In Melbourne

 Ron Mueck  

As is usually the case our stay in Melbourne began with a trip to the Queen Vic Markets.  Again following tradition there was a queue at the Doughnut van.  Cutting forward a while, at lunchtime there was a queue of about 50 people for the gozleme stall inside the market.  We  passed on both waits, but marvelled at the propensity of Melbournians to wait in line.

Later in the day we noticed these bird paintings in Swanston St.  When I have a few hours to spare I will try to work out what species they are supposed to be (and possibly what substance the artist was abusing when he worked).

We tried to spot the Peregrines around Collins St. I suspected the nest would be out of view but hoped to spot them coming and going.  Unfortunately other buildings block the view from both Collins St ..
.. and Flinders Lane.
To add insult to the dip, out daughter reported seeing one of the adults perched on these antennae earlier in the day.  (Image of antennae from Fed Square, later in the day.)
At Federation Square these whirling pumpkin cups seemed to keep small children happy.
I only realised by accidentally reading this notice that the cups turned on tracks of the music we could here at this part of the site.
The main music was a brass band festival.  I think 15 bands were slated to perform over the afternoon.  This one was pretty good, although I did think it was a bit like Gene Krupa's band where the drummer was the best player!  (According to the leader, this drummer was usually a flugelhorn player.)
The main reason we were in the area was Frances having read of a Ron Mueck exhibition in the Potter Galleries.  We had seen some of his work in Brooklyn so thought it would be interesting for the small people and took them along.  In fact it was a tad strange, consisting of huge skulls.

There was an explanatory video including footage of the pile being created ..
.. and Ron at work.  
I didn't give the video the attention it deserved but think that Ron designed the work but actually participated in the installation by videoconference from the UK.  I did pick up that after each of the 100 skulls had been cast they were worked on various ways (eg a random number of teeth inserted) so that no two of them were identical.  The NGV website gives a little more detail.


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