COAL + R = CORAL / RCOAL CROAL CORAL COARL ...

click ideogram below for full elaboration

When the Australian Parliament last sat, we were treated to Treasurer Morrison and the COALition's TAR pit performance "Behold, this is coal!".

Theatre of the Actors of Regard / HAND SPACE  

photo ABC | Nick Haggerty  

After a two week break, Parliament is sitting again. So, let the show continue.

       

Theatre of the Actors of Regard / HAND SPACE  

Senator Richard di Natale, leader of The Greens, in a Senate hearing yesterday : Behold, not COAL, but CORAL! Dead coral, killed by coal, bleached of colour, white.

The Senator formally regards it himself, as above, then shows it to a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority witness. 

He asks  the witness, who has just referred to particular dead corals : "Do they look like this? Is this what you'd expect them to look like?"

The Authority chairman, Russell Reichelt replies : "That looks like a dead coral to me." (Thoughts of the dead parrot routine.)

Theatre of the Actors of Regard / HAND SPACE  

Committee chair Linda Reynolds advises Senator Di Natale against using props.
 
"Senator di Natale, it's a prop, and you know that you're not supposed to use props... "

  

Theatre of the Actors of Regard / HAND SPACE  

Rather than desist, the senator reveals an additionally concealed lump of black coal which he holds in his other hand as he promotes his case. As precedent, he refers to Treasurer Morrison's recent lump of coal exhibition in the House of Reps.

The chair is unimpressed and temporarily suspends the inquiry.

Back in his office, Senator di Natale recreates his performance for the media.

What immortal hand or eye
Could frame this fearful symmetry?
(apologies to Blake)

Theatre of the Actors of Regard / HAND SPACE  

If you cant beat 'em...
   

Behold!

Theatre of the Actors of Regard / HAND SPACE  

 detail 

 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

 someone looks at something... 

         

 LOGOS/HA HA

          

  

  

TRUMP bans BBC CNN NYT Guardian and bL/HA from media briefing. The FOX is let in.

The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan 
Under my battlements.
  
(from Macbeth, spoken by Lady Macbeth)

Theatre of the Actor Ravens  

  
I am hardly obliged to answer the ravens of a madman.

(from TAR Grit, spoken by the girl)
   

Theatre of the Actor Ravens  

detail 

A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something... 

         
LOGOS/HA HA
          

  

  

ART CLUB | Ian Dury And The Blockheads

 

Enrolments are now open for ACCA’s Art Club commencing in 2017. 

In the deserts of Sudan
And the gardens of Japan
From Milan to Yucatan
Every woman, every man

Meetings are held at ACCA and other locations to be advised.

Hit me with your rhythm stick
Hi me! Hit me!
Je t'adore, ich liebe dich
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick
Hit me slowly, hit me quick
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

Art Club meets one Thursday per month, from 6–8pm. 

In the wilds of Borneo
And the vineyards of Bordeaux
Eskimo, Arapaho
Move their body to and fro

Designed for people with a passion for contemporary art, this regular meeting group takes ACCA’s exhibitions as a starting point to share ideas and explore the wide-ranging subjects that inspire artists. 

Hit me with your rhythm stick
Hit me! Hit me!
Das ist gut! C'est fantastique!
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick
It's nice to be a lunatic
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

The group meets ten times per year with members of the ACCA artistic team and special guests, including artists and curators, who make these encounters relevant and informative. 

Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

Art Club is perfect for anyone who wants to get behind the scenes of ACCA’s exhibitions and explore galleries, studios and collections in a convivial environment.

In the dock of Tiger Bay
On the road to Mandalay
From Bombay to Santa Fe
Over hills and far away

Yearly membership $950

Hit me with your rhythm stick
Hit me! Hit me!
C'est si bon, mm? Ist es nicht?
Hit me! hit me! hit me!
Hit me with your rhythm stick
Two fat persons, click, click, click
Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

Wine and readings provided

Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me!
Hit me! Ow!

Art Club, 2016. Photograph: Jenny Lee

Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick [Official Video]  

Theatre of the Actors of Regard  

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something... 

         
LOGOS/HA HA
          

Arthur Miller in the Time of Trump

On 18 February 2017, President Donald Trump gave a speech in Melbourne... (no, not that Melbourne) in Melbourne, Florida, during which he sparked confusion with a reference to unspecified events in Sweden... [via Snopes,Vox]

To introduce that event, may we introduce ...

