A Bird in the Hand is more than a handful: Bob Graham art in Canberra 2014

If you want to return to your childhood, go to Bob Graham’s retrospective exhibition, A Bird in the Hand. Graham (1942-), Australian artist now living in England, is a well-known author and illustrator of children’s books.

The exhibition, held in the Canberra Museum and Gallery, comprises an historical account of the development of his books and illustrations. It goes way back to his childhood, his inspirations, and his student days at art school, to his studio and the creation of his many books.

The strong threads through the exhibition are Graham’s family, pets, friends, and community. There are sketches and drawings, and cardboard cut-outs, and works half-finished, and books of notes. There is even a full-scale replica of his studio office, with trestle table/desk, pencils, stickie-notes, and scraps of paper. The desk light is on, as if he has just left to get something. And then, with a wander around the exhibition, you can read his thoughts and see his inspirations, as you witness the birth of an idea and follow it through to its completion – a beautifully illustrated book.

Graham also illustrated other authors’ books, but mostly he writes his own and fills them with amazing pictures in simple, often cartoon form.

There’s monsieur albert rides to glory, and Pearl’s Place, and Spirit of Hope, and of course his Max book. There’s Let’s Get A Pup! and Buffy and Aristotle and First there was Frances and A Bus Called Heaven. There’s also a sample of his books in other languages – French, German, and Spanish.

One of his most famous books is How to Heal a Broken Wing about an injured bird – and hanging from the ceiling is a replica of the bird. The exhibition, Bird in the Hand, is full of sea gulls and pigeons, but the exhibition could’ve also been called Dog in the Basket because there are also many wonderful illustrations of the family pet – and plenty of sheep too.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

Comments

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

The Knight in the Panther Skin by Shota Rustaveli (2015 translation): book review

The Knight in the Panther Skin (12th century, this edition 2015) is a recent translation by American poet and author, Lyn Coffin. The author, Shota Rustaveli, is Georgia’s most loved poet. This poem is mammoth, a magnum opus – it is 1,656 verses long, separated by chapters. But readers, don’t give up, because every verse is worth reading. It is akin to 1001 Arabian Knights, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, or Shakespearean poetry. King Rostevan of Arabia has a daughter, Tinatin. She loves the knight Avtandil and he loves her. Verse 368 from Avtandil: ‘The doctor’s could do nothing. A dark twilight on my heart now pressed, I was on fire because of love, but nobody knew or guessed. They blamed my blood. The king decided bleeding my arm would be best; I let it be done to hide the suffering I had not confessed.’ But a knight in panther skin is seen weeping, and subsequently kills the king’s soldiers, sparing the king. Before Tinatin weds Avtandil she r...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog