⚪️🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣⚫️ NEW DIRECTION Ed. No. 53 - CURTAINS THAT ARE MUCH MORE THAN WINDOW DRESSING
Base art for work in progress titled “Bennelong Dreaming (After Coburn)”
An inspiration for a Sydney World Expo©️Arts Law Australia (2012)
Artist: Neville Williams
To see more of this Artist's work go to NevilleWilliamsArt
… And so this week I’d like to showcase another suggestion for the Sydney World Expo I am proposing.
The late John Coburn created two delightfully happy pieces of art in the ‘Curtain of the Sun’ and the ‘Curtain of the Moon’ that both had a short life as actual working curtains but are now in storage. The value of their social fabric now far outweighs their usefulness as working Curtains where they respectively lived in the Opera Theatre and Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House.
Let’s put them somewhere now where they will be appreciated. We could relocate them to the “Jørn Utzon - Pavilion of Reconciliation” inside the Australian Representation at a Sydney World Expo.
The Curtains stand alone as statements even though they were originally purpose built.
The Curtain of the Sun might be placed in a grand open reception space to this Pavilion and the Curtain of the Moon could be a sweeping backdrop holding pride of place in a suitable eatery to this Pavilion space. Food brings people together. Do it right…respectfully.
So did I hear someone say why a ‘Jørn Utzon - Pavilion of Reconciliation’?
Anyone who knows the history of building the opera house will understand that the process of reconciliation between the Architect and Australian people provides a high profile benchmark example for how to mend broken bridges.
And then there’s the “unfinished business” of reconciliation with our First Nations people that has stalled. There are any number of wars or differences across the globe that need the space for healing. Most importantly though there is the needed reconnection to our world environment, each other and most particularly reconnection to ourselves. We need urgently to avoid the train wreck path of disconnection we now find ourselves travelling.
Maybe we need more than one pavilion for all of that so in the blueprint/mud map (See NEW DIRECTION Ed. No. 50) you will note that a United Nations Pyramid has been introduced immediately adjacent to the Utzon 'Pavilion of Reconciliation'.
The two Curtains mentioned carry an earned gravitas that could be employed to the fullest.
FOOTNOTE: When an Arts student at the National Art School I had the opportunity to ask John Coburn what he regarded as his greatest artwork. I just wanted to hear him talk about these Curtains and of course he did. He said… “I would have to say that the Curtain of the Sun and The Curtain of the Moon that hung in two theatres of the Sydney Opera House as my greatest achievement to date. He added, “but I’d like to feel that my greatest achievement is yet to come”.
If these two Curtains helped bring about reconnection or reconciliation in any area of difference then surely John Coburn’s hope would be achieved! - Neville ☺︎
What is your vision for YOO?
From: NEVILLE WILLIAMS
Subject: WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
Date: 12 January 2025 at 2:05:27 PM AEDT
To: The Editor THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Cc: Letters Editor THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Opinion Editor THE AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER
Letters Editor THE AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER
Dear Editor,
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
There was so much to comment about in Saturday’s Herald that a person is flushed with wonder as to what to comment on?
But a couple of lines stand out.
“The fundamental reason, he argues is that we live in an ‘age of anger’ - and the populist right is doing a far better job harnessing that anger for political gain. …” and ”Ressentiment describes feelings of hostility and resentment and even vengefulness against those seen to be the source of one’s frustrations.” (“Left behind: Trudeau, Biden, Ardern are done as turn to right accelerates” Herald News Review Jan 11)
We’re clearly looking for someone else to solve our own created problems. To blame someone else is an admission of cowardice and fear. No, we’re lost in our own confusion and lack of clarity. And no one but no one likes to face up to their own lack of courage.
Don’t tell me we’re going to let ourselves be put through a period of what might be called “imposed miserable discipline” all because we are not prepared to face our own shortcomings and be realistic with ourselves?
If so this will be a most humbling time for all but ultimately most painfully for those most rabid populist pushers.
What goes around comes around.
Regards, Neville Williams
CODA
So where is the balanced wholistic shared vision to give us the hope to move forward?
Doesn’t appear to be coming or will come from either of the major Australian political parties.
They like most of us are locked in our own unbendable mindsets.
Anyways leaders and Governments are only as good as the people they have behind them.
We did this to ourselves. Facing up to this is a first good step.
But it is acknowledged that this is just hard to see let alone do anything about
when we attach ourselves to the dark.
Let the light in.
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