TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

  

VIEWING ALL POSTS FOR: OCTOBER 2002

Sunday, October 27, 2002

5:20 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Melbourne State Library
Came into the city for one of the melbourne festival arts talks, but after listening for a few minutes decided I could benefit more from the sunshine than listening to someone drone on about zen and architecture. Missed justin on 'enduring boredom' but no doubt he will run the highlights for me if I ask.
Having a lovely time being home, it's very satisfying to find myself instantly back in the swing of life here, and still buzzing from the international experience. A few people have commented on how 'international' I look - ! - am waiting for that to wear off, but maybe I will try and be less cynical. Had a great time at Gertrude St art opening, ran into people I actually wanted to see, and felt completely a part of it - scary, I hate the art scene - and even more so at the acmi opening on saturday night. australian centre for the moving image, for those not in melbourne, and it was an over the top evening, thousands of people (the creme of the art and culture world here) glittering amongst the endless glass and corridors - the space seemed to be made entirely of foyers, but maybe there are hidden depths. The longest one had to walk for a drink was about 5 metres, to the nearest lavishly stocked bar while on the way you were bound to run into numerous peers, friends and aquatainces. The flat-screens sunk into the walls showing video works did become somewhat like wallpaper, and there was no-where to sit down, but otherwise a very impressive, almost overwhelming space.
Still waking up stupidly early bouncing with energy, which I put to good use on saturday morning with a brisk walk to north fitzroy for coffee with emer and ari, and then played being human skateboards in the edinburgh gardens empty swimming pools/skatepark. Now absolutely exhausted from culture and conversation, luckily am leaving tomorrow for a weeks holiday down the coast - I know it's a hard life, but if you just keep inviting abundance somehow it just keeps coming!
Any job offers, however will be gratefully considered.

Sunday, October 27, 2002

5:20 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Melbourne Uni
ooops better change the time, as it's not really 2am.
quick visit to compile all the residencies, grants, conferences, exhibitions, journals and funding I need to apply for in the next month - nothing like hitting the ground running.
off to point lonsdale today, with a full load of books (think wittgenstein limits of language) and writing to do. it's still good to be back!

Friday, October 25, 2002

3:43 PM
Posted by jodi rose

School of Creative Arts, Melbourne University, Melbourne
Did I ever happen mention this trip was part of my research project for a masters degree? After much procrastinating, including numerous diversions on the walk here from collingwood, visited the Ian Potter gallery where I reconnected with my aussie roots via the bushrangers exhibition there, and some fabulously decadent norman lindsay paintings - personal note: one of our family history myths is that my great grandmother, florence redfern who was an actress and dancer, posed for norman lindsay, I'd like to believe it's true. Gorgeous to see the luscious zaftig women being adored and lascivious, not enough of it - as my favourite pixie art boy who is still there minding the art agrees! Luskily baby brunettis on campus is still the same, no scary ultra mod renovations there, checked out the uni work notice board, abysmal as usual. Finally made it down to my department and stuck my head in around 4pm on a friday afternoon, found that my key still works for the post-grad room, chatted with julian who was in there wrestling with the cd burner (still not working!) signed up to present a seminar on my work for the post-grad group in mid november, caught up on some politics, and arranging a drink with my fellow researchers. Can't wait to present the bridge sounds, hopefully it will be entertaining for all concerned.
So far being back in melbourne is still good, so reassuring to see familiar people, to know exactly where I'm going and how to get there, and not have my money halved with every transaction. Meeting richard and sue this arvo at yeltza, going to an opening at 200 gertrude st (why do I do this, why!! - remember janowitz brucke, it can hardly be worse) and then julaine YAY!! at the japanese bar on gertrude st. Am I the luckiest girl in the world or what! Hos did life get to be so fantastic - whatever it is, keep it coming! more abundance, more joyousness, more luscious decadence and creative inspiration, aspiration and dedication.
p.s. hello, welcome back, at last blogger has decided to publish again and all my chaotic whirling words are online for all to read. anyone who wants to get in touch, email me on the contacts page and say hi!

Thursday, October 24, 2002

5:23 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Collingwood, Melbourne
Back in the 'wood, it's fantastic to be home. Slept late and well, finally prised myself off the futon sue and narra lent me from the back of their car, pending my getting it together to find a van and retrieve my super-soft princess bed from chris and bridget, did some yoga and ironed out the creaks, and was ready to face the world. Walked up brunswick st - more hideous examples of the minimalist dark wood chic that seems to have taken over melbourne (ohmigod brunetti's, it's now a travesty of the old warm, worn, welcoming italian pastry cafe) with ici cafe on napier st, and garances - the old pie shop with a scratched 50's glass counter and ambulance worker clientele also gone upmarket and dark wood - although as andrew (still working at brunswick st bookstore) pointed out, it's hardly just happened in the last 6 months.
Great to see familiar faces, know exactly where to go for the best bread, atmostphere and coffee, newtown social club as hip as every - but with my old crush from the greengrocer now working there - no chance as he's getting married. walked into the city, through fitzroy gardens and along flinders lane, the fed square building are looking pretty sexy and intriguing, visited the kids in lollyland - yay! and now tired but happy.
Still fairly blase about the whole new york last week berlin the other month thing, but no doubt once I've been here a while it will all seem so far away again. Just need to remember to keep my horizons open, optimistic and joyful and enjoy being with my friends and having the time to focus on getting work done, consolidating all this amazing energy and sound I've collected and creating something incredible with it (call me modesty blaize!!)

