

Patagonia: the search for adventure has been found...

My new location of inspiration.

I sit in an internet cafe in the town of El Calafate, just past the boarder of Chile into Argentina. My purse reinbursed with Argentinian Pesos and the Chilean Pesos neatly put to one side of my wallet for when i return to Santiago.

I've only been in Patagonia a week, and already I have my bus ticket in my hand for the next town north – El Chalten. It seems we have arrived just weeks past the tourist season so there are many tours closed down in the south, so north we head. Puerto Natales being a major highlight thus far – Torres Del Paine and the glaciers Monte Balmaceda and Serrano. It was an epic 3 days of constant amazment and adventure.

So much in the vegetation is familiar of Tasmania. However the winds here, stronger than anythinng i've had to walk against. At one stage you feel like you are pulling off some gravity free Michael Jackson moves as you fight against the arctic winds of the South.

Every angle in the distance is rich with snow capped mountains and autumn shades. I'm in my element of inspiration. This is what I have enjoyed the most. Despite hating the cold winds, this moist vegetation which thrives fungus and lush forests is my haven. One day, I'd like to return and do the hike – the 5-7 day 'w' formation hike that takes you further into Torres Del paine. For now, however, i'm settling for the glacial experience. 1 after another. Tomorrow i head to Puerta Morono – The highlight of Patagnia, Argentina.

This picture was taken from a farm we had lunch at on the day we went visiting the 2 Glaciers near Torres Del Paine. This image is the typical shot of a tree used on a lot of merchandising in Patagonia. Wind swept with so much force, the tree began to grow horizontally.

Cuzco, Peru.

Hola!

Today, i'm writing from my hotel in cuzco, Peru. I'm only two days away from starting the inca trail to machu picchu so i'm taking my time, relaxing and adjusting to the altitude. In Cuzco, i'm currently at 3,399 metres above sea level. From what i understand, the highest peak of machu picchu will be approx 4,500 metres. It isn't until i start walking up and down hill that the altitude seems to bother me. I can not say the same for some of the members in my travelling party. They have reacted as i do with any form of motion sickness. We all soldier on and keep focusing on the positives though - the adventure of the andes.

I have recently visited Nasca (seen some of the nasca lines in the desert), many mummies, an oasis, ballestos islands, Arequipa, Colca Canyons and now Cuzco. I cannot post all my photos on the blog, however, i will aim to set a flicker site with more photos that will be able to be accessed.

Whilst visiting the Colca Canyon, we reached a point of 4910metres above sea level. We only stopped for the recommended 5 minutes before scurrying back to the bus and continuing back to Arequipa. Whilst at the Colca Canyons, we saw the condor. A bird that is the largest flying bird in the world with a wing span of 3 metres. Its flight was effortless as it glided throughout the canyon.

Nightly, we have been enjoying the local delicacies. These have included the Pisco sour (YUM!) Guinea Pig and Alpaca. What can i say - when in Peru...
The alpacas and llamas have been such a highlight for me to have seen them on mass.But nothing compares to the landscape. The imposing mountains at every turn in the background is overwhelming and makes my soul smile just that little more each day. A little reminiscent of Tasmania but on such a grander scale that no photo will do them justice.

Lima, Peru

I have been in Lima now for a week. Slowly i have become very comfortable in this city. My spanish is better than what it was several days ago but still - it isn't wonderful. It is suprising how quickly you adapt to new places and understand the odd word or too.

I took a few days out of Lima and travelled to Punta Hermosa, a beach town approxiately 1 hour drive south of Lima. The apartment was smelly with mold and cigarettes but the beach was enjoyable. I'm slowly learning to relax and do nothing as when i travel to beaches, i usually undertake coastal walks. Not knowing how safe the area was, i adapted to what the locals do - sit under an umbrella ALL day sipping beers and eating ice-cream. There was the occasional swim but i think here it is more about the sunbaking. Tomorrow Bek and I start our tour towards Macchu Picchu. We will be travelling south to Pisco then East towards Cuzco where the 4 day trek to Macchu Picchu begins. At the end of the 20 day tour, we will finish in Lapaz, Bolivia.

My island home

I spent a few beautiful overcast days on Russell Island last week. Russell Island is situated off Redland Bay in Brisbane and is close to Stradbroke Island. The picture above is the view off the backyard of Leon's house.

Life certainly can't get any better when you are enjoying the sunset over the water.

We went out in the tinny and saw turtles pop out of the water and eagles glide above us. On low tide, i got in the gum boots and out in the mangroves to take a few shots. I thought i would share them...

Old Growth Forest - Gone forever?

I travelled back to Tasmania 1 more time over Dec/Jan 08 for a friend's wedding. At the same time, i gave myself a week to travel around the south west of Tasmania to explore the old growth forests of Tasmania. This includes the Upper Florentine, and the Styx. I came across some protesters living in the trees. My heart goes out to these people as they perform an act of pure love for the forest. They understand, more than any government, the importance of them.

As i entered the protest site, there was a huge banner. (picture attached) The bold words of 'Old Forests store more carbon' www.coolforests.org - stared at me and i had to take a photo to remind myself to look up the website at a later date.

As i proceeded through the camp site I met a few friendly, welcoming and smoked dreadlocked protesters. They proceeded to tell me the bull dozers were to arrive on the 7th January 2008 to start logging the upper florentine. Not knowing what day it was as they had been living in the forest for some time, we realised it would be in less than 5 days.

Now as that deadline has passed, i know not if the forest is gone or if they won the battle of their tree top protest. I do know that the walk i did to reach the Upper Florentine lookout was worth more than the woodchips that the forest would turn into - had Gunns and Forest Tasmania had their way.

When i got back home, i did look up the www.coolforests.org website and below is an extract i found interesting...


Old Growth Forests - Global Carbon Sinks
Like a giant safe-deposit box, old growth forests lock in vast amounts of carbon. As trees and undergrowth grow they draw in carbon dioxide. Over centuries, this carbon is slowly cycled into woody debris and forest soils. Ancient old growth trees, can store tonnes of carbon. After hundreds of years, old growth forests can contain over 1200 tonnes of carbon per hectare (Dean, C. et al 2003).

Unfortunately much of Australia's remaining old growth forest is threatened by logging.

Research shows that it is better, for climate change, to leave old growth forests in the ground rather than logging them and converting them to regrowth or plantations. As forests age, they build up a larger capacity to store carbon in wood, soil and woody debris. Logging undermines this capacity.

American and European research indicates that, because old growth forests are able to store much larger amounts of carbon, conversion of old growth forests to younger forests will lead to massive carbon losses to the atmosphere (Harmon, M. et al 1990, Schulze E. et al 2000). Australian research also demonstrates that, when an old growth forest is logged and converted to regrowth forest managed on 80 year rotations, the carbon storage capacity is reduced by two thirds (Dean, C. et al 2003). Logging old growth forests results in a major climate change impact.

Based on these studies, the carbon dioxide emissions from Victoria’s logging alone is estimated to be almost 10 million tonnes. This is the equivalent to the emissions generated by adding almost 2.4 million cars onto the roads each year.