Not just bright lights, the art of Spectra
29 June 2013
“What is with that noise s**t?” says the bogan just near me. Just ahead an old woman in a wheelchair is being slowly pushed up the hill toward the towering lights. Spectra beams its way skyward seeming to reach to the very heavens. I crane my neck and almost fall backwards as I try to see where it ends. I thought the fifteen kilometre high claim might have been an exaggeration, now I believe it. It really does look awesome. Mad props to my mate Nick Monk for letting me use his images for this post.
Usually at this time of year Tasmanians are hunkered down staring at their own navels feeling depressed, complaining about the cold and the state of the Tasmanian economy. As one of my Facebook friends put it... for Tasmanians...
...Winter is the season where people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat.Instead this winter Hobart was buzzing with Dark MOFO. If you’re from out of town Dark MOFO was a winter festival of music and art the brainchild of David Walsh and the folks from the Museum of Old and New Art. The crowning awesome was Ryoji Ikeda’s Spectra, a light installation on the Domain Cenotaph stretching fifteen kilometres up into the sky.
For a week my Facebook newsfeed was filled with pictures of the Spectra instead of baby photos and nightclub style selfies. I saw everything from grainy insta-phone images to professionally photographed shots. Unmissable in rain and fog, Spectra had become the night-time unifying point of reference for everyone in Hobart. It felt like everyone had to see it and get their little piece of it.
It got people talking. Discussions as to if a big bright light in the sky actually constituted art. Other arguments were had about the environment and effect that powering the huge beams had. There were even calls to make the installation permanent, as great herds of rugged up people could be seen flocking to Spectra like moths to a flame. The festival also had an alluring effect, with a flood of ex-pats coming back to Hobart to visit. Ordinarily this only happens during the warmer months and for family shenanigans at Christmas and Easter. Instead people were flying BACK to Hobart... for a festival... in the middle of winter. It’s unheard of for Tasmania.
I think the real success of Spectra was its accessibility. It got a huge number of people talking about art who wouldn’t otherwise have, from academics, to small children. People of all classes and socioeconomic statuses were united in looking toward and talking about the "great light in the sky".
There was also some discussion about what Spectra stood for. Quoting from Genesis 1:3 “Let there be light” the artist himself described the work as “Pointing a fleshless finger at our town straight down, it seems, from some sort of imagined, omniscient seat in the sky.” For me Spectra reminded me to look upward especially in the depths of a cold Tasmanian winter. It reminded me that the world is bigger than just me and my small life that I share it with many others. It reminded me that I’m linked to the hundreds of thousands of other people here in the greater Hobart area all who can see the same things I see. It pointed me to something bigger that despite my very best efforts I can’t quite reach.
For Tasmanians, it reminds us that we actually have a lot to be proud of. Thank-you David Walsh for reminding us that we have in Tasmania is unique, awesome and worth coming back to even in the depths of a cold winter.
tags friends, linkage, pictures, thinking
The rock concert... what happend to the drunk girl?
14 March 2009
It’s early on a Saturday night and I’m sitting on my prime-viewing ledge at the University Union bar. The gig starts. A guy in a crazy green suit wanders on stage (see below). His lyrics are garbled noise over a disco pop beat with a really heavy bass. He screams… a lot. From my position I watch as he wanders the room assaulting members of the audience and screaming in their faces. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. I want to hate and dismiss him as a crazy wanker but he’s just too keen.
I'm getting bored. On the other side of the room I spot a security guy with his fluro top on inside out. Classic. Next a guy walks past me wearing sunglasses on his head. No kidding. It’s night and we’re indoors. Evidently his girlfriend has the same disease of stupid cause she has her sunglasses on her head too. In front of me stands meat head man with a mullet that partially obscures his Opeth tee.
The support band come out, Trial Kennedy. They rock hard in a way your Mum would hate. Their drummer doesn't have a shirt. They have strong harmonious vocals reminiscent of The Butterfly Effect. People look more drunk. It dawns on me that in order to dance up the front you need a lot of confidence or just be really pissed. I can’t see myself doing either maybe that’s why I don’t dance.
It’s about 11pm when Birds of Tokyo come on stage. The lead singer looks like my computer nerd friend Matt. He dances with a sort of jerky nerdy motions. His vocals are spot on. The crowd seems to pulsate in time to the music like a large bodily organ. It’s the middle of the concert and a slight framed (drunk) girl jumps up next to me and proceeds to fall asleep. I’m not sure how, the music is very loud. Jason leans in and asks me if she’s ok.
They pump through their songs and people seem to enjoy it. Light explodes all over the room, music washes over me. I tap along. It’s a nice night out and I feel young again.
Car Alterations*
23 February 2009
It’s lazy Sunday afternoon and my mobile phone rings. It’s Davo. Usually when we call each other there’s a bit of silly brotherly banter and maybe an impression of our Dad… but not this time there’s a no-nonsense tone in his voice.