           

Melania Trump

Thank you. Let us pray. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasses against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Good afternoon. It is my honor and great pleasure to stand here before you as the First Lady of the United States. The America we envision is one that works for all Americans, and where all Americans can work and succeed. A nation committed to a greater civility and unity between people from all sides of the political divide. I will always stay true to myself and be truthful to you, no matter what the opposition is saying about me.

I will act in the best interest of all of you. I am committed to creating and supporting initiatives dear to my heart, which will have impacts on women and children all around the world.

My husband is creating a country of great safety and prosperity. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to introduce the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

     

Earlier in the day, President Trump tweeted :

The FAKE NEWS media 

failing@nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN

is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People! 

8:48 AM - 18 Feb 2017 

In his address to the 9,000 ardent supporters at the Melbourne aircraft hanger, he said :
   

Here’s the bottom line. We’ve got to keep our country safe. You look at what’s happening. We’ve got to keep our country safe. You look at what’s happening in Germany, you look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this. Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible. You look at what’s happening in Brussels. You look at what’s happening all over the world. Take a look at Nice. Take a look at Paris. We’ve allowed thousands and thousands of people into our country and there was no way to vet those people. There was no documentation. There was no nothing. So we’re going to keep our country safe.

detail 

A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something... 

         
LOGOS/HA HA

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Sweden? or Norway? Henrik Ibsen, An Enemy of the People, 1882? or an American enemy, Arthur Miller? 

Regard of Miller's 1951 Ibsen adaptation An Enemy of the People is performed here by the playwright's wife (1956-1961) the actor and media sTAR Marilyn Monroe.

Theatre of the Actors of Regard  

detail 

A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something... 

         
LOGOS/HA HA
          

So, where to next :

Death of a Salesman or The Crucible?

     

Theatre of the Actors of Regard  

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A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something... 

         
LOGOS/HA HA
          

 

Sisters of the Word

Two artist nuns of our interest, Otagaki Rengetsu
(1791-1875) and Corita Kent (1918-1986).

Both have had exhibitions of their artwork in Melbourne over the past decade : Rengetsu at the RMIT University Gallery in 2008, Black Robe, White Mist: Art of the Japanese Buddhist nun Rengetsu and Corita Kent in Sister Corita's Summer of Love 
currently (until 26 March) at The Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne University.


Portrait of Rengetsu, age 81, by Ueda Kokei

The chosen name Otagaki Rengetsu translates as Lotus Moon. The enlightenment progress of the beholder of the sake cup below (upturned) begins at the lotus roots in the mud and the darkness beneath the cup. From there upward, divided, the stems reach through the realm of words and other symbols to the surface of the light-beckoning water : beyond to the full open enso moon, enlightenment.

In the beginning, there was no set price for her pottery. People gave what they could. One day, a wealthy customer left quite a tidy sum of money in a payment envelope. (In Japan, money is presented in an envelope to be opened later.) When Rengetsu discovered how much he paid her, she became perturbed. If regular customers found out that Rengetsu’s pottery was valued at such a high price, they would feel compelled to offer more money so that they would not look cheap, the market price would rise, and her work would be less affordable. Thereafter, Rengetsu established a fixed price for her wares, the same cost for everyone.

- from The Rengetsu Circle

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

I’m a printmaker... a very democratic form, since it enables me to produce a quantity of original art for those who cannot afford to purchase high-priced art.
 
- Corita Kent

Corita Kent, F is for food, 1964

Corita Kent, Phil and Dan , 1969 (brothers Philip and Daniel Berrigan were Catholic priests and anti-war activists)

  

Corita Kent, commission - ellsberg poster, 1972 (Daniel Ellsberg was the compiler of The Pentagon Papers - cf. Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning)

Sister Corita Kent examines a screen

Theatre of the Actors of Regard 

detail 

A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something... 

         
LOGOS/HA HA
          

  

  

I’m looking at two United States and one United States, and I like the one that both parties like. (Generation Whatever)

We listened last week to ABC.RN's Future Tense
about Business Corp(se) and their Theatre of the Cult of Happiness. 

