Life imitating art on the Rue des Fleurs..

You might remember a few years ago that I commissioned my mega talented niece Jessica to create some lane-way art pour moi. The fence that could be seen from two back bedroom windows was transformed from an uninspiring space into la belle Rue des Fleurs (one of my most commented on posts, some names no longer with us but always remembered). I'm happy to say the colours are as vibrant now as they were when first painted and I love it as much now as I did then and although Sydney (black cat) is no longer here, yesterday I spotted my neighbour's cat curled up fast asleep underneath, I wonder if he remembers and misses Sydney also :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Skate Park Art...

I spotted the murals here when we were in the inner city suburb of Leederville over the weekend. Skate park art usually leans towards the edgy, almost taggy type of art so I was a little surprised to find the beautifully colourful doves above. I'm not sure if it was the same artist or not but continuing around the corner I found this little fella. No sign of a name. I like them both very much and wish I could have tagged the artist. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world...

Bells and Bougainvillea..

Bougainvillea has to be one of the most perfect flowering creepers for hot weather conditions. The bougainvillea climbing up the framework of the new walkway that leads to the Bell Tower was flowering profusely when we were in the city on Friday. You can see the network of wires above and below ready to capture the spreading creepers that will give much needed shade in the hot summer months. This and the view down Barrack Street may be the best views of the Bell Tower when the construction in front of it is complete. That reminds me.. I have to trim the bougainvillea that is running rampant on my own fence :) Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

The Big Splash lV.. InterAqua.

This one is especially for my beautiful 'almost' four year old granddaughter whose favourite colour is purple!  InterAqua by international visual artist Claire Davenhall sitting here on St Georges Terrace in front of Stirling Gardens is the epitome of purple and blue luminosity depending on the angle the sun catches it. One of 36 dolphins around the city making a Big Splash together with Perth Children's Hospital Foundation to draw attention to the mental health issues of children and young people.

The shot below made me smile.. the puzzled 'how did that get there' look of the resident kangaroos on the Terrace, plus the small child's 'don't ask me' stance :) Hope that you are having a fabulous weekend, take care and stay safe...

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Australia Day divided..

We were in the city yesterday to see what was going on for Australia Day. That day when the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson and raised the British flag. The two shots here taken from the bridge in Elizabeth Quay. Boats heading out to claim their spot for the fireworks display later in the evening, hope those young people on the boat above have sun-cream on!

It was a different scene in Forrest Place where a group of Aboriginal and white Australians were gathering for a march to protest the date of Australia Day. It's worth a read of the short news article here (would have happened soon after we left the city) to get an insight into how Australians both indigenous and white view the celebration date. A statement from one of the white pro-keeping the date "if we keep changing dates and things then we'll lose our identity as a nation" Whaaat! That's just ridiculous! As far as I know the date has never been changed before and seriously, as we did invade back in 1788, I'm pretty sure we weren't invited, it's the least we can do. Everyone has heard the Aussie greeting g'day mate, well how about May8.. get it 'mate' :) Happy weekend, take care and stay safe..

Scarborough Beach swimming pool..

 When we first came to Perth we lived for a few years in a top floor apartment in Scarborough directly across from the beach.. it was sun, surf and beach all the way, our view across the sand dunes uninterrupted by any form of building at all. How things change! Even with height restrictions, over the years that view was solidly blocked by development of new apartments. Scarborough Beach today couldn't be more different from when we arrived and the change continues with a bit of an overhaul which should be complete within a month or so. Meanwhile the geo-thermally heated Olympic sized beachfront pool opened ahead of time at the beginning of this week. Once the word gets out I think it's going to be pretty busy all year round. Looks amazing with the Indian Ocean sparkling in the background don't you think! Happy Friday, Australia Day for us, take care and stay safe...

On the way to....

The beach? Nope! The funfair? Nope? It's new, it's BIG, and despite still being surrounded by construction it opened a few days ago. Any guesses? I'll show you tomorrow :) Happy Thursday from hot and humid Perth, take care and stay safe.. P.s. Oh to be young and carefree again :)

Sarah on the street.

Whaaat! Are you ever driving along in an area that you know well and unexpectedly come across something unexpected :) I have visited mon ami français in the riverside suburb of Maylands many times but on taking one street earlier than usual I came across Sarah. In November 2017 Maylands was ranked among the three coolest neighbourhoods in Australia by Lonely Planet, check the video on the link and you will recognize heaps seen here on the blog. So Sarah is hangin' with the hip crowd :) not sure about that nose though.. a cricket ball? What's the weirdest unexpected thing you have come across? Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Happiness is eating your ice-cream before it melts!

How long does it take for an ice-cream to melt on a 34C/92% humidity day? From recent experience.. about 20 seconds! It's a race against time not lose a drop of my favourite French vanilla gelato from Whisk Creamery in Northbridge. The mural is by Darren Hutchens who specializes in large scale public artworks and community based art projects. If you click the artist link I'm sure you will recognize some of his colourful characters that have appeared here on the blog. The $100 question.. is it ever too cold to eat ice-cream? I don't think so, how about you? Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world..

The Big Splash lll.. Salveo.

I hope you don't mind me slipping a dolphin in here and there over the next few weeks, they really are beautifully painted and The Big Splash in conjunction with Perth Children's Hospital Foundation is a truly worthy cause. 'Salveo'  by Robyn Louise Taylor looks amazing surrounded by the steel and glass skyscrapers of Brookfield Place. Oh the work that has gone into Salveo, so many dots, so much patience, pull the pics in and have a closer look. The body reminds me of Aboriginal paintings but the under belly and tail have a bit of a Mexican feel don't you think? Hope you've had/are still having a super weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

Conversations..