“Now listen carefully man. I’m serious. I’ve had an accident in the car. I’m Ok and in Launny in the Hospital.”
My guts sink in me. “You ok then?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Camry?”
“It’s a write off."
“Oh well don’t worry about that.” (I‘ve always had a love hate relationship with that car).
“Do you want me to pick you up?” I say looking at Christine to see if it’s ok.
“Sure.”
“I’ll leave straight away seeya soon.”
I don’t think I’ve moved faster out the door in my life. Redbull check. Water check, ipod check, and I’m off. The road isn’t too busy and the traffic is light. I drive with the headlights on and the speedo bang on 110. Drink water, overtake, Campbell Town, egg and bacon pie. Time moves quickly. Two hours pass.
Davo walks out to meet me as I pull up outside the hospital. I give him a big hug that he probably doesn’t like. He tells me what happened. He’s pretty calm, Dave and are usually are pretty calm when s**t hits the fan. He tells me how the car slid off the road and how the tree just missed him. He tells me how people picked him up with all his bike stuff and helped him strip the car of it’s small Sony stereo and battery. We spend 15 mins talking to the insurance company to make sure they can recover the car before heading.
We pick up Davo’s stuff from a short stocky friendly guy we chuck it in the back of my newly fixed Corolla… it all fits. We drive back. We talk but don’t chit chat much, we don’t need to. We’ve travelled together many times before. It’s like communicating in code. We get back and it’s about 9pm. I drop Dave off after visiting Mum and Dad who are surprisingly calm.
It’s 10pm and wearily open the door to our flat.
“That you Mike?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m having some strong contractions.”
*Davo thought of this title.
I don't like Bible study but I do like Tim.
19 February 2009
Now don't get me wrong. It's not that I don't like the Bible or studying the bible itself. What I'm talking about are small groups that weekly read through a passage in the Bible with a series of set (or unset) questions. Let me try and pin why I don't like it.
- It always feels out of control and messy. Sometimes it can feel like everyone wants to have their little say but we just don't get anywhere.
- I'm not always awesome thinking on my feet and often struggle to "get" what people are saying.
- Sometimes they end up pointless arguments over small things.
- I never feel totally confident leading a study. I used to spend hours and hours preparing for studies and was still wracked with self doubt.
- I freak out a bit when I can't answer every question.
- It's worth noting this is my personal feeling and not a reflection on others. On the flip side I really enjoy 'one to one' and preaching... but just not Bible study.
Tim you get the award for being a Christian I truly respect.
*Just so you know I'm stopping the MENS study to free myself up to run another Bible study here at Jane.
tags christians i respect, friends, thinking
Bad fashion... Jake Bevan
17 January 2009
Jake is one of the new MTS Apprentices* at Crossroads . Like I did, he has to raise all his own wage for his two year term. He needs your financial and prayer support... also a new pair of black socks for committing this bad fashion crime on Sunday night.
If you'd like know more or send him some dosh see here.
*The same job as I had.
tags friends, linkage, ministry, pictures, stupid award
5 christian friends who have influenced me
02 January 2009
- Mikey – Pastor of Crossroads church. Taught me much about myself and my relationship to ministry and people. Helped me to move more like a ninja when I talk about my faith and showed great belief in me and they gifts I have.
- Seumas – Bible College and language ninja extraordinary. Seumas always thinks outside the square. He’s from Sydney not Hobart and he’s cool but in weird way. Amazing intellect. We chat regularly on Skype.
- Benny – Taught me heaps about ministry and University work. He also taught me humility and how to disciple others, helped shape my mind to become sharp. He also stood by me in some really tough times.
- Sam Green – For preaching and teaching faithfully good solid theology and grounding me in basic understanding of the Bible over my Uni years.
- Paul Chew – Taught me the basics of Romans 1-5 and put up with my annoying questioning of everything in Bible study when I first become a Christian. Thinks outside the square and puts up with my annoying questions still.
tags christian, christians i respect, friends, linkage, ministry
Vision and 5 values for the Crossroads Office
26 December 2008
Vision: Luke H is impressed. Luke is our standard. When he wants to hang in the Crossroads office we have achieved our goal. We are still a long way off this.
- Neat and tidy. I managed this pretty consistently all year. I bought a vacuum cleaner and emptied the bins weekly. I cleaned and dusted.
- No accumulated rubbish and crap - For some reason the Crossroads office ended up as a dumping ground for crap. I took a whole trailer load of it to the tip late in the year. Churches and offices have to get better at throwing out donated crap.
- Thankful - We don’t pay rent and our landlords are awesome if a little Christian crazy.
