Photos, christmas and all that jazz.......

"It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on "
Joni Mitchell wrote and sang this ( 'River' off the lp 'Blue') and I kind feel it... I wish I could skate away from all of this madness, the giving, gifting and everyone playing happy families... when none of us really are.

In brighter news, I am working on scanned work for my March exhibition. I'll share some of  what I am working on below and some of the recent  photos I have been taking. I'll also finish on this festive note: Wherever you are, be safe and happy, may the new year bring all you need.
matthew

Scanned mixed media experiments for the series 'Seminal Works':

                                             ‘Untitled #58′  (a.k.a S.O.B.)
                                                          (20/12/15)

                                                          ‘The urban view #9’
                                                                 (11/12/15)

                                                           ‘Urban landscape #16’
                                                                   (06/12/15)

all images copyright matthew schiavello 2014. Lyrics to 'River' copyright Joni Mitchell.

It's christmas time again.

I was going to start this blog with an unseasonal Bah! Humbug! But I won't. I do fear that I am but half a moment away from becoming that cranky old man in the cardigan, waving his walking stick menacingly and raving on about disrespect and how things were so much better in 'my day'. OK, maybe I'm not QUITE THAT bad, YET. I do really enjoy buying gifts for loved ones and this is the season to indulge. While things have been a little tight financially this year, that doesn't stop me from being able to share some lovely christmas things with you all:

Something kind of cruel but, some of it is so very, very funny! Parents intentionally giving their children crap presents and filming the reactions!

Jimmy Kimmel: I gave my kids a terrible present.


Part 2:



Something musical and Christmasy that I never get sick of:

The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl- 'Fairytale of New York'




Something to remind us of others that need our help:



"There are about one billion people suffering from starvation in the world today. One in seven people doesn’t have enough nutritious food to eat and their bodies are literally feeding on themselves.
Here’s a basic overview of what happens when someone doesn’t have enough food. First, their bodies will use up energy stores in their muscles and fat. Once that’s depleted the body will feed on internal organs. Eventually the person will die from diseases because of their weakened body, or the organ failure from the starvation itself.
There are many horrible ways to die, but I can’t imagine many worse than having your body feed on itself.
I also can’t imagine what it must be like to watch your child succumb to starvation and be powerless to help them."

The above picture and quote was from http://saveonetoday.ca/. I do not know enough about this organisation to endorse them personally, but I do support any message that reminds us all of the plight of the less fortunate.


Lastly, something to fill our hearts and souls:

Ode to Joy- flash mob style:


Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and what ever your religious beliefs, may you be safe, warm, fed and content this festive season and beyond. May we all appreciate what we have and be thoughtful enough to share what we can with those that are less fortunate.

And for those that believe in 'Festivus', let the airing of  grievances begin!

warm wishes all round,
matthew schiavello.

Some things for christmas

Christmas trees in Federation Square:

 


Santa. (Who deliverers the gifts under our tree in the living room. Please note Australia Post, how Santa doesn't just leave our stuff in the letter box out front!!):

Here is a little something to put under the tree:
Yes, it's a bike for little Timmy (and by the front tyre are some beers for dad.. umm I mean Santa! I remember my step-dad once telling me that Santa doesn't like milk!  So we should leave out a stubbie and corned beef sandwich!):

Christmas is also a time to think about others:

Our friends and family:

Obscure reference for all but a few:

  Nieces and nephews, cute when they aren't being a pain in the backside:

It is also a time to spare some thoughts for those doing it rough (bedding seen here is situated next to train tracks and  under a carpark in the very affluent suburb of South Yarra):

Lastly what would Christmas be without those daggy songs we pretend to hate, but can't stop singing along to!














Lastly, I leave you with a message from the the King and I:




All photographs's copyright matthew schiavello 2011. My nephew is copyright his parents 2005. God bless being able to give children back to their parents!

my cards.. Yay!!!

