So simple...

When I started summer university holidays in November, I don't have books to read and review, papers to write and exams to study for, and to be honest, it was hard to was adjust to. I go through this anxious faze at the beginning of a holiday, where I feel I need to be doing something, but I'm not sure what. Whilst pondering how I should fill my new free time, I came across an idea that was kinda revolutionary...I should do more of what makes me happy. It's amazing when you snap back to how easy life can be sometimes, and how we needlessly complicate things.

Alex Grey Exhibition, Byron Bay, Australia

When I heard Alex Grey was having an exhibition of his work in Byron Bay, I nearly flilpped my shit. My brother first showed me Alex Grey's work a few months ago, and ever since then I think I've looked at every piece he's ever done! I consider him a genius in the true sense of the word. The layers of meaning in his work, his incredible vision and technical ability (the work is so detailed and anatomically accurate it blows the mind) mean that he is one of the greatest artists of our generation. I think one of the greatest artists ever. I bought my brother Alex Grey's book, "Sacred Mirrors" for Christmas and we've both been devouring it. Once friends saw the book, they were also amazed and it wasn't uncommon to find a group of boys all cramming their necks to look at the book and his art. 

On the 27th we journeyed to Byron Bay, a 2.5 hours drive south of Brisbane, through lush hinterland (the intense rain we've been getting does have its perks!). We set up camp, went for a swim (the beach is one of the most beautiful I've seen in Australia), and headed to the exhibition with no expectations. We weren't sure if Alex Grey would be there, or what the exhibition would be like. I thought it might just be a hall space with his, and other artists, work displayed. Oh how wrong I was! Not only was he there (also with his artist wife, Allison), but he also gave a presentation that went 'behind the scenes'...he talked about the meaning behind his "Sacred Mirrors" series, as well as other projects he has been working on, such as building a temple, converting a New York loft into a "Church"/gallery and the community they have developed there. Allison talked about their love story too, which I found inspiring...it was quite obvious that Alex and Allison are still madly, deeply in love, despite being together for around 30 years. BUT WAIT...there's more! After the presentation he said to get the party started, and he and Allison started live painting. Que insane dub-glitch-hop-psy-breaks awesomeness, a room full of uninhibited and free-spirited people, brilliant artwork from some local artists such as Paul Abad, and ALEX GREY PAINTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. It's awesome when expectations are exceeded so overwhelmingly!

This is an original painting, and I cannot even begin to tell you how beautiful it is in the flesh. He said the painting was based on his experience with Allison where external, bodily boundaries dissipated and a single, united heart joined them. Pretty powerful stuff. 

Another of his original artworks!

 Alex Grey and his wife, at the end of their presentation. 

 A very dark me, next to Alex Grey! He needed help with the flash on his camera, and I was the first there to help...I couldn't believe I was in that situation! I wanted to get him alone to grab a photo, but he had people talking to him constantly. 

The exhibition room

Alex Grey actually painting right in front of me

The gang off to swim at Byron Bay :) I'm ashamed to admit this was my first time to Bryon...shameful considering I live only 2.5 hours away! I wasn't sure what to expect...there's alot of hype surrounding Byron, but I'm pleased to say that I thought it was awesome. The people are probably the most relaxed and friendly I've ever met in Australia...so keen to go back!

Introducing Me

 Getting off the plane in Portugal. My girlfriends and I, a group of four girls from Australia, California, Poland and Romania, decided we wanted to get away from the Amsterdam rain and cloudiness and head for the sun. We found cheap flights to Portugal, all of us knowing that this would probably turn into a crazy few days. I don't think any one of us could have anticipated what would actually happen; my girlfriends and I still laugh as we regale the crazy situations we got ourselves into. 

 Puri, India.  My friend, Ron who was an amateur photographer, jumped out the rickshaw and asked the rickshaw wallah to pose for him...who knew he would promptly drop into the splits and ham it up for the camera! 

 At the Gold Temple, Amristar, India. The temple in the north of India is the holiest site for Sikh's. The magnificent Golden Temple (covered totally in gold leaf, and filled with jewels and holy items) is surrounded by water and a complex of buildings (all predominantly white) that are filled with pilgrims, believers and the odd tourist. I always found the Golden Temple amazing for the heightened sense of spiritual awareness that washes over me, and everyone else there. The sound of their Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib being recited by a team of men is indescriable...the closest word would be 'transformational'. I also loved the bright colours of the women's salwar kameez's (the outfit I am wearing above) against the white of the floors and walls. 

At the end of year 12 I used all of my savings from casual jobs I'd held since I was 14, and spent it on a month long trip to Egypt. It's a tradition in my part of Australia for school leavers to have a week of partying at the Gold Coast in Queesnland, but I decided Egypt sounded much more interesting! I have some incredible memories from my trip. I remember standing in the tomb within the Great Pyramid, Cheops, and the people around me start talking in hushed voices about a certain energy in the room. After a few minutes, we were all sat side by side, around the perimeter of the room, and held hands. The room fell silent. The experience of holding hands in silence in a ring of complete strangers from around the world, in the tomb of the Great Pyramid of Egypt is one that still blows my mind. Those years of working after school and on my weekends certainly paid off! 

 A nice trip to Amsterdam Bos on a chilly winter day. Being Australian and from Brisbane, I had never seen snow before I spent winter in Amsterdam in 2009-2010. It took a while before the thrill of snow gave way to a deep and enduring hatred of subzero temperatures. On this trip with my friends, we all rugged up with several jumpers, jackets, boots, leggings, jeans, beanies and blankets and went for a walk around a beautiful forest covered in snow. It's one of my favourite memories of my year in Amsterdam. 

 Since my earliest days, I've been lost in my own head. As a young girl, I would dress up in my princess dresses, go down do the garden (I lived on a big block with rose bushes, set amongst the mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland), and I would pretend I could talk to animals. I would sing like the Disney Princess's sang, and spend hours in a dream world. 

This is Day One of my brothers trip to visit me in Amsterdam. He came for my last month there, and we had a ball. It was the first time I had seen my brother for a year, and the first time since he was 18, so we got to hang out and spend time catching up. It was such a happy time for me, and it serves as a well of memories for both me and my little brother. 


I am now at home in Brisbane, Australia, where I intend to stay for the next few years so I can finish of my degrees. I have a heap of interesting stuff coming up during my summer holidays, which will end at the end of February. I can't wait to all of these projects going!!