Sunday, 14 October 2012

The One that Flew Away /一顆葡公英


To me, these little flowers somehow symbolised the sense of being in a group or family…
I took this photograph when I was working on the exhibition at Hunter Valley, this artwork is a sculptural representation of a taraxacum, which is also last year’s exhibition winner.
Year after year Allyson and Peter had provided venue and lots of resources to this outdoor exhibition, for example in November there will be a group of about 50 people coming from Art Gallery NSW – for these guests, they took time to cook, to plate and clean, and run the business at the same time.
Perhaps being from the city, I always feel: in this time of economy; the high cost and effort; distraction from business operation and everything in between.. I couldn’t help to wonder, was this a good use of resources?
Turns out, this is a place where they had plenty of wonderful memories for the past 2 decades; this was the place where they spent lots of time with their 4 children, yes, it was hard work, but compare to these days – a dead family dinner with teenagers glued to their Smartphones, a bit of fresh air is good.
As their children grew, they went on and have their own lives and paths. Allyson and Peter always happy for them to return and help from time to time, this winery and the memories, is keeping the family together.
Ah…. Memories, something money can’t buy, when I was preparing the exhibition I saw 2 families having lunch together, another example of Allyson’s wonderful meal, I have a feeling this weekend will become great memories for these guys too…
一顆葡公英,一個對藝術的愛戴…
今天我在伍龍拜葡萄酒園準備十一月的展覽,在葡萄酒園的停車場附近有去年的冠軍作品,葡公英。
雖然這藝術展覽有5個場地,但是,Allyson和Peter過去十年為這展覽不遺餘力,不單提供產品和場地,還招待從新南威爾士州藝術館(AGNSW)來的賓客。Allyson更多次下廚,不時不刻為多人準備美食。
或許在城市中長大的我,總會對這種情況不能了解:為什麼他們夫婦為可「出錢又出力」?本地農作物不便宜啊!其實對他們來說這個生活了差不多20年的地方,由開始只為共聚天倫,不知不覺,愛屋及烏,對一草一木也有一分情。直到今日,四個子女已經長大,各有事業,但是有機會總會回來幫忙.所以他們也很高興地製造一個可讓人共聚的地方,忙碌便有更多原因找子女們幫忙吧.
好像一顆葡公英,子女總會有獨立的時候,Allyson和Peter相當明白,能夠和自己的子女關係密設他們也很滿足.我在準備藝術展的同時看到有兩個家庭在葡萄原來品嚐Allyson準備的午餐,有說有笑,享受一些在煩囂城市不能享有的安靜:一個愉快的週末成為這些家庭的美好回憶.既然是好娛樂,又聯絡感情,更有美食,有何不可?