Fine Art Friday–Broome, Western Australia

There is nothing better than being at the beach in the hour before sunset. It’s only more perfect if you are on one of the world’s most stunning beaches and it happens to be low tide. Undulating patterns in the sand + golden light = gorgeous. Happy Friday!

What is your favorite place to watch the sunset? 

Low Tide, Cable Beach, Broom, Western Australia, 2013

Moderns–Art Gallery of NSW–Sydney, Australia

We headed downtown last week to check out the Sydney Moderns: Art for a New World exhibition at The Art Gallery of New South Wales.  The art historian in me loves to see a new city through the lens of their museums and local artwork. In this case, it was fabulous to see a curated view of the early modern period in Australia, since I devoted a lot of graduate research to the study of the same time period in the U.S. and France. Sydney rapidly grew into a modern city in the 1920’s and 30’s as their population soared and modern structures were built. Similar to the late 19th century in the New York and Paris, local artists responded to these drastic changes through paintings, photographs, prints, and drawings.

The star of the exhibition was the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which we had the chance to race over a few weekends ago. From brightly colored fauvist-like paintings of the 1930’s bridge construction to gorgeous black and white photographs of the completed structure, artists depicted an exciting moment of progress and change for this young city. I wish that my graduate studies had investigated a few of these modern Australian artists, particularly Grace Coddington Smith. For further thoughts on the show, check out this interesting review.

I had to control myself in the exhibition gift shop, which pulsed with 1920’s music and housed shelves full of “I obviously need that” art deco items. I was nearly enticed to purchase their fabulous exhibition catalogue, but the large book wouldn’t be kind to my (already too small) suitcase. For memory’s sake, I settled on a lightweight 2014 calendar. Sydney Moderns closes this week, but this museum is a must visit if you find yourself in town. The traditional facade welcomes you into a soaring space filled with natural light and houses a collection that is a great mix of Australian art and works from around the world. Their restaurant also looked like a great spot for a fancy lunch.

*Unfortunately, photography wasn’t permitted in the special exhibition gallery, but I was able to photograph some beautiful works in the main gallery. Check out the gorgeous details and patterns in the Aboriginal art below.

Do you love visiting museums when you travel? What’s your favorite museum and why?

Little Creatures–Fremantle, Western Australia

Imagine an old warehouse transformed into a hip space of comfy couches, huge booths, harbor views, abundant natural light, quirky waitstaff, fresh wildflowers, wood-fired pizzas, and beer. Lots of beer.  It’s not too good to be true; it’s Little Creatures Brewing Company. Did I mention it is also family friendly? The kids menu and sandbox were a welcome component, and we didn’t feel judged for bringing our child to a brewery!

You may have read my love letter to the architecture in Fremantle, but this place deserved its own post. We walked here for dinner one night and sat in a huge booth under twinkling Christmas lights. While sipping a beer and dining on a fabulous (if expensive) rocket salad and eclectic wood-fired pizza, I kept imagining that it would make an awesome venue for a rehearsal dinner. I loved the vibe so much that I went back to photograph it during the day. It was completely different in daylight but just as inviting and full of different textures–wood, metal, and glass.  I could have stayed all day but the road to Margaret River was calling. If you find yourself in WA, put this on your itinerary–you’ll want to go more than once!

Happy Wednesday and Happy Birthday to my big sis, Meghan. For your birthday, I’ll buy you all of the beer in Fremantle. Or at least a six-pack.  XO

Run Baby Run!–Sydney, Australia

The day before we left for Australia, I bought running shoes. Ugly ones. My family will tell you that I am a last-minute packer (often into the wee hours) for any trip, so it’s easy to imagine my lengthy to-do list the day before we moved abroad for four months. We didn’t ship anything in advance (I’m too cheap), and we planned to travel to four places with varying pieces of luggage before settling in Sydney. I also needed to clean and organize our apartment for visitors while we were gone. Long story short–I had a lot to do, a limited number of childfree hours, and really needed running shoes (you know, for the extensive workout regime I envisioned for my Aussie life).  Of course they sell running shoes in Oz but everything costs 20% more here; so I found myself in DSW, which only had turquoise and orange shoes in my size. Orange might be the new black and turquoise may be hot right now, but put them together and you get u-g-l-y.  But I was desperate to cross this item off of my to-do list, so I plunked them down on the counter and headed home to pack my new ugly shoes.

