02.12
THIS PAINTING (PAINTED 1975) – WAS LOST IN THE FLOOD. FIRST TIME ON THIS SITE.
This was painted during my HSC year in Upwey High School, Melbourne (Australia), as a mature age student. I was 23 at the time. It was an eventful year of having late nights and turning up late to school. Each school day, I would arrive at Upwey by train from Box Hill, prior to a lesson. I was usually late – and would grab a pie for breakfast in one of the shops of the little main street of Upwey. Then head into class. What slothful days, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Alas, I lost this painting to the Bundaberg flood on Australia Day 2013 (26th January). I had too many artworks to hang. So many were stored on the floor in the spare room. My unit was inundated, mud and water everywhere. In the chaos, I managed to be calm enough to hose the mud from paintings, and take photos of many of them, before disposing of them in the street. So glad I did. “Attachment”, as the ol’ Buddha said, ain’t too good for us. He was right. The flood cleared out all my furniture and much of my chattels – I was well-purged, and the better for it (after the initial feelings of loss). of course, I am still attached to this image now, in electronic form, so what did I really learn from Buddha? At least it doesn’t take up room in my little unit!