- Hospitality - I didn’t quite nail this one this year but simple things such as making sure the tea and coffee are well stocked up and fresh. Maybe some icy cold cans.
- Not Belkirk - We want our office to be progressive with money allocated each year for small improvements. Maybe a nicely painted feature wall and no junk see point two.
tags christian, friends, linkage, ministry tips
Thanks Mikey
19 December 2008
I think I first got to know Mikey when I was around eighteen. I didn't click with him straight away, he seemed just a bit too smart. Kinda like people who you are too scared to talk to. He'd just become a Christian and seemed to have a real burning passion for what he believed in. I really respected this especially because I'd grown up as a church kid. Even though he (and most of us) said and did some silly things back in those days, I always had a sense that Mikey's heart was always in the right place.
I got to know him a bit better when he and Nikki moved into "The Castle" my now famous (or infamous) sharehouse. He and Nikki lived in the very top room. He used to sit up in their room writing sermons and long seminars for "Fightclub" our church ministry training course.
I couldn't say we got along really well or that we were close friends during this time but I remember realising that I didn't need to be intimidated by him anymore. Our time at the castle came to a close and we all moved out. It'd been my hope to move with Mike, Nikki and the others to another share house.
Mikey then did something that taught me a very profound lesson. I was about 23 or 24 and didn't have a particularly well rounded understanding of people outside of myself. He took me aside and explained I wasn't the easiest person to live with and it had been hard for he and Nikki to live with me. Although the criticism cut deep and I was pretty upset I knew it was fair . I apologised begged Mikey for another chance. After talking with Nikki, they decided to give me a second chance.
I learned a lot about myself that day, and my treatment of others. Still more I learned about giving people a second chance. I learned about grace. Mikey showed me that being a Christian wasn't just about being forgiven by a gracious God, but about showing that gift to other people.
Mikey has been fantastic in looking after me this year while I've been working at church. He's been patient and careful in his advice. We've even had fun working in the Crossroads office encouraging each other in anal orgnaisationalness. Of course it would be easy to miss Nikki out but if you know Mikey well you learn that she plays a very important role in his work too not just looking after the kids but giving him advice. She lets him give generously of his time and for this I'm grateful.
Mikey has been a great supporter of myself and my work over both the years I've been working. This year particularly he has taught me many things and been very patient. I'm very very grateful to him for his help and the hard work that he's put into me, my church and many other Christians here in Hobart and beyond. Thanks heaps man.
tags christian, christians i respect, friends, ministry
Writing sermons my way...
14 December 2008
I thought I'd write down a few thoughts about how I go about preparing a sermon. Please note this isn't meant to be necessarily prescriptive or imitated rather it's what I find helpful. Take from it what you want.
Maybe have a look and see how many things in the picture that would help me.- Computer - I write all my sermons out pretty much in full in Word. I'd find it hard to write without my computer.
- Bible Gateway - I use this to get all my quotes and cross references from the Bible. It also lets me look at different translations.
- I think hard over and read over the passage and try and run it through my head in the weeks up till I preach.
- I think really hard about what my hearers need to hear. I sit and daydream their world so I know how to speak to it. I think hard about how the passage applies them. I sometimes get a strong feeling about what I need to say to them or what I'd like to say. I always then check back that this is actually what my text is saying.
- Take notes - Having read, prayed and thought about my text I take written notes. I write out a rough structure (points etc). It's usually messy and undergoes much revision.
- Dictionary - I use an online or hard copy to help me define any terms I don't understand
- New Bible Commentary - I like this. It gives a good overview without being overly technical. I use it to make sure I'm not off track with my ideas.
- Other Commentaries - I looked at two. Martin Lloyd-Jones and Don Carson. I found them pretty helpful. Sometimes they'd have a interesting observation or way of putting things. I'll write down anything that looks interesting or useful.
- I'll usually also grab a couple of books I've been reading recently and check to see if they have anything I can use that applies to my passage (it's easy just check the index).
- Google - I find is great to help me find quotes and cool ways of putting things in a fresh light. I especially like it when I find "non Christians" saying things similar to a point I'm trying to make with my sermon. (eg. See below)
- I like to think of catchy phrases to as I write/think. Things like "Sitting in the gutter looking at the stars" (which google tells me is from Oscar Wilde).
- Ask Christine - I'm generally not really good at this but Christine always gives helpful advice and links.
- Online Sermons - I listened to a couple. One by a preacher down at Kingston Church, the other by John Piper. Again I take notes and write down anything that looks good or useful.
- I next I paste the text I'm using into Word with verse/passage at top to keep referring to. I add any quotes in typing them out in full.
- As I write, I preach what I write. I say things aloud as if I was preaching to listeners. This way my text sounds like a sermon not an essay.
- I like to phone a friend. My friend Seumas is one of my brains trusts. Often I get him to jot down some thoughts on a passage if it's something he's studied. We either chat on facebook, skype or msn.
