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Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

Black Swan.

Posted in Art, nature, Writing, tagged ART:Sand&Sandles, Artist: Jessica McCallum, BlackSwanPortraiturePrize, Frances Macaulay Forde on July 14, 2014| Leave a Comment »

My very talented daughter Jessica McCallum is busy working on her entry into the Black Swan Portraiture Prize.

Held every year, I’ve been nagging her to enter for years, ever since she was commissioned to provide Black Swan masks for the big event; the ball where winners are announced.

She’s busy working on the portrait of her Dad, a man of the land both privately and professionally. He worked for the Agricultural Department as a Farm Advisor since earning his degree at Curtin University after doing National Service.

As a now retired but always committed environmentalist, it’s fitting Jess is using his landscape – his Brookton farm to frame his face. (Photos show close ups of the work in progress.)

Using mostly wood stains on ply instead of the usual acrylic or oils on canvas, her approach is different. The technique also enables her to use the traditional craft of wood burning for striking shadow effects.

So, so proud. Can’t wait to see the final product because I know it will be amazing.

#FrancesMacaulayForde #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum #BlackSwanPortraitPrize #ART:Sand&Sandles

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Elephants

Posted in Africa, Animals, Art, Books, nature, Poetry, Writers, Writing, tagged Africa, Artist: Jessica McCallum, Elephants, Exhib: All the Pretty Ones Are, Frances Macaulay Forde, Global March for Elephants and Rhinos, Harry Owen, Jessica McCallum, poems, Rhinos, Satao of Tsavo, writing on June 15, 2014| 7 Comments »

My daughter Jessica McCallum’s 3rd exhibition ‘All the Pretty Ones Are’ (all things Circus) was held in 2011 at the Heath Ledger Theatre foyer in the new and exciting State Theatre Centre.

I feel the poetry I wrote to the artworks of that exhibition, was some of my best; particularly this one written from a childhood memory of the circus coming to our small town in Africa. Although he was an Indian elephant – African elephants can’t be tamed and I love them more, for that.

The Global March for Elephants and Rhinos is a call for a world-wide response to the continued senseless cruelty – the terrible things happening to these beautiful, wise, gentle creatures.

Just weeks ago what’s said to be the largest bull elephant in Africa; Satao of Tsavo in Kenya had his face hacked off for his magnificent tusks!

All this information is thanks to Harry Owen on Facebook: I’ve mentioned before, his book to raise funds for the cause of saving Rhino’s and can’t wait for my copy…

Meanwhile I thought I’d share another of my poems from that exhibition.

When I was a child

I remember thinking

that chain around

the elephant’s leg

wasn’t strong enough.

Elephants are tough!

If he wanted, he

could free himself just

by lifting that mighty foot

shaking the metal loose

and walking away…

Why does he stay?

No-one could stop him

If he chose to go, take

his own path. No more

performance on command

– he could find some green.

Walk through jungles again!

Elephants are tough so

why does he stay, stroll

through sawdust, put up

with that lady who leans

into his ear, whispering…

It’s because he loves her.

#FrancesMacaulayForde #JessicaMcCallumArtist #AllThePrettyOnesAreExhib #HarryOwen #GlobalMarchForElephantsAndRhinos #SataoOfTsavo

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“My Life as a Sari”

Posted in Art, Dance, Love, Perth City, Poetry, Theatre, WA Writers, Writing, tagged Frances Macaulay Forde, Fremantle Press, Indigo Journals, Jessica McCallum, Poem, Poem: My Life as a Sari, poems, poetry, poetry in Western Australia, Western Australia, words, writer, writing on May 29, 2014| 1 Comment »

I love how sometimes a poem ends up taking you to all sorts of places you don’t expect.

‘Dance’ by Jessica McCallum at His Majesty’s Theatre, 2009. #jessicamcallumartist

My poem “My Life as a Sari” has appeared alongside beautiful artworks.

POETRY POSTCARD available from Jessica McCallum

An excerpt published on a postcard.

#IndigoJournal

And published in the INDIGO JOURNAL of West Australian Writing, Vol 3 published by INDIGO books and received lovely comments.

Fremantle Press have recently become on-line partners with the original publishers of the journals and have always been tremendous supporters of those who write in Western Australia, quietly promoting and encouraging new, emerging and established writers by putting their money where their mouth is.

As a result of my inclusion in the journal, Fremantle Press also interviewed me about my writing and particularly, this poem.

My Life as a Sari

Securely tuck your fears under elastic

at the centre of your waist with your left hand,

and with your right, hold the remaining

metres of spun silk – your future, facing inside.

Measure the drop of the fall

and it’s finely stitched edge

for correct positioning against heels.

Wrap yourself in the gossamer fold,

swirling the diaphanous film behind

but stay level and wedge the top border

into your petticoat.

Like a bride preparing herself,

you are now ready to pleat.

At a distance from the last fixing,

hand-measure the delicate veil,

embroidered with details

important to who you are

toward the middle of your body.

Some may need five pleats, some six.

Less is more. Another judgement held on show

– a statement of size, however graciously it moves.

Securely fix the perfumed fanning

and grasp what is left, bring it back around

to wrap warmly and return to the front.

These days, you can choose to gather all loose

ends onto your left shoulder, secured with a jewel.

But many prefer to throw the remainder

over, remembering to hold an arm half bent,

letting the end float freely – the beaded

edge skimming the inside of your wrist.

