Duke Doc at Wy

Rock on Duke Doc.

When the news came from his close friend Marquize Annie Souter that the legendary Australian singer, Doc Neeson, was ill in hospital over Christmas, there was deep concern in the Principality of Wy.

All those who have been at celebrations at Wy have indeed been blessed when Doc has picked up his guitar and sung from his repertoire. Who present has not been affected by the richness of his voice and the spontaneous generosity of his spirit?  Our noble and valued friend is known as “Duke Doc of Rock” in the Principality. We of Wy, heartily, wish Doc Neeson a quick recovery and a return to his lifelong muse as a Master Musician.

Paul    

Cakes Ahoy in 2013

We of Wy wish all our artist and art loving friends around the world a wonderful happy time over the holiday season.

In Wy, as you are aware, we value creativity above all. Here are a number of the cakes photographed before they were consumed by guests celebrating Prince Paul’s 70^th birthday.

The splendid “Tugboat of Wy” cake, on the right, has Prince Paul at the helm navigating through perilous seas towards calmer waters.

Popular rabbit

Rabbits are also highly regarded by Princesses and their friends in Wy. Could this be because their pet rabbits don’t engage in pointless idle conversation when there are creations to be made with brush in paw in comfort in splendidly decorated domesticated burrows.

May 2013 be a time of peace, harmony and creativity in the world.

Let the Global New Year Resolution be, “Eat Cake and Paint”

Equerry

The Great Driveway Cake of Wy

At recent celebrations at the Principality, in November 2012, guests congratulated Prince Paul on reaching his 70^th birthday in this year.

A highlight of the day was the presentation of The Great Driveway Cake of Wy designed and baked by Arch Duchess Penelope.

The Prince and Marquise Wantonne , who is an acknowledged  connoisseur of haute cuisine, felt that it did not fit into the category of entrée nor of dessert  because of the subtle broccoli element suggesting  bushland and the contrasting sweet confections for the road.

Amused Prince

An historic new classification was created and the Driveway creation won the award for “Desentrees”. The Prince was amused. Culinary invention is admired in the Principality of Wy alongside all the other arts, there being no vocational heirarchy in the Palace of Art. 

Those who were fortunate to savour the dish were heard to enthuse; “Beyond Rocky Road” and “A Bicuspid Boulevard”.  

The supportive message attached to the “Desentree” reflects brave hopes, raised recently in the Principality, that the sound of carriages may soon be heard in the drive.

Award presentation at Principality of Wy

An esteemed guest, who won the Gold Medal in the Ladies Couturier Competion, is seen wearing a stunning garment of exquisite provenance, and is about to receive a complimentary Principality of Wy T Shirt which bears the ever smiling visage of the prince.

Your respectful Equerry

Sketching on election day

On the 8th September 2012 local elections were held in NSW. Mosman electors went to the polls to select a new mayor and 6 councillors. The Prince of Wy settled down to a happy interlude, with a cup of coffee and the Despatch Case, sketching next to the florists shop. Paul sincerely admires those who dedicate themselves to public service.

Here is of the sketches in which the Serene Wymobile drives past a polling booth.  (click to enlarge)

Equerry

Wy mechanism 1

The Principality of Wy has been intrigued by the recent discovery of a strange mechanism embedded in a rock found washed up at the base of its wild sea crags. The court of Wy has been made aware that there exists an historical precedent for this discovery.

In 1902 an archaeologist was examining the finds from the detritus of a Roman cargo ship wrecked off the Greek island of Antikythera and observed that one of the pieces of rock had a gear wheel embedded in it. He at first believed it to be an astronomical clock but after much debate academics decided that it was too complex to have been constructed during the same period as the other fragments that had been discovered. It is believed that it was being taken to Rome together with other treasures looted from the Greek island of Antikythera to be displayed at a triumphal celebration initiated by Emperor to be, Julius Caesar.

The mechanism appeared to be a machine designed to predict celestial events according to the theories current in its day. This is a unique relic of brilliant Greek engineering and one of the surviving wonders of the Hellenic world. Consisting of bronze coaxial spindles, superior planet gears,  fixed input gears, slot gears, offset axes and epicyclical gearing, it is a work of pure genius.

Wy mechanism 2

The recent exciting Wy discovery, which measures 8cm across, similarly has gear wheels embedded in it. It seems, from comparison that it is less complex than Antikythera however and as the rock is very dense the true mechanical nature of the relic is yet to be ascertained.

This machine was found in the sand. Truly this was the sand of time. Is this remarkable visitor a reminder of the ephemeral nature of all things?   The scientist in us wants to find out how it works.  The poet says. Leave it as it is, It is beautiful.  

