Tuesday 13th December - Moreton Bay

I spent Tuesday on Coochiemudlo Island in Moreton Bay, just off the coast of the eastern Brisbane suburbs. It was idyllic, which is how I always generally feel when visiting the small island, regardless of the weather. It has me wondering if our response to, or appreciation of weather (or lack of) is moderated by where we are or where we experience it. Yesterday was brilliant sunshine with heat building quickly in the morning. A light sea breeze on the island and shade under trees made it feel very pleasant; along with the lapping sounds of water, it just didn't feel as hot, humid and uncomfortable as the day before.

Burrawang Tuesday 29 November

After an overnight visit to steamy Queensland I was surprised to find, on my return, that it was also humid here. Temperatures today have reached the high 20s and with the unexpected humidity and little or no breeze it seems warmer. The forecast shows a cool change on the way.

Despite last weeks heavy rain the last few days have been warm enough for me to have to water the vegetable garden. 

As spring draws to a close the forecast is for a summer with above average rain fall.

Burrawang Wednesday 23 November

One day late with the Tuesday weather report but the cool change which came through mid Monday continues with Weather Zone predicting falls of 50 to 100mm in the coming week. The rain will be welcome as the volcanic soil in the area cracks and dries out after a few above 30 deg days.
Here a cold change is quite dramatic with maxima falling from the mid 30s on the week to the mid teens.

Late spring flowers have erupted after the recent hot spell. Summer plants like dahlias are now growing before our eyes.

Yesterday morning's grey overcast skies have now given away to steady rain which will result in another snail invasion.

Burrawang Tuesday 25 October

Misty Burrawang 7 am.

I have never enjoyed hot weather and when I lived in Brisbane there were two dates I associated with summer. Melbourne Cup Day usually heralded the end of comfortable weather and cool nights and if it was still hot on Anzac Day we had experienced a long hot summer. There was often a  heatwave in October after a brief spring.
 This year I spent much of October in Victoria and last week there were several days of hot dry weather, an October heatwave, there. Unlike the sticky heat waves in Brisbane the lack of humidity made the warm days very pleasant.
Returning to Burrawang on Thursday, the warm weather continued and I was lamenting the end of spring as I used to in Brisbane. But as a cool change moved in with the some rain last night the mist rolled in and  the garden is refreshed.

Pollen Count

Nicola Moss & Susan Buret, Pollen Count, 2011, weather exposed, cyanotype chemicals on dutch rag paper with gouache additions, 55cm x 38 cm.

Pollen Count is our thank you gift to Monsalvat for our residency over the past few weeks. The space and time have given us the wonderful opportunity to work almost without interruption to complete the work for our exhibition next year. I(Susan Buret) am leaving today while Nicola will continue to work here for another week.   

Wrapping it up.

It's one thing to make a big work and another altogether to name, document, wrap, store and transport it.
As we have completed the large work for our exhibition next May we now have to get it to Nicola's Queensland studio to co-incide with the next visit from the photographer to have the work documented to have images available for invitations etc to suit the gallery's schedule.
We were reminded again of how much time this part of an arts practice can consume.
Once again collaboration made the job so much easier as one pair of hands cut and passed tape while the other pair held the unwieldy but fragile parcel in a 'gentle' vice like grip.

Open Studio

Interior of the Pool Studio showing Nicola's work table (left) and Susan's work table (right)

Interior of Pool Studio with partial view of Choose Your Day innovative shelving.

We have opened our studio over the weekend to give friends and family around Melbourne the opportunity to see the works we have made so far during our stay at Montsalvat.
Open studios often cause some angst as artists show both finished and unfinished works and allow visitors into their private space, the studio. However, it has been a good opportunity to watch visitors as they engage with the works and to have the opportunity to talk a little about the work.
The weather project is one which focuses more than most of our previous exhibitions on public engagement both with the works and the topic so it has been rewarding to see that visitors do engage with the works.

On Collaboration and the Benefits of an extra pair of Hands

Since arriving at Montsalvat a major part of our time has been spent on a large site specific work for our exhibition at Tweed River Gallery in 2012.
The work consists of 4 large panels each approximately 3.4 m x 1.4 m, and, while it was often only feasible for one of us to work on the work so as to provide uniformity of surface, the constant interchange of ideas and assessment as the work progressed seemed to be easier and faster than when one works alone. The large panels would have been almost impossible for one person to move or hang.

