eatpinklove

eat; fakas

2011-12-07T03:16:00.001-08:00

indianapublicmedia.org

I am soooo feeling for all my friends in the Northern Hemisphere who are starting to experience the onset of winter. Oh dear, no thanks! We actually had a very cold weekend just gone by and it made me want to quit the salads I've been making and get onto what I imagine to be my last attempt at soup for quite a few months...well, maybe a good cold gazpacho will come out in the heat of mid summer! Today's post will be such a great one for all of you about to hit those upcoming cold months. This soup takes a while to cook on the stove and will warm up the house while doing so! It freezes well, which means a big pot of it will not go to waste! Love that!

Fakas is a Greek Lentil soup and one I have had many times at my friends mums house. She also makes a great chickpea soup which I will have to get my hands on the recipe soon for you all. Enjoy making this soup. Preparation is easy and watching this soup thicken up into a hearty meal is such fun between Facebook updates and checking your emails! LOL!

What you need;

1 1/2 cups brown lentils

1 large carrot

1 med onion

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 Tbls olive oil

2 Bay leaves

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 litre water

1 Tbls tomato paste

salt and pepper to taste

Start by soaking the lentils for at least six hours, overnight will be fine. Rinse and set aside as you chop the other ingredients. Crush the galic, chop the carrots into tiny cubes and ditto with the onions.

Pour the oil into your pot and when hot, add the garlic, carrot and onion and cook until the onion becomes transparent. Add the lentils, bay leaves, oregano and rosemary. Add the water and bring to the boil. Turn the flame down to simmer for about an hour.

Time to check your Facebook news feed! The soup only needs the occasional stir and may need a little more water. Once the hour is up, add the tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste and cook for a further 10 minutes. The great thing about this soup is that you cannot overcook it. The longer it cooks, the creamier it will become.

Vola! Soup is made! Buon Appetito!

I like to serve this soup with a yummy bread that is toasted, drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with a clove of garlic. YUM!

Another handy hint is to freeze the remainder of the tomato paste. To do this, measure out a tablespoon onto a chopping board covered in cling wrap and then freeze on the board. Once frozen, wrap each portion with cling wrap and place into a container. No more moldy jars of tomato paste in the refrigerator!

pink; oink

2011-12-07T02:16:00.001-08:00

Video Still

I would LOVE to yap on about my own work in today's post as my exhibition at BUS Projects is still on (until the 17th of December if in Melbourne, Australia!) but pink does not appear in the work at all! You can check it out here on my other blog, which will surely satisfy the curious :0)

It's been absolutely jumping here in Melbourne with graduation exhibitions at every art college signifying the end of an era for the studying artists. The other night, I went along to my college, the Victorian College of the Arts to check out the MFA show. WOW! Talk about overwhelmed! The whole art department was decked out with art from floor to ceiling, each graduating student given the largest exhibition space they will have for a while!

Pip Ryan is a friend of mine and she is graduating from the MFA program at the VCA this year. She installed her work in the photography department, darkening the space, projecting within doorways and using both small and large spaces to create a bizarre world of 'living' toy animals. As I began to write this post, I couldn't help but think of the childrens nursery rhyme about a farmer named Old MacDonald.

Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O,

And on that farm he had a [animal name], EE-I-EE-I-O,

With a [animal noise twice] here and a [animal noise twice] there

Here a [animal noise], there a [animal noise], everywhere a [animal noise twice]

Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O.

But Ryan's animals are very different to Old MacDonald's, that's for sure! A toy zoo of sorts, filled with wind up mice speeding around with no where to go, a giant sized gorrila beating a drum demanding our attention, a pig that oinked oppostie a duck that quacked, Pip Ryans world was created for us to meander through, watching these creeped out toy animals in their 'natural' environment, afterall, what is a 'natural' environment for an animal that is a plastic toy anyway? The animals all projected a sense of wishing they were real. The mouse spining in a crazy sped up circle, determined to become a real mouse with every sharp turn or knock against the wall, the toy duck quaked at unusual intervals; definitely not in a way a programed toy should behave and the gorrila?..let's just not go there!

Of course the pig stood out for me as it was the only pink animal in Ryan's toy zoo. Watching the 14 second video preview above gives a great sense of what the artist was trying to achieve. A plastic pig is manipulated to 'behave' as it's real-life cousin with a wire forcefully tugging and pulling at it's midriff making it oink on demand. The human hand is hidden; the artists hand manipulating the wire and the hand that initially created the pig (most likely Chinese hands). Occasionally the artists hand does come into shot reminding us (or is it the pig?) that no matter how natural this pig tries to behave, it is no real pig at the end of the day. It is a human-made pig manipulated by the hand of a human to resemble and behave like a real pig. Simple. How can it really compete?

All of Ryan's animals showed struggle with this fact. I love this video and was completely mesmerized by this little pig, captivated by it's struggle, yet compelled by it's cute and adorable animated facial features. This is how we want pigs to look, right? Clean, cute, a wonderful shade of pink and creating such adorable sounds. Hmmm. The struggle us humans have with what is real and what we want our reality to be.

Pip Ryans work can be viewed at the Victorian College of the Arts until December 11th 12-5pm.

love; ten things i love this week

2011-12-07T02:15:00.001-08:00

Well it's been a few weeks since my last post and soooooo much has happened that I am grateful for, it's crazy to only come up with ten! But I will try!

1. Creating work again! Yes it's been a while since I got out the saw and hammer to create a work but let me tell you, I certainly have the bug to work with wood again! LOVE!!!

2. Having help installing my show. Seriously, how great are friends when they come along to help out with something that means sooo much to you?!?!?! Thanks again guys (you know who you are ;0)

3. Opening night of my exhibition. Really, I think that's what most artists look forward to when making! Well, maybe just me. I always did love Show and Tell as a kid in Primary school! LOVE!!!!

4. My birthday with the fam :0) Yep, same Italian cake for every event in our family since 1974! LOVE!

5. Coming across this yesterday at the coffee shop near the gallery. LOVE!!!

6. Receiving an IPhone3G hand-me-down. WOW!!! Talk about changing my life! Now I check my emails and whats going on on F.B about 50 times a day rather than the usual 20! LOL! LOVE!

7. PROCRASTIBAKING!!!!! What a great term! My friend Mel told me that's what I was doing when I spent the WHOLE day baking Italian biscuits and cake instead of actually doing my artwork! LOVE!

8. Buying my mum a new stove! She wont accept rent from me so I decided to buy her this AMAZING stove. LOVE!!!

9. Getting yet another friend hooked on green smoothies!!!! YAY!!!!

10. Having time to write again! I have missed writing for eatpinklove and also myyearincarousel. I do love it and looking forward to writing more! LOVE!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-11-10T04:36:00.000-08:00

1. Ok, Halloween is sooooo over but I couldn't help but mention it in this weeks post as I missed not being in the States for it! A friend of mine shared this link on F.B. Now this is when Halloween was scary and home-made, not sexy and polished! LOVE!

2. I may be a little Halloween obsessed but how could I not direct you all to these amazing pumpkin carvings even if Halloween is sooooo over! LOVE!

3. Filming! I do LOVE being in a film studio. It is actually one of the most natural environments I have ever experienced! LOVE!1!

4. Becoming a finalist in the Toyota Travel Award! Even though I didn't win, I loved the opportunity to 'show and tell' my work to a panel. Scarey and nerve racking to begin with but I totally fell into a wonderful feeling after the third slide and enjoyed the process! LOVE!

5. All the supportive comments on F.B by you guys about my talk to the Toyota execs. Really blown away by your amazingness! THANKS!!!

6. These photos of pets with a disability by Carli Davidson. LOVE!!!

7. Finding out my application was approved for the Summer Residency Program held at Victoria University for January! WOW! A HUGE free studio and the opportunity to inspire some students! YAY! LOVE!

8. This personality test! Totally follow the link and do it! You will get a HUGE report at the end and it will tell you exactly what your strengths and weaknesses are and what drives you! LOVE!!!

9. This 60 year project!!! LOVE IT! Thanks Nat!

10. Working on my up coming exhibition. Can't show you any pics yet (even though I really want to!) but let me tell you, I"M LOVING IT!!!! Oh and sending invites to all my friends O.S. Sad you guys can;t make it but LOVE the idea of the invite stuck to your fridges!

pink; mystic heather

2011-11-10T04:29:00.000-08:00

http://www.tim-barber.com/albums/mystic-heather--virgin-snow

I came across this photograph a while back in search of pink works and was waiting for the perfect moment to write about it. Today's post is just that. You see, I have three friends who are in New York at this very moment. Well, actually two. One has just left after a four month stint at living in the Big Apple. The other two have set up shop; one indefinitely and the other calling New York home for the next year.

Tim Barber is a New York based photographer and the reason why this particular photograph has caught my attention is because of the what it stirs up in me as I look at it. New York is one of those places that EVERYONE loves, even before having visited. It has an incredibly loud history which seems to be stuck in everyones imagination and formed a sort of pseudo personal history within us all. It is the city of dreams, the place where anything can happen, where everything does happen.

I have spent three short visits to New York city and as most of you already know, I will be going to live there for six months next year. For me, any city needs to prove itself. I'm not a person who simply falls for or adopts a common view of something. I like to experience it on my own terms, in my own way and then I will develop an opinion after I have had some sort of relationship with what ever it is; be it a city or something else.

The photograph above seems to capture a moment in a womans life of either surrender or victory. New York is either her demon or her oyster. Is she embracing the city in communion with her successes within it or is she falling down in her failings with it? We are unsure of this womans story but the assumption is she is either about to jump to her death in surrender or she is playing with death by leaning and teasing into the city that is offering her everything she hoped for. Either ways, a feeling of danger is definitely evident.

Lately, Australians I have been talking with have asked me why I am so fascinated with America and it is simply because of it's sink or swim mentality. Here in Australia, we are a culture that is pretty laid back, floating through life as if riding in a well suspended vehicle that takes the shocks of bumps along the journey of life in it's stride, allowing for easy transitions as these bumps occur. America on the other hand, has no such journey installed for it's people. Americans ride in a vehicle with the worst suspension in the world, feeling every tiny little bump along the journey of life, changing it's course as a result. I like this feeling of unpredictability. It is what has made America so great in the past.

Cities within the States all have their own characteristics, allowing for very different experiences. New York City is a tough city, so everyone says. I am yet to experience it and develop my own opinion. I have no expectations of how my own experience of this historic, iconic place will unfold. I will find out next year when I do live there for six months and discover whether I will be feeling like I want to jump off a building in complete surrender, broken by the experience or be in complete happy communion with this 'great' city. Either ways, I know the experience of living in New York City will be memorable and life changing, just as living in Beijing, Los Angeles and San Francisco were for me, altering the way I currently live my life and the values I currently hold true to my own experience as an artist.

eat; roasted pumpkin, rosemary and parmasen scones

2011-11-10T03:31:00.000-08:00

fotothing.com

With Halloween now in the shadows of our rush towards the end of the year, I decided to share with you what I created for my film crew a couple of weeks ago. Scones are one of those great things that are extremely versatile, easy to make and great when you have to come up with something quick for a get together with friends. They can be made sweet or savoury and the variations are endless! Try substituting the pumpkin with your favourite savoury combos like olive and feta cheese, or sun dried tomato and basil or sweet with dried apricots and vanilla bean or currents and cinnamon! YUM!

I really can't wait to get my camera. I'm not cooking so much now as I don't get the amazing results I was getting while using Nat's camera in L.A. You'll all hear about it when my camera finally makes it's way into my little hands!!!! Until then, just imagine how good these pics would look with a better camera! LOL!

Makes about 20 scones

1/2 Butternut pumpkin (squash)

a twig of fresh rosemary

splash of olive oil

4 cups Self raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

100g chilled butter, cut into cubes

1 cup parmasen cheese

1 1/2 cups milk

Start by roasting the pumpkin. To do this, peel and cut the pumpkin into small bite size pieces. Place into a pan, add the rosemary by picking it off the twig and sprinkle a little salt and a splash of olive oil. Toss the whole thing to mix and place into a moderate oven for about half an hour.

Leaving the oven on, take out the cooked pumpkin and set aside until cool.

In a large bowl, sift the flour and baking powder. Add the butter and begin to 'crumb' it together by rubbing the butter into the flour. Making sure the butter is well mixed into the flour, add the roast pumpkin and cheese and mix through.

Now this is the tricky bit. The main thing about making scones is to NOT over-mix the dough!!! It is really tempting to keep mixing but DON'T! What I do at this stage is create the opposite to a well in the mixture so the flour mixture is piled up in the center so you add the milk to the sides of the bowl rather than the center.

Pour milk and with a knife, 'cut' the mixture to blend through the milk. Do not mix until doughy. Mix until just combined. It is ok for the mixture to be a little 'crumbly'.

Once cut through, flour a chopping board and lightly take two handfulls of dough and place it onto the floured board. Lightly press down to make a flat round circle about an inch thick. Cut the dough into eight wedges, cutting in half, than quarters, then eighths, like a pizza.

Gently place the cut scones onto a non-stick tray, brush with a little milk and sprinkle with extra parmasen. Bake in a 200C oven for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

These are best served warm but still taste great when cooled down.