Then, this week, to If They're Happy, I'm Happy/
The Art of the Deal routine from President Trump. 

Now, Pharrell Williams' 2014 pop hit 'Happy' reads retrospectively weirdly predictive :   

It might seem crazy what I am about to say
Sunshine she's here, you can take a break
I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don't care, baby, by the way

(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

Speaking alongside Benjamin Netanyahu, US president appears to dismantle years of policy by saying he is looking at multiple options for peace

- The Guardian (15 Feb 2017)

Here come bad news, talking this and that (Yeah!)
Well, give me all you got, don't hold it back (Yeah!)
Well, I should probably warn ya, I'll be just fine (Yeah!)
No offense to you, don’t waste your time
Here's why...

(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

     
"So, I’m looking at a two state and one state, and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like. I could live with either one. I thought for a while the two state looked like it may be the easier of the two, but honestly, if Bibi [Netanyahu] and if the Palestinians, if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I’m happy with the one they like the best."

- President Donald J Trump (15 Feb 2017)
      

(Happy)
Bring me down… can't nothing…
(Happy)
Bring me down… my love is too high…
(Happy)
Bring me down… can't nothing…
(Happy)
Bring me down, I said

(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down…can't nothing…
(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down… my love is too high…
(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down… can't nothing…
(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down, I said

"We are seeing two different Americas right now."

- Jo Ingles, Ohio based journalist speaking on BBC Impact 17 Feb 2017 



Think (Black Flag)

- William Copley, 1967

  

(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I'm happy)
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
[x2]

(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down… can't nothing…
(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down… my love is too high…
(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down… can't nothing…
(Happy, happy, happy, happy)
Bring me down, I said

"What do we mean when we say 'the press' or 'the media'? That's a lot of outlets. That's a lot of people. And the politicians like to paint the media with a broad brush, but it ain't necessarily so. One odd thing about Trump's claims concerning Flynn and the media, is that Trump himself fired the man. He didn't have to. Flynn could be at his side today, or for the next four years, or whatever the duration of the Trump Presidency will be. So, the President has a certain talent : He's acting like some sort of bystander in the matter of Flynn, when the reason Flynn fell is that Trump, the President fired him."

Jay Nordlinger on 'Planet America' (17 Feb 2017)

TAR gallery guide in the role of The Bystander at The Judgement of Solomon by Peter Paul Rubens, Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark

Theatre of the Actors of Regard 

detail 

A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

someone looks at something... 

         
LOGOS/HA HA
          

  

   

'Coal' Morrison and The Taunters of TAR

Pleased as punch
the Minister returns to his pew

to, himself, behold the Holy Coal.
That went quite well, he thinks. 

Hon. ScoMo with Coal and Parliamentary Papers

photo Mike Bowers / The Guardian  

Theatre of the Actors of Regard  

Ringing in his ears

the cheers of the COALition 

the jeers of the mob.
Perfect!

   

TAR : The Opposition front bench responds to the Sight of Coal :
Tanya Plibersek, Chris Bowen and Mark Butler. 

photo Alex Ellinghausen / Fairfax Press 

Somewhere in the Gallery
another bell sounds ...

 St. Stephen with Coal upon Book of Martyrs, after Jean Fouquet

 AAT/Agency of Alternative Truth  

 detail 

 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

 someone looks at something... 

         
 LOGOS/HA HA

  

  

campanoLOGOS/HA HA

the MUMA OSW show 

+

the ACT COALition panto 

______________________

=  the ringinginging of bells 

for instance, from 2008, another event at Monash Uni :

    

Paul Ramirez Jonas and a moment of regard from the conference Out of Bounds : Art, Faith & Religiosity held earlier this year at Monash University (Faculty of Art & Design). The object of Paul's attention derives from the keynote paper by Janine Antoni: When the Object Looks Back

Theatre of the Actors of Regard 

AAA_Art Archive Australia 

photo by FIAPCE 

 detail 

 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

 someone looks at something... 

