Art, Karma and Ballarat
It dawned on me while sitting in bed and staring out the window to the new day to move away from my habitual focus on the city to the beautiful country towns that are in good proximity to where I live. Central Victoria particularly has, well did have for a long time, the most artists per capita than anywhere else in Australia. When I was married, I lived near Castlemaine and as an artist loved area. So I checked my maps app and one of the best regional galleries is only about 50 minute drive away in Ballarat.
Lippy on I jump in the car and head out for a visit to Ballarat with Stromae’s newest album in my ears - the best vibe as I also admired the magnificent Aussie countryside that I love so much on the way. It has been many years since visiting Ballarat last, at least 20…!
I’d forgotten this remarkably large inland city. It is the weekend before Christmas and the streets are to my surprise, almost empty. The whole town was empty. Interesting. This huge city designed to take quite a population seemed underpopulated.
Ballarat is a living museum, an open-air museum. If there was a city that could be labelled Australia's Gotham City, it is Ballarat. Don't take offence Ballarat friends ;-) if there was a Bronx it would be where I'm living now.
The darkness of its past is vividly present in the dark colours of the penal looking colonial buildings and the lack of brightness in general. There was a heaviness in energy to the town, yet also it was fascinating like Ballarat hasn’t yet had her true day and there is more to come. She needs people and she needs vibrancy.
The emptiness was handy for parking directly out the front of the gallery. The Art Gallery of Ballarat was exceptional as always and filled with names and works that have enlivened my direction which to me is the reason to regularly visit good art institutions.
How I've missed this, walking through rambling rooms dripping in beautiful artwork. There were so many artists I love and haven’t seen for so long. Some I have known when living as an artist in the region many years ago and it is wonderful to see how well they have done. Some are artists I represented when working as a curator on Toorak Road – Arthur Boyd (my favourite), Fred Williams, John Olsen, and Lindsay Norman, to name a few.
The Australian Impressionist painter Emmanuel Phillips Fox was a welcome name from the past. He always captivated me as an art student and member of the Castlemaine regional gallery where they have a great collection of his work. To see some again and the pristine pure southern light of this nation filled my cup with even more affection for the unique landscape we have.
After a bowl of pho while reading the exhibition pamphlets and newly acquired Art Australia magazine I headed home. That was enough for my energy for one day. It was one of those days when you feel karma, or perhaps dharma. That you are doing the right thing and that there is something to find that will be revealed if you keep on the right track.
Listening to Stromae on the way back again, I am obsessive at times, but he inspired me. He was so successful and yet stopped producing music for a few years. It was only a short time compared to my hiatus yet still, I found it encouraging, like a mother's hug of encouragement. It is important to not get hung up on meaning and history. Get out there and get going.
It is my goal to meet more like-minded people in this rich art region again. Ok so they’re not anywhere in the western suburbs but they are in the rural towns which do happen to be surrounding me at a consistent radius of a good 50-minute drive. That is nothing with a healthy car – my trusty and beloved Toyota corolla station wagon- and great roads with stunning views.
xxx
©MataKamaleshwari