Stockholm

Red Stitch's performance of "Stockholm". Lust coupled with unbridled jealousy breed violent rage for Todd (Brett Cousins) and Kali (Luisa Hastings-Edge) in Bryony Lavery's bruising play.

A review by Kate Herbert, Herald Sun, Melbourne

Hostages are known to suffer from the Stockholm Syndrome when they sympathise with their captors, and Todd and Kali are caught like hostages in their own dysfunctional, dangerous relationship.

Tanya Gerstle's taut, confident direction illuminates the relationship in this sensual and passionate production that merges self-narration, direct address, dialogue and intense physicalisation.

On Todd's birthday, the couple plan to celebrate with a romantic, home-cooked meal, shifting from silky sexuality into playful teasing and fantasies about their tip to Stockholm.

When Kali's retro-jealousy escalates into violence, it becomes clear that they are hostages to each other and to their cycle of love, lust and abuse.

The acting is impeccable, credible, detailed and compelling. Edge is sultry, dangerous and vulnerable in her manic-depressive state, leaving us fearing for Kali's mental health and fearing for Todd's safety.

Cousins, as Todd, is the still point in the relationship, remaining warm, loving but always at risk and walking on eggshells.

Throughout the hour we wonder whether this punishing cycle will repeat ad nauseum for this couple, which is a frightening thought.

Internship in Milan

My prayers have been answered and I have been blessed.

I have obtained three Internships for my preparatory research in Milan on the Interesection between art and medicine: HangarBicocca Foundation www.hangarbicocca.org; Museo del Novecento www.museodelnovecento.org; and Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci www.museoscienza.org

Dorothy

My saving grace. Thank you.

Stillness

With my face stretching up towards the sun I took a deep breathe, paused and found a moment to finally gather my thoughts.

Even though the opportunities ahead seem very inspiring, deeply stimulating and wonderful, I'm over stretched and not able to take in the subtleties in each day.

I need a certain awareness and engagement in my life to keep me balanced and happy. I need to be able to sit each day in silence and stillness, to be aware of the wind against my skin or the sun on my face, to prepare a meal and enjoy eating it, to be able to engage in idle banter and smile at people in my neighbourhood and not be overly consumed by my own commitments, to to go to bed satisfied with a day well lived and not to collapse with exhaustion, to reflect and enjoy the life I'm living.

Sure I can challenge myself, push myself to the edge and climb any mountain I desire (if the will is great enough)... but I don't want to anymore. I don't need to push myself to the edge.

I just want to be true to myself. That is, maintain the balance, take pleasure in new opportunities and nuture love in my life.

Doing what needs to be done

Keep your head above water and keep going. Just keep going. Remember that this too shall pass. Just focus on what needs to be done now. Do what needs to be done. Don't stop believing. Just breathe. I promise you 'everything will be ok'.


Trust me.

Awards Ceremony

University of Melbourne and Gandioli Fumagalli Milan Scholarship.

A moments reflection

When your jet lagged, you walk around in a daze. When your in love, you experience everything as though its the first time. When you run a marathon, you forgot the burn in your legs. When you paint, you loose yourself in a world of artistic bliss.


In each of these moments we become so absorbed we lose sight of time and place; as we focus solely on the task at hand and the object of our desire.

Today I ponder: if I focus on this moment am I really living or is the living yet to begin?

Italian style

Sundowner

ALZHEIMER'S Disease affects such a huge population, yet it is not a topic that is readily discussed. Sundowner, by KAGE, will be a conversation starter and tear jerker for many viewers.

Review by Stephanie Glickman, Herald Sun Melbourne.

Set in a single domestic space that is both a haven of literature and a claustrophobic den, the show explores the effects of the condition on an aging woman, played magnificently by Helen Morse.

She is supported by three dancers and the enchanting Tivoli Lovelies who signpost her journey and represent her family.

Playful duets and acrobatic tussles suggest hazy memories of romance and childhood. The tap-dancing Lovelies herald both old-world glamour and the passing of time.

While these propel the narrative, it is Morse herself who imbues Sundownerwith powerful resonance.

For 90 minutes she is unrelenting as she shifts from denial to understanding to acceptance of her illness.

Director Kate Denborough uses conventional theatrical conceits that, although sometimes limit spatial and choreographic possibilities, succeed in enhancing Morse's plight and building emotional depth.

This is performance that hits at a gut level and will move even those with no prior experience with the sensitive subject matter.

Michiko church

Yahata, Aki
Japanese artist born 1985

Michiko church (2008)
colour DVD, 28 min

National Gallery of Victoria

Night Shift at Melbourne University

Dressed in black slim lycra pants, lace top, calf high boots, red lippy and fur; I look like I'm at an International fashion shoot... but in actual fact it's 10.20pm and I'm sitting amidst a sea of equally studious (albeit slightly more youthful) students at the Ballieau Library at the University of Melbourne.

It's been another long long day. My throat is sore, my glands are up and I'm tired but I feel compelled to finish my daily objectives and so I push through... push on.

Over dinner tonight I was thinking... in my youth, I often thanked my parents for their love, support and for all the sacrifices that they made for my brother and I. We were blessed to have been raised in a home such as ours and these qualities made me who I am, showed me that through earnestness, hard work, passion and discipline a life could be created and dreams realised. In this nest, I dreamt of endless opportunities.

Today, as I juggle full time professional academic work, post graduate level study in a new discipline at a prestigious Melbourne University, construct a research project and prepare for its forthcoming exhibition and symposium, balance home, health, sport and social commitments, I feel the unease at having so little time to prepare for the Milan Scholarship and not enough time to sit, breathe deeply and day dream. The sacrifices I am making during this time are many. Mostly I miss simple things, like long walks along the beach barefooted. Even though I feel like this, I am blissfully happy. I am happy because for the first time in a long time I am living the life I have always dreamt of and opportunities are bountiful.

Compartmentalisation