         
 LOGOS/HA HA
          

  

   

TAR p|resents Das Lumpen Coalition

   COALition (Australia)
   The COALition, also known as the Liberal-National COALition,
   is a political alliance of centre-right liberal and conservative 

   parties, which has existed in Australian politics in various forms

   since 1923. (wikipedia) 

   Leader‎: ‎Malcolm Turnbull
   Deputy Leader‎: ‎Barnaby Joyce
   Treasurer: Scott Morrison
   Minister for Environment and Energy: Josh Frydenberg
   Minister for Revenue and Financial Services: Kelly O'Dwyer

   Minister for Social Services: Christian Porter

____________________________________________

   

   COALophobia 

   "There is no word for 'coalophobia' officially, but that is the 

   malady that afflicts those opposite (The Opposition). It is that 

   malady that is affecting the jobs in the towns and the industries 

   and, indeed, in this country because of the pathological, 

   ideological opposition to coal being an important part of our 

   sustainable and more certain energy future."

      - Scott Morrison, Treasurer

____________________________________________

When the Treasurer read and regarded yesterday's post about OSW...

  

Research image of a Sigillaria fossil,  

Museums Victoria Collection, #375, 2013.  

 photo: Open Spatial Workshop   

  

and grasped the politico-theatrical possibilities of HAND SPACE exposition ... 

                     

AAA_Art Archive Australia  

... he knew he had to act. 

____________________________________________
          
The Honourable Member then concealed upon his person a handsome piece of that ancient fossil fuel and stepped into the Question Time pit to await his moment there to show & share and in communion
bear witness to the crux of COALition.

    CO₂ : in communion,
    Libs + Nats together
    In communion : together,

    to hold and behold 

    COAL : coal

Cometh the moment, cometh the COALman*. Dorothy delivers her dixer and The Treasurer moves to the despatch box with [ beneath a cover 
of white paper, mystical, black, energetic, diamond-to-be...

Hansard records the script : 

Mr MORRISON (Cook—Treasurer) (14:28): "This is coal. Do not be afraid. Do not be scared. It will not hurt you."


 The Treasurer shows the COAL to the Opposition

Theatre of the Actors of Regard / HAND SPACE  

photo ABC | Nick Haggerty  

THE SPEAKER: "The Treasurer knows the rule on props." 

The Treasurer then turns to his COALition fellows and presents the COAL to them.

   

 SHOCK & ORE : Barnaby Joyce beholds the COAL

Theatre of the Actors of Regard | HAND SPACE  

photo Kym Smith | AAP  

          
Mr MORRISON: "It is coal. It was dug up by men and women who work and live in the electorates of those who sit opposite—from the Hunter Valley, as the member for Hunter would know. 
  
Treasurer Morrison continues his sermon as the COALition faithful pass the sacramental matter from one to the next. Along the Ministers of the front bench, then to those in the ranks behind.
  

  

Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg   

formerly dubbed 'Mr Coal'   

was last year upgraded to 'Minister for Coal'   

  

   

Mr MORRISON (continues) : "It is coal that has ensured for over 100 years that Australia has enjoyed an energy-competitive advantage that has delivered prosperity to Australian businesses and has ensured that Australian industry has been able to remain competitive in a global market.

  

             Backbench : Women of COALition share the joy. 

             One by one...  

Theatre of the Actors of Regard | HAND SPACE               

photo ABC | Nick Haggerty               

Those opposite have an ideological, pathological fear of coal. There is no word for 'coalophobia' officially, but that is the malady that afflicts those opposite.

  

             Backbench : Women of COALition share the joy. 

             Two by two...  

Theatre of the Actors of Regard | HAND SPACE               

photo ABC | Nick Haggerty                

It is that malady that is affecting the jobs in the towns and the industries and, indeed, in this country because of the pathological, ideological opposition to coal being an important part of our sustainable and more certain energy future.

Affordable energy is what Australian businesses need to remain competit-ive. They cannot fizzle out in the dark as those opposite would have them do...

 
Below, Minister Kelly O'Dwyer, who is with-child, is proffered the Gift of Coal by the well-named Logos Bearer, the would-be fourth member of the Magi, Christian Porter, Minister for Social Services : 

              Behold ye this offering

                  to the generation unborn,

              Receive ye this gift

                  for the future of all kind.

              "It is coal.

                  Do not be afraid.

              Do not be scared.

                  It will not hurt you."

   

Theatre of the Actors of Regard | HAND SPACE                

photo Alex Ellinghausen | AFR                

         detail 

         A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/

         someone looks at something... 

         
         LOGOS/HA HA