 Is it just possible that ancient Greeks visited Wy?  The Prince has a reverence for the Golden Age and would like to think so. Then again it may have a more recent provenance.  Research is continuing.

Equerry

 “Over Olympus hovered a golden presence”-  Homer

As in London nations gather,

A princess holds a Golden Dove.

Washed from Greece to Wy this year -

the sculpted hope of peace and love.

On Mount Olympus she sets down,

this relic, Home, for Gods to bless.

The bright eyed youth who now compete,

deserve, from ancient Greece, no less.

We run as though our hearts will burst,

for medals – further still we hurl.

May the Golden Dove of Peace inspire,

Olympic dreams of boy and girl.

Paul Delprat

Post Olympic thoughts…

In Australia there has been, in some quarters, a rather ungenerous reaction to the exploits of young Olympians who have not achieved the coveted Gold Medal. To some Silver and Bronze is just not enough. The Principality of Wy, which is not currently a participant, respectfully suggests that future Olympic classifications should be GOLD, GOLDER and GOLDEST so that medal winning bronzed Aussies and all award winners around the world may come back to unreserved acclamation in their homelands

Equerry

With the bust of Dom Lopez OAM

On a wintry day we say farewell

to Dom, yet now have found him back

In bronze beside the school

Where we boys ran pell-mell

with no thoughts of this day

Then, so pleased to hear the bell.

Paul Delprat

Guillaume Tourniaire at Balmoral

Over coffee at a beachside café at Balmoral beach Paul made a drawing of Guillaume Tourniaire, the amazingly youthful French orchestra conductor who is presently in Sydney to conduct with the Sydney Opera.

They discussed music and the beauty of clouds. The previous evening Paul had enjoyed Guillaume’s inspired conducting of The Pearlfishers  by Georges Bizet and he had been tempted to draw the gorgeous spectacle on his (silenced) IPhone but refrained, realising that the light from the screen may irritate others.  Born in Provence France Guillaume studied piano and conducting at the Geneva Conservatoire.  

Young artist

He knew from a very early age that music was to be his life.  Singing in a children’s choir in Provence crystallised in his mind the idea of making music with others –

hence his love of conducting and our good fortune as part of his worldwide audience.

Creativity starts young. It is never ending. Later in the day Paul found a happy familial subject in a young artist drawing an IPhone intent sibling.

22 7 2012

Equerry

David Fairbairn the happy winner with his work.

Artist David Fairbairn won this prestigious award for 2012 with a masterly layered portrait of deep thought growing out of the act of simultaneously viewing and understanding. Such is the confidence and vitality of his line that the viewer comes away energised.

Next door to the winning work is an elegant study in levitation by Ben Smith that similarly engages the viewer in thought. The seeming effortless simplicity of this fine work is as diverting as any possible UFO undercurrent. 

Michael Muir with his luminous work

Michael Muir has found his own style; a richness that rewards us with magic, sunlight and colour, which belies the serious thought and draughtsmanship beneath.

There were many other standout works in this exciting exhibition which shared the Mosman Gallery space with the new Neil Balnaves Gift Bequest Collection.

The inspired collector Neil Balnaves has demonstrated great wisdom in gifting a comprehensive collection. Here, for all , is a lesson on how to collect. Do it with your heart!  A gentle oasis of romantic works of an earlier time engages young and old. It is to be hoped that other Mosman benefactors will now come forward to submit works of this genre and period to the Director of the Gallery. If they are accepted they could be added to this splendid collection of Sydney Harbour paintings.

with Ben Smith

Perhaps if the Mosman Gallery cleverly provides a blank space near the collection with a sign in a suitable gilt plaster frame saying “Your gift painting here!” the cue will be provided for this happy eventuality.

The Mosman Art Prize, which was judged by Anne Flanagan, Deputy Director of the AGNSW, is on view from 21st July till 26th August. The must visit Balnaves Collection is an ongoing exhibition.

Paul Delprat

Whale and Calf at Balmoral 2012

On Wednesday 18th July a mother Right Whale and her newborn calf visited the sheltered waters off the Principality of Wy

The prince’s first knowledge of it was a noisy helicopter hovering over the Principality.  One of the artists in residence informed him that the helicopter was circling whales, which were swimming, just offshore.  Surfboarders, kayakers, snorkelers,  yachters and put boaters were in close attendance together with several helicopters seen to have photographers hanging out to get the best image of this unusual occurrence. It is not known if the mother whale was pleased by all of the attention.

The symbol of our larger neighbour, Mosman, is a whale. To the prince the scene was symbolic of the geographical relationship that exists between the Principality of Wy and Mosman Council. Here was a large whale and a tiny one swimming together calmly in Balmoral bay.

A princess has just reminded him that the symbol of Wy is a dolphin, not a whale. We thank her.

Equerry