The Ruined Piano Sanctuary.

Ever since I'd heard of The Ruined Piano Sanctuary several years ago, I wanted to see it for myself. Found just out of York, Western Australia, it is a place where people can take their pianos that are past their prime and good for little other than firewood. They are left out in fields to be humbly admired and played by those who love the strange form of entropy taking place.


I drove there with my two friends Anna and Miko. After taking a few wrong turns from our mysterious and vague directions (credit: me), finding ourselves at one point driving down a road of sodden stuffed toys strapped haphazardly to trees and rocks, we finally arrived at our desired destination. The fierce morning rain had cleared, leaving a fine day ahead of us.


Lifting the lids of these beautiful musical creatures was a joy in itself. In differing states of decay, some had insides that were almost perfectly preserved. Not all the keys worked- many had warped and were unable to move at all. Others made deep, thumping sounds from within their bowels. There was one time where I pressed a key down and after playing one discordant note, it jammed, seemingly to never play again. An inanimate object had never felt so vulnerable. So alive. 


In the middle of a paddock, a baby grand piano was positioned precariously on a rocky hill. All his varnish had fallen away to reveal a weathered, tired skeleton. The ivory façade of his keys was also long gone. Dilapidated state irrelevant, he still stood magnificent and commanding.

A grand piano that was once resplendent in a crimson coat had since collapsed in tatters to the ground on the opposite end of the field. Her mouth was completely detached from its body so she was conventionally unplayable. Instead, Anna, Miko and I knelt down beside her a and picked and strummed delicately at her insides. The sounds that emanated were alien, surprising, and on all counts, fascinating. 


One of the last pianos we spotted was shaded by a large eucalyptus. The recent storm had caused a spontaneous catastrophe. One of the large overhanging branches had snapped off the trunk and crushed the upright piano it had once protected. He was snapped in two and was a heartbreakingly beautiful sight. 


This is a place that must be seen. I left the Ruined Piano Sanctuary with a renewed appreciation for the complexities of a piano and the sublime beauty of the strange and imperfect. If you have a spare day, go explore. 

A dinosaur, an angry unicorn and a gun-wielding kitten...

I had some ideas this week and finally had the energy to actually do something tonight. I think they look better in person (these are just phone photos and I'm a terrible photographer) but you get the idea!

This is my dinosaur monstrosity that I painted and assembled. He is yet to be named but I love him anyway. 

...Any name suggestions?

This next one was achieved though ripping the arms off toy soldiers and sticking them on cat and horse figurines. Does that mean the horse has evolved into some sort of aggressive unicorn?  I have no idea but it seems ominous. The old magazines are also finding a good use again which makes me happy. 

That was my night. I should sleep now. 

Love x

Space Fish!

I made space fish!

It has finally found a use for all my old calendars and magazines. Yes, I had lots of books and such about fish as a child.
...I used to breed them.
I was really cool.

As I was making this, I realised how perfectly they blend into a space environment. They look right at home.
Maybe I should do a whole space zoo.

Trout Heart Replica.

This song has been swimming around my head for weeks. It's inspired me to try going vegan again after exams...or at least, guilt has convinced me to do it. 


For those who didn't back Amanda Palmer's Kickstarter, it's going to be on her next album Theatre is Evil. It's being released in September and you should DEFINITELY check it out.


I drew this while attempting to bash maths into my brain. The idea was fish trapped and swimming to infinity. I kind of like the idea...imagine if someone with some actual artisic ability drew it?! 


I would love to learn print making and do this properly. Maybe one day...  

 

So yeah. It's pretty fucking great.

***

I got a tumblr today pretty much solely to follow this: 


Sketchbook Story Time. 


...and to post more pictures of my cat on the internet. The internet needs more cats I tell you!


Sad...but beautiful. My favourite post is Jerk Teddybear. 




I'm not sold on the idea of tumblr, mainly because I've only seen it being used by my sisters to reblog thinspiration photos and other ridiculous things...so any other recommendations would be welcome. I'm going to have a lot of time to myself in two weeks and what better way to use it then find cool shit on the internet...right?


This is mine! 


Salty Stockings.


I called it that because I like alliterations and swimming with stockings on. If you'd never tried it, you must. It changes your life. Plus, it sounds hip enough, right? I'm going to fit in really well.


I don't know how it works really yet...I'll figure it out after these godawful exams and inevitably become addicted to it as I am with all other social networking sites. Such is life.


LOVE x