Bridges, Art, Flora and Fauna in Brisbane

Nov 11

After our day trip to Stradbroke Island we had two more free days before the symposium began. We took in the city, river and bridges on long walking days. All throughout we encountered public art, murals, interesting architecture and beautiful plants that grow lusciously in this sub-tropical environment.

Starting the day of bridge walks. There are many pedestrian and bicycle only bridges, and Bob wanted to cross them all!

Outside the art museum of Queensland was a little park with a terrific sculpture.

It's modeled after an everyday garden hose!

With relief animals for kids to investigate.

Darling kids!

Elephant on its head—?

The beginning of the bougainvilla walk. The trellis structure goes a long way.

This Southbank walk is dotted with public art.

Start of a series of metal sculptures on the path.

Long mural along the way.

Fun metal pelicans on a rusted out old barrel.

I love seed pods!

Another favorite thing— art made of found salvaged parts!

Detail of head. So cool!

Skyline with striking bridge in front.

The metal sculptures carried on a fair ways.

Pretty new pedestrian/bike bridge.

Unbelievably giant ficus tree— in the middle of the city!

Juxtaposition of massive highrise and lower profile.

This ferry is the Kitty Cat! It's a smaller one that crosses directly across the river.

This bridge is named for Neville Bonner, the first Aboriginal man to sit in the federal legislature

View across the river to City Beach and beyond from the casino.

Another view from 23 stories up, on a public space with restaurants and bars.

You can walk almost all the way around taking in the view.

The building name is amusing.

How about this cool kangaroo? He was very near our apartment.

Walking around more of the city

I had more time here and there during the week to explore more of the city with Bob. The days I was in plenary sessions and a full day workshop he logged in many more miles. Brisbane is a fantastic walking city!

Big mural welcomes you to the West End. Montague must be the name of this neighborhood.

Interesting architectural choices…

A classic Australian bar.

Intriguing passageway alongside a restaurant.

This sculpture is so cool!

A clever use of negative space.

Window of Woollongabba Gallery, where our 30:30 exhibition was.

In the front window— these two works grabbed us right away…

Me with my piece "Significance of Denim."

More exploring around the river.

Unknown guy on phone gives scale to this sculpture.

Back up on the viewing terrace. I'm standing on a clear platform where you can look through it.

Our lunch with a view.

Great mural on the library.

The bottlebrush is particularly lovely here.

Brunch! A popular thing to do here. We weren't disappointed.

Just one example of the many artworks by Aboriginal artists we saw.

Collection of antique tea cups in an open space of the library.

The library has elements of gallery and museum.

Paramedics on bicycles?!

Fun Sunday afternoon happening: Senior Cabaret!!

New/old juxtaposition.

Australian water dragon. The place is crawling with them!

I do believe this is a kapok pod. Seen in the botanical garden.

The forms and colors are striking all over the garden.

Spotted on a downtown street.

MAANZ Symposium Closing Dinner

Everyone had a great symposium! Art exhibitions, networking, meeting old friends and new, a day of terrific presentations, the vendor show, workshops. And to cap it off, the closing dinner. It was great fun, and a bunch of us just didn’t want to leave! President of MAANZ Helen Bodycomb’s husband Martin became DJ and started playing danceable music. Such a fun time.