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

3:49 AM
Posted by jodi rose

San Francisco
I'm going home I'm going home I'm going home today!!! YAY!!!
Oh yes, just a little excited, all packed and about to leave for the airport, store my luggage for the day and waft around san fran being a tourist. Finally woke up yesterday as the fog lifted, started to enjoy being here a little - but not nearly enough to want to stay any longer. Had a nap on some grass in Berkely campus, walked along telegraph ave - way way way too many tie-dyed t-shirts for sale. Do people really buy those things? All the clothing stores have halloween costumes on sale, it really is a big deal here. And the whole 'college lifestyle' thing is a huge part of youth culture. Strange.
Had breakfast in a cool train diner with friends of sirr's, dylan - who is getting married, his bachelor party was on friday night; curtis flew in from boston, he's doing a phd in acoustic space in poetry from the 30's, the sylvester brothers again, nathan and marcel drinking beer for breakfast as usual, louise, cheeseman (can't remember his real name!), and the diner had a train going around on a track above our heads - cute for about 2 minutes, then reminiscent of the bart outside the warehouse.
Back around the world to the other side for me, so exciting! Goodbye America for now, and Bush, try not to destroy the rest of the world in your ignorance and fear.

Sunday, October 20, 2002

1:14 PM
Posted by jodi rose

Ok, so just had a reality check with Philippa and Kim and Ma, hello little miss world weary!! Wake up and enjoy the goddam american crap filter coffee while you can. Because soon you'll be back in the land of plenitful, cheap cafe's with great coffee and the very idea of drinking that lukewarm dishwater which passes for coffee here will be unthinkable. First game in the world series today (baseball, and yes I had to ask!) people are very excited cause the Giants are playing - I only know this because all the buses have "Go Giants" placards in the front windows. Still at home alone, with Bob Dylan now, almost exactly the same collection of LP's in my family.
Sorted out the seaside retreat when I get home, and cashed up for another week - man I better become a financially successful celebrated artist after this, or it'll be back to the 9 to 5 for me! Actually, no, I made a promise never to work full-time in an office job again, unless it's running my own multi-national arts conglomerate.
Have a theme worked out for the sound and video media art show I'm going to curate when I get back - "Globalisation & Identity" Do we really live in a global village: or, stuff made by cool people I met on my trip around the world!! There's a diverse roster, from new york's pioneering women video artists, to young berlin filmmakers, established international sound artists and dj's, finnish concept designers, and much much more!

Sunday, October 20, 2002

11:48 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Well almost home now. Very annoying that blogger is blacking out on this last month - reading the help discussion was fun, lots of people very frustrated at not having their words instantly online. You get strangely addicted.
Tired and cranky and still not into san fran - even after the fun drive this morning with sirr, his friends marcel and lachlan - the sexy skateboard saucier from LA - went to Julia Child's favourite vietnamese restaurant for breakfast, the boys had beer and squid, while I enjoyed vietnamese coffee - sweetened condensed milk, yum! and rubbery rice paper rolls. Then onto north beach for dessert at the steps of rome cafe, out in the sunlight, gorgeous. Left them to recover from the night before and mornings excesses and ventured out to cliff house at the top of golden gate park, looking over the pacific ocean - looking at those same waves that crash onto bronte beach all the way over the other side of the world, somehow they brought me here. Visited the fabulous Musee Mechanique, antique coin operated fun machines, lots of old style naughty movies, carnival scenes, fortune tellers and mechanical player pianos - very atmospheric. Took the no 71 bus down haight st - hideous, the hippy remnants morphed into endless 'groovy' shops and flower coffeehouses. Although I do love the MUNI public transport system logo, straight out of the 70's and now looks kind of hip. At home alone with the turtles and leonard cohen - we saw tom waits walking down columbus ave in north beach, a glimpse of an icon! Wish I was going to LA to hang out with nadine, it seems fun there, and the boys are cute!!!