Buon Appetito!!!

eat; monsoon spice

2011-10-24T04:26:00.000-07:00

julesbright.com

I'm totally like a MAD woman right now as I begin to prepare for my show at the end of November. Filming is happening this Wednesday night and I have lots and lots of wood to paint! This is taking up a lot of my time and I have been finding cooking is becoming a real treat with the lack of it I have at the mo :0( so I'm making a big pot of food, placing it in the fridge and eating from that big pot over a couple of days.

With the cold weather here in Melbourne fighting with beautifully warm days, I have been craving big pots of Indian curry to have ready to go as I take a short break from working to feed! Indian food is one of my favourites to have in cold weather and I love cooking it more so than going to a restaurant to simply be served it. I think it's the process and attention to detail it requires from the cook. Many seeds and powders are used and their timely addition to your pot is EVERYTHING!

Today, I wanted to introduce you all to my favourite Indian website, Monsoon Spice. It is created by an Indian woman named Sia living in the U.K who shares with us vegetarian recipes. I love lots of things about this website but one of my favs is her inclusion of tofu into her cooking. Even though I keep my intake of tofu to a minimum these days, I do enjoy a curry with it's inclusion and let me tell you, every single recipe I have followed from this blog works, without fail! It's crazy! I made the most amazing chapati bread the other week and I have never, ever made it before!

Do yourself a favour, make a list of spices you'll need to create one of Monsoon Spice's recipes, set aside sometime to make an amazing curry and enjoy the wonderful fragrances that will consume your kitchen!

Buon Apettito!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-10-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

moonbots.org

1. Finding out I am one in five finalists for a major art award! YAY. Fingers crossed! LOVE!

2. Eating cupcakes sprinkled with glitter on a train ride heading out of Melbourne! LOVE!

3. Checking out one of the oldest carousels here in Australia in Geelong. It was made in 1895 and is the oldest carousel I have checked out so far. LOVE!

4. Buying this door on ebay for my next work! Will keep you all posted on it's developments! LOVE!

nyc.gov

5. Going to the hardware store and buying up BIG for my next project. Something kinda fun about a trip to the hardware store leading up to an exhibition! LOVE!

Leigh Wright

6. Having a meeting with my film crew at the North Melbourne Town Hall Pub over a few pots of beer (thats glasses for ye Americans!). Ahhhhh, Australian Beer Gardens, I missed you! And what a perfect office you make! lol!

oneplusoneequalslove.blogspot.com

7. Baking. I haven't really baked that much at all this year, preferring raw sweets to baked cakes, but this week, my mum requested my banana cake, which I haven't made in years! There is something lovely about the house being filled with the smell of a cake baking. LOVE!

8. I came across these 'finger monkeys' last week and think they are AMAZING! I can't imagine them actually existing for real but apparently they do! LOVE

9. Watching The Devil Wears Prada on telly. Great to see New York again even if it is on telly and how great is Merryl Streep?!?! LOVE!

ezibuy.com.au

10. Swapping my flannel sheets with summer sheets! It is the sign of summer coming. YAY! LOVE!

pink; (untitled performance) pink tube

2011-10-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

chicagoartmagazine.com

Chicago based performance duo Dutes Miller and Stan Shellabarger have been making work together since they starting dating in 1994. Whilst doing some research on this duo, I came across a work they did where they held each other in a naked embrace and waited to be sunburnt in this position. As I read it, I imagined the couple lying down in the embrace on a sandy beach, waiting for the sun to do it's thing, but instead, I came across images of them standing, between two vertical sunbeds and for a period of 45 minutes. Hmmm. Not as romantic as I would have liked to see :0(

Untitled Performance (Pink Tube) is an ongoing work the couple began in 2003 and is performed at various locations. Miller describes their collaborative performance as "a matter of fact" which I agree with and love. This work is not about heterosexuality nor homosexuality it is simply about the connection to another human being we either have, had have or crave to have, matter of fact.

crochetconcupiscence.com

In this work, the couple knit to be connected, yet knit away from each other at the same time. It's a work that reflects on the opposing forces of love between couples; love and loss, life and death, connection and separation, etc.

I really do like watching lovers create works together. The dynamics between the two performers and the resulting works are always powerful, whether the couple is heterosexual or homosexual. An understanding of human connectivity crosses all boundaries and is a pleasure to see.

hosted.verticalresponse.com

You can read a great article on this work here, see photos of Untitled Performance (Pink Yarn) here, which documents the yarn travelling from Miller to Shellaberge and more of the couple's dynamic practice here.

eat; kale salad with pomegranate gems

2011-10-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

Add caption

I have this dilemma where I am just about to experience my second summer in a row (I know..."poor me'!!!) which means what is in season here is NOT in season in the States and vise versa! Today, I went through some old photos (taken from Nat's great camera!) to write this post and came across this amazing salad I made earlier this year. If you are in the States right now, Pomegranates are just about to go in season, so all ye folks in Australia reading this post will just have to archive this recipe until next March. It is sooo Christmasy looking and unfortunately, I will never be able to experience serving it at Christmas time as neither Kale nor Pomegranates are in season here in Australia at Chrissy :0( But for today, lets just forget all that and feast our eyes on this amazing looking and tasting salad!

Serves 3-4

What you need;

1 bunch of Kale

2 avocados

1/2 small red onion

1 pomegranate

juice of a small lemon

1/4 cup olive oil

salt and pepper

This salad is really easy to make and the best part is that it will last a few days in the fridge, softening up and becoming yummier as it rests.

Start by finely slicing the onion. When I say finely, I mean really, really fine! Wash the kale and pull out your kitchen scissors, cutting off the curly bits of the Kale from it's stalk as shown in the middle pic. Throw away the stalk. Proceed to cut the Kale into little bit size pieces and set aside. Scoop out the Pomegranate seeds and set aside.

Kale needs to be 'massaged' so that it breaks down and wilts, making it easier to eat (don't skimp on this step or you will be sorry!) Do this by adding the avocado, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to the kale in a big mixing bowl. Simply 'massage' the Kale by squeezing through the avocado dressing for about 4-5 minutes. Yep, your hand will be sore after all that massaging!!!

Once you have wilted the Kale, add the onion and toss it through. Place a serving amount on each plate, stacking it up high so that it looks pretty and like a Christmas tree (as every day should be like Christmas!!!). Sprinkle the Pomegranate gems over the salad and serve.

Creating this post really makes me WANT a great camera NOW! I have thrown it out there to the universe and I'm expecting to have an awesome camera by Christmas! YAY! In the meantime, enjoy the visuals of this post. I think it's definitely a good looking post if I say so myself! lol!

Buon Appetito!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-10-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

1. This artists work. Seriously?!?!?! How much do I love this guy right now?!?!?

choicehotels.com.au

2. Spring Mornings. How lovely are they?!?!?! Summer is coming!!!! LOVE!

thecupcakeblog.com

3. Fare welling a great friend of mine who is heading over to New York for a year. I do love that most of my friends are travelers. Meet you in the Spring Kiera! BTW, how adorable is the Bon Voyage Cupcake?!?!? LOVE!

4. Creating a press release for my exhibition at the end of November. Boy, now is that challenging or what?!?!? Took me ALL day yesterday to write it and it's only a page long! I did love the challenge of it though.

5. Coming up with an image for my show. WOW! LOVE IT! This is always difficult as most of the time my work isn't complete until it is installed in the gallery. But I do love this pic!

artblart.wordpress.com

6. Going to openings in Melbourne. Seriously, I think I could go to any oepning at any gallery here in Melbourne and find at least one person I know! Love it!

7. Shoes made out of candy?!?! Yes please!!!

8. Click here to find out the meaning of your name! I love that my 'soul urge' is to lead and direct, to work independant of supervision, by myself or with subordinates! Subordinates?!?!? WTF? All I can say is that I have ALWAYS been a rebel, thats for sure ;0)

yes2life.com.au

9. Adding superfood ingredients to my 'cooking'. I'm yet to buy this book but adding superfoods into your diet is as easy as adding chia seeds to your juice. LOVE!

fitness.com

10. Italian biscuits. Yup...my weakness is a biscotti with my espresso. It's in mi blood afterall! I'm definitely going to have to try a raw version someday. LOVE!

pink; hero

2011-10-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

Born To Rule by Nick Waddell was the title of his show at Westspace in July/August this year. I wasn't here in Melbourne at the time so haven't seen this work, but I have fallen in love with Melbourne's artscene again in the last few weeks and decided to stick with a local artist, who is an alumni of my College and exhibiting at one of the many artist run spaces here in Melbourne.

The Royal Wedding earlier this year seemed to have captured the imagination of the world. I was in the United States during the build up to the big day and was quite surprised at how many Americans were really and truely excited about this event. The only connection they have to the Royal Wedding is Disney Princesses! Frankly, I was not interested at all. Maybe it's because I grew up at a time in Australia when the only Australians supporting the monarchy, or even interested in them, were the Australians who had been here for generations, with roots going back to England. Since the influx of immigrants into Australia from the 1960's, the demographic that makes up Australia has changed immensly. No longer are a large part of the population rooted to 'The Motherland' of England.

I'm not sure what Nick Waddell's background is but this exhibition certainly suggests a lack of interest or support for the British Monarch. I paricularly like the work below as it is a cropped image of the Queen's throat and chin, who is on our five dollar note and all our coins. Having a quick glimpse at this work, I saw a penis! It made me think of naughty young teenage boys drawing penises on everything as a sign of retaliation for authority. Very cute indeed, but of course I would find anything with a suggestion of a penis 'very cute indeed'. LOL!!!

The tilte of the work confirms this teenage boy retaliation against authority. In the eighties, at the time when the last royal wedding was happening, the word 'hero' was used in Australia in a derogatory fashion to suggest that someone was too big for their boots, a smart arse or simply too bloody confident. Using the word 'hero' as the title of this work definitely suggests a facetious tone towards the Queen and all that she represents.

I imagine Waddells exhibition would have been a fun one to visit, having been produced around the same time of the wedding and exhibited shortly after all the hype and bombardment from our media. You can see more images of the exhibition here where great documentation of the full exhibition and all works involved have been created for Westspace's website.

eat; raw strawberry and chocolate parfait

2011-10-10T03:45:00.000-07:00

nouveauraw.com

Here it is!!! Get your tastebuds on, get your blender out and start soaking those nuts for a truely amazing trip into the world of a raw parfait!

As most of you have been hearing lately, I've been introducing raw foods to my brother (BTW, he took the photos below! Thanks big bro!) who is a little sick. A great way to introduce raw to someone new to it, is through raw treats. Everyone loves sweets and the best part of raw desserts is that they are packed with great things and every ingredient is actually great for you; antioxidents from the cacao, omega from the chia seeds and great fats from the cashews!

This recipe is taken a little from Cafe Gratitude's I Am Grateful cookbook and a little by me playing around with stuff. I've made them in whiskey glasses but feel free to use whatever fancy glasses you want to. They are quite rich so this recipe allows for half filled glasses only.

Makes 6 servings

What you need;
Chocolate Cream
1 1/2 cups soaked cashews (four hours)
1 1/2 Tbs lemon juice
3 Tbs sweetener of your choice (honey, agave, maple syrup)
2 Tbs raw cacao powder
1/2 cup filtered water
pinch salt
Strawberry Puree
1 punnet of strawberries
1/2 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed if possible)
1 Tbs chia seeds
1 Tbs sweetener of your choice (honey, agave, maple syrup)
Almond Crumble
1 cup soaked almonds (overnight)
4 soaked dates (four hours)
2 drops vanilla essence or 1/2 a vanilla bean

Start with washing the strawberries and divide the amount in half. With a potato masher, mash half the strawberries in a bowl until you create a puree. Add the orange juice and chia seeds, stirring the seeds in well making sure they are coated. Add the sliced strawberries and set aside.

Whizz all the ingredients for the cashew chocolate cream in a blender until light, fluffy and smooth. Taste it and add more chocolate if you would like a heavier chocolate taste. Set aside.

To make the Almond crumble, simply pour the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles crumbs.

Before creating the parfait's, check the strawberry mixture. If the seeds have soaked up too much liquid, add a small splash of orange juice and mix. It shouldn't be runny nor too solid either.

Now for the fun! Start by dividing the crumble mixture in half and use one half to cover the bottom of each of the six awaiting glasses.

Do the same with the chocolate cream, dividing it in half and spreading one half between the glassses. You don't have to be too neat with each layer as parfait's are meant to be a little 'dollopy' looking.

Next, pour in the strawberry puree, dividing the whole mixture between the six glasses. Add the rest of the chocolate cream topping with the remainder almond crumble. I then threw in a few blueberries for decoration. You could add a mint leaf of whatever tickles your fancy to finish off the parfait!

YUMMMMMMMMM!

Buon Appetito!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-10-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

1. The out pouring of love surrounding an amazing man's departure from the world as we know it. I loved Mastin Kipp's tribute the most. Very inspiring indeed. LOVE!

