Experiments on/with film

I recently did some experimenting on film from my camera, that was not processed properly. Ok, small fib, truth be told, I did not correctly load the film into my camera. I then went about and shot the whole roll of film, thinking I had some great shots and later discovered it was all blank.... So rather than mope about, I decided to experiment with the failed film negative and scan the results. I used a combination of acetone and watercolour paints to get these results.

all images copyright matthew schiavello 2014

Holidays 2013, Netherlands and Belgium pt 10 : Amsterdam - The Arts (pt 2).

During my time in Amsterdam, not only did I spent a bit of time visiting the larger art galleries and museums, but I also visited some amazing smaller photographic galleries.

A couple of interesting ones in particular were, Foam (or Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam) and Huis Marseille. For some reason, rather then refer to these places as 'galleries' my understanding was they were seen as 'museums'!  Foam had a great cafe to sit at and sip a latte or beer as you surfed on the free wifi!  Huis Marseille was much larger and such a lovely building to lose yourself in. Apparently I had arrived at Huis Marseille at the right time, as it had been linked it to the adjacent canal house by new doorways on three floors. There were now 10 galleries/rooms!

There were some great images on show, but I recall particularly being captivated by some of Juul Kraijer's works!
Here is something from her exhibition:

                                                                 'untitled' (2013)

Ilona Plaum also exhibited during my visit. Here is something of hers:

                                       'Horizon as reproduction (17)', (2010)


Speaking of art and culture, by chance, I came across a lovely man who kindly provided me with tickets to the Dutch National Ballet! It was the first and so far only, time I had been to the ballet. The Piece was titled 'Corps' and was amazing. The Corps are the group of dancers who provide a backdrop for the principle dancers. The three pieces in the performance were; the second act of "La Sylphide", "Corps", and "The body of the national ballet". I took along a Alberto, a Cuban man I met on holiday who sounded like Ricky Ricardo when he spoke. He was quite sweet and quite tender... but perhaps more about him another time?... anyway, Alberto and I really enjoyed our evening at the ballet! I should add that Alberto also accompanied me to Huis Marseille.

Here is a trailer for Corps:




Here is an abstract image I took during my time at Foam (or Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam):

Some of my images from Huis Marseille.

Looking out the window:

all photographs copyright matthew schiavello 2014, except  'untitled' (2013) which is copyright Juul Kraijer and 'Horizon as reproduction (17)', (2010) which is copyright of Ilona Plaum.

Holidays 2013, Netherlands and Belgium pt 9 : Amsterdam - The Arts (pt 1).

Continuing on my irregular blog posts about my holiday late last year to the Netherlands and Belgium are a couple of posts on the art I saw. During my visit to Amsterdam, I went to a handful of beautiful galleries and museums. The Rijksmuseum, which is the State Museum, was one such museum. It is such a beautiful building and has a huge and varied collection. As I love modern art, I was a little disappointed with it's small modern art collection, but that is ok, as I later visited the Stedelijk Museum. This was a favourite of mine, as it is a museum of modern art and had a lovely collection. I could have stayed there forever! In fact, if I ever visit Amsterdam again, I will definitely revisit the Stedelijk Museum.

 Being in Amsterdam, of course I had to visit the Van Gogh Museum! Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed with the pieces on show. I much preferred my visit to the Musée d'Orsay in Paris in 2010 and the beautiful Van Gogh paintings I had seen there. On that same trip overseas, on my way back home, I stopped off at New York and went to the  Museum of Modern Art, where I saw some more beautiful Van Gogh's!  As such, I shouldn't really complain. It wasn't all art museum's though, I also visited Anne Frank's house and yes, I became emotional! 

In the next blog post I will talk about some of the photographic galleries/museums I visited.  Below are some photos from some of my visit's to the museum's mentioned above. I was too overwhelmed at the Frank House to take any photographs and from memory, you may not have been allowed to.


Images from the Rijksmuseum:

Looking through the coloured glass panels at some structural part of the building.. yes I know, I should have been looking at the art that surrounded me, But I can't help myself:

Some famous painting everyone wanted to see...something about Night Watchmen. I can never understand the queues for certain images (which we are all told are 'masterpieces' and we must see them), while so many other beautiful images are left with no one appreciating them...

I was drawn to something  that caught my eye in the stairwell, but I can't recall what it was I photographed:

Images from the Stedelijk Museum:

I have posted this image on my tumblr account and titled it:
 'The moment the viewer of art, becomes art.'

This next one was also recently shared on my tumblr account: 'Above us, around us, within us'

Images from the Van Gogh Museum.

I was taking photos of the details of the building, the lighting, corners, parts of the framing that held the paintings/exhibits and was told by security to stop because it was not allowed. I explained what I was doing, but to no avail. Still I managed to snap a few things before they had spoken to me.

All photographs copyright matthew schiavello 2014

My current cafe exhibition at APTE.

I currently have an exhibition on until June the 3rd. It is titled 'Amsterdam and Abstracts' and is at APTE cafe. The cafe is open 7 days a week during the day. The hours are: 8am-4pm Monday to Saturday and 8am- 3.30pm Sundays. The address is: 538 Heidelberg rd, Alphington!
If you are in the area, please pop in. If you know of someone whom you think would enjoy the exhibition, please let them know about it.

I usually exhibit abstract work, but felt that this cafe exhibition was an opportunity to show another side of my photography.

regards,
matthew.

One of two versions of the flyer:

Some images of me hanging the framed prints:

A sneak peak:

All photographs copyright 2014 Matthew Schiavello and Tomboy Bill

Holidays 2013, Netherlands and Belgium pt 8: The Bicycles of Amsterdam

It has been a while since I posted about my holiday to the  Netherlands and Belgium late last year. Here is the next installment, a short pictorial post about the bicycles of Amsterdam.