#francesmacaulayforde

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Wordless Wednesday: Catch!

Posted in Art, Ireland, Wordless Wednesday, tagged Cork Airport, Frances Macaulay Forde, Irish Staues, Retirement and Beyond, Wordless Wednesday on May 21, 2014| Leave a Comment »

FMF @ Cork Airport 2003

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Wordless Wednesday: Yeats

Posted in Art, Books, Ireland, Poetry, Wordless Wednesday, Writers, tagged Co. Sligo., Frances Macaulay Forde, Ireland, Sligo, W.B. Yeats, writers on May 7, 2014| 3 Comments »

W.B. Yeats Statue in Sligo, town center, Ireland.

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Wordless Wednesday: Curlew Pass

Posted in Art, Ireland, Wordless Wednesday, tagged Co. Sligo., Frances Macaulay Forde, Gaelic Horseman, Ireland, Statue, Wordless Wednesday on April 30, 2014| 2 Comments »

“The Gaelic Horseman” overlooks the battlefield at Curlew Pass in Co. Sligo, Ireland. (Photo: FMF © Oct. 2003)

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Floral fence

Posted in Art, nature, tagged Art as the Spark, Cottesloe Beach, Frances Macaulay Forde, Jessica McCallum, Perth Daily Photo, Sculptures by the Sea, Travel blog, Western Australia on March 11, 2014| 1 Comment »

My sister-in-law Grace does an amazing travel blog Perth Daily Photo voted the best last year by our West Australian newspapers.

Currently she’s profiling a unique show on Cottesloe beach ‘Sculptures by the Sea’ also showing the cloudy weather we’re having at the moment.

It’s such a refreshing change – such a contrast to our normal clear blue skies and heat. So I feel in need of some color:

Last year, she commissioned my artist daughter Jessica McCallum, to brighten up a plain and very common style of fence in Australia.

I’ve included one Mural photo to give you a taste, but there are more… enjoy!

Fence Mural by Jessica McCallum
Photo © Grace Forde

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Oscars surprise.

Posted in Art, MOVIES, Scripts, Writing, tagged 12 years a slave, Captain Phillips, Cate Blanchette, Catherine Martin, films, Frances Macaulay Forde, Frozen, Gravity, Moulin Rouge!, movies, Oscars 2014, Philomena, short stories, The Great Gatsby, The Railway Man, words, writer on March 3, 2014| 2 Comments »

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Photo Credit: http://www.news.com.au

Just watched most of the Oscars. All the way through I expected Sandra Bulloch to win best Actress for ‘Gravity’ because of the many cut-aways and the film won so many other awards and I’m sure she was good. (I can’t comment on films I haven’t seen so will stick to those I have.)

The camera didn’t cut-away to Cate Blanchette once while I watched, so I thought she had decided not to go – what with all the controversy over ‘Blue Jasmin”s director. (No, I just can’t bring myself to say his name…) I presumed she wasn’t there – like Judi Dench and was disappointed.

So glad ‘Frozen’ won best Animated and best song. So many layers to that film, most unfortunately will be lost on it’s young audience. (My 4 year old granddaughter loved it – so did I! )

And a huge shout-out to Catherine Martin who became the 1st Aussie to win 4 Oscars for her amazing set design and costumes in ‘The Great Gatsby’ this year and a few years ago for ‘Moulin Rouge!’

You can usually tell who the academy favorites are by how many times they ‘show’ in cut-away, the ‘star’ in the audience – case in point Best Picture: ’12 years a slave’ (which I didn’t agree with). Sure it was a good movie but ‘Captain Phillips’ was better all ’round and should have at the very least won Adapted Screenplay, so was ‘Philomena’ (both mentioned in my top 1o), – Hell! even ‘The Railway Man’ was better.

But I have to say the fashions were beautiful – as expected (expect for Ellen).

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To ballerina’s everywhere…

Posted in Art, Ballet, Poetry, Romance, Theatre, tagged Ashleigh Forde, Ballerina, Ballet, Frances Macaulay Forde, performing, Poem, theatre, WA Academy of Performing Arts, WAAPA, West Coast Dance Company on February 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »

My niece Ashleigh’s visiting from Canada where she lives with her partner Will – a wonderful surprise!

I’m very, very proud of her – she’s the ballerina I always wanted to be.

First steps at three followed by years of tutor-ledge by her devoted sister Tenille at West Coast Dance Company and finishing at the world-renowned WAAPA in Perth.

Of course you never finish learning, so Ashleigh has honed her craft with many prestigious dance companies since.

Her art has taken her all over the world on ships and stages in Sydney, LA, London, Edinburgh and more recently Victoria.

Performing makes Ashleigh smile inside.

At The Beginning: Thirteen year old Ashleigh won Runner-up in the National Cecchetti Congress Awards, competing against 16 year olds.

Many (too many) years ago, when I was about the same age, I wrote this poem. Not so long ago I read it at Ashleigh’s Ballet-teacher big sister Tenille’s 21st.

The Prima Ballerina

She lives in a world of fairy tales,

all fantasy, happiness & woe.

Floating across the stage in tulle,

fine silk or organza, softly

pirouettes through the mist

or dies upon the snow.

This is the world of the Ballet

– of the Prima Ballerina.

So lithe, so fine, so beautiful,

so graceful and serene,

On stage supremely untouchable,