2. This video created for Apple in 1997, narrated by Steve Jobs. It never did get released. I actually can't get enough of watching it! Soooo inspiring! LOVE!

clipartoday.com

3. Hugs. One of the greatest things Americans have taught me is to hug. I hug everyone now! Australians are not the best huggers around, let me tell you, but I manage to soften a few hearts when I do hug. LOVE!

modelsownit.com

4. Having my nails done by my good friend Kiera. She too has been inspired to paint crazy nails and was sooo looking forward to doing mine for the longest time! The nails in the pic aren't mine as I didn't get a chance to take a photo before they began to chip! Bright red lepoard print nails are defintiely fun to wear! LOVE!

5. Crimping my hair! I have been in search for one this past month and told a friend who pulled out hers from way back when and gave it to me. It makes my hair look ridiculous, but I love it!

geek.com

6. Driving. Yep, I'm back chauffeuring to keep my belly full and it feels great to be on the road again. I think I was born into this world with a steering wheel in my hand...seriously! LOVE!

7. This picture, or should I say, this warning. I couldn't find the original author but I do love it!

8. Parfait's! I've made two batches just in this last week! The great thing about these 'raw' desserts is that they are great for you! LOVE!

9. Hearing the news that my brother is now having green smoothies for breaky!!!! This is a BIG accomplishment as he is sooooo traditionally Italian in his choice of foods. The green smoothie LOVE is spreading! Check out my friend glo's post on how to make a green smoothie here. LOVE!

10. Forgetting that someone owed you money and getting it just when everything looks bleak as hell! YAY!!! LOVE!

pink; every girl loves pink

2011-10-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

artknowledgenews.com

Last night I had dinner with a good friend of mine and Kate Gilmore's name came up in conversation. I mentioned I will write about her today and have found myself sitting on this post, procrastinating for about five hours. You see, Kate Gilmore is one of those artists I have been avoiding writing about here on eatpinklove since I began this blog in November last year. Why, you ask? Well, she is an obvious contemporary artist for me to write about as the reasons why and the contexts within which she uses the colour pink is exactly the way in which we would expect artists (especially female) to use the colour in their works.

Go to her website and you are confronted with an image of six women, all different shapes and sizes, facing the same way and confined by the colour pink. It really sets the tone for what Gilmore explores in her work and what you are about to enter into by clicking on her projects page. Traces of hard core seventies feminist artworks are very aparent once you click onto her list of videos.

I think the reason why I am not into artists who work in a similar vain as Gilmore is because I'm not for violence of any sort preferring the 'kill them with kindness' approach rather than the anger fueled, forcefulness and bashing approach of this style of work (have I been living in California for way too long or what??!).

Every Girl Loves Pink is no exception to the violence within Gilmore's practice. She constructs to deconstruct; a vicious cycle that is seen as the struggle of women over the history of women-kind throughout the decades, centuries and millenniums. But it could also be seen as the struggle of all of humanity, regardless of gender identity.

I can appreciate artists such as Gilmore producing works like this as the struggle she is focusing on in her work is very real for a lot of women in today's society. I just don't feel it is relevant in the way I choose to live my life as a woman in the culture I was born into.

eat; eatpinklove meets margaret

2011-10-03T04:36:00.000-07:00

flowers.vg

With Melbourne having the second largest Greek population in the world outside of Athens, it is no wonder that Melbourne boasts some of the worlds best Greek restaurants. Their food is fresh, quick to prepare and tangy. I do love a vegetarian mezethes (thats Greek for small dishes, like tapas), picking at amazing taste sensations with a wonderful loaf of bread and a great glass of red for hours and hours!

Margaret is one of my oldest friends. She didn't want me to take a photo of her while cooking so I stole her pic off Facebook (lol!). Margaret and her sister Alex are non identical twins and I met Alex at art school (my first attempt at art school!) when I was 19. They are of Greek heritage and we have always indulged in our passion for food over the years, cooking, baking, trying new recipes and sharing what we have learnt. Last weekend, I met up with Alex and Margaret and we made a wonderful Greek feast, indulging our taste buds. I chose to focus on the Dolmathes (stuffed vine leaves) we made as it is one of my favourite Greek foods and there is a BIG difference between home made and store bought.

Traditionally, the leaves are picked off the vine and blanched in salted water, but we just used a jar of vine leaves in brine that you can get at any supermarket stocking European foods.

What you need;

34 grape vine leaves

1 cup medium grain rice

2 Tbls olive oil

1/2 bunch dill

1/2 bunch parsley

3/4 cup water

salt and pepper to taste

Start by rinsing the grape vine leaves under running water to wash off the brine and set aside to drain. Keep four to one side to use on the base of your cooking pot.

Wash and finely chop the fresh herbs, set aside. Finely chop the onion.

Place oil in a pot and saute onions until transparent. Wash the rice under running water while the onion is cooking. Once the onion is cooked, toss in the rice and cook on a medium heat for five minutes, stirring often. The aim with the rice at this stage is to coat it just as you do when cooking Risotto.

When the rice is ready, take off the flame and let cool a little. Once cool, toss into the awaiting bowl with the chopped fresh herbs. Add salt and pepper to taste. Now the fun begins!!!

Place a leaf on a board and 'open' it up so it lays flat, making sure the 'veins' of the leaf are facing up. Add a tablespoon of the rice mixture towards the bottom of the leaf, remembering the rice will swell up once cooked. Now you're ready for the rolling!

The pictures above show you step by step how to roll. Start by folding over one side of the leaf to cover the rice mixture, followed by bringing in the other side. Lift the side closest to you up and over the mixture and start to roll the Dolmathes into a sausage shape. Continue this process until all finished.

In the same pot you used to saute the onion and rice, line the base with the four vine leaves you set aside earlier. This will prevent the bottom ones from burning. Gently place the Dolmathes into the pot, carefully stacking as you go along. Add 3/4 cup of water.

Place a plate over the Dolmathes and then the lid on the pot. Cook on a medium/low heat for about half an hour. Check if cooked by trying one; the rice should be just right.

I love Dolmathes cold and by themselves but this was actually the first time I tried them warm. and I must say, i didn't mind it at all. Margaret served them with a cold yogurt/mint sauce (made by adding shredded mint, squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt to Greek style yogurt) and wedges of lemon.

BTW, how '1970's cookbook' do these photo's look this week?!?!?!

Buon Appetito!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-09-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

1. This photographer studying in France. Gotta love a bit of flickering going on!

2. This GIANT disco ball by artist Michel de Broin! I must say, I do love a disco ball so much so that I had one in my loungeroom in the last place I lived at in Melbourne a few years ago. Check out more photos here and flick through to the video documentation at the end. LOVE!!!

3. Having a girly weekend with my friends Alex and Margaret. They are Greek and so the food thing is as HUGE for them as it is me. What a wonderful feast!!! I'll be posting Margaret's recipe for Dolmathes on Monday!!! LOVE!

4. Cooking straight out of my mums garden. Seriously, gotta love a mum who's a keen gardener! Takes all the work out of eating fresh! She has just planted Kale for my green smoothies...YAY!!! LOVE!

5. Playing the 'Damsel in distress' card with Australian Customs and having my real horses tails returned to me after the fumigation process in a week rather then 8 weeks!!! Gotta love that!!!!

6. This website. I have 'failed' soooo many times it's hilarious!!! LOVE!

7. Being back in Melbourne. Maybe it's because I have plans to come back to the States, but at the mo, I'm loving being here in this city. I'm definitely loving the cafe and bar culture that Melbourne is famous for. LOVE!

8. Google Street view! I can actually show you all where I live in Melbourne!!! My Mum and Dad bought this house in 1974!!! Can you believe it?!?!? This view is from a view years ago now, but nothing much has changed except for my neighbours crappy car being sold. LOVE!!!

9. Cooking up a vegan/raw feast for my fam. My mum and brother are very traditional in their approach to food, preferring a plate of pasta over anything else. This was a real treat as I made a raw dessert and starter and introduced them to healthy and satisfying Indian inspired vegan food. I was soooo excited that I forgot to take pics!!! :0( LOVE!!!!

10. Smash Poodles!!! Click on the 'toy poodle male/female' to see some hilarious pics! Some of you have already seen my profile pic of some amazing looking poodles over the last week or so and I have had some very interesting reactions to them. I LOVE THESE DOGS!!! I'm working on visualizing an apartment in New York, a partner who is a writer, a Smash Poodle named Lucy and a Main Coone cat named Tony. LOVE!!

eat; sauteed vegies with quinoa and a honey/tahini dressing

2011-09-22T22:03:00.002-07:00

riseearth.com

I'm sorry to say that I am now without Natalie's great camera and having to take photos with my shitty point and shoot :0( Well, thats at least until I can get some funds together to get myself a kick arse Canon, which I have thrown out there to the universe! Until then, my photos may look a little sad, but the food will never taste sad at all!!!

At the mo, it's Spring here in Melbourne, Australia and some days are a little chilly for my liking. The warm foods have come out and I'm loving Quinoa right now (check out this fabulously strange video David Lynch created on cooking his favourite food!). My last supper in L.A was Cafe Gratitude's 'Gratitude Bowl', which is basically sauteed vegies with either quinoa or brown rice and a choice of dressing. I decided to try and replicate this dish the other day and I must say, I think I did a pretty great job! It is super easy to make and will last a few days in the fridge.

The basic rule here is use whatever vegies you have lying around and start with the harder vegies such as sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot etc, then once they are half cooked, add your softer vegies; zucchini, eggplant, fresh corn kernals, capsicum, etc until cooked. Once cooked, turn off the heat and toss through your leafy green. Simple. I've written 'hard' vegies and 'soft' vegies in the recipe below so you have the freedom to add whatever is in the refrigerator.

When cooking Quinoa, you can do so in a rice cooker if you have one or simply use a pot and the absorption method. I like to add a vegie stock cube to the water to give the quinoa extra flavour.

What you need;

2 cups 'hard' vegies cut into small cubes

2 cups 'soft' vegies cut into small cubes

2 cups shredded leafy greens (spinach, kale, silverbeat, collards)

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, diced

1 birdseye chilli if you like it hot

3 Tbs olive oil

1 1/2 cups quinoa

3 cups water

1 vegie stock cube

Honey/Tahini Dressing

1/2 cup tahini

juice of half a lemon

2 Tbs olive oil

1/2 tsp sesame oil

2 tsp honey or agave

pinch of salt

water to dilute

Start by cooking the quinoa. Rinse the quinoa under running water to 'remove' the bitterness that is associated with the grain. Pour in a pot, add the three cups of water and the stock cube. Place the lid onto the pot and bring to the boil, turning down the heat to simmer once at boiling point for ten minutes. Keep an eye on it making sure the water does not all disappear before the grain is cooked.

In a large saucepan, add the oil, onion, garlic and chilli. Saute until cooked. Add the 'hard' vegies, stir through and place the lid on top, keeping the flame at a medium heat. Stir occasionally, making sure it doesn't burn. Add a splash of water if need be.

Once the 'hard' vegies are half cooked (about 5 minutes) add the 'soft' vegies, stirring them through. Again, lid goes on and if need be, add another splash of water. If using kale or collards, add them too as they need more cooking time than silverbeet or spinach. Cook for a further five minutes on medium heat adding a pinch of salt to the vegies.

Once cooked, turn off the heat and if using spinach or silverbeet, toss them in whilst still hot, placing the lid back on so it 'cooks' through with the heat.

To make the dressing, simply whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl. Add as much water as you need to create a dressing consistency, little by little. You can never go back if you add too much water, so start with a little at a time until its just right.

Once the quinoa is cooked, 'fluff' it up with a fork just as you would couscous. Place about 3/4 cup in each individual bowl and scoop the vegies on top. Drizzle as much dressing as you would like on top and serve. YUM! A wonderful winter warmer that will warm the cockles of your heart!

Buon Appetito!

pink; my kylie collection

2011-09-22T22:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/37/Kathy_Temin/370/33387/

I was trying to find a pink work by Daniel Von Sturmer for todays post as he is having his first show in Los Angeles and is a fellow Australian, but I can't seem to find one (get onto it Daniel!!!). So, to celebrate his first showing in Los Angeles, I've decided to go with Kathy Temin, another fellow Australian and of Daniel's generation of artists. She has created sooooo many pink works, it's great!

It all began with her installation called My Kylie Collection created in 2001.Temin was an avid fan of Kylie Monogue whilst growing up in the '80's and with this installation, she pulled together her teenage collection of Kylie memorabilia to comment on celebrity culture and it's influence on teen culture. Here is a great article on the history of the process of the work and ideas surrounding the installation.

What's interesting about this instalaltion is how we relate to it. Almost every teenager has a celebrity obsession at some point and to some degree. We recognise the ludicrously of our obsessions when confronted with this installation, reminding us of the amount of money and time we spent thinking about our celebrity crushes during our teen years. What did it mean? How did it shape who we are today? What if we were to meet our teenage celebrity crushes as adults today and how does it reflect on who we are if we are adults still carrying these obsessions? Hmmm. Lots to think about with this work.

Since this installation, Temin has enjoyed huge success on the Australian art scene, her most memorable work being created as artist-in-residence in New York titled Auditions for a pair of Koalas (2002) where she did a call out for Americans to come and audition as Koalas for a video performance. They were asked to 'act' like Koalas, even though the actors had never seen how koalas behave in the wild. Very funny indeed!

