Lots to see, visit, read, listen, watch, learn – I hope you find something in here…

Click on this link and it will take you to my latest August Arts Newsletter – the complete version. https://mailchi.mp/25c442eace11/august-arts-newsletter-2020-it-has-been-awhile

August Arts Newsletter 2020 intro…Hi Everyone.
It has been some time since writing and so the last month of winter seemed like a good time to return. You can feel spring getting that little bit closer, especially on recent days when it has been deliciously warm. Seeing tiny new buds on the jasmine vine in my garden and all over the neighbourhood, wattle bursts of yellow everywhere you walk or drive, are pleasing signs of new life. What a strange time for us all – and for many a sad and stressful time too. Changes everywhere – jobs left, jobs lost, working from home, working on the front line somewhere, wearing masks, no travelling, less visiting, more zooming.
There are still many good and nurturing things to do to liven the spirit a little and stay connected: being in nature, reading, watching movies, listening to stories, little drives, longer drives, little walks, long walks, cold water swimming, (if you’re brave), friends, art – perhaps we all have found new ways of the everyday. I have been enjoying riding my bike more and learning all the cycle paths around town– I really don’t like riding on the road. Our Saturday yoga class has been held outside (rain free days only) on the top of Mt Steele in Moore Park for many weeks now and it is wonderfully energising in the warm morning sun, surrounded by others out exercising or walking their dogs, or doing their own yoga class, or copying ours. Even with a broken wrist, our teacher Sandy cannot be stopped.
I live in Sydney near the city, so mostly my ideas are based from here. But I do hope some of the following inspires you to visit or explore for yourselves – there are plenty of online connections if you can’t visit, or prefer not to – or maybe some suggestions might ignite a few ideas of your own you’ve had bubbling away.
COVID shutdown has given me a few new favourite discoveries. Here are some of them:
Favourite new recipes – they’re old recipes really as I cook through some of my Mum’s biscuit treats.
Favourite bakery – Wholegreen in Arden Street, Clovelly. Who would ever know everything is gluten free? No one!
Favourite new hobby beside riding my bike around town – I discovered I don’t mind being immersed in a puzzle (preferring a 500 to a 1000 but perhaps that’s being a bit lazy). I have found it relaxing and meditative, getting lost in finding that one last piece and then I’ll stop for the day…
Favourite morning walk – meeting my sister Robbie and walking either around Rushcutter’s Bay to Darling Point, or the Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and Botanical Gardens track. Both always end in a coffee and a good start to the day.
Favourite new online store – Love and West. If you love retro and clever crafts with good old linen tea towels, this is for you. I absolutely love my new carry bag and Queensland (my childhood State) tea towel cushion cover. This will be my new go-to gift idea store.
There is lots to read here. Click away on links if you don’t feel like reading, or grab details from the top of the posts. If we didn’t have art and nature and friendship, what would be the point of it all?
Until next time
Cassie

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LINK TO FULL ARTS NEWSLETTER – Spring 2019

