My Art Adventure

Those who know me, know that I'm always late. Thus it came to be that I got stuck in a vicious cycle of "I'll just do this before I go" at work on Thursday night when I was supposed to be attending the opening of She 2013.  The opening started at 6:30pm.  I didn't notice the time until 7:45pm, meanwhile I was in the city (Melbourne) and the Walker Street Gallery was another country away* in Dandenong.

Pulling up google maps to find the way I thought "surely after only two hours the party will still be in full swing". Pulling up at the Walker Street Gallery at 8:30pm I found that artsie types just don't party like corporate types and everyone had gone.  (Everyone that is except the gallery director, Dave, who was being interviewed for TV, so that was cool to see).

But that was not the real problem.  The real problem was that I have been invited by my friend Bernii Wood, one of the featured artists, to attend the opening and catch a bite afterwoods.  Unfortunately, due to internet interference I didn't know where to find her.  Meanwhile, I'm in Dandenong. Dandenong has a reputation.  That's all I'm going to say about that because I'm too scared to offend anyone from Dandenong.

What to do.  Bernii is one of those rare individuals who doesn't have a mobile phone, so I called her house mate Charlii (who's excellent blog you can read here).  Charlii tells me that Bernii has gone to an Afghan restaurant.  Excellent, surely there's only one Afghan restaurant in Dandenong, quick google and I'll be there.  Yes? No. There are at least eleven Afghan restaurants in Dandenong.  Meanwhile, I'm in Dandenong, at night.

The two most listed restaurants are both on Lonsdale Street, the main drag of Dandenong.  So I pop Charles Mingus on Spotify as his music seemed the perfect soundtrack for this artsie caper and head down Lonsdale Street to do some foodie curb crawling.  I found both restaurants but as it was now after nine. Both were bereft of people in general, let alone a group of inner city hipsters.

Did I mention I was in Dandenong, at night, alone.  I decided to call it a night.  At least I got the see the exhibition and got a blog post out of it - and an inaugural blog post at that.    

Charles Mingus - Solo Dancer



Down to brass tacks, the inspiration for my "look" on Thursday was the Calvin Klien cover of Harper's Bazaar Australia's 15th Birthday issue.

Here's my interpretation, in a photo taken by my beautiful three year old:

Not sure it quite suits me, but I enjoyed channelling my inner Calvin Klien model for a day.

Stats:

Hair
Time: 5 minutes  (hair washed and straightened previous day)
Tools: comb and hair tie
Product: Schwarzkopf Taft Curl Defining Mousse Strong Hold (left over from when my husband had long hair)
Comments: The Calvin Klien version looks like the hair was plastered down with Brylcreem, I tamed this down and just patted down my hair with the mousse to keep it in place (although you'll note the left side has come loose in this picture). 

Face - My Bare Minimum Face**
Time: 5 minutes
Moisturiser: [still searching for good one]
Concealer: Mac Select Cover-Up
Blush: Lancome Blush Subtil Rose 30 Rose Melba
Powder: Neutrimetics nc Velvet Finish Mineral Foundation Powder
Mascara: [still searching for a good one]
Lipstick: Clinque Butter Shine Lipstick Raspberry Rush

Outfit
Top: Howard Showers top bought years ago
Skirt: Rhodes and Becket



*The greater metropolitan area of Melbourne is so large I am convinced that if it was in Europe it would extend over several countries.

**Actually, most of the time I'm too lazy to wear make up so the name is a touch of a falsehood. As I was going out, I tought I better put in some effort.

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P.S. I'm joining in Visible Monday on Not Dead Yet Style - love that name.