Feel free to write who your celebrity obsession was as a teenager and if you still have it today as an adult in the comments box below. I'd love to hear what you had in your collection and if you still own them today.

love; ten things i love

2011-09-22T22:03:00.000-07:00

Seeing I haven't posted since I was in New York a few weeks ago, I thought I would back track and list the top ten things of my last week in New York.

1. This image of a nanny with little twin girls in pink. Check them out with their little shopping bags looking like grown ups! LOVE!

2. Going to a Tiki bar with my friend Bonnie. Seriously, why did I wait to be on the East coast to go to one?!?!?! These Pina Colada's were AMAZING!!! Must try the Volcano next time I'm at a Tiki Bar!

3. Eating Indian at probably the most fire hazardous place on earth! This restaurant in the East Village, New York is a MUST experience. If you suffer from claustrophobia, probably not a great idea!!!

4. Seeing this random guy who strung up a hammock on traffic light poles at a busy intersection in New York. Well, why not?!?!? Gotta love that!!!

5. Coming across this MASSIVE sculpture of the world along my travels to the carousel in Queens. Absolutely stunning!

6. Having cold Borscht at Veselka in the East Village. This is one of those iconic places that's open 24 hours! Great Ukranian food and this soup was definitely a fantastic cool-me-down whilst in the midst of a New York summer. LOVE!

7. Buying up BIG at Baltazzar! Cakes go on half price special daily at 7.30pm. I probably shouldn't be giving away this secret, but I always go when I'm in New York, spending the evening having cakes for dinner, and think this experience should be shared!...YUM!!! Not vegan, but this is when I say I am vagan (vaguely vegan), not vegan. I mean seriously, how can anyone resist a french dessert?!?!?

8. Project Parlor in Bed Stuy. This is where I frequented as it was stumbling distance home! Gotta love that about New York! And this is where we took our cakes from Baltazzar and ate cakes with a few Bees Knees! LOVE!!!

9. These 'Don't Honk' signes all over downtown Brooklyn. Seriously?!?! LOVE how ridic it all is!

10. Enjoying a last meal with my friends Katya and Bonnie of pasta and garlic bread :0) We haven't been together in about three years so this was a fitting meal, seeing I would ALWAYS cook pasta for my friends when we were hung over. LOVE!

eat; fruit salad with banana chia pudding

2011-09-01T13:21:00.001-07:00

As most of you know, I've been in New York staying with friends over this last week. I must admit to having a little panic attack about the idea of not being able to make my green smoothies for breakfast! I even considered buying a blender and leaving it behind at my friends place, just so I could keep up my morning ritual!

It was a ridiculous idea and I did eventually talk myself out of it. I decided to change up my breakfast and settle for a more 'travel friendly' breaky. A banana chia pudding served with a fruit salad. I have been having this every morning and it is yum and easy to make!

What you need;

2 Tbls chia seeds

3/4 coconut water, filtered water, almond milk, soya milk or whatever liquid tickles your fancy.

1 banana

1 cup of fruit salad made from your favourite fruits.

Handful of your favourite nut, soaked

Place the chia seeds into a bowl and pour the coconut water over them. Stir and set aside while you cut up the fruit for the salad. Let the seeds soak for at least 5 minutes.

Add banana to the chia seeds and mash with the back of a fork. Stir through into the chia pudding.

Add your fruit salad and stir through. Top with your favourite nuts.

Vola! A healthy and appetizing breaky for when you're on the run!

You can be totally creative with this breaky adding raw cocoa nibs or shredded coconut, dried fruits or fresh mint. Change it up and enjoy!

Buon Appetito!

pink; hare swing

2011-09-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have limited internet right now so no real blabbering is going to happen today on eatpinklove. Apologies in advance :0(

This work titled Hare Swing was created in 2010 by Adam McEwen who is a New York based artist. It is made of fiberglass, lacquer and rope. McEwen's work has been discribed as turning the banal into poetic interventions, disorientating the viewer's perception in a novel way.

When looking at this work, I can't help but think of Alice In Wonderland. It's as if the ending of the story was turned into a satisfying and revengeful win for Alice, who followed the hare down the rabbit hole. The victory of being able to swing on the dead rabbit is her own personal achievement for being lead astray by it.

I cannot help but try and imagine how I would feel swinging on this object. Swinging instigates feelings of euphoria, freedom and youthfullness, but I cannot imagine experiencing this if I were to swing on this fiberglass hare. It is the point I suppose. McEwen does a wonderful job with this work to twist our own prescribed feelings towards an act that is ingrained in us from childhood and twists it so we can re-examine where that is actually coming from.

I do love this work, even if it does churn my stomach a little. I would have to be standing infront of it to really answer the question "Would I actually swing on this hare?' Not sure if I would, but that is exactly what is asked of this work.

love; ten things i love this week

2011-09-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

1. Being the photographer at one of my bff's wedding. What a great day! LOVE!!!

2. Champagne! How great is it to drink bubbles when celebrating with friends a milestone in life.?!?!? LOVE!

3. Having a hurricane party during New York City's 'hurricane'. Seems like everyone was doing the same here! It was an anti-climax but fun preparing for it. Check out this 'ehow' on partying after hurricane season. LOVE!

4. Hanging out with old friends and making new ones. One of my friends households was hosting three British people, who we all bonded over during the hurricane party. I do love meeting new people whilst hanging out with old ones. LOVE!

5. Checking out new vegan cafe's and restaurants when in a new city. I've noticed alot more mock meat here on the East coast of the U.S than in the West. I'm not a huge fan of it but can appreicate the creative work that goes into it.

6. Bagel and cream cheese! How great is an 'everything' bagel with cream cheese?!?!? LOVE!

7. One of my friends brought my attention to this pair of shoes during the week...SERIOUSLY!!!! I WANT!!!! Check out the complete range here. LOVE!

8. Fresh juice! I'm not a huge fan of juicing but as I am away from my friend the blender, juicing has become a very familiar acquaintance! LOVE!

9. The village feel of New York. I do love walking to the grocery store, having a drink at the local and catching trains to where I'm going. This city is definitely user friendly. LOVE!

10. Visiting the carousels of New York. What an amazing history and experience really! LOVE!

eat; black bean and chia seed burger

2011-08-25T16:52:00.001-07:00

Lately I've been looking into superfoods as my bro is not well back home and I've decided I'm going to heal him through food once I get back. Last week, I made this burger based on a recipe from Navitas Natural website, If you haven't heard of them, click on the link and check them out. What an amazing company! LOVE!!

I changed up their recipe because I wanted to create a Mexican inspired flavour, but using fresh herbs in a burger seems to be a waste of time, so I'm re-adjusting it below to incorporate dried herbs and spices. It is served with a fresh salsa and avocado slices. They are easy to make and freeze well once cooked. Always great to have a burger or three in the freezer for the days or nights when you can't be bothered cooking! This is an open burger, meaning no bun. I just find buns to be a waste of space in my belly, but do as you wish.

Makes about 6 burgers

What you need;

1 can black beans

1/2 cup of chia seeds

1 1/2 cups brown rice

4 oz firm tofu

1/4 cup nutrional yeast
1 carrot, grated

1/2 red onion, chopped finely

1 tsp dried of each; oregano, parika, cummin,corriander

Salsa

2 tomatoes

1 red capsicum (bell pepper)

1/4 red onion

2 spring (green) onions

Bunch of fresh coriander (cilantro)

Dressing

Juice of 1 lime

1/4 cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

To serve

Roma lettuce leaves

1 avocado, sliced

Chop rinsing the beans under running water. Mash the beans with the back of a fork until half the beans are squashed. Add each ingredient one at a time, mixing between additions.

Once mixed, place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This will allow the chia seeds to swell and hold all the ingredients together. You can do this the night before if time is of essence.

While the burger mixture is in the refrigerator 'resting', start making the salsa. Simply chop all the ingredients into small pieces and add to an awaiting bowl. Mix the dressing in a cup and set aside.

Once the burgers are ready to cook, grab a big handful of the mixture and form a ball into the palm of your hand. Flatten into a patty and set aside. Once all the patty's are made, heat up a little oil on a medium heat and cook until golden brown.

To serve, add the dressing to the salsa and mix through. Make a bed of roughly chopped roma lettuce leaves onto each individual serving plate and gently place the patty on top. Place sliced avocado and top with a generous scoop of the salsa.

Buon Appetito!

pink; dots obsession

2011-08-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

designsonfragility.wordpress.com

Yayoi Kusama has been dot obsessed since the beginning of her career which began in the sixties and has painted dots on everything including naked bodies. The one thing everyone asks when telling another about Kusama is "Did you know she voluntarily admitted herself into a mental hospital where she now lives in Japan?!?!" Yes it is true. And yes, it is an interesting fact to pull out that makes people go 'WOW!' Her studio is near by the hospital, allowing for a short walk every morning.

I found a quote from her describing how her obsession with dots began;

"One day I was looking at the red flower patterns of the tablecloth on a table, and when I looked up I saw the same pattern covering the ceiling, the windows and the walls, and finally all over the room, my body and the universe. I felt as if I had begun to self-obliterate, to revolve in the infinity of endless time and the absoluteness of space, and be reduced to nothingness. As I realized it was actually happening and not just in my imagination, I was frightened. I knew I had to run away lest I should be deprived of my life by the spell of the red flowers. I ran desperately up the stairs. The steps below me began to fall apart and I fell down the stairs straining my ankle."

english.peopledaily.com.cn

Kusama creates a space where dimension is distorted and space is endless within large scale installations using lanterns, mirrors and dots. Dots Obsessed was a work created for a show in Munich in 2008 but is very much like many installations she has created around the world. These 'spaces' allow for your psychedelic dreams to come true, allowing you to 'trip out' in what seems to be a step back in time, into the sixties when people were experimenting with acid. These rooms are mesmerizing, creating a infinite space, and allows us to play amongst a landscape that feels like it's straight out of our childhood dreams.

english.peopledaily.com.cn

You can check out more of her works here or go to this site to meander through what is a work-in-progress documentary about the artist, who is now in her 80's. Typing in Yayoi Kusama into youtube will allow you to get a sense of what it is like to venture into one of her installations. If in Los Angeles, The Gagosian has a work of hers on show in a group exhibition until September 2nd.

love; ten things i love this week

2011-08-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

1. Having another application approved!!!!! I'm off next year to spend three months as artist-in-residence at NARS in New York!!! YAY! LOVE!!

bytesdaily.blogspot.com

2. Watching Pee-wee's Big Adventure at LACMA out door film series. Check out this article on Pee-wee's bike whereabouts today. I'm predicting that replicas of his bike are going to be on the market very, very soon...and I'll be the first to line up for one! LOVE!!!!

3. This lamp my friend Natalie bought for her new apartment!!! Looks amazing sitting atop vintage books! She was sooooo in love with one we had seen at a bar in San Diego that the second she was home, she had found one on-line! It made me want one too!!! LOVE!!!

4. Seeing sunsets/rises on the aeroplane. One of my favourite experiences whilst up in the air! LOVE!

themixbartendingservices.wordpress.com

4. Having a Martini date with a friend of mine AT 2.30AM!!!! She was soooo excited about me arriving to New York that there was no better time than the NOW! LOVE!!!!

dipity.com

5. Walking in the rain! Well, specifically, walking in New York! I think I've been living in L.A for a bit too long! I was like a gitty little girl at the rain this morning that all I wanted to do was stand in it NAKED!!!! LOVE!!!!

jalopnik.com

6. The sound of ice-cream trucks in the distance. Last night, as I was walking home in Brooklyn on a hot New York evening, the sounds of ice-cream truck music filled the air and made my long walk home all the more pleasant. I did enjoy this unexpected sound track. LOVE!!!!

allposters.com

7. New York. Yep, I am now officially in love with this city! It's my third visit in the last year, and yes, it was not really love at first sight. Maybe because L.A had stolen it and now the romance has subsided allowing room in my heart for New York. LOVE!!!

8. Working in cafe's with WIFI that have great coffee. That's exactly what I'm doing right now! I could sooooo get used to this way of life! LOVE!!!!

vegancrunk.blogspot.com

9. Girly night tonight with one of my besties. Yep, nails, facials, champagne, the works! LOVE a girly night in...WITH VEGAN PIZZA DELIVERED! LOVE!

10. Last week I mentioned being excited about something happening in New York, well, I'm pleased to say that I can now officially announce it...ONE OF MY BESTIE'S FROM MELBOURNE IN GETTING MARRIED HERE IN NEW YORK!!!!! She hadn't made the 'official' announcement via social media, so that's why I had to keep it from you all. Tomorrow's the big day and I am their witness! City Hall for the wedding then off to spend the afternoon row boating in Central Park and I'm going to coax everyone into a bike ride through the park as well! LOVE! BTW I'm the photographer, so I'll be posting some pics next week!

eat; thai salad with fried tofu

2011-08-18T14:36:00.001-07:00

This Thai Salad will knock your socks off (and those of your guests!) so make sure you aint wearing socks with holes (lol!). If you are wanting to keep it raw, simply add more cashew that have been soaked for at least 4 hours and then dehydrated for 2 hours. You can also replace the fried tofu with a plain firm tofu if you aint up to the deep fried option.