Susan Buret & Nicola Moss, Work in Progress, 2011, 4 panels each approx 3.4 m x 1.4 m.

The above image shows the four panels attached to the wall by the very agile Nicola while I held the rickerty kitchen table that served as a ladder and passed tools and implements. At this point, early in the process, we had begun to experiment with a variety of paper cut forms as we worked towards the final image. 

For the first few days after arriving at Montsalvat we worked on Choose Your Day, a multi-panelled work on paper on which we had collaborated  via mail and email. It felt a bit like Christmas as we each unpacked the panels we had each been holding and spread them on the floor. I (Susan Buret) had been coating dutch rag paper with cyanotype chemicals and exposing them to various weather conditions in southern New South Wales. I then made gouache additions to some of the works before forwarding them to Nicola Moss in South east Queensland for further additions and to be assembled into a multi-panelled.
With a few more additions and an elaborate assemblage of fishing wire and bulldog clips we constructed the final 15 panel work  which now hangs on the lime washed roughly rendered  stone in the poolside studio.

Choose Your Day, 2011, (Detail 4 of 15 panels), weather exposed cyanotype chemicals and gouache on dutch rag paper,

150 cm x 250 cm approx.

Eltham Tuesday 11 October

Today it was cool and partly overcast with maximum temperatures in the mid teens in Eltham, Victoria.
It is now a week since Queensland artist Nicole Moss and I arrived at Montsalvat Artists Colony east of Melbourne to begin a four week residency to continue working on our collaborative project which examines and records weather observations and changing perceptions of weather and it's impact on our lives.
Earlier work had looked at weather as almost peripheral force in our day to day lives, a phenomenon which was often relegated to polite conversation. However in the last year many Australians have experienced violent extremes of weather conditions which impacted strongly on day to day life. It is the malevolent and uncontolable aspects of weather that we have decided to look at during the residency.
In future posts I will record some of the work and ideas we are developing during the residency.
In the meantime here are a few images of Montsalvat.
Monsalvat is a huge and rambling complex of buildings constructed in the 1930s and it would be very easy to shoot hundreds of images on a quick walk through the picturesque gardens. Here are just three.

Nicola's bedroom is just under the spired tower.

My bedroom and studio are through the open door to the left of the barn. The main part of the barn is occupied by Chris the guitar maker.

The gardens are occupied by geese, ducks and noisy peacocks.

    

Weather Tuesday 11th October - Montsalvat

I haven't experienced the cliched four seasons in one day yet in Melbourne, more like two and a half. This morning was cool enough that I could see the warm vapour of my breath. The day warmed up with some lovely sunshine, interspersed with the occasional overcast period. Light rain fell in the afternoon with the air temperature dropping rapidly as soon as sunlight was gone. I must say it has been very pleasant the last week, with fine days and warm sunshine, not much wind and only occasional showers. I brought all my woollies expecting cold, but so far there hasn't been much need....we'll see how the next week goes.
Melbourne is looking beautifully green with trees unfurling fresh Spring leaves and bursts of colorful flowers filling garden beds. One thing I have noticed is how clear the air is without humidity or heat haze to 'fuzz' the horizon.

Weather Tuesday 20th September 2011

After a bit over a week away, I came back to 32 degrees and brilliant sunshine, thankfully no humidity yet. What a difference a couple of weeks can make, the comfortable cooler air has ended and warmer summer days are on the way. The Spring equinox seems to sneak up on me each year, coming not long after the end of winter, making me think our segregated seasons are not so apt in the subtropics. Bees are buzzing, native trees are full of blossom and the chooks are laying again. While it remains dry, weeding is a priority, before the roots gain strength with fresh rain and growth takes off.
This week several bushfires in have filled skies in South-east Queensland with a thick smoke haze, enough to give a taste in the back of your throat. Spring is almost over, as soon as the humidity begins I feel like it's Summer.

Burrawang Tuesday 20 September.

