I haven’t travelled far this month. But I have travelled. Just yesterday, for instance, I drove to the library, couldn’t find a place to stop, drove on to the lake, parked. From there I took the long way round to the library, first to the art gallery – ten minutes – in air uncommonly warm for the end of May. I wound my way through the sculpture garden and photographed dark forms.
I did some work at a table in the café overlooking the sculpture garden.
Then I walked to the National Archives – ten minutes – and read a file about a soldier who stowed away on a ship heading to World War One. At lunch time I walked to Old Parliament House – five minutes – and had lunch with a view across the lake and up Anzac Avenue to the War Memorial and Mt Ainslie.
From there I walked to the library whence I began – ten minutes – and read some police gazettes. I’d achieved much. But I had to walk back to my car – twenty minutes – under threatening skies with no umbrella. Back past the dark clouds over Old Parliament House,
back past the dark sculpture of a burgher of Calais by Rodin,
back past dark swans swimming.
At the art gallery I learnt that dark sculptures are my favourite; at the Archives, that my grandfather spent more time in France than I have (4 months in 1916, between Marseilles and Pozières on the Somme where he was gassed and sent home); at Old Parliament House, that the café with the fantastic view is closing soon and reopening in the viewless courtyard out the back; and at the library, that it was a crime in the 19th century to desert an illegitimate child. Hence my searching of police gazettes.
An altogether successful trip. I can’t say I never go anywhere.
Be sure to check out some of Marianne’s Spanish trips at East of Màlaga. Thanks, Marianne, for your idea that we take one trip EVERY month, and what a good one it is!
I suppose you know about the Angel of the North has been erected in Newcastle, UK or just outside. I am assuming it was based on this one,,a link to it anyway… it looks the same but larger. Enjoyed your walk again and pictures.. have just checked and it is the same name…
We are richly endowed in the National Capital, when we have time to browse as you did. Sad about the café at Old Parliament House 🙁
The café that’s presently at the front of the building is fantastic. It has a terrace with very comfy chairs in the sun, beside the famous staircase up to the main doors of OPH. I recommend it. I don’t know how long it will be in this spot, but the staff told me it will return to the courtyard.
Glad you enjoyed my walk. The sculpture here in Canberra is a life-size maquette of the one you know in the UK. Thanks for telling me about the original; I wondered why it was called “Angel of the North” when we are so far south. Now I know!
…and I’m delighted to say I have seen “The Angel of the North” in the north-east of England, for myself. It is HUGE and strangely compelling. How lovely to see the replica in your part of the world, Trish 🙂
What I love most about this challenge, is that you really don’t need to go far – just take a different route!
Thanks for walking me through your trip with your lovely photos 🙂
glad to of service.. thank you.. 😉
I read that the angel in Canberra is 2m tall and the other in the UK is 20m. One strange thing is that Gormley uses his own body as the basis for his models, but I had thought it was a woman’s body. It’s quite shapely from ground level. But then, angels are supposed to be sexless.
I always thought the original Angel of the North was a woman – but now you’ve got me thinking!
I read this on the National Gallery web site, about the sculpture: ‘Angel of the North (Life-size maquette), like the large version, uses a featureless human figure based on Gormley’s body.’ Clearly, Gormley mustn’t have the body of a weightlifter though the angel seems to be lifting a huge wing. It’s an artist’s goal to make viewers think, and he’s achieved that. 🙂
I’ve just looked at some photos of the sculpture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_North
and to my eye, the front view (near the bottom of the page) looks like a lady – though I accept that the silhouette looks more like a man.
I see the life-size maquette is mentioned too 🙂
Very interesting, Trish.