Lunchtime, Hyde Park (2)

Don't know what all the fuss was about, all I could make out from where I was is that it had something to do with the new Blackberry.

Lunchtime, Hyde Park

Sky Watch Friday

Looking over Hyde Park and the War Memorial on a stormy day.

For more Sky Watch from around the world, drop in to the home of Sky Watch Friday.

Art and About (2)

I hope you can see these. They were taken with the point and shoot cranked up as high as it could go so the quality is pretty poor. This is my favourite of the Art and About installations that I have managed to see this year. I hope you can make out the faces watching from the trees.

Art and About

The top photo won Little Sydney Lives, the children's version of Sydney Life. There wasn't anything that really grabbed me in this year's Sydney Life. This one is clever and I liked it but I wouldn't call it a brilliant photo.

Sky Watch Friday

For more Sky Watch from around the world, drop in to the home of Sky Watch Friday.

Something for nothing

Sky Watch Friday

A beautiful winter's day in Hyde Park.

For more Sky Watch from around the world, drop in to the home of Sky Watch Friday.

MUMSA

These girls are members of MUMSA, the Macquarie University Muslim Students' Association, conducting an awareness and education campaign in Hyde Park one weekend to tell people that Muslims aren't "scary people". No idea why one of them was dressed as a bear.

NAIDOC Week (2)

Scenes from the NAIDOC week celebration in Hyde Park.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia in July each year to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"The theme for NAIDOC Week 2012 is Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on.

"They dared to challenge – this year’s theme celebrates the champions who lived to renew the spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972. Forty years ago, the embassy became a powerful symbol of unity. Its founders instilled pride, advanced equality and educated the country on the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To move forward, we must acknowledge our forbearers, learn from their experiences and ask ourselves… what have their sacrifices meant for me and my family today?"

The Tent Embassy was established on the lawn of what is now old Parliament House, at the time the home of the Australian Parliament. It is still there today.

Sydney Festival - First Night - Hyde Park

Art and About - Little Sydney Lives

My favourite a photo by 9 year old Liam Jones of his soccer team putting hands together after the game.

WHAT IF we saw Sydney from a new perspective – a knee high perspective? To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sydney Life, we’ve asked children 11 years and under to submit photographs that show us Sydney through their eyes. Our judges have selected their favourites, bringing a delightful exhibition of large-scale images from Sydney’s not so large-scale photographers to Hyde Park’s Sandringham Gardens.

The photographers are aged between 3 and 11 years old. The quality of the work is amazing.

Art and About - Sydney Life

Australia Square, Brent MV Wintstone

Always one of the best Art and About exhibits. This is my favourite photograph from Sydney Life this year.

Art and About - Happy Talk

The garment is being knitted from strips of plastic bag.

WHAT IF we became part of a conversation with our Pacific neighbours, building a house together to explore the inventive and resourceful ways Pacific Island communities approach design?

Happy Talk, is an initiative started by Liane Rossler and Heidi Dokulil to open up such a conversation, launches at Art & About with the Happy Talk House project. A pavillion built from timber pallets, using traditional skills, and inspired by the resourcefulness of Gilligan’s Island, this house will become home to public art projects, talks and workshops throughout Art & About, in Sandringham Gardens, Hyde Park.

Archibald and Mary

Been a while since I featured the Archibald Fountain, seen here with St Mary's Cathedral as a backdrop, so here's a recent one taken on a Sydney midwinter's day.

The Bubble Man

It was beautiful, sunny, winter's day and the bubble man was entertaining the kids in Hyde Park.

Keep off the grass

They'll need to do it all over again after the next couple of month's festivals.

Christmas trees (1)

At least they've given the security guard some shelter this year, even if he is sitting on a milk crate. Sad they have a security guard for a Christmas tree.

Art & About - Sydney Life

Nick and Peanut in front of his favourite photograph - Dean Sewell's Sydney Dust Storm. Nick used to be homeless and now lives in the same housing commission complex as the twins in my favourite entry, featured last week.