Saturday, October 19, 2002

1:57 PM
Posted by jodi rose

San Leandro, Oakland
Well the Golden Gate was gorgeous, walked half-way along until the sun set and then wind too cold, hands and face freezing. Sean came with me, fellow nomadic indy media artist who I'd been trying to meet up with since new york, and he took pictures and found good cables. Man those cables are singing! Strong clear vibrations, clustered in fours, just like a musical stave (kind of in 3D!) and simple twisted cables of about 6 strands each, exposed with no extra plastic coating, so the sound is fantastic. Lots of ready made crazy compositions, can't wait to get them into the studio. Took a taxi from the Coliseum bart station, into the wilds of oakland - strange place, industrial, desolate, not much of anything around except freeway and deserted factories. All the kids are out tonight, and I left home without my address book so couldn't even try and meet up with any of my san fran contacts - but that's ok, still very wiped out from the time transition and dislocation and just the last few weeks in general. Up for a quiet night with the phonecard - often have no energy on fridays. Thinking about changing my ticket to go home tomorrow - just so tired and still not really that excited about being here. Another place to spend money oh lordy indeed.

Friday, October 18, 2002

12:29 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Oakland, California
Landed in a soft place here with some lovely friends of laura's, very warm and welcoming, sirr picked me up from the airport, the freeway car thing is a shock after new york all subways and walking.
My last day there was gorgeous, another crisp blue sunny one, went down to dumbo to pick up my jacket from ardele, walked down to the water through overgrown abandoned parking lot - amazing looking out over manhattan from underneath the manhattan bridge, an entirely different view of the city. Met Sasha at NYU for her special guest lecturer - Prof J Derrida, who talked about violence and forgiveness - the violence inherent in asking for forgiveness, how can you forgive someone who cann;t speak, is mute, doesn't have language to ask - how the only pure forgiveness is when someone doesn't repent or change, but continues to betray and harm you and will keep doing so - then forgiveness is authentic and not conditional. But, he smiled, this act has probably never taken place in the entire course of history.
So that was amazing and mentally challening, then we had chocolate souffle - incredible exploding warm chocolate lava with balsamic vinegar and gooey white cream - insane.

Friday, October 18, 2002

6:15 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Valencia St, San Francisco
Feeling kind of underwhelmed by san fran, maybe just not having the energy to discover another new city, find the cool happening places and explore - such a strong desire to be at home with an old friend, cup of tea and vegemite toast. No-one else in the world understands about vegemite - maybe love of it is THE most uniquely australian quality. But let's not think about that now - it's making me so cranky that this dumb blog program isn't publishing, so I'm stuck on sept 13th when so much has happened and changed since then.
Some day it will be flowing back into the present, until then we have Error 503: Unable to load template file. We're working on this. Please try back later. [more info]
Well, I've tried later and now think it's a ploy to make blogger users upgrade to pro-blogger where these things don't happen.
Anyway, the whole san francisco scene thing is just making me cranky, down in the mission on valencia st. A few slightly 'happening' hip clothes shops, furniture, books, but no real vibe going on here - other than the guy who just stood behind me reading until I asked him not to: "Oh, it's a dictionary!" he said,breath reeking of alcohol. That was kind of cute - yes, I guess it is a dictionary.
Word for the day is: displaced.

Tuesday, October 15, 2002

1:07 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Nueva York City
Going to Coney Island today - yay!! Crisp blue sunny gorgeous weather for my last 2 days in new york. Can't believe I'll be home in a week - strange but very excited.
The boardwalk is almost deserted, astro land and cyclone both closed, lots of people fishing from the pier, clams, corn dogs, chicken fried chicken - coney island was fun, and the ocean flat and contained reminded me of st kilda. home soon - and the first thing I'm going to do is make vegemite toast. yum!

Monday, October 14, 2002

10:59 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Williamsburg
Another long slow sunday, still rainy and grey, hung out with sasha and sarah and laura and willow in their apartment last night, "light and laughter" the phrase for the evening (as in: "if you're not bringing light and laughter into my life, you're not welcome" - willow) walked over to enid's this morning to meet dianne for brunch, then wandered along bedford ave and into the L cafe to read trashy lauren henderson novel for a while. Then wiped out, back on the couch most of the afternoon, with the girls coming home and chatting, willow work-shopping the yelling drunk farmer experience for a while in an ad hoc 'on the couch' therapy session, then going off on various adventures. Just had dinner at the bonita diner with laura, hannah, geoff and tracey - doing the williamsburg walk on the way home, all swinging aren't i sexy vogueing moves. heard about tracey's knitting teacher who does the costumes for matthew barney's cremaster series, she just got back from the opening in paris with an 8 course gourmet artists dinner for 300 at some museum there. Tip - don't get travel tips from a multi-millionaire, after bjork gave her some places to check out in reyjkjavic (sp!??) being the most expensive restaurant in town. About to hit the tarmac for the west coast, excited but not quite ready to go through all the packing and lugging and endless corridors of airport transit - jfk is possibly the worst airport in the world.

