Martin Cid's Blog: Martin Cid Magazine, page 1097

Australian art. Brad Spalding feels the landscape through his paintings. New exhibition at Stanley Street Gallery

Stanley Street Gallery is excited to announce the second exhibition of new paintings by Brad Spalding.

Brad Spalding. Gang-Gang Gang 300x300mm Oil on Linen

Spalding’s paintings immerse viewers in the windswept and weather-beaten landscape of the Snowy Mountains, as dense mist and snow give way to twisted gums and scrub.

“I am inspired by the clarity of light at altitude and the quality of the air. The higher you climb the more vivid the colours become and the landscape has a very broad palette. In many ways the name ‘Snowy Mountains’ seems inadequate to describe a place with such environmental diversity and cultural history”. Spalding.

Brad Spalding. Cootapatamba Lake 1220x1525mm Oil on Linen 2015.

Fascinated with capturing Australia’s mountain landscape as he experiences it, Spalding feels the landscape through his paintings. Up on the worn peaks of our ancient mountain ranges, he observes the intense colours of high altitudes through the sharp, clear light of the mountain air.

After the devastating fires that burnt through the Kosciuszko region in 2003, Spalding began collecting the charcoal remnants of trees and using these to draw the burnt scenes before him. Since then, Spalding has incorporated natural elements from the land for his rendering of it, hand-grinding rocks to extract grey, brown and red ochres, and collecting sticks and leaves to furrow incisions in the paint.

There is a pleasing circularity to Spalding’s exploration of the landscape, as the pigments come to represent the land of their origin, and by cutting through thick layers of paint Spalding revisits the drawings at the heart of his works. This becomes a tactile link back to sketches made whilst out experiencing the land.

Through his large scale works, Spalding envelopes viewers in the wild beauty of Lake Jindabyne and the Kosciuszko ranges by drawing us into his sense of place.

The exclamatory exhibition title Gesundheit, or ‘to your health,’ heralds each sneeze provoked by the process of binding natural pigments with gum turpentine and linseed oil, and wittily reflects the experiential nature of Spalding’s approach to his subject. After living in Austria for a number of years and returning to Australia with his Austrian wife, Spalding feels a strong connection with the German language. Beyond the whimsy of its reference the title forms a heartfelt homage to the distinctive qualities of the Australian alpine landscape. As a toast to its sculptural eucalypts, forceful sou’westerly winds and unusual wildlife, this exhibition forges an experiential union between canvas and country.

Text by Sussanah Smith.

About Brad Spalding.

Born 15 August 1958.

Spalding lives in the Snowy Mountains of Australia. His artwork is strongly influenced by the majestic and raw beauty of the alpine environment, capturing the spirit of the mountains and the constantly changing colour and light.

Spalding graduated from the Bendigo Art School, Victoria in 1979 where he attended classes at the gallery school with Fred Williams.

“We spent time at the ANU and RMIT as well, being a country art school we were billeted around in the cities. It was a really cool experience as Melbourne was a happening place with roar studio artist run exhibitions just starting to get some traction”. Spaulding

After 1982, Spalding lived and worked in Europe for the next ten years where he studied the masters and was involved in symposiums and took part in exhibitions in central Europe. His works from this period are to be found in many private collections throughout Germany, Austria and Holland. In spite of his long periods spent overseas, Spalding’s paintings are devoid of the picturesque images that many are accustomed to in the European tradition; his interpretation of the alpine environment is uniquely Australian.

Snow is a constant theme in Spalding’s painting, he captures the vast and unforgiving nature of the alpine region in some of his works, in others he incorporates humor in his playful portraits of skiing in Australia.

Spalding was the Thredbo Ski School Director from 1994-2006 and is now the owner/operator of Thredbo Valley Distillery on the road to Thredbo. He feels a great sense of connection to the landscape of the mountains and the people who live and visit there.

In 1994, Spalding’s painting Old Friends won first prize in the ‘Roof Top of Australia’ exhibition in Thredbo NSW and again in 1995 when his painting Main Range won the contemporary section. His innovation can be seen in the creative nature of his works, some of which feature in prominent locations around the Thredbo Village.

In 2000 Spalding’s portrait of Stuart Diver was selected for the Archibald Salon. In 2007 he held a solo show at the Arthouse Hotel, Pitt St, Sydney and in 2009 he exhibited at Moulton Galleries, Mosman. In 2014 Spalding’s held his first very successful exhibition with Stanley Street Gallery called Melt.