I have recently started making beautiful hand made cards.
I use high quality 250 GSM card stock and envelopes that 'peel and seal'.
Matte photos of images that I have taken, are then mounted onto the card stock.
All who have purchased the cards, speak of their 'high quality'.
A few people have even brought some cards to frame! (silly people, I sell framed 4 x 6 and  A4 sized images as well!!!!, but more of that another time)


The cards (name of the design is written under the image):

Spacemen in Fitzroy, Riding down the lane, Eiffel tower and Lane in Como, Italy:

Thanks, Raining colour in Fitzroy (not available), London Tube & Venus Bay, Gippsland:

Thank You, The view from Gerard's window, Paris, Lunch in Versailles & watching over us:

Love is possible, Chrysler Building, New York, Saucer and Spoon & Latte:

Santa, As night falls & Love is all you need & an i-phone:

Alexanderplatz, Berlin, Keller & Kalmbach, Munich & Flower detail, Battery Point, Tas

Smoking in the Lane, Berlin Lane & Peek a Boo

Aside from these cards being a beautiful and original gift in themselves,
as we get closer to christmas, these cards are absolutely perfect to place a gift voucher within!


If you would like to order any cards (and while the website is on its way), please email me at:


matthew@matthewschiavello.com                      

-Let me know which designs you would like and how many of each design (please note that a couple of the cards come in different coloured card stock, i.e. the 'santa' card has a red or white card stock).

- Please also provide me with your name and address details to send the cards to.
I will then get back to you with postage costs. Once payment is made, cards are then mailed off.



Support local starving artists!! (ie me!)

The cards are approx 115mm X 165mm


Cost:
$5 each plus postage.

As you can imagine, some of the designs are currently available in a couple of stores locally at a much higher retail price! So this is the perfect opportunity to obtain these cards at an unbelievably great price!


I am so confidant of how great these cards are, that I will gladly refund you the cost of any of the cards you are not happy with!


Payment is preferred via pay-pal.  Easy to set up, safe and secure to use !
Any questions please email me - matthew@matthewschiavello.com

Here is a picture of the back of envelope showing 'peel and seal' flap.

* please note that the colours may vary slightly than in the above images. Some of the above photos might also have some glare 'effect' from lighting, at the time the photo was taken. Having put these mandatory disclaimers in, let me say that when you do receive your cards,
you will not be disappointed!!!

Yours,
matthew laurence schiavello.
matthew@matthewschiavello.com

Santa

Its six am Christmas morning, I can’t sleep. I have been tired for weeks.  I went to sleep at 12.30am last night/this morning. I can’t think of any reason as to why I can’t sleep.. and then I do. It’s Christmas morning and I am excited. 

Yes! You read right, It is Christmas morning and excitement fills me… not the same excitement that once filled me as child… ‘what will Santa bring me this year !!!’ , which became the ‘did mum and dad get me the ‘… ‘ I really wanted and had been hinting at these past few months?' This is a different kind of excitement.  This year I am excited about giving. 

Every year we give cards to others  because it is socially expected -‘I better not forget a card for Sven at work, even though I don’t talk to him’ etc. We buy gifts because again, it is expected. That is not to say that we may not take pleasure in the buying and giving, but realistically… how many of the gifts we buy are like this?, compared to those that feel like a chore to decide upon and find/purchase? 

These past few months I have been a bit flat due to a few things in my life, but this morning… this morning something changed. This morning I awoke with a realisation. Santa does exist. I am Santa, we are all Santa. For the first time in a long while I smiled before I got out of bed.  

It sounds clichéd, but the joy of giving is wonderful.

In a few hours time I will give someone a gift that they have neither asked for nor hinted at. In fact, this person would never dream of asking anyone to purchase this item for them, they would just do without, or manage on hand me downs. It is something they need. They have been working hard at learning to use this item and their hard work and perseverance have brought them far. If anyone deserves to own this item, it is this person. I know they will cry with gratitude when they receive it and the thought of this makes me teary even now. This is what being Santa is really about. Not piling gifts onto the ungrateful or greedy, but giving to those in need and to those who deserve it. The joy is in seeing their surprise and gratitude. In knowing we have done something that has made a difference to them.  That has made them feel loved, appreciated and part of something bigger. 

Enjoy your christmas day, may much joy be shared and may good will and love fill our hearts.