Aussie Wendell

Those were the words from the SBS commentator at 3:00 AM this morning as the Socceroos' dreams of moving forward in the World Cup were dashed by a controversial penalty given to Italy in the final seconds of the game. Australian and Italian football fans will argue about it for years, but all I can say is Sydney right now is in a state of mourning. I watched in disbelief as the referee awarded the penalty shot...the first of the night and in the 94th minute. As stupid as this sounds, I actually felt like crying....yes, I get a little too wrapped up in games and probably lost a few years off of my life, but that's just me, and by the looks on the faces this morning, a lot of other folks here too.

Earlier in the evening, I went for a walk through the park and the city was electric, a sea of green and gold and no one was going to bed anytime soon. This city, this country, collectively, in the span of two weeks, found it's identity, new national heros and shared them with the world...OK, yes, I know, I'm using a bit of hyperbole, but hey, I only got a couple of hours of sleep.

Anyway, the team made Australia proud and when they return to this country and to Sydney, there will be a ticker-tape parade waiting for them, and I'll be there!

I went to see a little, independent film at the Sydney Film Festival yesterday and am not only recommending it, but am telling you that you must see it. "Little Miss Sunshine" is such a welcome breath of fresh air from all of the Hollywood, cookie-cutter Blockbusters out there, made entirely for global release and global money (recent formula = superheroes, teenage girls trials & tribulations or fast cars). According to the Sundance Film Festival, Little Miss Sunshine "is either a portrait of the most dysfunctional family you've ever seen or the absolutely hilarious tragicomic journey of a family whose lives are in for a change..." I couldn't agree more.

I don't know if I should feel ashamed by relating to this family dynamic, or proud, but either way, this dark comedy makes you laugh out loud, and is so wonderfully poignant, you can't help but discuss it when you leave. I saw the film with my friend Paul and we left the theater in the best of moods, went to grab a cup of coffee and could not stop discussing the film's merits; from the incredible performances by each of the five main characters (huge kudos go to the little girl, Abigail Breslin), to the anti-Hollywood antics found throughout the film, to the underlying messages about today's families and society as a whole.

I know, enough already, right. Anyway, if & when the movie makes it your way (I'm sure it's been in New York for some time), go see it!

On the first day of sunshine in over a week and on my first day of feeling well after having had the flu, I went on a walk across the harbor to the north side of Sydney, aptly named North Sydney.
This time I walked ACROSS the Harbour Bridge, not OVER it like I did on the "Bridge Climb" with Adam, Jeff, Martin & John last year.
Yes, another look at the Opera House, but this time from the bridge on a spectacular day!
Not the most flattering picture, but hey, I just got over the flu, so give me a break.

And last, a great spot to have my coffee and read the newspaper...

I was definitely caught off guard here. Having only visited Australia in our (U.S.) winter/Australian summer, I had no idea it got cold here. It's currently about 8 degrees Celcius, 45 degrees Fahrenheit and I'm freezing...I know, I know, nothing like NYC winters, but it is pretty chilly.
While there isn't much of an Autumn here (most trees are evergreens and those that lose their leaves don't really change color, they basically just die), a few trees do make it feel like it's Fall...I captured a few on Monday on yet another public holiday..."Queen's Birthday." Any excuse in Australia for a holiday.
I actually had the flu last week and Monday was the first day I felt well enough to get out and enjoy the day...it also rained all last week, so I hope you're enjoying Spring/Summer in The States (I hear it's been pretty hot). I'm sorry I've been so bad at blogging lately...I'll try and keep up with the times and minimally post a picture from time-to-time!

Yes, I know, yet another picture of the Opera House, but I was walking back from North Sydney across the Harbour Bridge and I thought this view was interesting with the sails from the restaurant in the forefront.

I went to the Biennale of Sydney this past weekend..."Australia's largest and most exciting international festival of contemporary art." I thought I'd try and find some culture, which is somewhat hard to do here. I guess when you've lived in New York for 11 years, you get a little spoiled; art and culture is all around you... a living, breathing presence in New York...kind of like taxis...they're always there when you need them (except between 4-6 PM or after a Broadway show). You might have to hold your arm out a little longer here to get a taxi, I mean culture, but it can be found in the form of an occasional independent film or art festival if you wait long enough.

Anyway, while the festival was/is filled with the usual "contemporary," and "interpretive" pieces (e.g. things that I could assemble using things from my rubbish bin), there was one artist who definitely caught my attention; Antony Gormley. His "Asian Field," exhibit was/is an installation of 180,000 hand-sized clay figurines assembled by three hundred and fifty villagers in southern China in just five days. The figurines form a vast sea of almost featureless bodies stare at you with blank holes for eyes.
As Gormley says, "The art is not there to be looked at; it is looking at you."


I took some photos of the sea of real people who created the clay features and one of the exhibit itself...I got yelled at, as you're not supposed to take pictures, so I included a few from a local newspaper article.

Next stop, the Sydney Film Festival!