Wed 9th March – 2nd April 2016.

Opening Thursday 10th March 2016.

TV Shows Today, Feb 12: Sleepy Hollow, Blue Bloods, Grimm

Well, it’s Friday and this is cool. We have –as always- great television show to enjoy today. First, we will recommend the series Sleepy Hollow. Today’s episode: Incident at Stone Manor. Season 3. Episode 10. 8:00 pm. FOX. From Wikipedia: Sleepy Hollow is an American supernatural drama television series that premiered on Fox on September 16, 2013.The series is loosely based on the 1820 Halloween short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving with added concepts from “Rip Van Winkle”, also by Irving.

Sleepy Hollow

Our second choice is for Blue Bloods. Today: The Road to Hell. Season 6. Episode 14. 10:00 pm. CBS.

And our last recommendation is for the series from the NBC, Grimm. Today’s episode: Star-Crossed. Season 5. Episode 9. 9:00 pm. NBC.

We hope you enjoy the shows. Have a very nice day, dear friends.

TV Shows Today, February 12 Video: Sleepy Hollow 3×10 Promo “Incident At Stone Manor” (HD)

Birthdays Today, Feb 12: Abraham Lincoln, Gucci Mane, Jennifer Stone, Bill Russell

Well, he was the 16th President of the United States, he was Abraham Lincoln and he is our Top#1 Birthdays Today. Rest in peace, Abraham Lincoln. From Wikipedia: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War—its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis. In doing so, he preserved the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the economy.

In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

Abraham Lincoln

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.

Abraham Lincoln

More famous birthdays today, February 12: the rapper Gucci Mane, born in Birmingham in 1980; Jennifer Stone, Wizards of Waverly Place star, born in 1993; and the legendary basketaball player Bill Russell, born in West Monroe, Los Angeles in 1934.

Happy birthday to all of them. Have a very nice day, dear friends.

Famous Birthdays Today, February 12 Video: History Channel – Abraham Lincoln Biography – Documentary

Scandal Season 5. Fitz Is Alone. Who Will Be His New Lover?

Scandal Season 5 is back on Thursday night after nearly a three month hiatus. What will happen now? The first half of Season 5 finished with President Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) alone after Olivia (Kerry Washington) shocking abortion. Who will be his new lover? And how about Olivia’s future?

Scandal season 5. Abby (Darby Stanchfield) and Olivia (Kerry Washington)

I like to think that there is always hope for Olivia and Fitz, but the dramatic argument that they had seems final, at least for a while. Thus, next episodes are going to be very different, a new storylines must be open. Fitz will have to live without Olivia and with Mellie (Bellamy Young) gone. This is a situation never seen before, because he is a man who needs feminine attention.

This is interesting, because Abby (Darby Stanchfield) will become Fitz’ new crutch. The president isn’t relying on Cyrus (Jeff Perry) as much, and it’s clear that there’s some really great stuff coming up for Abby. Any romance with the President? In my opinion, there’s a chance. She is pretty, clever and friendly, and her relation with Fitz will become intimate.

And how about Olivia and Jake (Scott Foley)? Will they renew their loving affair? Who knows! Things can change like many times in one episode, and Jake is a sexy man who understand Olivia and her wishes.

Scandal Season 5. Take a look at this video!

What do you expect from Scandal season 5? Tell us your opinion now!

Enjoy your day, Yareah friends. Art is everywhere and up to you!

** The fifth season of the American television drama series Scandal was ordered on May 7, 2015 by ABC, and began airing on September 24, 2015 in the United States on ABC. The season will be produced by ABC Studios, in association with ShondaLand Production Company; the showrunner being Shonda Rhimes

Dynamic Installations Showing Orchids in their Exotic Natural Environments at the NYBG

New York exhibits. Dynamic Installations Showing Orchids in their Exotic Natural Environments at the New York Botanical Garden.

The Orchid Show: Orchidelirium at NYBG

The 19th-century craze sparked by a single orchid bloom, which came to be known as Orchidelirium, is the inspiration for The New York Botanical Garden’s 14th annual Orchid Show, which opens on February 27 and runs through April 17, 2016. Visitors to the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory will be transported on an epic journey that engages allcof the senses and underscores the allure and intrigue of these exquisite beauties.