Were you bracing yourselves for another dolphin? Believe me there will be more :) Two shots from last week could not have been more different. How refreshing to see two gorgeous young women enjoying a lively conversation over breakfast.. not a phone in sight! While below two equally lovely ladies ignore both their food and each other while busy on theirs. Of course if I had chatted to both I wouldn't have had to pixelate their faces :) Here's to robust conversation! Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe.. 

The Big Splash.. Dolphin love encore..

Another of the delightful dolphins around the city spreading awareness of child and adolescent mental health in the Big Splash WA event that I mentioned yesterday. The marvelous mosaic design on Dolphin Splash, leaping midway down the ornamental watercourse in the parterre gardens of the Bishops See behind St George's Square on the Terrace, was created by Perth based artist Di Parsons. It was a cloudy day with flashes of blue, more blue would have been appreciated to catch the sparkling glint in the dolphin's eye :) Happy weekend, take care and stay safe.. 

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Dazzling dolphins make a 'big splash'..

 A little far from the Swan River a pod of thirty-six vibrantly colourful dolphins have dropped into the city to raise awareness of child and adolescent mental health. The Big Splash, a collaboration between Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and Wild in Art highlights three clear messages.. 

'You are not alone.. 

It's ok to talk about your feelings and concerns and

Real help is available' 

The incroyable three dimensional artwork on the dolphin Connections here in Forrest Place is by Paul Drok and the Sea Star Signers. I followed the trail and found a few more dazzling dolphins, show you over the next few days. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

Cycling through the mizzle..

On Monday Perth had the wettest January day in 18 years. Tuesday and yesterday it was more about the mizzle :) a most uncomfortable (90%) humid mix of mist and drizzle. Still, it didn't stop visitors with their bicycles boarding the Rottnest Express to head over to Rottnest Island 18km west of Fremantle, to enjoy the simple pleasures in life (check it out). I haven't been over to Rottnest since a rough crossing many years ago, I still shudder every time I see a brown paper bag.. kidding :) Rottnest is a must-do destination for visitors to Perth, much loved by locals also. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

Arcs d'Éllipses.. optical illusion!

  I had heard there was something amazing to see on High Street in Fremantle. No exaggeration! The optical illusion artwork created by Paris based Swiss artist Felice Varini is an incroyable sight! Instead of me trying to explain how this complicated piece was achieved, a short video and details here will be much clearer. I only wish the skies had been a bit bluer to compliment the yellow :) The above and below shot taken from the optimum viewing spot, the Round House, where you can look down and see the total effect. The artwork was created using temporary thin aluminum self-adhesive sheeting (seen in collage right bottom corner) therefore not in any way harming the canvas, in this case the heritage buildings that line High Street. Part of Fremantle's High Tide17 event. Pretty cool right! Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. the last shot is looking back up to the Roundhouse. P.p.s. you really should look at the video :)

Allways chek for speling erors!

Was my title a little bit like nails scratching down a blackboard :) The sign above made me smile and is especially for you Rob in Strasbourg, a fellow coffeeholic. It could apply to whatever beverage you drink to wake you up and prepare you for the day ahead! You might have seen on Facebook that the wee bit of rain I mentioned yesterday did arrive and is more like this! My trip to the city was postponed, but today it's brolly-up and off to catch some summer rain umbrella shots.. wish me luck. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..  

In the likeness of...

A few weeks ago I was surprised and thrilled to come across the fantastical mural here on the wall of a car park on Scarborough Beach Road. Mes lecteurs français may recognize the style. Painted by Smudge 'in the likeness of' the style of French artist and children's book illustrator Marie Desbons. The whimsical art of M. Desbons is a delight to behold, see more here. Found while searching, successfully, for treasure of an altogether different kind :) It has been an unbearably hot and humid weekend in Perth, I'm hoping for a cooler week ahead and maybe even a wee bit of rain :) Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world.. 

Gold makes the beautiful ugly!

Slight twist on a Molière quote :) It's no secret that I find the mix of modern and heritage architecture on St Georges Terrace very appealing. Up until now it has been a mix that works well. You can imagine how distressing it was to discover that the historic St Andrew's Uniting Church above on the Terrace, admittedly in a state of disrepair, and two adjoining properties have been sold. The heritage listed church will remain but will become a mixed-use development. That's not the problem, at least it will be used. It's the prospect of THIS, not approved yet, appearing alongside.. hideous, hideous, hideous! It will look completely out of place on the Terrace. Where do I sign to protest! Lol rant over, but if you look at the link you'll understand why my feathers are ruffled :) Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. big catch up today..

All the shiny things..

The windows of the high-end stores on King Street in the city are often good for reflection images.. and the good thing is they cost nothing :) Loved the multi mini reflections of the surrounding heritage buildings in the extremities of the shiny 'balloon dog' in the Louis Vuitton window last week, you might have to embiggen to see more clearly. The bigger picture below made me smile, it doesn't matter how impressive your car is, if you park in a no-parking zone in the city there will be a parking inspector waiting to pounce :) Bon weekend, take care and stay safe..
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Government House Gardens..

It's been a while since we had a walk through the gardens of Government House open to the public from 12-2pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It just so happened that we were in the city yesterday and although it was a perfect 23C day the gardens were quiet, which suits me just fine :) Gave me time to have a chat to the gardener who has been tending these beautiful gardens for the last 27 years, what a super job! Check out the magnificent magnolia tree to the right below looking up from the rose garden. Views looking down over the sweeping lawns towards the Swan River and back up to St Georges Terrace and the city. Spotted the sweet wee kookaburra enjoying the view from his high perch. There's so much more to the gardens, the lake, the fountains, but I'll save that for another time. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..