While you're not looking » Australian

A tragic end to 2009

Wendy Cooper — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:18:32 +0000

It was a shock to discover that Rowland S. Howard died today. This is the man who shook the world with the song Shivers and it is what echoed in my head when I read about his lost battle with liver cancer at aged 50. It will be a sad end for the year, particularly hash for the local Melbourne music scene to loose such an inspiring talent. May Melbourne cried at the top of its lungs in his rememberance that “sends a permanent shivers down my spine”.

Source: Herald Sun

Nick Cave & Rowland S. Howard by Bleddyn Butcher

THE FLOATING WORLD: UKIYO-E

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:30:29 +0000

John Warwicker of Tomato, a god of 90s graphic design, is launching his book at The Narrows this Thursday 26 November, 6-8pm. Floating World: Ukiyo-e (ISBN: 3–86521–030–9) is already a winner of the TDC judge’s special prize at the 2010 Tokyo Type Directors Club. Surprisingly, the typography is not as refine as the photography in my eyes. Check it out and judge it for yourself.

Polly van der Glas

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:59:05 +0000

Speaking of Christmas and shopping for Jesus, I am in an ongoing annual annoyance (sorry, quest) of wracking my brain for unusual gifts for loved ones. Melbourne’s very own jolly jewellery Polly van der Glas comes to mind, an oldie but a goodie. Her pièce de résistance are the ones incorporating human artefact, opening up and replacing the glass cabinet with the human body. It conjures the same intrigue as taxidermy for me, bring life into inanimate objects, a modern alchemist.

No Win Sitch

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:54:09 +0000

Anthony Lister, a Sydney based artist, has taken his works out of the galleries and into the vibrant, red light district of Sydney with No Win Sitch. It features his finesse style that is reminiscent of early Bill Sienkiewicz’s flair such as my much loved Stray Toasters. Indeed, the venue is fitting to his subject matter and style — dirty, controversial and revealing.

People exploiting people

Wendy Cooper — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:57:02 +0000

I was in utter bafflement when I read this job ad through Seek today:

Did I say you don’t need cash? Hard work and enthusiasm earns you a share of this well-establish, successful creative agency without the need to pay a cent.

Is this a hoax or has this Private Advertiser lost his mind? Firstly, it is completely inappropriate to look for a company partner through Seek and secondly, isn’t this little exploitative during a time of global recession.

Is this advertiser expecting people to response: Yes, I’m a chump and because of the recession I’m willing to work hard for pittance and for shares to your start up company that you haven’t disclosed because it’s going to go bust within six month. Cheers, mate! You make Dinosaur Comics sensible and rational, and a poet in comparison. Can you smell that? Smells fishy. There’s no need to test the water on this one, avoid it with a ten foot pole!

Image: Dinosaur Comics

KeepCup

Wendy Cooper — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:11:26 +0000

KeepCup is a beautiful designed, fair dinkum Melbourne product that stops, if not reduces, wastes of the non-recyclable styrofoam cups.

5 minutes of fame or a trip down memory lane

Wendy Cooper — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:48:19 +0000

Masters of Apprentice, a 70s Aussie band, on was the radio this morning. “A blast from the past”, it’s what we say to capture that sentimental Sunday morning feeling. There are songs which are from my childhood that are probably not very good but I love them and make me think of those corny, magic moments.

Not because we’re far apart, and this is not so far apart from Oz. It always reminds me of primary school, standing out on the stage and singing this in front of amused parents.

In my heart and in my mind, this recalls guitar lessons during my primary years after school. When I was a little girl I loved the guitar riffle in this, how it weaves in and out of the main rhythm and I did used to mimic the guitar wawa with my mouth.

Right there on my TV was my first Nick Cave experience. It was my anthem in high school, being your typical teenage of angst and melancholy.

Down my spine and into the 80s was The Church and the Hunters and the drives of endless miles that I have traveled with my mother and my aunt, to countless engagements that rests no memory in my mind, but the journey, starring out the window listening to the radio or my walkman, reflecting on what it means to be here in a society that is all about fending for oneself.

Wish I knew what you were looking for, rummaging through the glove compartment for tapes during road trip with friends. Of drinking too much and eating too much junk, Crowded House was always the majority rule of soothing those belly aches and heavy heads.

I fall… singing the rest of my day away.

Getting hot, hot, hot!

Wendy Cooper — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:17:35 +0000

As our politician keeps on smiling, it’s a whopping 35°C (95°F) today in Melbourne CBD today and it’s only the second week of October.

Where has the gentle breeze of spring gone? Has more ice shelves in melted Antarctica? Hello Kyoto Treaty! Nevertheless, we could always watch our water supply for agriculture evaporate…

Quick news break from the land of OZ

Wendy Cooper — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:58:18 +0000

The first operation by a robot has been carried out in Australia!

Source: The Daily Telegraph