Gardeners, shed-admirers and garage sellers

The Shed See you gardening from 9 am at the Shed or after on the streets this Friday. Newly painted garden shed The folks at the Pine Street Creative Arts Centre have painted our garden shed.  Wow, terrific and thanks to them all, and to Robert who made it happen. Not sure whether to enter it in the Archibald (as a portrait of a straight-laced gardener’s outfit), never touch it again as it’s too lovely to, say prayers of grace when entering and leaving its stripey... Read More

ABC TV Landline on food security this Sunday

The ABC TV Landline story on food security, that some of us in Chippendale were involved in, is being re-run on ABC 1 this Sunday at noon.   There was some great feedback on this piece last year, so hopefully the repeat will generate a similar response.   Thanks again to Chippo folk and the others in the programme for helping bring this complicated issue to life.   Enjoy, M  Read More

Frasers’ face of greed

Face of greed - pedestrians jammed in narrow footpath to make way for Frasers' car park Trucks, utes and speeding vehicles do left turn here against thousands of pedestrians Took these photos today of the busy Broadway footpath now jam packed with pedestrians.   At one point the passage is about 1 metre.  The photo of the mum with kid in stroller didn’t come out too well so it’s not here.   Frasers greed is now expressed in the footpaths along its site.... Read More

More on Chippo ads

Chippo ads are go Ads that add, not subtract Clive sent me these delightful pics along with a story; here’s his note: “Dear Michael I noticed your website reference to “advertising” and thought you might appreciate this bit of art. It appeared a couple of days prior to Australia Day and speaks volumes. Oddly, I encountered a young man near this who was draped in Australian flag. He was having his photo taken by friends but no-one noticed the posters. I... Read More

Advertising in Chippo

Ad industry welcome in Chippo Chippo’s streets are rich with artists’ work and the better for it; walking here is a delight to the eye, mind and all the senses, tho’ challenging to some sensibilities. And this effort on a wall in Cleveland Street by the advertising industry  shows it trying hard, too. Ads that work, M  Read More

Angel’s Trumpets bloom twice

Brugmansia - Angel's Trumpets flowers, Myrtle Street The trumpet-shaped Angel’s Trumpets plant in Myrtle Street, on the southern side, outside the units on the corner of City Road has bloomed for the second time this year. Beautiful, fragrant blossoms. The technical name is Brugmansia. The first lot were completely cut off by someone; another Urban Galah. Toot! M    Read More

Peace Park returns to being a park

Peace Park being a park after being locked up for nine months . . . Last Friday the fencing came down, the contractors mowed the grass and we got Peace Park back. Thanks to those who returned it to us, M  Read More

When is a park not a park?

Three years of fenced off park . . . Promises three years old of “Park Renewal” When is a park not a park?   When it’s Peace Park, Chippendale.   For over three years we’ve watched in growing wonder at the succession of failed attempts to manage the park, in particular to grow traditional grass there.   The latest grass growing effort has seen the park fenced off for some nine months.   If a park is not used for over half the... Read More

Tree veneration art show opens at Chippo Child Care Centre

Canopy Invite On 24 November, 6 – 8 pm, the art show, Canopy, opens at the Chippendale Child Care Centre, Pine Street.   Artists have been celebrating trees at the Centre by venerating them.  The idea is explained by Louise Fowler-Smith in a flier for the show: “Louise has been researching the Sacred Tree for the past decade and has found that the practice of venerating the Tree through decoration protects the Tree in countries such as India. Her research has... Read More

NSW Minister Humphries gardens with us in Chippo

Photo Left to right: Nathan (about a quarter of him), Bob, Paul, Minister Kevin Humphries, Michael, Greg, Paddy, James (about a quarter of him) Here is a photo taken today of Kevin Humphries MP, NSW Minister for Mental Health and some TAFE Outreach gardeners at a vertical garden in Chippendale. The Minister planted a lettuce and inspected the Chippendale gardens, compost bins and will be in touch soon about how the state may become involved. Great to see a hands on Minister... Read More