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Spring arts… Hi Everyone. Well it has been some months since I have posted a newsletter and Spring seems the perfect season to reconnect. With flowers blooming all over everywhere, trees all leafy and now jacarandas and flame trees beginning to burst open with purples and reds across the skyline and suburban streets, the mad-crazy beautiful flowers all over the passionfruit vine in my backyard and heads of flowers on hydrangeas getting bigger, plus more, the days are lovely. Flowers and bees are glorious things aren’t they? The last 6 months I have been busy with a few little travels and work of course. A 5 day visit to Daydream Island and the Barrier Reef, to see before it disappears, was fun with my daughter and her BF; a 2000km solo winter road trip out to Broken Hill and back to Sydney, via Wilcannia (out) and Mildura (back), was absolutely fabulous and I highly recommend; a trip to Brisbane to see family and go to my 40 year School Reunion (strange and good); another little solo road trip Sydney to Minnie Water north of Coffs Harbour to stay with my sister in their holiday house – beautiful coast, lots of whales and wonderful rockpools; and other small day trips here and there. I love a drive. There have been good Festivals on around town and exhibitions in the major galleries – I love the Art Gallery NSW on a Wednesday night when there are no tourists. You must get to SH Ervin Gallery, River on the Brink (until 17 Nov) if you can. The newest fashion exhibition I can’t wait to visit is the Jenny Kee & Linda Jackson show on at the Powerhouse Museum (Sydney). The last three weeks I’ve had a big show a week – it’s just worked out that way. Chicago at The Capitol Theatre – what a beautiful art deco theatre and the play was pretty good too – especially Casey Donovan belting out When You’re Good to Mama. Last week I was at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo with my 86 year old dad and his baby sister – and one of my daughters came as moral support. The Tattoo was not our choice, but it was a big wish for my dad to go. It was epic and we went – and I will admit we really enjoyed it. And then last night was another biggie with Cirque de Soleil: Kurios. This is 2+ hours of being in another world dimension and it is incredible what the body can do. Fabulous stuff. For me now, I need a rest! So lots to read here. I have included below a few highlights of shows I love, on now around town. Click away on the links if you don’t feel like reading, or just grab the quick details at the top of the posts. So happy book reading and gallery hopping and movie watching – I didn’t even go there this time around – and driving and walking… until next time. Cassie Link to Full Spring Arts Newsletter 2019

Festivals galore

Cassandra French, Pop-Up Publicity www.popupp.com.au View this email in your browser May/June Autumn arts… Hi everyone. Sydney is about to launch into a big art month and another to follow. The Sydney Writers Festival has started and I am volunteering this year, resplendent in yellow festival tshirt around Carriageworks over the next few days, so say hi if you spot me. And Head On Photo Festival kicks off right there in the middle of it all, making it quite hard to get to both, with the launch Friday night 03 May at COFA in Darlinghurst and the announcement of competition winners. It’s always a buzz of a party. A few highlights I love are below, but also check out Luke Hardy, Lisa Tomasetti, Paul Blackmore – just a couple of other shows to keep an eye on. Best start at the Festival Hub in Paddington Town Hall, head to the Reservoir across the road and grab a program, as this Festival is huge – now branching more widely to regional galleries. And when these two festivals are done, they are followed by Vivid and the Sydney Film Festival. By July you will be looking for a warm place to be and a good book. And my most recent favourite personal memoir has been Rick Morton, One Hundred Years of Dirt. I met him today at the Festival and wanted to give him a big hug – and his mum. She is the hero in the story – and all the women like her. So happy reading and gallery hopping and movie watching and walking… until next time. Cassie

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Autumn arts news. I haven’t written in a while…
Hi everyone and welcome to my Autumn Newsletter and the first for 2019.
The end of 2018 got away a little – there was a spot of ill health (well recovered now). followed by adventurous travels to Paris and Greece (Athens, Milos, Crete), followed by fab exhibitions that kept me too busy to write about them, then my other work days as a nurse in a little Sydney private hospital that is not without drama. Summer was wonderful and not quite long enough with family visits, books to read, movies to see, tv series to binge out on, new music to discover and podcasts to tune into when cooking. I loved swimming when I could over summer discovering a few new spots and enjoying other favourites. And walking of course – around the city, the harbour, in the bush, out of town. So here we are beginning Autumn – a season I love for all the good things it brings with it – the cool of a morning, beautiful clean light, coloured leaves on the trees and crunchy drifts of them piled high on the ground, new veges to plant out in the garden, March celebrating International Women’s Day and Art Month Sydney. Below are a few art ideas for around town and a little beyond – and what I love is they are all free – so I hope you find something here to help colour your autumn too. And If anyone has any secret Sydney shares, books, podcasts, pretty swimming spots or tv series to suggest, send them through. I love hearing from you.
Thanks for reading.
Cassie

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