SDP on tour....The beach at Villefranche-sur-Mer

I have wanted to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer since I glimpsed it from the railway station a few years ago. This year I got the chance.

It's a lovely town, and great place to swim.

From the railway platform there's a fantastic panoramic view.

The couple above were entirely aware of themselves, posing in the most self-conscious of ways. Maybe they were even the grandchildren of this 1960s postcard couple, who seemed rather more oblivious to their surroundings!

Acts of Kindness

An art project by Michael Landy, Acts of Kindness explores the meaning of kindness in our fast-paced world, focussing on everyday acts of compassion and generosity that go unoticed in the city streets.

This one says "My work driveway is on Pitt Street and getting out at peak hour can be tough, as commuters rush to Wynyard Station to head home at the end of the day. Most nights I rely on an everyday act of kindness - a commuter stopping at the drive and ushering me on so I can get my car out. Thank you!

SDP on tour . . . African music in Gorbio

The band of entertainers were from Burkina Faso in West Africa. It was previously known as Upper Volta, and is a former French colony. It's had a pretty turbulent political history.

 

Here's a couple of short videos to give you a flavour

Art and About ... time for a bit of a rest!

Just a few metres away from the installation shown yesterday, we came across this sofa, just waiting for us! Having walked several kilometres around Sydney looking at art, it seemed like a great place for Sue and I to have a bit of a rest!

SDP on tour . . African night in Gorbio village

Gorbio is a medieval village in the hills above Menton. It osts numerous cultural festivals, particularly in summer. This night was an African night. Before the entertainment we all sat in the main square of the village and dined on African-inspired food, and drank some wine.

This adorable baby and her family above were part of the spectators. I just love that these events involve the whole community, and multiple generations of family. I can think of very few occasions other than family-specific celebrations where this happens in my home city....

Darkness fell and the singing and dancing began....which I will show tomorrow.

Art and About ... Deconstructing Ways by Isidro Blasco

Deconstructing Ways on the corner of Mullins Street and Market Row. This installation "creates a parallel world for your imagination to step into. Another option to the usual route appears - distorted, but strangely more real than the street you are standing on."

You do feel as if you could walk into it. At first I thought the car coming out of Market Row had spoiled that snap and I'd need to take more, but when I looked at it on the computer, decided it actually "made" the photo! It hides the disjuncture at the pavement level.

The photo below reveals more of how the work is located and constructed. It's like a movie set - all facade and perspective, mounted on a wooden backing scaffold.

SDP on tour ... the shower

Recently Jilly from Menton Daily Photo commented that the beach showers in Menton are superior to those in Ventimiglia - and they are!

Art and About ... peri(pheral)scopes looking over to the over-looked

In Skittle Lane, there is an installation by Heidi Alexson, Adriano Pupilli and Hugo Moline -  a series of periscopes, purportedly showing views of Western Sydney (the over-looked part of Sydney). Only one was working when we stopped by. But I loved the graffiti art (NOT part of the official art...) backdrop to one of the periscopes.

Here's a previous post on Skittle Lane and how it got its name.

SDP on tour ... angel in Old Menton cemetery

Art and About...Untitled by Magda Sayeg

In Sussex Lane is this Yarnbombing, or Gueriila Knitting installation by Magda Sayeg.