The Orchid Show: Orchidelirium at NYBG

Thousands of orchids in a stunning array of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures will be showcased, highlighting the far-flung adventures of daring explorers who risked life and limb to secure these captivating and exotic flowers from danger-laden jungles around the world for determined collectors. From its origins in England as a symbol of power, wealth, and opulence, the frenzied fascination with orchids underpins the exhibition, which illustrates their transition from the wild to their display and cultivation as well as the Garden’s important role in their conservation today.

Orchids belong to the largest family of flowering plants, with more than 30,000 naturally occurring species. NYBG’s celebrated permanent orchid collection represents all of the floristic regions of the world, including Australia, Africa, South America, and Madagascar, and this exhibition will showcase some unusual and rarely seen gems. Specimens of the spectacular Psychopsis papilio, which inspired the Duke of Devonshire’s obsession with orchids that contributed to Orchidelirium in London, will be on view along with Paphiopedilum sanderianum, named for nurseryman Frederick Sander, the self-proclaimed “Orchid King,” renowned for the remarkable length of its petals.

Aesthetic delights in the Haupt Conservatory begin in the Palms of the World Gallery’s Reflecting Pool, which will be festooned with a plethora of bold orchids in pots and delicate orchids perched in trees. Proceeding through the exhibition, visitors will be treated to displays of thousands orchids as they grow in the wild, in much the same way the Victorian-era explorers first encountered them in their travels through tropical habitats around the world— cascading from branches, nestled in crevices, reaching up from under rain forest trees. To create this irresistible world of fragrance and color, NYBG horticulturists assemble thousands of flowers from the Garden’s research collections as well as the finest growers across the country. From the rare and oldest to the unusual and iconic, orchids of seemingly every conceivable color, shape, and provenance will be on display.

Moving on through the Conservatory galleries, visitors learn about the transition of orchids from growing in the wild to cultivation in the greenhouse. The trend-setting Duke of Devonshire began collecting orchids in 1833 at his Chatsworth House estate. His head gardener, Joseph Paxton, revolutionized the way orchids were cultivated in England by innovating larger and more effective glasshouses, beginning with the Great Conservatory there and culminating in his masterpiece, the Crystal Palace of Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition in London in 1851.

A series of vignettes will evoke the dazzling glasshouse displays that the Duke and other obsessed collectors went to great lengths to create with their newly acquired prized specimens brought back by hired hunters, who often endured shipwrecks, animal attacks, and even fatal competition among other hunters.

Antiqued, staged potting benches with specimen orchids of strange and rare species will be featured. Hanging pots, baskets, and Victorian walls containing a diverse selection of orchids from around the world combine formal features with less formal plantings to achieve a lush and enveloping glasshouse environment. A small stone patio will accommodate a stunning Wardian Case (an early type of protective terrarium for plants) housing a selection of miniature orchids.

Also highlighted throughout the exhibition will be fellow British horticulturists and collectors such as James Bateman, whose beautifully illustrated manuscripts contained detailed renderings of orchids and vignettes depicting New World Spanish colonies. Oakes Ames, the great American botanist and NYBG Patron, traveled the globe with his wife, Blanche, who illustrated their finds. Ames donated his important collection to NYBG in 1906, and several rare plants will be on display.

Orchid exploration today is inextricably tied to conservation efforts to preserve species in the wild. Since 1990, The New York Botanical Garden has been a designated Plant Rescue Center, charged with nurturing and bringing back to health orchids that have been collected illegally in the wild and seized at international borders through the Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). NYBG’s orchid experts, Matthew Pace, Assistant Curator of the Herbarium, and Marc Hachadourian, Director of the Nolen Greenhouses and Curator of the Orchid Collection, are at the forefront of modern orchidology and conservation.

As NYBG celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2016, its founders’ ambitious goals to create a museum of plants dedicated and committed to leadership in plant research and conservation, horticulture, and education have never been more focused. This exhibition is a dynamic opportunity for the public to experience the Botanical Garden’s mission in action.

The Orchid Show: Orchidelirium is designed by Christian Primeau, who oversees the extensive tropical/subtropical plant collections housed in 11 unique environments in the Conservatory.

Marc Hachadourian curates the exhibition’s orchid selection and NYBG’s extensive groupings of living plants from around the world housed in the Nolen Greenhouses, the behind-thescenes glasshouses where plants for the Garden’s indoor and outdoor displays and science program are grown and maintained.