Everywhere you go in the Netherlands you will find bicycles. In Amsterdam the city has special bike paths that put Melbourne's to shame. Visitors to the city need to quickly get their heads around these paths, otherwise you will be run over by a bicycle and I kid you not.

Graffiti above a bicycle reminding me which city I was in.

 

Even the posher suburbs have bicycles chained to their lovely faux period lamp posts!

Somewhere in Jordaan:

Did I incorrectly give you the impression that bicycles are neatly chained up one per post?:

Less cluttered:

So many places have signs stating not to leave or chain your bicycle near or against walls/windows.. This person ignored the sign and the neighbourhood cat was not impressed!

The thing that struck me about Amsterdam was the variety of styles of bike:

Using a milk crate on your bike as storage must be a universal idea?

When I arrived back home I was inspired to buy a dutch style bike. The bike shop I went to was run by a Dutch man..what are the odds? He advised that the heavy frames on these bikes are fine for the flat Netherlands, but not so good for bike riding in Melbourne...So I left empty handed, what a shame!
Maybe I will simply have to move to the Netherlands?
For now,

Vaarwel!

All photographs copyright matthew schiavello 2013-2014

Some of my recent abstract photographs: April 2014

As we head into a long religious weekend (for some) and as I edge closer to a cafe exhibition in very early May, here are some more of my recent-ish abstract photographic works.

                                                               

                                  
                                                          'Obscured #154'

 

                                                               'Inner city lines #90'

                                                                 'Dance of the Infidels'

                                                                     'Untitled #49'
                                                                      For Thierry

 

'Red #60'

'Trust. #5'

                                                                     ‘circular  #26’

All images copyright matthew schiavello 2014

The little black Melways

There I was, I had just sold my car to a very straight, young middle eastern mechanic who worked for my mechanic, who I had been going to for years and years. I had given the young man the keys and said kindly (because I am a very generous man!), "Keep the Melways, it is current, I have no need of it"..... and then a day later I realised with embarrassment what I had left him with, was actually my little 'black' Melways!

***At this very early juncture, I should point out that 'Melways' is the brand of a Melbourne (where I live) street directory. The 'Mel' in Melways being for Melbourne. I did not realise this till a couple of years ago when I was interstate and asked someone if there was a Melways about so that we could work out how to get 'unlost. They they looked at me like I was an idiot .. "Umm this is Brisbane...Melways are for Melbourne!, here it is called Brisways!" they snorted. "Oh!", was my confused and embarrassed reply. Who knew?

Now, back to the main point of all of this!....Being a single modern man, I have been 'out there'. I don't mean in the garden doing some much needed weeding, but out there, on the dating scene. Dating is word that for me has wholesome connotations and I guess the modern scene is often anything but...but what is my point? A post lamenting the loss of more innocent times? No, something a little more sordid. Today's dating scene is more like a .. well, you meet online, you exchange 'vitals' and interests and then before you have finished saying hello and starting the small talk about the weather and contemporary art, 'Bob's your uncle!' ( a euphemism for: making hay while the sun shines (can you use a euphemism to explain the meaning of another euphemism?)).

So, being an 'out there' modern dating man, I have had my fair share of 'dates' and because I can be forgetful.. I would dot point important details of said dates .. name, address, phone number, 'vitals', 'interests' and important information like - 'nice guy but boring', 'bad breath' etc.... now, because I am practical.. I go that little bit further with all of this and just in case I want to go back on another 'date'.. I placed these little bits of paper, on the actual page of the Melways  (road directory) where they lived. This obviously makes it easier for me if I wanted to visit them again. With me being 'that way inclined'.. this also means these little bits of paper obviously had other men's details on them. 

Anyway ..So here I am, having sold my car and given away my little black Melways with all of it's dirty little secrets, names, addresses, numbers etc,  to a young and very straight  mechanic, who worked for my mechanic  etc.......which all means that obviously I can never go back to that most brilliant of brilliant mechanics.... but at the same time I cannot leave these other peoples personal details 'out there' in the greater world where they may be  used to hurt them in some way... can I?  

Maybe?

What a dilemma!.. what to do?
I mean, another option would be to have the young man sacked so that I can go back to my mechanics if I need to and then won't have to shamefully face him.

Before anyone gets all up in arms, of course I know what I 'must' do...which is the 'right thing' of course! Being of southern Italian blood, the 'right thing' would mean to have him 'removed' permanently. But, being a kind hearted man, I ignore the voice of Calabrese reason and
after much deep breathing and many slugs of hard liquor, I venture back to the mechanics (where I knew the car was waiting on some much needed repair work) and asked  my car's new young owner if I could grab an important document I think I left in the Melways..  He was polite enough and pointed out where the car was. Acting as calm as a cucumber I quickly nabbed all the dirty little bits of proof of the wicked life I had led ( a statement which incorrectly infers that I am now a model catholic!) and believe it or not.. In a panic I actually contemplated  eating the 'evidence' in case he came over and caught me red-handed with it.. but then thought about how I had no fluid/drink to wash the paper down with and my mouth would surely get all dry.. because it was probably like eating dry biscuits.. right?..and your mouth gets so dry that you can't actually swallow! So I took it all home and shredded it instead. I sighed a huge sigh of relief because not only was I amazingly clever and saved the day for millions of unsuspecting gay, bisexual and 'curious' Melbourne men, but now, no one would ever know about my shameful little black Melways.

I am certain that there is a lesson there in all of this... but I'll be buggered if I can find it ;-)