- I usually also run stuff by Mikey. With this one I sent him my text via email and we talked about it over the phone.
- It's really important to apply the passage to your own life. It took me a while with this last sermon but I think my best application was aimed squarely at myself.
- As I write more I practice parts (or all) of the sermon and work out how to vary the tone in my voice.
- Lastly I print out the final copy and highlight and underline it to reflect how I want to say things.
tags christian, friends, linkage, shameless self promotion, thinking
This is also really stupid
13 December 2008
Internet Censorship. My friend Seumas says why... and I agree.
I may add some thoughts of my own at some stage.
tags friends, linkage, stupid award, thinking
Happy Birthday TBT
09 December 2008
Tonight was the first birthday of Tuesday Crossroads move to the Toilet Block (read Community Centre) in South Hobart. Mikey and I with a bunch of dudes from the TBT tribe worked getting the advertising out to the South Hobart Community.
We letter boxed about 1000 fliers, put posters in local shop windows and on notice boards. A couple of the fellas went and asked businesses for donations. They got a truck load of bread, snags, drinks etc. Our kick arse parents from Crossroads House and Sunday nighters brought along cool stuff for a couple of market style stalls.
And.... the rain stayed away... and people actually came... from the South Hobart Community.
You can see from the pictures it's the most successful event TBT has hosted. I'm happy with how things turned out. You can see all the pictures on facebook. Pop along and tag a nice picture of ya self. Happy Birthday TBT.
tags christian, friends, linkage, ministry, pictures, update
It's funny cause it's true
06 December 2008
Click to enlarge for full hilarity. Cheers to Pryderi for the link. Original image here*.
*That's for you Jason
tags friends, linkage, pictures
What the kids are up to...
24 November 2008
My mate Josh sent me though a link for one schoolie who is blogging their experiences for a West Australian newspaper.
Leavers started off with a bang for my mate. He scored and I got kicked out of our room. He got her number but reckons he won’t bother calling her. Just a one-night stand, he says.It's interesting stuff. You can read more here.
tags friends, linkage, thinking
Capitalism or Socialism?
19 November 2008
What's the Christian approach? As I promised earlier Mikey answers the question. Below are my sketchy sermon notes. Enjoy.
1. The Legitimacy of Private Property
- God rules over all
- God Gives his people "stuff"
- Incentive doesn't equal greed
- What about Acts 4:32?
- A fair system/method versus a fair outcome/result
- God can do both
- God brings justice and judges
- Bible rebukes unfairness of method
- We must hear this voice
- We must be generous
tags christian, friends, linkage, ministry
(My) Unofficial Birthday Party
15 November 2008
Last year Jonny and I shared a music/karaoke party. We got a couple of bands together including my good friends Dave Mac and Alex P. The night was a memorable and enjoyable. We played an assortment of covers. I ripped it up on the drums. Alex ripped up with some AC/DC. And Dave put us all to shame with some very professional Crowded House covers.
This year I decided that this year rather than inflicting my musical talents on my friends I'd just head along to Jonny's party.
But if you like bad covers singing and music but a rocking good time consider this an unofficial invitation to my unofficial birthday party. I can't put the invite better than Jonny.
Anyone with a practiced piece of music is most welcome, and an ability to jam on more than 2 chords will be just as good. "The band" may even practice requested songs before hand, but I doubt it.More details here.
Bring your own food and drinks, but if this turns into a drunken karaoke night that features "ultimate rock balards" that the band can't even play, then I guess it won't be as bad as last year.
Fundamentalism and what I believe
07 November 2008
Mikey and I had an interesting conversation the other day about the differences between Fundamentalism and what I'd describe as the form of evangelicalism we'd subscribe to.
You can read the write up of his thoughts here.
tags christian, friends, linkage, thinking
Swapping Adam's Lunch
05 November 2008
And put it on his Salada Biscuits being careful to make it look exactly the same from the outside.
Looks exactly the same. Perfect
Then while he was distracted I did the switch. He may have just caught me do something so I distracted him with a little "patter" about current events. Any fears he had were removed. A smooth well executed operation.Adam if you are reading this I'll see you at Lunch.
tags friends, shameless self promotion
What would Mr Meaty do?
02 November 2008
Josh asks a common question in a timely manner. This is Josh's second go at blogging and he's been hard at it... it's definitely worth a read.
How do you live in a world of suffering?
19 October 2008
It's a very good question. Dan gives a very good sermon in response. It's one of his best to date. start listening here or right click to download.
tags christian, friends, linkage, ministry tips, pictures, thinking
The hardest words of all
02 October 2008
Fiona says...
I read somewhere recently that “sorry”, “please” and “thank you” should be the hallmarks of a Christian life... more.
tags christian, friends, linkage, ministry
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