TV Shows Today, Feb 11: Scandal, The Blacklist, Grey’s Anatomy

Well, Olivia Pope is back and her group is ready. We love this series and we are excited to watch the new episode. Scandal. Today’s episode: It’s Hard Out Here for a General. Season 5. Episode 10. 9:00 pm. ABC. From Wikipedia: Scandal is an American political thriller television series starring Kerry Washington. Created by Shonda Rhimes, it debuted on ABC on April 5, 2012.[1] Kerry Washington’s character, Olivia Pope, is partially based on former George H.W. Bush administration press aide Judy Smith, who serves as a co-executive producer.

Our second choice is for The Blacklist. Today: Lady Ambrosia. Season 3. Episode 14. 9:00 pm. NBC.

And our last recommendation is for Grey’s Anatomy. Today’s episode: The Sound of Silence. Season 12. Episode 9. 8:00 pm. ABC.

We hope you enjoy the shows. Have a very nice day, dear friends.

TV Shows Today, February 11: Scandal 5×10 Promo “It’s Hard Out Here for a General” (HD)

Birthdays Today, Feb 11: Taylor Lautner, Jennifer Aniston, Kelly Rowland, Brandy

Well, he played the role as Jacob Black on the Twilight saga, he was born in Grand Rapids and he is our Top#1 Famous Birthdays Today, February 11. He is Taylor Lautner and, from Yareah, we wish him and his family all the best in this special day. Congrats and happy birthday, Taylor Lautner!

Famous Birthdays Today, February 11: Taylor Lautner at 2009 Comic-Con International. Source: floickr. Author: Matt DeTurck. License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

Honesty and loyalty are key. If two people can be honest with each other about everything, that’s probably the biggest key to success.

Taylor Lautner

You show up in Paris, and on the drive from the airport to the hotel you’re like, ‘This is so cool! I want to see something! I want to go to the Eiffel Tower!’ And then you leave the next morning. You think, Oh, I didn’t get to do anything. I tell people: I’ve been just about everywhere, but I’ve seen nothing.

Taylor Lautner

More famous birthdays today, February 11: Jennifer Aniston, known for her role as Rachel Gren on Friends and many other films, born in Los Angeles, California in 1969; Kelly Rowland, founding member of the group Destiny Child, born in Atlanta; and the R&B singer Brandy, born in 1979.

Happy birthday to all of them. Have a very nice day, dear friends.

I love that feeling of being in love, the effect of having butterflies when you wake up in the morning. That is special.

Jennifer Aniston

I’m a bit of a clothes hoarder, admittedly. I try to weed out stuff. My girlfriends come over for cheese and wine and go shopping in my wardrobe. They especially love it when they get stuff with a tag still on.

Jennifer Aniston

Famous Birthdays Today, February 11 Video: Taylor Lautner Does a Flip

Valentine’s Day. Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Liam Payne speak about love

On February 14, 2016, we’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day once again. Love is in the air! What do you expect from this romantic day? What do you think about love? Yes, I know it’s complicate because everything about mankind is obscure. Then, ask your icons! Maybe they can say some sentence which helps you to understand this dark (but also sweet) subject. What’s is love? Our quotes of the day are by One Direction members. Listen to Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles speaking about love. What do you think? Tell us your opinion about love just now.

One Direction band. Photo attribution marcen27 on Flickr

Louis Tomlinson is romantic and thinks that love is a sweet moment.

“I like kisses that aren’t too fast or rushed – that’s what makes a good kiss.” Louis Tomlinson.

Niall Horan is sincere. He isn’t afraid of saying the truth!

“I’m an emotional guy, so I don’t have to worry about a girl trying to get me to open up.” Niall Horan.

How about Liam Payne? It seems he is persistent. Maybe to be persistent is the clue for your success!

“I really liked one girl and asked her out 22 times, but she always said no. Finally I sang to her, and she said she’d go out with me.” Liam Payne.

Finally, Harry Styles respect women. I love this man! And you?

“I grew up with just my mum and sister, so I respect women a lot.” Harry Styles.

Valentine’s Day. Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Liam Payne speak about love.

Enjoy your day, Yareah friends. Art is everywhere and up to you!

**One Direction (commonly abbreviated as 1D) are an English-Irish pop boy band based in London, composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously, Zayn Malik until his departure from the band on 25 March 2015.

Leading Scottish Vasculitis Charity to Sponsor British Society for Rheumatology Webinars

Grant, Adrienne and Lauren Currie

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation, a Kilmarnock, Scotland-based charity with a UK and international outreach, has announced that it will be joining forces with the British Society for Rheumatology, producing a series of webinarsfrom 17 February to 23 March 2016.