I used to make this A LOT when I was living in Echo Park, as one of my housemates was soooo addicted to it, she would salivate just thinking about it!

Serves 4

What you need;
6 pieces of fried tofu
1 English cucumber
1 red capsicum
8 carrots, grated
4 spring onions
4 cups fresh coriander (cilantro)
8 basil leaves
3/4 cup cashews, raw
Dressing
4 Tbs lime juice
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 Tbs white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 birdseye chili
2 tsp white sugar
cracked pepper on serving

Start by making the salad dressing by combing all the dressing ingredients in a glass. Stir and set aside. Toast the cashews by dry frying (no oil) in a non stick pan on a medium to high heat. Be careful as they kind of toast 'all of a sudden'. I have been caught out getting distracted and burnt the crap out of them before. Once done, set aside to cool.

Grate carrots on the large hole section of the grater. If you have a food processor with the grating attachment, go for it! Place the carrots in a big bowl.

Cut the red capsicum into quarters going length ways. Remove seeds and then cut into thin strips. Add to the carrots.

If using organic, keep the skin on the cucumber and cut into big sections. Stand the cucumber sections and slice as above into thin slices.

Cut into julienne pieces and add to the salad bowl with other ingredients.

Pick the leaves off the stems of the fresh coriander and place into the salad bowl .

Cut the spring onions into small pieces and add to the salad bowl. Add the salad dressing and gently toss all these ingredients together using tongs. Make sure you are ready to serve as the dressing will break down the salad if put on too early.

Slice the tofu as above but do not add it to the salad bowl. Set aside.

Now for the serving. Add a good amount onto each plate, stacking up high. Add the slices of tofu and then drop some cashews onto each plate.

Vola! An amazing salad that I know you will make again and again!

Buon Appetito!!!!

pink; rash room

2011-08-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Blind Rash - Shooting Blanks: 30"x38" Lambda Photograph 2008

Gina Osterloh is an American/Fillipino living and working in Los Angeles. Her practice melds together performance, photography and sculpture. This series of works I'm featuring was created for an exhibition in Manilla called Shooting Blanks in 2008. Appearing as if giant diaramas, Osterloh's work merges the individual and their environment, in an attempt to bond together psycholocial and physical space.

The women in these works has their eyes and mouth covered and stuffed with the same pink paper that makes up the background. By placing patches on her eyes, and stuffing pink paper in her mouth, she cuts off our access and communication as a viewer into her world. Our instant reaction to seeing someone is to look into their eyes, but Osterloh blocks this access and so we are confronted with where to look, where to place our focus. Without a focal point, our eyes meander around the figure and into her environment to question what it means to be an individual in a space that has become part of the individual; or be it the other way around. The boundary of individual and environment is broken and blurred as a result.

The figure becomes devoid of identity. This may have been a direct reflection of how she felt being a foreigner in Manilla, potentially feeling disassociated from her new environment, where she was sent through a scholarship program to participate in the exhibition and undertake research. Most of us have felt this way. We sometimes feel it walking into a party where we only know the host/ess and especially when travelling. I know this feeling very well, having been in a transitional space for nearly two years now. A connection to environament is a very important part of being human. As our environment changes, so do we. These works reflect on the sense of loss that is felt when we remove ourselves from our familiar space and try to relate to a new one, with a new sense of identity and connection.

The images below continue the series. Empty (Rash Room) is the most chilling of all. After experiencing the photographs with a figure within, we are confronted with a 'padded cell' environment void of any human existence, questioning what happened to that woman who allowed us to attempt to connect with her, even though there is distance between us and her with her covered eyes. We can still relate to a figure who is slumped, exhausted by her environment, but once she is removed, we are left with only our feeling and a further disconnectedness to the environment.


Empty (Rash Room) - Shooting Blanks: 30"x38" Lambda Photograph 2008

Mute Rash - Shooting Blanks: 30"x38" Lambda Photograph 2008

Gina Osterloh has a large-scale performance commision at LACE in Summer 2012. Check out the details of this upcoming interactive performance here.

love; ten things i love this week

2011-08-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

naturallivingcuisine.com

1. Adding wheatgrass powder to my daily routine. It's not as bad mixed in with cranberry juice as it is with water and will give you that added kick desperately needed in the afternoon. LOVE!

2. Drinking a litre of water upon rising. I must admit, this was very difficult for the first few mornings! I'm an espresso kind of a girl. Now, I'm reaping the benefits of this small but effective health habit. LOVE!!!

3. All the pics on facebook regarding the double rainbow in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday night. Soooo great to see everyone really enjoying such an amazing show by nature! LOVE!!!!

4. House sitting for a friend with a claw foot bath!!!! OMG! Is that not every girls dream?!?!? LOVE!!!!

5. Buying a new mask. This is 'AMAZING' and I highly recommend it! Find it here. LOVE!

6. The William Mulholland Memorial Fountain here in Loz Feliz, built in 1940. It is a beautiful art deco fountain which has become my turn around point on my morning walk. LOVE!

7. Getting lovely comments posted on my F.B wall about my old place in Melbourne, Australia, affectionately known as 'Number 12'. I used to throw the most outrageous parties and miss it so. I was told I am Number 12, which made me all warm and fuzzy inside. LOVE!

8. Being a part of my friends raw supper club. How lovely to see people eat 'raw' cuisine for the first time. It really is a special way to prepare and eat food! My favourite was the raw ravoli! YUM! LOVE!

9. Getting my eyebrows done. Sometimes, that's all a girl needs...LOVE!

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10. Being invited to an amazing event, that I really can't give details of yet, in New York. Sooooooo exciting!!!! I'm out to buy a new dress today for it! I think hot pink is going to be very, very appropriate! LOVE!

eat; raw spaghetti puttanesca

2011-08-10T13:58:00.001-07:00

123rf.com

Seriously, if you don't have a spirooli in your life yet, then you really don't know what you're missing out on, do you? Today I am going to try and tempt you that little bit more with this raw zucchini spaghetti recipe. But don't worry if you don't have a spiooli in your life, this recipe can still be made. Simply use a vegetable peeler to make fettuccine instead of spaghetti. Another trick is to have the zucchini at room temperature, so it is not cold straight out of the refrigerator. I have a tonne of recipes for sauces that I've been trying out and I think I finally got it!

This Punttanesca is a variance of Julie Morris' recipe. Check out her site for recipes using superfoods. A-MAZ-ING!

In this current share house I'm living in, there is no food processor :0( I'm totally missing having one around but am grateful to my friend Natalie who has let me borrow her blender for the time that I'm here. I can just live without a food processor, but no way in hell can I live without a blender! Even for one day! This recipe calls for the use of a food processor, but I cut everything by hand into tiny little pieces, which worked well. If you have one, please use it, if not, you can do as I did.

Serves 2

What you need;

3 zucchini, at room temperature

8 sundried tomatoes

1 large ripe tomato

10 kalamata olives

1 small glove of garlic

4 Tbls olive oil

4 basil leaves

1 Tbls nutritional yeast

Soak the sundried tomatoes in filtered water for at least two hours. If you have a food processor, add all the ingredients except for the zucchini and pulse until all chopped up. If you don't, simply chop all the ingredients into small pieces and mix in the rest.

Peel the zucchini and either use your spirooli to make the spaghetti or use your vegetable peeler to make fettuccine, remembering to go the full length of the zucchini in one long firm stride. Add a squeeze of lemon and a splash of olive oil and mix it through.

Add half the puttanesca into the awaiting pasta and mix through. Pile up a serving onto each plate and top with the rest of the puttanesca and serve.

Buon Appetito!

pink; passport to the playground, act 2

2011-08-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Nick Cave is an artist working in sculpture, installation, performance and video, currently practicing in Chicago. His background is in fiber textiles and modern dance and in his art practice, he brings these two influences together. The images in this post are video stills of Passport To The Playground, Act 2, which is going to be on show at Mary Boone Gallery from September 10th (I will have just missed it!)

Nick Cave creates these 'suits' with various materials and then proceeds to perform in them with other dancers in a choreographed dance. He calls them 'soundsuits' as most of the suits actually make sounds from the fiber choosen. This link will take you to the video created with the pink suit above. It's sounds are fun, reminding me of plonking infront of the TV on saturday afternoons to watch cartoons as a kid when bongs, dongs and splats were the background sounds to this time of the week.

Or they could also bring to mind animated long haired penis' doing their dance to attract a mate in a hilarious imitation of how sex can be oh soooo funny, with the noises of love making turned into a sound artists delight! I do love that!

These soundsuits are captivating to say the least. A long haired pink think bonging up and down to annimated sounds defintiely puts a smile on my face, whilst captivating my imagination as to who is actually in there? What does it feel like to perform in the suit? Can I have a go?

His youtube channel has a collection of his suit performances. You can peruse his varying videos and sound suits and really get to enjoy what this artist intended with his creations. He wants his audience to smile, enjoy and laugh at his work, to forget their real life and real dramas, if only for a second.

Below is a short interview with the artist talking about his work and where it all began. I love his child-like spirit that comes through in this video and how he simply wants to bring joy to the world with his art. Love that!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-08-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

picasaweb.google.com

1. Riding a beach cruiser along Venice Beach up to Santa Monica. You must do this when coming to L.A, but preferably not on a Sunday! LOVE!

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2. Walking in the morning for an hour everyday. It's still early stages in terms of it becoming a habit but I have been doing this all week! I've been walking for half an hour since being back in L.A but decided to increase it and I feel great! It is amazing how we forget that exercise actually makes us feel better, instantly! LOVE!

realage.com

3. Walking with my ipod! I'm one of those people that doesn't like listening to music in public, preferring to hear the sounds of the city around me, but since taking up walking for an hour, I LOVE IT! Especially walking to the beat! It really does inspire. LOVE!

4. Silly string! I went to see a band in East L.A on the weekend called The Maxies who offered a box full of silly string to the crowd before getting on stage! How great! LOVE!!!

blog.shoptrailblazer.com

5. Watching Food Matters and being inspired to eat well again. I don't need much convincing but like most, I do fall off the wagon sometimes. The movie has inspired me to introduce wheat grass into my dieta nd drink 1 liter of water the second I wake up. It is amazing what this does for you! LOVE!!

http://hyperallergic.com

6. This article in Hyperallergic. One day my artist home will feature in an article like this and it will be way more exciting than these houses! LOVE!!!

masquerademagazine.blogspot.com

7. Japanese artist who makes dresses out of balloons! LOVE!!!!

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8. Spending a night home alone having a facial, doing my nails and drinking champagne. One of my favourite self dates!!!

9. Painting my finger nails a different colour to my toe nails! LOVE!

10. All the great comments I've received relating to my new blog adventure. It truly is a nice feeling when your work inspires others. LOVE!!

eat; sprouting mung beans

2011-08-03T11:22:00.002-07:00

northorganic.com

This week, I want to share with you all how to sprout Mung Beans. I've been sprouting all sorts of beans lately as they are at their most nutritious when sprouted. The only bean that you should never , ever, ever sprout or eat raw in the Kidney Bean. Apparently it is toxic if not cooked.

Mung Beans are the easiest of all beans to sprout. By starting the night before, it only takes a day and a half before you can sprinkle these beauties onto your salads. The amount below swells up to about a cup and a half. I only make small batches at a time as you shouldn't keep sprouted beans for longer than four days. They are a germ fest if kept any longer than that! If you are interested in learning more about sprouting other varieties of beans, just leave a comment below and I will get onto creating more sprouting posts in the future.

What you need;

1/2 cup of dried organic mung beans

fine colander

container

water

time

To start, rinse the Mung Beans in a colander under running water. Place in a jar and fill the jar to the top with water.

Leave on your kitchen bench to soak overnight.

This is what your beans will look like in the morning, slightly split open with a few 'tails' showing.

Rinse in a colander under running water again.

Leave in the colander and place it on top of your jar. The trick is to get air flowing around the beans. I like to make this on a Sunday when I know I'm just potting around the house, and this is why; every three hours or so, rinse the beans in the colander under running water. You must NOT let the beans run dry. They need the water to sprout, but you certainly don't want it soaking in water. Do a final rinse before bed, but certainly don't get up in the middle of the night to rinse your babies. That's not necessary as they should be on the dryer side when placing them into the refrigerator.

By the next morning, this is what your beans will look like...ready to sprinkle and devour! To store, simply pour into a glass jar and keep in the refrigerator for not longer than four days.

Buon Appetito!!

pink; in the pink

2011-08-03T11:22:00.001-07:00

http://onemillionpink.org/

My attention was brought to this project a few weeks ago by a friend of mine in Chicago. In the Pink: the 1,000,000 people art project is an ambitious project by Connie Noyes. Noyes is a practicing artist in Chicago, creating painting, photography and construction. On her In The Pink blog, she claims to be "drawn to candy like surfaces. Shiny. Bright. Sparkly." My kind of artist!