Farmers in south eastern Australia will tell you that there is a phenomenon called the Equinox Gale. Here it is Equinox eve and its blowing a gale outside.

I think that the temperature on the forecast is a few hours out of date. It's 12 noon and outside in the sun it feels like it is in the low 20s.

The branches on the claret ashes are buffeted by the north westerly winds.

For the last week we have had warm sunny days and temperate nights. I have planted tomatoes and cucumbers with little covers to protect them in the event of frosts. Crabapple blossoms and fresh green shoots are sure signs that spring is here.

Weather Tuesday 30th August

It's brilliant blue skies and sunshine this morning (Wednesday), quite the opposite from yesterdays overcast day and stormy evening. Blanketing cloud didn't bring much rain yesterday, it was that in between weather, neither warm or cold, just right for gardening. Late in the afternoon the sky changed to a deep blue-purple colour on the horizon as storm clouds built up. A severe weather warning was posted, thankfully we missed the worst of hail and winds predicted. My fabulous new umbrella has been getting a good work out, loving it. The garden is verdant green again and ground wet from the few torrential downpours in the last week. Mulberries are ripening, fig birds have arrived and wait impatiently in the she oak till I move away, then they're in for a feed. Asparagus spears are starting to shoot and winter cabbages are beginning to split with the sudden rains. I am savouring these still coolish days..anticipating the spring heat that will arrive shortly.

Burrawang Tuesday 30 August (yesterday)

Yesterday was cold and overcast like a winter's day but the image shows the first signs of spring.
While we have perceptions of weather based on the actions we take to make our selves comfortable, wearing an overcoat, lighting the fire, using an umbrella, turning on the air conditioning, applying sunscreen, the plants around us let us know that the ground temperature is rising and that there have been more hours of sunshine. Nothing says spring more than buds and blossoms on bare limbs.

Weather Tuesday 23 August

Wild weather would be a fair and reasonable description of today. After torrential downpours over night, rain has continued in sporadic bursts varying between a fine mist and deluge. After a reasonable dry spell, the ground is soaked again and the local creek flowing, one sure sign of substantial rain. Winds have eased a little from yesterdays gale force southerlies that ripped leaves from trees and rattled flyscreens. I can hear rain trickling in the gutters and at the same moment a clear blue patch of sky has appeared between grey clouds. It's the kind of weather I associate with Ekka week, the last of winter, only it's come a week later than usual (unless Ekka was early this year).

Bowral Tuesday 23 August

As I can't work out how to add an image from my iPad camera roll this will have to be a venal description.
Today is the sixth day when we have had overcast conditions with brief episodes of sunshine. The conditions are mild for the last few weeks of winter with no frosts for a week and no strong winds.
it is a lovely time to be recupperating as all visitors bring me flowers from their gardens. I currently have Iris, Freesias, Daphne, King Alfred Daffodils, Magnolia and Cyclamen on the window sill.

Weather Tuesday 16 August - Willow Vale

The weather has been 'perfect' the last week, with bright sunny days and not too much wind. I am loving the sunshine and warmth outdoors. Some cool nights are persisting, but an early morning walk in the garden heats me through. It has remained dry with only occasional light showers that barely wet the ground. A bit more time is being spent watering the vegies and some fruit trees, but this is a very pleasant activity at this time of year.
Orange trees are now full of scented blossom and the buzz of bees, pepino fruits are ripening  and I'm picking turnips and cabbage...lots of winter veg soup.
I've made and heard lots of remarks about the weather lately, it's such a lovely time.

The smell of rain...

Driving in to Brisbane today a short heavy shower brought that smell of rain, (maybe it's not actually the rain that smells) or the smell of parched earth and road hit by falling rain. It's such a distinctive smell, somehow earthy and warm, quite sublime. It had me thinking about weather experiences, how ephemeral and subtle they can be, subconscious to some extent but recognisable at the same time. I love that smell of first rain drops hitting dry ground. The rain didn't last long enough to wet much so I'm thinking I'll smell it again if forecast showers arrive in the next week.