The webinars will target consultant rheumatologists, trainee doctors and health professionals and will educate them on how to diagnose vasculitis, an extremely rare autoimmune disease. It will focus on more specialised areas than the first set of webinars, such as the use of ultrasound in assessing specific variants.

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation was set up by Kilmarnock-based Grant and Adrienne Currie following the tragic death of their 15-year old daughter and only child Lauren in 2010. Lauren had suffered from Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener’s Granulomatosis), a variant of the auto-immune disease vasculitis.

Lauren’s condition was only diagnosed in the final hours of her life and her parents realised that, with earlier diagnosis, her life could have been saved.

Because vasculitis is uncommon and early diagnosis is an important factor in the effectiveness of medical care, public awareness of the condition is one of the charity’s main objectives.

Grant Currie, co-founder of the charity, said, “While awareness of vasculitis within the medical community has increased in recent years, education is still one of our main objectives as the disease is a rare one. Our belief is that these webinars will save lives by teaching medical professionals to spot the warning signs of vasculitis.

“We are delighted to be working alongside a leading medical organisation like the British Society for Rheumatology and its esteemed experts.”

The webinars follow in the success of a previous series in 2014. The upcoming set will focus on more specialised areas:

6.00PM, Wednesday 17 February: Learning how to scan – practical tips and technique, with Prof. Wolfgang Schmidt

6.00PM, Wednesday 2 March: The main TABUL results, with Prof. Raashid Luqmani

6.00PM, Wednesday 23 March: Practical implementation of a fast trach service for GCA, incorporating the results of TABUL, with Prof. Bhaskar Dasgupta

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation is funding the events and producing the live and recorded webinar events. It has also set up a vasculitis webinar channel for doctor guidance which provides details on upcoming and past events.

Vasculitis refers to an inflammation of the blood vessels. It is an uncommon illness and different variations can affect people of different ages.

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation aims to raise the international profile of vasculitis, and is one of only two vasculitis-specific charities operating in the UK. It is keen to collaborate with other relevant charities, including those in the US.

The Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation has produced a video explaining the condition, which can be foundhere.

Links:

http://www.thelaurencurrietwilightfoundation.org

https://vimeo.com/55595845

http://www.rheumatology.org.uk/events/webinars.aspx

Thenue Drives Digital Efficiencies With 1st Touch Mobile Working

Thenue Housing Association

Thenue Housing Association has introduced mobile workforce technology from 1st Touch (www.1sttouch.com). The software will be used to support the Association’s strategy to deliver more services digitally through its mobile operatives. Initially, these include estate management and tenancy services along with pre and post void inspections.

A registered Scottish charity, Thenue Housing owns and manages over 3500 properties spread across 6 main communities in the Glasgow region. They chose 1st Touch as it had a proven integration with the Association’s Aareon back office system. In addition, they had received a number of strong references from other users of the software whilst researching the options available on the market. Another factor was the system’s unique Smart Airtime facility. This enables operatives to send data back to base in compressed and encrypted bursts, whenever a signal becomes present. By utilising this function, users can continue working and do not need to waste time looking for a constant signal.

Commenting on the news Brian Gannon Head of Housing at Thenue noted, “We see our Digital Strategy as a very sound investment and 1st Touch is an important element of this. Not only will its deployment boost customer service delivery but it will also deliver significant efficiencies for the business. Naturally, any resources we save as a result can be redirected towards helping those tenants in greatest need, especially those struggling with the impact of Welfare Reform.

“We looked at a number of different solutions but 1st Touch won through. We were aware that they are a leader in the market in the supply of enterprise mobile workforce software for social housing. However, the main driver for us is the software’s ability to integrate with our existing back-office Aareon QL system. With 1st Touch we can now have live real-time data going straight from the mobile device into Aareon and that is a real step forwards. In addition, the system’s Smart Airtime feature will ensure that communicating this data is exceptionally easy, as the system doesn’t require a constant signal. We were also impressed that these processes are already in place at other 1st Touch customers and that we were able to read the testimonials from numerous happy users. We look forward to identifying other areas where 1st Touch software can help us.”

For his part, Greg Johns CEO of 1st Touch noted, “Thenue Housing Association has a clear digital vision and could see the very real benefits that our software will deliver. Whilst we are delighted at the efficiencies this will bring to their business, it’s especially pleasing that the savings they derive will ultimately help those tenants who need support the most.”