Saturday, October 12, 2002

8:02 AM
Posted by jodi rose

South 4th, Williamsburg
Visiting the girls for colombus day long weekend, back in the ultra hip borough with nick drake on the cd player and a hot cup of tea. Grey rainy day, most of which I spent on the bed in cobble hill sorting through my stuff. Gonna need another suitcase - can't wait to be home and a have a place for everything. And finally give away all these presents I've been carrying around. John and Kim are having a party for crick - yay!!!! Bring on summer in melbourne!

Friday, October 11, 2002

1:53 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Court St, Cobble Hill Brooklyn
it's a relief to be back in the city, with clean clothes after my spur of the moment trip upstate where the mud never seems to come off, the works nevers stops and everything revolves around farm-boy - back to a variety of people everywhere, entertainment, food - options. Met Spencer Tunick at the australian owned corner deli this morning, he was getting his coffee and said to the very cute boy from ryde who runs the place and was having one of his employees take 2 dvd's bcak to blockbuster - hey, my movies at blockbuster. So I asked 'what's your movie' he said 'naked states'. are you spencer? I asked, yes he said - cool, I was one of the 4000 unmanageable naked people in melbourne. Told him what an amazing experience it was, so that was a fun start to the day.

Had my last night at the storefront yesterday, which was not entirely without drama, some of it contributed to (uncharacteristically I might add) by me. Hey, a girl's allowed to lose her cool every once in a while, and it was kind of entertaining to be part of one of those moments of intense voluble interactions you so often walk past on new york city streets.
Anyway today is chill out and recovery day, as always after the immersion in total farming world. Still, I've learnt many things about vegetables, and hung out with the turkeys and ducks and guineas and hens on tuesday in the back garden, listening to them chatter and gobble and chirrup and crow as they wandered around me pecking in the grass. Wielded the 16lb sledge hammer on sunday, up at john's forge, helping shape some ottoman feet - so now I know that in blacksmithing you have three main processes: upsetting, drawing and piercing. It's a fantastic material to work with, banging on hot metal - lots of fun!
Now this really is my last week in new york, really truly this time. Going to go out and have fun, see music, catch up with people, maybe have a pedicure....... then out to frisco next week and back to melbourne. YAY!!!!

Tuesday, October 08, 2002

6:28 AM
Posted by jodi rose

Upstate New York
....again. still. what's the story, you may well ask. well, the fall foliage is lovely, all those trees flaming across the hillsides, burnished gold and orange and red. Came up one more time, maybe in penance for having so much fun in the city. Actually it hasn't been so much hard work, the garden is winding down and looks like tonight may be the first frost - it's late this year. 15 years ago this week, there was a blizzard - sherie the trout lady who has the stall next door at the round barn market told me, I can't believe you've never farmed before, you could have been doing this for years. She's off to a harley davidson festival in florida - rockin!!!
Spent the morning shucking garlic by the fire listening to trash radio - like being in a sheltered workshop, very relaxing. Wound up at Ken's on saturday after the market with an aussie bloke who was workin that accent, and some cute japanese artists, baked potatoes in the fire, camp style.
Very ready to be home now, can't wait to walk around melbourne, through fitzroy gardens, up to lady luck for a bloody mary - had one on thursday afternoon at the diner in willamsburg, before walking in to the navy yard, felt very decadent but was much needed in a slightly fragile state. hmmmm.

Wednesday, October 02, 2002

4:48 AM
Posted by jodi rose

West 19th St, Chelsea
Here visiting Shu Lea in the Woo Art offices, where she has boxes of garlic strewn across one of the many high-tech offices, just back from the symbolic garlic planting up at Andes yesterday. I decided not to go, partly as couldn't get out of bed in time after the last night of trading wrap drinks and dinner, and also since I knew that I'd end up staying to help with the harvest one more time...... and preferred to just hang out in the city and do my own thing for a few more days. Saw 'Sweet Home Alabama' light and fluffy with Reese being very cute, it kind of resonated having just spent all that time in small-town america, if not the deeeep south.
Sunday was the best day for garlic trade, the people at Tompkins Square park really got the idea, and traded 3 crates of stuff, books, records, more metcards, cigarettes, eggs, one woman cooked us an omelette and muffins, there was a great vibe and lots of interesting people stopped by. After trading finished, went out for a drink with shu lea, mika her designer who flew in from amsterdam for a few days, diane, jamie who had just come over from london, and kenzon the funky production coordinator, at Liquid on 10th St- a very lush bar with comfy lounges, and raved with Diane and Jamie about the limits of language and his theory that words are just one range in the spectrum of communication, held by all the non-verbal, gestural, energy exchanges. So that was fun. Then we carried on to Tyhpoon and had delicious japanese tapas - seaweed salad, crispy eggplant, tofu, fish, and lots of sake - ouch!