PINKSpace was initially born to document the artists process of the exploration of the colour in her work. "PINKSpace functions as a metaphor for my” pinkish” physical body and the space I occupy. It is the color attributed to my “female” gender and can evoke heightened sexuality, innocence or saccharine sweetness."

It seems this focus on her own individual body has resulted in Noyes wanting to extend out from it and try to reach other 'bodies' in the process. She began to ask herself "“Is it possible to form a connection to 1,000,000 people around the world through an art project? If so, how long will it take for this to happen? And, “what does it mean?”"

PINKSpace has now developed into a world wide project called In The Pink, where Noyes is attempting to get in touch with 1,000,000 people, all connected through the colour pink. The result will be a symposium in November where a number of speakers from diverse backgrounds will speak on the subject of pink within their chosen field. If you are interested in participating, contact Noyes here.

Noyes began PINKSpace to investigate her own relationship to the colour pink and as a result of the process of investigation, has discovered that only through our relationships with others we can truly understand who we are as individuals. I do love that. Afterall, Pink is the color of universal love.

love; ten things i love this week

2011-08-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

1. Starting a new blog! As most of you know, I'm currently doing research on carousels in the States. I decided to create a blog that will act as an electronic visual diary of all the things I come across in my research to share with you guys. I will be posting works I create along the way, so sign up and receive updates on my latest posts!

library.thinkquest.org

2. Having friends in different cities. The great thing about this is not only do you have a personal tourist guide, but you have a space to lay your head. LOVE!!!

seo.com

3. Christmas in July Parties! Now this is the way we experience Christmas in Australia...heat, beaches and cherries! We do Christmas in July to enjoy the wintry experience in Australia so it was nice to see Americans enjoying the way we do Christmas. LOVE!

4. Receiving an invite from 'Carousel News' founder Roland Hopkins to join him on a two day tour of carousels in New York city!!! An antique carousel is being installed right now under the Brooklyn Bridge and on this tour, not only will be taken there, but I will also be taken to places that are not open to the public!!! Royal treatment, here I come!!!! I will have to wear my tiara for the personal tour, for sure!!!!! LOVE!

5. This video!!! OMG! I think I will have to plan a visit to Europe based on an upcoming performance by these guys. Royal de Luxe are amazing! Click here to see an amazing wall of pictures of their creations. LOVE!!!

6. This might be crazy! LOVE!!

7. Fairy lights and flowers! I made this today to warm up my room as my room is looking way too much like the travelers room, without character or personal touches. Looking forward to settling again so I can decorate. LOVE!!

lowes.com

8. Helping a friend make the decision to live on her own. She has been living in share houses all her adult life and it just happened to be the right time. Her apartment is art deco and is truly a beautiful bachelorette pad. LOVE!!!

9. Rooftop outdoor settings. Two of my friends live in apartments with access to rooftops. It truly is a great way to drink wine while watching the day turn into night. LOVE!

bonfirehealth.com

10. Water. I've been seeing A LOT of people cleaning pathways here in Los Angeles using water. It makes me cringe everytime! Maybe it's the Australian indoctrinated attitude towards water, but i feel this is such a waste. Learn to love and appreciate water!

eat; chia seed pudding with blueberries and banana

2011-07-26T18:12:00.001-07:00

goinghometoroost.com

Chia Seeds. What are they and what's all the fuss? Well, that I aint getting into here but you can check it out here and read up on all the amazing stuff that's out there claiming them to be the latest super food. I must admit to falling victim to the hype. What started it off was when one of my housemates brought home a few bags of free samples he received from the health food store. This started my investigation into what they are and what to do with them.

The most popular thing to do with Chia Seeds is to make pudding. It is sooooooo easy and is such a great snack for you. You can sweeten it for a sweet treat or you can add amazing dried spices to it for a savoury feast. I will be experiementing with these seeds over the next few months to see how far I can push this little seed into creating a wholesome meal. But for today, I'm sharing my very first recipe, Chia Pudding with Blueberries and Banana made with fresh homemade Almond milk.

Now, if you want to cut out the step below of making your own almond milk, that's fine. You can add store bought almond milk, soya, rice or coconut. You can simply add water if you like! Whatever tickles your fancy. I love the process of making nut milks so this is why I have included it.

What you need;
3/4 cup chia seeds
2 cups almond milk
1/2 cup blueberries
1 banana, sliced
whatever sweetener you are into and however much you like!
few drops of vanilla essence or half scrapped vanilla bean
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

Almond Milk
1 cup raw almonds, soaked 8-12 hours
4 cups water

To make the milk, all you have to do is place the soaked nuts and water into a blender and whizz away for a few minutes. Easy! The images below show you step by step on what to do.

While the almond milk is whizzing away, place a fine strainer on top of an awaiting container. If you do have nut milk bag, totally go for it. I don't mind my milk with a little texture. Pour the almond milk into the strainer and stir it through. The almond bits left over can be used in creating crackers if you have a dehydrator, otherwise, simply throw it away.

Once you have made the almond milk, stir in the sweetener, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the chia seeds and stir it through with a fork. Set the pudding in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, keeping it in the container you have been using. When the time is up, you're good to go! Simply pour it with a spoon into your serving bowls, add blueberries and sliced banana and then EAT!

Now of course you should play around with different fruits and different milks. I'm thinking I will try hazelnut milk with raw cocao powder and raspberries next. YUM!

Buon Appetito!

pink; ice cream social

2011-07-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

You know how it goes...you find something you like, or buy a new toy or simply want something sooooo bad and then all of a sudden, IT'S EVERYWHERE!!!!! This happened when I began my obsession with carousels. Everywhere I looked, I found carousel horses in one shape or another. This also flowed onto my friends attracting it too! So what's next? Food in art, of course!!!! Last week I introduced you guys to Jennifer Rubell's Padded Cell, who uses food in her work. It has sparked this HUGE fire in me ever since! Everywhere I turn, I see artists using food!!!

It's not a new thing to use food in art but I am loving the way it is being used in art today.

David Robbins has combined pink, food and parties (my favourite things!!!), creating works that cross disciplines from art to cakes to a tv pilot. I wont go on about his work here as his website is soooo amazing, I would rather you just click here and spend the time surfing his site. AMAZING!!!!! LOVE IT!

love; ten things i love

2011-07-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

flickr.com

1. Stone fruits! Ahhhh the delights of summer...YUM!

2. This umbrella! Just this morning, on my morning walk, I was thinking I should come up with a parasol range. I do love a parasol, but it is hard to come by a great one. Now this umbrella....well! Check out their full range here. LOVE!!!!

http://stamppics.com/approved-stamp

3. Having another application for exhibition approved! On average, I apply to about 40-50 art-realted things a year, whether it be for a show or grant or prize, and most of the time it's a big fat NO. This last month, I've had two exhibitions approved for my return to Melbourne. What a great feeling!!! LOVE!!!!

pastorleebrewer.blog.com

4. Enjoying the successes of my friends! It seems like all my art friends are on fire at the mo and kicking arse! One bought an apartment in New York and another receiving a major art award for under 30's just in the last week!! The energy must be right, right now! LOVE!!

5. La Ronde. I met a guy this past week who i was telling about my research into carousels and he told me to check out this play. I came across this 1950's movie interpretation, and it totally rocks! The carousel is AMAZING! Check out the film here, film stills here, and a great review of the film by Cockeyed Caravan here. LOVE!!!

6. Downtown Los Angeles Arts District. I can't believe last weekend was my first time down there! It is awful to get to without a car, so thats probably why. The bars are really cool and I loved it so much I was there the next day for their street festival. If you do come to Lala Land, make sure to do some research and check out this part of town. Do not venture in there without a car, especially at night. It neighbours a really shady area! LOVE!

7. A friend of mine posted this video on my F.B page of a nail tutorial on how to paint cupcakes on your finger tips. Too hilarious!!! I did want to rush out and buy these colours. It's on my 'must have' list! LOVE!!!

8. Seeing this lady out and about this week at The Grove. This photo does not do her justice! She was totally OUT THERE with her jewelery, socks with slip on shoes and hair piece! WOW! I do love seeing people dressing out of the norm and really loving it. LOVE!

9. Being taught gold leaf gilding at Running Horses Studio. This photo is what i practiced on. Half of it is with gold leaf and the other is aluminum leaf. I could soooo get lost in it's luminosity! Twas lovely to get back to painting again and be reminded how much joy can be achieved with oil paints. LOVE!!!!

10. Now I'm not one for cars but when one glides on by looking like this one, my eyes do pop out of my head! It was red with SPARKLES!!!!!!! Now that's my kind of a car! LOVE!

eat; quinoa spaghetti with broccoli and toasted pine nuts

2011-07-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

hort.purdue.edu

One of the many things I love about the States (well particularly California!) is that you have choices! Quinoa pasta is not an option in Australia, so whenever I am here, I stock up on this amazing food! As you all know, I LOVE PASTA!!!! As Sofia Loren once said "Everything you see I owe to spaghetti". Love that! And having an option that is gluten free is amazing. This is one of my mother's recipes but I've spruced it up with roasted pine nuts, which just lifts this simple dish to the next level.

What you need;

8oz (250g) Quinoa Spaghetti

2 heads of broccoli

1/2 cup water

2 cloves garlic

1 small chili

1/2 cup pine nuts

olive oil

Parmesan cheese or Nutritional yeast for vegan option

salt and pepper to taste

Start by placing a big pot of salted water on the stove, with heat on high and lid on, so the water can reach boiling point by the time prep is over. Chop the garlic and chilli into tiny pieces. Cut the broccoli into florets placing them into an awaiting colander and rinse under running water.

The water should be at boiling point and ready to throw in the pasta. Follow directions on the pack, making sure you reach an al dente texture and not over!!!! Nothing worse than soggy pasta!!!!

Toast the pine nuts in a dry fry pan (no oil) until golden in colour, tossing frequently. Keep an eye on them as they can burn quickly!!! Set aside.

Add a little oil to another pot and saute the garlic and chili until fragrant. Add the broccoli florets and 1/2 cup of water. Be careful not to splash it in as you may burn yourself! Stir it all through and place a lid on it. Allow it to simmer on a low heat until the broccoli is well cooked, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to your liking at any stage. Keep an eye on it as it's cooking, making sure it doesn't dry out too much. Add more water if it does, but only a small amount at a time. You certainly don't want the broccoli to swim in it!

Your broccoli should look like this picture. A little mushy, but still holding shape when cooked.

Look at this picture of beautiful golden heaven!!!!! Your pasta should be ready by the time the broccoli is ready. If not, just set the broccoli aside, off the heat until the pasta is done. Strain the spaghetti and then place back into the pot you used to cook it in. Add the broccoli and toss gently.

To serve, use tongs. I've put this picture in to show you how I do it. With one hand holding the plate and the other holding the spaghetti, turn the plate around as you slowly let go of your grip on the spaghetti. The effect will be a lovely 'pile' of spaghetti as seen in the picture at the beginning of this post. Add the pine nuts to the individual plates and serve with Parmesan or nutritional yeast.

YUMMMMMMM!!!!! I'm outta here to buy some quinoa pasta to make this tonight!

Buon Appetito!!!

pink; padded cell

2011-07-20T13:39:00.001-07:00

http://jenniferrubell.com/images/happenings/upload/_MG_3606copy_2.jpg

Check this out!!!! I came across an article in The New Yorker whilst lazing on the beach in San Diego on the weekend about Jennifer Rubell. She is an artist who uses food in her work, which caused me to do some research. AND I FOUND THIS!!!!! It is a padded cell made of fairy floss (cotton candy!!!!). I thought I would love ANYTHING made with fairy floss but this gives me the creeps!

It is a freestanding structure to replicating a padded cell and was created for a dinner party Rubell hosted as part of her exhibition. The guests were not allowed in until after 9pm causing them to be excited about the idea of being surrounded by pink fairy floss (cotton candy) yet disturbed by the thought of entering a padded cell.

Here is an excert from Rubells website;

Padded cell is an 8’X16’ freestanding room constructed of basic building materials, with a single door that contains a plexiglass window. Inside, the walls and ceilingare padded with pink cotton candy, and a bare light bulb hangs in the center. The door is opened at 9pm, but the interior is visible through the window throughout the evening. The Red Party’s main dinner is served inside a Russian-themed constructivist set, and Padded Cell acts as an escape from that, an all-American funhouse that is at the same time confining, threatening, claustrophobic. It is an object that addresses the dark side of pleasure, the price of pleasure, the possibility that pleasure is its own punishment. Approximately 1,600 cones of cotton candy are used in its construction.

I do love the pics of people eating the fairy floss and the way it looked after the attack!

Rubell has totally inspired me this week. She has been the first artist in a long time to really get me going with my own practice. As you all know, I love food but will never give up art for it. This artist has reminded me I don't have to and has inspired me to bring the food into my practice. Watch out guys! The next exhibition I have might require you all to come with an empty belly!!!!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-07-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

wikio.com

1. This video David Lynch created to promote his new coffee range. Pretty wacky really but what do you expect from a man who hung outside on a busy corner in L.A with a live cow and a picture of Laura Dern to promote her role in Inland Empire for best actress?!?! LOVE!

3. This crazy video on youtube I came across while doing some research for an upcoming project. I really love the reactions from the people sitting there on their way home! LOVE!