Weather Tuesday 9th August, Willow Vale

It has been a week of glorious winter sunshine with one day reaching 25 degrees, gets me thinking about spring. Tuesday was cooler with some cloud and cold winds abating the sunshine warmth. Last night temperatures dropped to below 5 degrees...it's still winter.

The mulberry tree is now smothered in fresh luminous green leaves and the start of this years crop, Yum! Winter vegies are ready for harvest, and the weed control, mulching and clearing in the garden is in full swing; before warmth and rain begin the growth explosion again.

On days without wind, the weather just now is perfect.

Burrawang Tuesday 9 August.

After a week or so of warm and sunny weather winter has returned with cold days and frosty nights.

The King Alfred Daffodils which usually flower in mid July are finally coming out and together with Narcissus and Jonquils they are bringing some colour to the frosty mornings.

Plans to work in the vege garden are once again on the back burner as working in the warm studio is a more pleasant option.

Willow Vale Tuesday 2nd August

Sunny winter days, I just love them. It feels great to stand in the sunlight and warm up, taking away any chilled feeling, like a natural heater. I'm enjoying the little bit of extra light at the end of the day too..Spring is on the way. It's been a mild week with some cool nights but glorious sun filled days, which leave me wishing I could be out in the garden all day, all week. The peach trees are in full blossom and I've been harvesting citrus by the bucket load as new blossom forms for the next seasons growth. Winds have been absent, as has rain, the ground has dried out with grass browning in patches, slow growth has been welcome with the opportunity to clear out unwanted weeds. I'm enjoying the weather a lot, it's very comfortable.

Some people I've spoken with this week have mentioned they'd like to see some rain soon, I find it interesting how quickly we like to see change in weather patterns.

Burrawang Tuesday 2 August

After several very cold wet and windy weeks and some very heavy frosts last weekend we are enjoying beautiful clear sunny winter weather with temperatures reaching the high teens in the afternoons. I have spent the last two afternoons in the garden pruning a silver pear tree.
I've been dividing my time between studio and garden and will get to work in the vege garden if this weather continues.

Burrawang Tuesday 19 July

This calm scene at Kiama at 9AM on Tuesday morning gave no clue as to what was on the way. Within an hour  a storm front arrived with high winds and heavy rain which has given many areas more than half the average monthly rainfall for the area in one day.

In the highlands there were reports of light snow in Berrima, Bowral and Moss Vale. The snow melted as it hit the ground so there were no magical photo opportunities. the wet and windy weather is forecast to continue for the next few days. 

Tuesday weather 19th July - Willow Vale

Westerly winds have returned today cooling the clear sunshine outside. I don't mind the cooler sunny days, but it would be a lot nicer without the gusting winds.

I'm behind in my pruning now with the mulberry tree taking on a distinct green flush of fresh new leaves. The timing of these garden jobs are really determined by the plants and weather I imagine....prune the peach trees before the new blossom, prune the mulberry before new leaf burst..oh well.

We had some rain on the weekend a good downpour to soak the garden again and top up the water tanks. There have been a lot of birds in the garden this winter, today I had two first time sightings, a Forest Kingfisher in spectacular shades of turquoise and electric blue, and a White headed Pigeon.

Strong winds are forecast for the next couple of days, hopefully all the trees will cope with another blast.

Tuesday 12 July Burrawang

I am posting a day late but this image looking South ASouth West was  taken at 3PM on Tuesday afternoon. The pattern looks more like wind swept desert sand than clouds. After last weeks gale force winds we have had regular westerly winds today. The wind chill factor is high and even when the temperatures reach 8 or 10 degrees C it is still painful to be outside with uncovered hands.
The soil is also very dry here and yesterday I spent about 30 minutes watering and returned inside with stinging hands that took ages to thaw.
Heavy frosts over night are slow to thaw and the fire is burning 24 hrs a day.
Jonquils and King Alfred daffodils are beginning to appear to cheer up the garden.

Weather Tuesday 12th July - Willow Vale

For the last week winds have dominated outdoor conditions with consistently strong gusts from the west. Thankfully today has been pleasantly calm and windless. With clear skies and cold winds, night temperatures have been in the low single figures. Heaters have been on along with fleecies and scarves.