The shoes had a great journey across the Harbour Bridge yesterday as my family participated in the Sydney Running Festival–a part of the Sydney marathon–and had the chance to run/walk 8.3% of the race. The real runners covered 42.19km, but we strolled through the 3.5km that luckily covered the most iconic section of the race. 34,000 people crossed this historic bridge yesterday. My husband was none too pleased about our 5:45 am wake up call in order to catch a bus and train to reach the starting line by 7:20…but that’s what afternoon naps are for! His number–24691–was only one digit off from Jean Valjean’s, so he must have been channeling the drama. Luckily he came around and had a good time. I stashed my cameras in our stroller and snuck a few shots as we ran. My 2.5 year old had a blast experiencing the commotion of the race and insisted on getting out of her stroller to “run” alongside the pack.

No matter the city, there is something in the air on a marathon day–months of hard work, inspirational stories, strangers routing for one and other, struggle, triumph, elation–it’s always one of my favorite days in NYC.  I saw a “We stand with Boston” shirt pass by, which was a chilling reminder of April’s marathon tragedy. We finished our stroll just in time to grab a cappuccino on the waterfront and see the top racers sprinting to the finish line at the Sydney Opera House. Sprinting! After 42km! It never ceases to amaze me. 26.2 mi=42.19km – 38.69km=3.5km=just my speed. All in all a great day.

Do you love marathons? Tell us why! Have you ever run one? 50% of one? 8% of one? Where/what was it like? Best/worst moments?
Do share any running or spectator experiences in the comments! 

The Land of Buildings and (Coffee) Beans–Fremantle,Western Australia

Fremantle. Where the buildings make your heart sing. And if they don’t, the cappucino strip might do the trick. While visiting Western Australia in late August, we planned to spend 2 nights in Perth. On a whim we decided to book a hotel in this charming town 7 miles south of the city, mainly for its waterfront location–where the Swan River empties into the Indian Ocean–and proximity to the ferry to Rottnest Island. As we drove into town, my eyes lit up as I saw that every street and alleyway housed historic buildings made of arches, columns, pediments, copper domes, and original wooden windows–the kind of details that I seek out in New York and that the non-profit I work with battles to protect. Many of the Georgian, Victorian, and other mixed-style buildings were well preserved, while a few sat vacant with fading signs and weathered facades.  I learned that many of Fremantle’s late 19th-century landmarks were built by the nearly 10,000 convicts sent to Western Australia between 1850 and 1870. Within the brick, limestone, and local sandstone facades sat cafes, historic markets, shops, and…wait for it…an entire street dedicated to coffee.  Cappucino, specifically. To top it off, along the bustling port sat beautiful old factories being repurposed as breweries, restaurants, and ferry terminals. Around every corner I spotted textured walls and bright colors that would make the perfect backdrop for a portrait or wedding shoot. Architecture, waterfront, coffee, beer, and history? Pretty much sums up the ingredients to my ideal vacation spot.

For anyone planning a trip, be sure to stroll around the weekend Fremantle Markets, grab breakfast and a cappuccino on the strip (Fremantle Bakehouse was fab), stay at The Esplanade Hotel (great exterior–2nd image from the bottom below), and ferry over to Rottnest Island for the day. For breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a brew in a cool atmosphere, head to Little Creatures Brewing Company. Here are a few shots from our (too) brief stay.

[…] may have read my love letter to the architecture in Fremantle, but this place deserved its own post. We walked here for dinner […]