4. I showed you months ago cats with wigs, this week I stumbled across dogs with wigs! Check it out here! LOVE!

5. These 'typewriter paintings'! how cool is this?!?!?!

6. More paper...check out Jum Nakao paper dresses! Here is a link to his fliker account. LOVE!

ontravel.com

7. The reports about mating turtles stopping traffic on the JFK runway. What better way to stop traffic! LOVE!!!

8. Going to San Diego with Nat for her birthday and wearing our tiara's all weekend! What a way to get free drinks!!! LOVE!!

9. Spending the day at the beach at Coronado, San Diego. Nothing like just hanging with friends, reading magazines and eating! LOVE!!!

10. Taking video footage of carousels!!! It's all happening and I'm soooo loaded with ideas that I can't wait for my next exhibition!!! The carousel in this picture is the one at Griffith Park. It's where Walt Disney was inspired to create Disneyland!!!! LOVE!!!

eat; gazpacho

2011-07-12T16:29:00.002-07:00

As the heat sets in here in Lala Land, everyone is on the search for cooling food, fresh ingredients and simplicity in food preparation. I was invited along to a friends place for a barbeque for the 4th of July celebrations and asked my hostess what I should bring along. To my surprise, she said Gazpacho. I made it for her over a year ago and she still remembered the amazing flavours. It has happened before too, when I made it for another beach event and had my friends mum hooked on it for weeks! She still makes it years later; now that's saying something!

It really does make sense to serve this amazing cold Spanish soup on a hot day for a bit of something different to salads and grilled things at a barbeque. It super easy to make as all you do is throw all the ingredients into a blender and whiz away! I made it on that same day, very early morning as it is the sort of dish that tastes better after the flavours have infused for a few hours at least. It always tastes great the next day (if it all hasn't been gobbled up!) so I reccomend if you can, make it the day before. To serve, I always pour it into a large bowl and then create individual 'cups' of the soup adding one or two ice-cubes to keep it cool just before serving. It's really fun to eat soup out of a ceramic cup for some reason, don't you think?!

The recipe that follows is taken from one of my all time favourite Australian cooks, Stephanie Alexander.

What You Need;

1.5 kg (1.5lbs) ripe tomato

200g (7oz) cucumber

150g (5oz) red pepper

2 cloves of garlic,

100g (4oz) sourdough bread

1 jalepino

1/2 cup really good olive oil

1/2 cup red wine viniger

1-2 cups of chilled water

salt and pepper to taste

So what's the next thing to do? Simply roughly chop everything and throw it into a blender!! Too easy!

Check the consistency and add as much water as you would like. I like mine on the thick side, so I only added one cup. I needed to do it in batches, and you'll probably find this too. Have an awaiting large bowl and pour your batches into it. Once done, give it a big swirl with a spoon to mix it all up. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least a three hours. Overnight is better.

To serve, thinly slice a cucumber for garnish, set aside. Pour into small ceramic cups, add one or two ice-cubes and gently place a slice of cucumber onto the edge of the cup. Vola, a yummy tasting summer soup!

Buon Appetito!

pink; night and fog, tubes on black mountain

2011-07-12T16:29:00.001-07:00

This past week, I felt very bodily. Maybe it's the heat which is causing me to show more flesh (remembering I have just come out of two winters!!!) or maybe because it's 'that time of the month' for me. Either ways, this work both repulsed and intrigued me. It is a video/sculpture work by Naotaka Hiro on exhibit last year at Las Cienaga Projects, here in Los Angeles as part of a two person show.

Hiro is a Japanese born artist living and working in Los Angeles and his practice is all about the body; particularly focusing on the unseen parts of our bodies. In this video, Hiro takes on the role of a puppeteer with an animals intestine filled with minced meat, creating a very long sausage like form. During the video, the viewer is exposed to a play between the organic form of the meat and the static and hard surface of the pyramid-like sculpture, manipulated entirely by Hiro with a string.

The video stills above suggest not only a play with organic and non-organic matter but we see a strong relationship with the gloss surface of the two conflicting materials. This ties the forms together in a poetic play of opposite attracts. These opposing materials create a beautiful image of attraction and repulsion, all in the same breath. We are reminded of our own bodily relationship to non-organic materials and things, such as our bodily relationship to the automobile. Two opposing forces that once upon a time would have been unfathomable to imagine we could actually travel faster than a cheetah in a metal contraption in the future.

What remains after the poetic play of these two forms is the monolithic pyramid sculpture and the remains of the string that powered the dance of the meat stuffed intestine. It is a sad ending for the organic matter but a beautiful reminder of what we, as organic matter, are dealing with in our very fragile and short lived lives.

Unfortunately, I could not find much information about this work, so the details of materials, duration of the video and it's size are not available. Never-the-less, this work communicates on a poetic scale that is beyond it's dimensions, duration or details of it's media. I'll be keeping an eye out for Hiro's next exhibition and do hope I will be in town for his next show.

love; ten things I love this week

2011-07-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

1. This great picture my friend Natalie found at a yard sale while I was back in Australia. She thought of me straight away! It is super creepy and one does wonder what the hell is going on in there! LOVE!!!

dcist.com

2. Watching fire works from my friends front lawn in Echo Park for the 4th of July celebrations. The Mexican neighbours were all out with there fireworks and entertained us for hours with their sky rocketing displays. LOVE!!!

mlleparadis.blogspot.com

3. Hanging out with friends at a German beer garden, drinking beer and eating German food! I'm not a fan of German food, but this beer garden was the closest thing I've experienced to Australian Pubs here in L.A which I always miss when the heat is on. BTW, my German friend on F.B was MORTIFIED that I ate a soy sausage at a German Tavern. lol!!! LOVE!

4. Cooking and eating with my friend glo (yes she spells it with SMALL g!) I love introducing her to the amazingness of raw food and teaching her a few tricks! She loves food as much as I do and is always up for going somewhere to check out food. This week gone by, we were on the hunt for Persian Fairy Floss! LOVE!!!!

5. This great TED video about giving yourself a 30 day challenge to try something new. I've incorporated a walk in the mornings after my coffee and morning pages sessions and loving it! Try it out! LOVE!!!

remodelista.com

6. Buying myself a fan! It is ridiculous how a fan can change your world when the heat is on! And it's recycled as I bought it for 10 bucks from the thrift store! LOVE!!!

vegetarian.about.com

7. Non-dairy, non-soy ice-cream! This IS what I love about the United States of America; the variety to choose! I had a whole tub the other night of ice-cream made out of coconut milk. YUM!!!! I will be attempting a few recipes for raw ice-cream soon, so watch out for upcoming posts! LOVE!

8. Hanging out with one of ex-roomies in the back yard of where I used to live, here in Lala Land. We would spend hours chatting away about the universe. It was lovely to relive it again. LOVE!

holistikhealth.com

9. Adding spirulina into my green smoothies.As if spinach and kale was not green enough! If you haven't tried incorporating this green amazingness into your diet, I highly recommend it! LOVE!!!

afemininemanifesta.com

10. The latest book I devoured in a day!...A Feminine Manifesta! LOVE!!!!

eat; cupcakes!

2011-06-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

mnn.com

I've been eating salads since arriving in L.A as I have just returned from a three month stay with my mum in Australia. Most of you know that I haven't been home in a year and so my good old Italian mum pulled out all the stops in feeding me all my favourite Italian foods over the time I was there. Yep, all carb fueled deliciousness; from amazing bread to pasta. I ate like a horse!!!! I even indulged in Italian cheeses!!!!

So now I'm back on track and really haven't been eating anything that amazing, even though I know salads can be amazing. Basically I'm detoxing for a while. And of course, when one does detox, they begin to crave all sorts of things that one doesn't normally eat! I'm not much of a sweet tooth but all of a sudden, all I'm wanting is luscious cupcakes! RIDIC!

To keep with the kitsch theme of eatpinklove this week, what is more kitsch in food than the humble (not so these days!) cupcake? Nothing! So for this weeks post, I thought I would direct you guys onto some vegan and raw blogs I keep an eye on. Some do amazing vegan desserts, some only raw, but all are great resources when you're feeling the need to experiment and create an amazing mouth explosion that is actually good for you! Enjoy!

1. Chef Chloe must be THE Vegan Cupcake Queen! She also does all things vegan and some crazy looking fun vegan biscuits for my favourite holiday, Halloween.

2. For a raw treat, check out Sweetly Raw. Her deserts are amazing and yes, you can make a raw cupcake! She only does raw sweets and so can easily be crowned the Queen of Raw Desserts!

3. Golubka is an amazing blog for raw foods. She isn't into cupcakes at all saying they "make [her] yawn uncontrollably". Check out this blog for amazing photos, crisp clean food, design and yummy raw desserts.

4. Post Punk Kitchen has a very cool take on presenting vegan recipes, including savoury dishes. They have published a book called Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World. Very funny indeed!

5. The Daily Raw Cafe is AMAZING! The post I have linked is her first attempt at making raw cupcakes and they look great! Will have to try this recipe for sure!

Well, that's it on my search for vegan and raw cupcakes. Let me know if you've come across an amazing raw or vegan blog that is a MUST to know!

Until next week,

Buon Appetito!

pink; pink panther

2011-06-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Yep, if Charles Pheonix is King of all things Kitsch in Los Angeles, then Jeff Koons must be crowned King of Kitsch in contemporary art. Googling Jeff Koons and looking at a wall of images of his work made me think of a little boy who was let loose in a 1950's toy shop. Full of vibrant colours, shiny surfaces, giant sized balloon toys and...boobies! Koons' work definitely excites the little kid in all of us and he uses the colour pink A LOT in his work! I've decided on Pink Panther as I'm particularly interested in porcelain at the moment and how it is used in contemporary art.

Koons has created a number of large works in porcelain, probably his most famous Michael Jackson and Bubbles. I saw this work in San Francisco last year and I was completely blown away by it. It was lush, large, opulent and gob smacking! Images on google do not do it justice and I would imagine Pink Panther would have the same effect.

Googling Pink Panther, I found that I had to scroll through the first few pages of articles relating to it's recent sale on the art market, most of them predicting it hitting an all time high price for an artwork sold by a living artist. This is very common for Koons' work; the price it fetches. He has created a career that is controversial within the artworld. Critics either love him or hate him. Whatever your opinion of him, he is an artist that cannot be ignored.

With a luscious finish due to the use of porcelain, Pink Pather was created in 1988, stands at 104.1cm (41") and creates a scenario that is far removed from our reality. A Jayne Mansfield character stands tall and proud in a curvacious and fun pose as if just about to step out into wonderland. She lovingly holds cartoon character Pink Panther, who seems to have surrendered to his fate. Both these characters would have been present in Koon's American upbringing in the late fifties and early sixties and the influence of porcelain reminds us of our Grandma's kitsch collection of porcelain statuettes on her mantle piece or display cabinet.

By using these two characters, Pink Panther brings our attention to what is real and what isn't. Jayne Mansfield may have been a real woman living an ordinary life, but her on screen character was fused with publicity stunts, mainly of her boobs 'accidentally' falling out of her dress at inappropriate (or appropriately depending on how one saw it) times and steamy love affairs. Her off screen 'character' was a mother of five children and it was reported she was a proud homemaker.

Pink Panther is a commentary on pop culture and how we are seduced by it. It reflects on what is reality and non-reality between what we see and what we want to see and the distance we have with our own lives and the lives that are created on screen.

Below is an intriguing interview with Koons discussing Pink Panther. There is definitely something really, really strange about this man! He mentions an ashtray his Grandparents had that I sooooo want in my life right now!

Enjoy the video and it's soundtrack!

love; ten things i love this week

2011-06-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

1. Charles Pheonix! Sorry guys but this week is going to be a little influenced by kitsch as I went to see the King of Kitsch here in L.A on Friday night and fell in love with all things kitsch! If you're in town, you MUST check out the dates of his performances and tours as he is a gem right here in L.A. LOVE!

2. Programmatic Architecture! Australia definitely has it's fare share of Programmatic Architecture, but nothing like what's here in L.A! Here is a link to some existing and some long gone Programatic architecture in L.A. LOVE!

bronxbanterblog.com

3. Galco's soda pop store here in Los Angeles! I'm venturing out to it later in the week to check out the store and have a chat. I'm not a huge fan of soda pop but what makes this store different is that he holds only small independent companies soda's bringing back Americas favourite oldies, in glass bottles! LOVE!

retaildj.com

4. So I stumbled across this bulldog photo whilst googling for images and I really can't find anything that goes with it. Have no idea WTF it is or where it is but I do love it! I think I might have to make her my F.B profile pic! So wrong, but oh sooo right! LOVE!

5. Which brings me to poodles!!! I think I may need to own a poodle one day and have it groomed like this one. Too funny! Check out the array of grooming that has happened here! CRAZY!

moblog.net

6. I know we are no where near Christmas but this poodle sitting all raunchy as a Christmas decoration was tooooo cute to leave out this week when I stumbled across her! LOVE!!!

hiddenlosangeles.com

7. Papa Christo's Greek Tavern here in L.A! Coming from Melbourne, Australia, which has the largest population of Greeks outside of Athens, I'm definitely going to have high standards! I'm hoping to head out there in a few weeks to check it out. They have Big Fat Thursday Greek Dinners with a bellydancer dragging people up to dance! Too funny! Check out the mural!!!!

