Paint Box

Photo courtesy Gold Coast Bulletin website

Over the weekend it was the Big Day Out at the Gold Coast - a musical festival that has been running here in Oz ever since I can remember. The country town I grew up attempted to pay artistic homage (or, attempt to trick the locals into thinking it's the BDO) by hosting the Huge Day Out. It wasn't the hit BDO is...

The backdrop to the mainstage this year was an enlarged version of Aussie artist, George Gittoes, triptych Night Vision / Soldier / Revelation & Night Vision. Gittoes' website is a bit wanky and annoying but he is an award winning artist, so he gets away with it. George is one of those people who likes to suffer for his art: he routinely puts himself into danger zones and areas of conflict (i.e. he's currently dodging the Taleban in Aghanistan right now - fun) and derives his inspiration from the brutality and inhumanity of war. Gittoes' latest project is a documentary called The Miscreants which depicts the clampdown on artistic freedom in Pakistan and the brutality exercised by everyone involved. I am most impressed to hear that The Miscreants is now compulsory viewing for all US troops in Afghanistan. It will feature on SBS in Australia in March.

On a lighter note, my favourite local gallery Joshua Levi Galleries (at Woolloongabba around the corner from all the lovely restaurants and stores) is continuing with the music amongst art series, with The Travelling So and So's and Pear and the Awkward Orchestra playing into the evening. Art lovers appear with a bottle of wine, a cushion from about 7pm onwards and look at the art and enjoy the artsy ambience. Fun times. I'll be there.

I love this pic - it's called 'Vampires Drink Milk'