Learnt a very useful lesson this weekend…when the thermometers hit that nasty zone as it did this weekend when Sydney sweltered in 41 degrees. While it seems counter-intuitive to head west, as the temperatures in land are often even higher than around the harbour, once you head up into the Blue Mountains, the breeze across the Jamieson Valley is incredibly refreshing. I hit Wentworth Falls, which is peppered with stunning little natural water-features too; and so a chance to cool down, get some bush-walking done and soak up some incredible views is a good relief from the otherwise insufferable heat-wave experience. With global warming now in full flow, these 40+ days are a much more regular occurrence and so a good cool-down strategy is important.
On the way home, I accidently popped into this place. I thought it would just be a quaint little gift shop with few touching efforts in the etching department and one or two cute pots. Its actually a little Aladdin’s cave of artistic wonder well worth visiting if you get the chance. Managed and owned (and lived in) by Ian and Anne Smith, the idyllic haven is not only a platform for their own excellent work, but also a monument to their more decorated and esteemed friends, including famous Australian Artists Gary Shead, Arthur Boyd and Wendy Sharpe (the latter is an Archibald winner). The Gallery is a gold mine for Art investment I suspect, and while I don’t know much about it, I got the feeling that if you did you could make a killing.
But on top of that, the Gardens themselves constitute a work of art and are well worth a wander. Many of the artists featured there do a lot of their work in the studio within the grounds and Ian Smith will happily show you the famous art works etched or painted on site. The Smiths have been working on the gardens now for 22 years and while he said he didn’t know where the time has gone, its obvious to those less close to the scene.
But its also heartening to see that that great artistic dream can come true. They’ve found a way to work together – she decorates his pottery with her painting – and make a living from art. He still works every night on his pottery sculpture after they’ve closed the gallery to the public. Living so close to one of the finest views of the Blue Mountains, you have to admire the pursuit of a dream that obviously hasn’t come easily, but has come true nevertheless. I was seduced into a small investment, I can guarantee you will be too!