8. Which brings me to my friends new adventure...making those gorgeous ear rings and selling them on etsy! Totally not kitsch but I couldn't resist adding her earrings this week. I love them so, but I don't get into earrings much. She has promised to get onto rings and bangles very, very soon. Check them out here! LOVE!

legendsofamerica.com

9. Being back in Lala Land. As soon as the airplane hit the tarmac, I felt like I was home. And it's HOT! Gotta love that! Been eating salads all week...my favourite food in the world! LOVE!

buyyourlahome.com

10. Living in Los Feliz! Such a great area full of bars, eateries and GELATO! OMG! Loving the gelato a little too much! People have dining tables set out on their front porches and spend their evenings having dinner there. How great is that! Makes an evening stroll quite lovely. LOVE!

eat; raw zucchini pasta with yellow pepper cashew cheese sauce

2011-05-23T00:03:00.001-07:00

fifthelementparfumerie.wordpress.com

A few weeks ago I posted how to make cashew cheese and said that I would post the amazing dinner I had using the cashew cheese as a sauce. So here it is!

Serves 2

What you need;
Cashew cheese recipe, watered down a little
2 zucchini at room temprature
2 handfulls of rocket (arugula)
2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
marinated artichokes, as many as you like
handful of olives, which ever flavor you like

I now have a spirooli in my life which makes making raw zucchini pasta a hell of alot easier! If you don't have on and can't really be bothered cutting it by hand, you can always make papperdelle pasta by using a vegetable peeler. Peel the skin off the zucchini first.

In a big bowl, add the zucchini pasta, rocket (arugula) and tomatoes. Pour the sauce over it all and mix well. Add as much as you like onto each plate and then lay the artichoke pieces on top. Best not to mix them in. I haven't stated how much artichoke to use as I LOVE them and always heap them on when I get a chance, but maybe four to five pieces will be fine.

Top with cracked pepper and serve!

Buon Appetito!

pink; the total female animal

2011-05-22T23:59:00.000-07:00

photo Elyss McCleary

Google Me This is an exhibition I am currently showing in but I wont write about my own work as it is not pink (even though it is full of glitter and even features a tiara!). Instead, I have chosen Carmen Reid's work who is co-curator of the exhibition.

Google Me This asked artists involved to google their own names and create a work based on someone else's identity. As you can imagine, the result is a mixed bag of easy to get and absolutely way out interpretations, especially as there are 53 artists from various backgrounds involved in the exhibition.

Carmen Reid chose Carmen Miranda as her source of inspiration. Judging by the title of the work, Reid obviously wanted to have fun (lots of fun) with this work! The image above shows an installation of pink champagne, maracas, a scarf head piece and even garter belts! Full of feminine symbols, Carmen went the hack with all things pink to create the work. The funny thing is Carmen herself is not a pink person and her work never deals with the feminine. This is what was great about creating work for an exhibition with such a strong brief; it gave us permission to explore themes we would never really consider within our practice.

You can check out the rest of the works here. The exhibition is on until June 5th at The Library Artspace, 100 Barkly St, North Fitzroy, Wed-Sun 12-5pm.

love; ten things i love this week

2011-05-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

1. Installing for an exhibition. Yes it IS the most stressful time for an artist and exhausting but there is something kinda great about seeing your work all finished and ready for the showing. It's that satisfaction you get when something you imagined in your head finally comes to fruition. LOVE!

2. Opening night of an exhibition you're involved with. Scary yet thrilling. The idea that no-one may come is soooo overwhelming! Nice to share your work with loved ones though. LOVE!

3. Getting a phone call from the Italian radio station, Rete Italia here in Melbourne for an interview THIS FRIDAY about my work in Google Me This! They will be pod casting it so there is noooooo escape! LOVE!

4. Cannoli from Bisetto! I am thoroughly enjoying catching up on a years supply of these! My family have been going to this Italian cakeshop since it opened in 1972 and the tradition is still going. Every birthday has a 'Bisetto' birthday cake. When in Melbourne, you MUST travel out to Northcote for one of these delights! LOVE!

5. This 'spray' food dye! I've gone all gold over the last week as I'm doing research for an upcoming exhibition and came across this! How amazing to EAT gold food! LOVE!

6. Calliope music! I am a little obsessed with this right now! Yep, doing more research! You can check out some amazing clips on youtube of the machines doing there thing here. LOVE!

7. Too funny! Sculptures made from food. Check it out here. LOVE!

8. The smell of the sea. This week, I ended up in the bayside suburbs here in Melbourne and was reminded of how great the smell of the sea actually is. LOVE!

9. And the sounds of the sea! These poor birds always get a bad wrap. I've had a soft spot for them ever since I was a kid, maybe because they are always targeted by people or maybe because there is ALWAYS one in the flock that has a broken, missing or distorted leg. LOVE!

10. Introducing my friends 7 year old daughter to one of my favorite kitchen equipment; the spirooli! We made raw zucchini spaghetti and she looooooved it! My friend hopped onto Amazon the second we finished eating and ordered one. Apparently it's been working overtime since it arrived in the mail. LOVE!

eat; tabouli inspired chickpea salad

2011-05-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

thelongestlife.com

This is a simple salad I create often as it makes a very filling and satisfying meal. It stores really well for a few days 'undressed' and is easy to take with you for work or play and can be made a day ahead. The type of parsley you choose to use is entirely up to you; I prefer the Italian parsley. Also, if you want to make it completely raw, use a cup of dried chickpea that have been soaked in filtered water, overnight and leave out the bulgur wheat. Bulgur wheat can be cooked or soaked, but I like to add this to the salad after simply rinsing it and then leave the salad to soak for a few hours.

Serves 4

What you need;

1/2 bunch of pasley

a handful of mint

1/2 small Spanish onion

2 tomatoes

1 red capsicum (bell pepper)

1 can chickpea (organic please!)

1/2 cup bulgur wheat

Dressing

1/4 lemon juice

1/4 olive oil

2 Tbs sumac spice

salt and pepper to taste

Start by rinsing the bulgur wheat and set aside to drain well. Chop the onion, tomatoes and red capsicum into small cubes and add to a bowl.

Chop the mint and parsley into fine pieces.

Rinse the can of chickpea under running water and add to the awaiting salad, along with the bulgur wheat. Mix well. At this stage, add a splash of filtered water to the salad, toss again then place in the fridge for at least two hours. Make sure you do not add too much water! Best to add less than to add too much! The bulgur wheat will 'swell up' during this time.

Mix the dressing ingredients together and set aside. When you are ready to eat, pour dressing over salad and serve.

Buon Appetito!

pink; the manual input station

2011-05-03T05:27:00.001-07:00

I've been sooooo busy working on my own video this week for an upcoming exhibition that I haven't seen any shows, nor do I have time to write about any pink works! I stumbled across this little beauty by Flong to share with you guys a few weeks ago. All I'll say is I wish my Cranberry and Vodka drinks did this when the bar tender puts ice into it! It is a work that doesn't need any explanations anyway.

Here is a link to the website to check out more info on it. In the meantime, enjoy the video of the work below.

love; ten things i love this week

2011-05-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

1. Hestons Feast! I'm sooooo in love with this guy and completely obsessed with his show to the point where I actually don't make plans on Thursday nights because of it! He has a show on SBS here in Australia but you can check them out here or on youtube. This coming week, he is doing a Fairytale theme, pumpkin and all! Click here to see how he creates Alice In Wonderlands Drink Me potion. LOVE!

2. Having my mum in one of my upcoming video installations wearing a tiara! She walked down the street where she lives with it on as we filmed her. Too funny really! Keep you all posted on eatpinklove's Facebook page of where it will be streaming! LOVE!

3. One of my dearest L.A friends brought my attention to this! How amazing is the idea?!?!? LOVE!

4. Alexander McQueens upcoming show! Wish I was in New York for it! Check this out! LOVE his chessboard show!

5. Op shopping! Thrift Stores to all ye Americans out there! I went for a big binge this week and came home with some great new outfits! I'm heading back to Lala Land for the summer so was on the search for some amazing summer dresses. Can't wait to wear them! LOVE!

6. Hula hoops! I gotta get me one soon! Check out the benefits of practicing hula hooping here. LOVE!

7. My friend glo's (she likes to use a little 'g' when writing her name!) latest post on how to make a green smoothie! She beat me to it and did a mighty fine job at it! Check it out here. LOVE!

8. My friend Sam. She knows I love anything heart shaped and sent me a photo of her thumb with chipped nail polish that happened to be in the shape of a heart! LOVE!

9. Pleasantville! What a lully movie! I watched this last week at a friends place while eating popcorn. LOVE!

10. I know Easter is over, but I am loving biting into the ears of chocolate bunnies this week! Check out this video on how to kill a chocolate bunny! LOVE!

eat; lettuce wraps

2011-04-25T09:59:00.001-07:00

ifood.tv

While on my detox a few weeks ago, I was enjoying these lettuce wraps without the avocado. They are really fun to eat and you can add all sorts of things in them like sprouted lentils or alfalfa. I was making these while in The States and drowning them in Trader Joe's yummy Goddess Dressing! I wrote down the ingredients so I could replicate it while here in Australia, but I seem to have lost the recipe! I'm devastated! So any of you Americans reading this right now, please rush out and get a bottle and please post the ingredients down the bottom so I may make up this dressing!

What you need;
Romaine lettuce leaves
1 Beet
1 Carrot
1/2 Avocado
Fresh herbs (cilantro, parsley or basil)
Any other vegies you feel like. Play around with different combos.
Salt and pepper to taste

Start by cutting your carrots and beets into julienne slices. If you are not up for the challenge of cutting them into julienne slices, pull out the grater; it will taste just as great grated. I normally make up a containers worth when I do it so I only do it once but get to enjoy them over a few days. Make sure your container is airtight if you decide to do this.

Wash the lettuce under warm running water so the leaves may go a little limp for easy rolling, then split each leaf at the bottom as shown in the image below.

Cut your avocado into thin slices by going across the fruit. With a spoon, scoop out the slices and set aside.

To assemble simply lay the julienne slices neatly across the bottom of the leaf where you created the split. Add your fresh herbs, a slice or two of avocado and drizzle with the Goddess Dressing if you have it. Do not over pack the vegies! Keep them at a minimum and make more if you have to. It will be easier to roll if they are not bursting out at the seams! Add salt and pepper to taste and carefully begin to roll the leaves. A wonderfully fun and healthy lunch! I suggest serving with sparkling mineral water with a few slices of fresh cucumber...YUM!

Boun Appetito!

pink; oscar

2011-04-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

Last week I went along to RMIT Project Space here in Melbourne and stumbled across this pink work by Jessica McElhinney as part of the It's Not You, It's Me exhibition which show cased five local artists exploring video performance, self representation and role play within their video works. Oscar by McElhinney is an acted out role play of what seems to be a young teenage girl's first experience of death. Here, McElhinney surrounds the young teenage girl with the colour pink to represent her girly characteristics and to frame her age group, a repetitive melancholic soundtrack and what appears to be family pets.

For most of us, our first experience of death is through the loss of a family pet. As you will see from the video excert below, the work guides us through from the beginning of how the young girl comes to terms with that loss. The quality of the sound is not great in the documentation I took, but in general, I found the sound of each work competed with each other so it was very difficult to really experience the full effect of this work's soundtrack. I found the bleeding of sounds coming from outside the gallery and the sounds from the other video works extremely distracting but this was no fault of the artists involved but a bad decision made by the curators.

Oscar begins with the young girl sitting with her cat in front of a television. She acknowledges the cats presence by patting it before she goes ahead and puts a DVD into the player. We watch as she presses play and we begin to see on the television what she sees. The music is repetitive and non descriptive, acting as a generic soundtrack to what is about to unfold.

Using real footage mixed in with simple animation, the video shows a black Labrador dog sniffing it's way through a snowy landscape of pine trees and falling snow. After a short while, the dog seems to acknowledge the girl and the cat on the other side of the screen watching him. The girl then picks up the cat and holds it in her arms as a mother would hold her own baby. The video extends for a while in this exchange between the dog recognizing the girl and the cat and the girl recognizing the dog is watching her too.

We finally see the dog move on, sniffing it's way through the snow to what appears to be it's final destination; it comes across another Labrador, this one belly up. The girl is taken aback by the vision of the golden Labrador and sways the cat in her arms. As a viewer, it is difficult not to be roped into this video and the feelings it is trying to evoke in us. We feel the girls loss. There is a moment when it appears the golden Labrador is alive as it moves a little and looks into the camera But did the dog actually move, or was this a moment of hope that us, the viewer and the young girl imagined?

The video ends giving us no more real hope that the dog may be alive. It does appear to be dead and with it's abrupt ending, we are now left feeling the loss the girl is experiencing.

Oscar is a compelling video, one that is hard to drag yourself away from. It succeeds in bringing us along the girls journey of dealing with death and makes us think about our own first experience of death.