27 SEPT 2023 – Lighthouse Arts, Nobbys Lighthouse, Nobbys-Whibayganba Headland, Newcastle
There were clouds this morning, but they’ve gently faded away. The sky is endless blue over the sapphire ocean, and the stark white of the buildings against this palette remind me of Mykonos. A strange thought; I haven’t been there in decades.
My last day in residence and time to spill the beans with Lighthouse Arts staff. A one-on-one about what I’ve been doing up here. A group photo. A southerly breeze keeping things cooler than last week’s dramatic heat. A bird. A plane. A conversation. Everyone is quietly productive.
Yet today is the first day I’ve created something I’m not happy with. I don’t like my work; it doesn’t speak to this place or my intention. I put it aside and refocus. I have two small tourist plates from Cunard cruise ships in the 90s. I cover the trip maps with white watercolour paper and install cyanotype lighthouse images over the top. The finished work reminds me of portholes, offering round views into the heart of this place. Seems fitting. Feels right.
My headphones sit neglected next to me; I’ve brought them every week and never used them as they block the underlying sounds of wind and water. A ship sounds it horn – the sound of this place.
I can’t help but feel a little sad that these days of blue and white solitude are about to end.
