My Memories - Graeme Smith - Bog

My ideas from my personal background and experience.This book does NOT cover activities involving my family.Naturally, like all families we have done many things.However they are things we share rather than share with others.I live in Wagga Wagga in Australia. I've lived here since 1977, so am comfortable in this city of 65,000 people. It's an environment with both strengths and weaknesses.I'm not located in the major art centres of my country. So I'm out of touch with the current art scene there. I'm independent and provide an alternative for those who feel the need.In recent years, e-mail has eliminated the distance dramatically. I'm in touch with people all over the world.I've also found that the art culture is much the same everywhere. So there is interest in my views as a result.I do paint, and have had many one man exhibitions (22 actually). These days I spend most of my time writing articles and other stuff. I do not paint anywhere near as much as I once did. So now I'm probably a writer who paints sometimes. I've been in Wagga Wagga from 1977.So I'm comfortable in this city of 65,000 people.It's an environment with both strengths and weaknesses.On the one hand: I'm not located in the major art centres of my country.So I'm out of touch with the current art scene there.But the conventional wisdoms don't seem to be working for many artists.I'm independent and provide an alternative for those who feel the need.I'm not a drink connoisseur. Like most people I know what I like. One of those drinks is a tawny port. When I had the gallery to establish a Port Club. The idea was to reward regular gallery clients. So I bought a barrel of port from Brown Brothers winery. After several years we actually tasted the wine. It was quite good. BUT it got better each year after a re-fill. I commissioned various potters to make one-litre flagons. Each Port Club member (30) annually received a flagon. This was filled at a special event. The barrel was filled also from casks of port. After ten years every member received 10 litres of port.That concluded the port club. But I still had the barrel with some port so I started to re-fill it. Occasionally we'd empty some flagons. On my 80th birthday the cask was about 1/2 full. So I filled several flagons for the occasion. When tasted, my family thought it was OK. BUT I was expecting it to be superb. A bit later I realized what the problem was. The cask being only 1/2 full the rest was just air. For best taste the cask needs to be full. So now I request casks of cheap port for my birthdays and Christmas. I am trying to fill it again BEFORE taking any port out. BUT it is a SLOW process! Hopefully the cask will be full for my 85th birthday.Then we can have a tasting. If I am not there then my birthday will still be a suitable occasion. AND a similar tasting every five years after that. The barrel being re-filled in the meantime. Music hasn't played a big part in my life. The ones I like mostly date from before I became deaf. I just don't hear it any more. These are my favourite pieces of music"Harry Lime Theme" Third Man film on zither by Anton Karas. "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" Nutcracker Suite Tchaikovsky. "In the Mood" by the Glen Miller Band. "The Toreador Song" from Bizet's Carmen. "The Three Bells" or Jimmy Brown song. "Spanish Flea" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Play them at my funeral when I die (as surely I will). That could even comprise the whole funeral service. Then you can think whatever you wish while listening. These days I take the dog for a daily walk. I am also marketing books I have written. Health probably OK for my age. Deafness a major problem but have hearing aids which help a bit.In recent years, e-mail has eliminated distance dramatically.I am now in touch with artists all over the world.That re