In the garden winds have dried moisture from the ground rapidly, with small cracks forming in some bare patches amongst the lawn. The mulberry tree holds a handful of old leaves still, but has fresh leaf burst this week too. It's a short winter transition here in the subtropics for some plants. The weather has been good for gardening (as long as I rug up) with sheltered areas even feeling warm in the sunlight.

Southern Highlands Sunday 10 July

After 10 days away I returned on Friday to see the aftereffects of gale force winds which buffeted the highlands during the week. Today it continues to be very windy and I think that trees destabilized earlier in the week may fall.
Driving along Kangaloon Rd this morning I saw this tree which had fallen earlier in the week and had not been cleared as it feel away from the road. It's very unnerving to see how shallow the roots are. i have no idea how big the tree was but the width or the root balls dwarfed me.

Weather Tuesday 5th July 2011, Willow Vale

Brilliant blue clear skies today looked good from inside, but squally gusting winds took the edge off warmth and comfort outdoors. For much of the afternoon gale force winds buffeted the house and garden, sending cascades of leaves to the east and vibrating flyscreens. It's difficult to capture the look of wind in a still photo, perhaps the shredded banana leaves give an indication of the effects of the winds. We had some overnight rain during the week, the days have remained dry and with the wind, watering of the vegie garden is now on the days agenda. A comfortable 20 degrees today with cooler temps overnight predicted for the remainder of this week.

Weather Tuesday 28th June - Willow Vale

It's been a mixed day of weather with blue skies this morning. Puffy white clouds lined up in bands towards the horizon like a perspective lesson. During the afternoon clouds built up and darkened with only small patches of sky visible. Wind gusts developed, blustering trees in random squals. No rain as yet, just dull and cool. It's the kind of weather I think of being typical of the coast - morning sunshine and afternoon cloud.

Burrawang Tuesday 21 June 2 PM

It's winter solstice and a wild windy storm front is sweeping across south eastern Australia. It feels much colder as the wind chill factor is high. At one time I would have felt comfortable saying that I enjoyed wild weather but, having seen the devastation it causes recently on the TV, I am reluctant to admit that I enjoy a bit of a blow (must be my viking ancestry!)
I thought a short movie would capture the wind and the accompanying howling more effectively than still photographs. But unfortunately blogger is not uploading the video even after 2 hrs and several tries. I will try again tomorrow.

Yesterday while it was still sunny I experimented with a papercut to suggest the effect of wind.

Weather Tuesday 21st June, Willow vale

The mulberry tree hangs on to the last of it's leaves at the top. A cold dry wind from the west has been blowing for a few days now. Robbing warmth from the sunlit bright blue skies. More than a week without any rain, it seems like a long time since that last happened. Clear skies have brought cold nights and mornings of around 5 degrees, so a few more jumpers on and chilled fingers.

It has been good weather for working in the garden, quickly warmed by activity, the 18 - 20 degrees day temps are very comfortable. The image above from left to right shows the before, during and after weeding activity. Winter, in my mind May-August, is a four month opportunity to get the garden back under some control. Growth is very slow with the colder temperatures and major clear out work is feasible without the summer humidity. But there is definately a time limit before warmer weather brings on rampant growth again, such is the cycle of growth and weather here.

Happy winter solstice, longer days on the way.

Tuesday 14th June - Willow Vale

Clear skies last night and today, with some welcome sunshine and a little warmth indoors. Outside gusting westerly winds chilled the air substantially. There is something about the late afternoon light of winter skies that I love. The colours appear so clear without that slight haze of summer humidity, and perhaps the golden glow of light is warming mentally if not so much physically. The ground remains damp, turning lawn areas to mud in foot traffic patches, unusual to see at this time of year. Grass growth has slowed to almost a standstill with the cooler weather. The winter solstice approaches, bringing thoughts of the turn to slightly longer days and a journey towards Spring again.

Picking mandarins and the first of the oranges this week.

And we have a guest, snake (below), what a beauty. Reasonably small and slender with huge eyes covered in shimmering gold eyelids. It has been in the slot of our front door for the past few weeks, and this week we noticed there were two, the second one being smaller and paler. A sheltered place to hibernate or give birth perhaps? Though not technically outside, it's also not inside, so we have left it be.