[Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this content contains images and names of deceased persons.]

Friendships across time.

One of the most valuable things in this short Life we live as human beings, aside from family – is the friendships we make and nurture across the daily innings of Life. Particularly those that travel with us from our youth, journies across the world to our final days. In time we become like Bower birds, collecting small trinkets or shared moments – compartmentalising them in our memories, or the things we surround ourselves with in our personal spaces.

I have been inspired to paint a portrait of my Dear friend Artist Rod Mc Nicol – Australian Portrait Photographer, based on 2 photographs I took of him in his studio the first time I met him in 2016. I was in awe of his beautiful studio on Smith Street Fitzroy, the carefully designed palette of greens, and muted hues of pink, grey and olive green nestled in natural wood and bamboo tones, healthy plants thriving amongst a space , walls with gifted artworks, family portraits and his own photographs . Listening to the wonderful stories he shared with me of his life as artist and creator, the beautiful diversity of the people in his neighborhood, whom inspired much of his work – the joys of living in such a multicultural neighborhood such as Smith Street.

Days before my visit , artist Leonie Rhodes had visit him, with Uncle Jack Charles, and Uncle Jack presented Rod with this 1st bronze statuette of Uncle Jack made by Leonie , which was sitting on his dining table. It was a surprise seeing this sculpture there, as I remember seeing this statuette at some earlier time at the SWELL Sculpture Festival Gold Coast , with Uncle Jack at Currumbin beach, in person with Leonie Rhodes as media was photographing him standing next to one of these statuettes framed in a glass box with Leonie. I also saw it being exhhibited at Dust Temple gallery Gallery Currumbin with my American friend Lindsay whom was on a short visit some months later.

I had the pleasure of meeting Uncle Jack Charles in 2018 , at Rods Exihibition, Portraits from my Village – Centre for Contemporary Photography Fitzroy, of which Rod included his portrait of me taken the year before in 2017. This link to 2018 exhibition. http://allthoseshapes.com/rod-mcnicol-portraits-from-my-village_20180607/?fbclid=IwAR3BZoJMcTPXeWUQsKTok20ekrKPSIB1ygslo32_c-8K_PgV-rZ_HGqUkag

Friends across time.

Vale Uncle Jacke Charles (b. 5-09-43 – d. 13-09-22)