Canberra

BRR - a bit cooler here and the winds come right out of the mountains. Canberra is a MUCH quieter town - sleepy almost, but has a lot to offer! Our Hotel Diamant was very cute - odd from the outside, but the inside was very up-to-date and wonderful art is on display here from the college!!! We started our time at the Australia National University (ANU) what a treat ... Phil Spelman, sculptor, showed us around the fabulous and very clean and organized facilities. Perfect and quaint settings for small and intimate learning and growing - Glass, Ceramic, Furniture, Metals, Sculpture, Fiber ... LOVED IT. Finished off with watching Nadege blowing one of her famous glass q-tip sculptures. We then wandered around town and ended up at a wine bar that sounded great for dinner - but it was not at all - Benchmark - we would not recommend the place to anyone - good wine recommendations, but the food was frozen and freezer burnt (not to mention the service was not up to par).
Second day we thought we would get some fresh air - we walked over to Beaver galleries - Canberra is NOT a walking town - what we were told was a 45 minute walk turned out to be 90 minutes. Worth the walk (there is even a coffee shop inside the art space), but would not do it again. Beaver galleries and Martin, the director, were great wonderful space and art! excellent coffee/cafe included. Afterwards we cabbed over to the National Gallery - WOW. We loved the building and the works ... top floor for Australia artists only, from modern to classical. Ground floor a variety of works .. the aboriginal exhibit was being renovated, but will be back next year better than ever! The sculpture section was outstanding and the outdoor sculpture park was beautiful in setting and art! Across the way was the National Portrait gallery - we thought we would run thru, but it was AWESOME! Spent a little time in there, wanted to spend more. The contemporary section was very interesting - mix of media and we learned a lot about famous Australian persons!!! A refreshing walk back to Canberra Museum and Craft A.C.T. (worth the walk thru) and back home to freshen up before dinner with Judi Elliot. Judy and Bob picked us up - and took us to their home and Judi's studio. We had the best time with them in art, dinner and company!!!
Our last day was the fullest ... Kristie Rea picked us up and the hotel and took us to visit Matthew and Harriet Curtis studio - What a great place!!! - not much work was up to see (exhibit opening the next weekend) but we got the gist. They took us over to Kristie's studio, looks like a tin shack from the outside, but WOW what a great studio! huge, nicely organized - new works and in progress works were up and out to see - can't wait to see the final exhibition!!! Kristie took us to a close by vineyard (Pialligo) for lunch (friends of hers) yummy meal and wine - fabulous company. Matthew and Harry got us over to the Glass Works - Amazing facilities - gallery, show space, blowing, casting, kilns, studio space ... non stop. Claudia Borella was there too!!! - a very pleasant bonus. We watched Brian Corr and Nick Wirdman work - Nick gave a presentation later in the evening - they a bunch of us went into Kingston for Beer and pizza - great way to end a full day!!!

I am typing fast here - so much done - so much to do !!!!

OFF to Melbourne the next morning ...