Looking at an exhibition of contemporary textiles at the Sturt Gallery in Mittagong recently made me think of lines and stripes at pools. Called Parallels, artist Barbara Rogers explored the “diversity and language of the stripe; the simplest of all patterns…”
Some of her silk textiles reminded me of particular pools especially ones she created in shades of green and blue.
When I saw this one hanging in the gallery space I immediately thought of the Bondi Icebergs.
But it also reminded me of lanes and ropes at chlorine pools.
Valley Baths, Brisbane.
Lines and stripes are everywhere at pools.
Splashed across an entrance.
Cooma Pool
In the design of buildings.
In the towels that hang around the edges of the water.
And rest on rocks and concrete waiting for their owners to emerge from the pool.
They’re on boardwalks and grandstands.
And on seating and stairs.
On the doors of change rooms like these multi-coloured stripes at the Annette Kellerman Pool.
Sometimes they are fleeting like the shadows that fall on surfaces around a pool.
Or in the colours reflecting lines in the water in the pool.
And occasionally they form naturally in the underwater beauty of an ocean pool.
8 comments
Fabulous post Therese. Love all the parallels that you made with the beautiful art works.
Totally agree. Best post ever. Beautiful images and words and very evocative.
Beautiful images, Therese
Thank you Jenny, Jenny and John! Barbara Rogers’ textiles were lovely and straight away they reminded me of pools. I have always rather liked the simple pattern of the stripe – maybe that’s why I am so attracted to pools!
Really inspired post, love your blog so much Therese!
Thank you Sarah and for sharing on Facebook. Happy writing and swimming!
There is so much pleasure in this. Utterly beautiful! And I knew most of the pools… Thankyou.
best
Nicole
Thank you Nicole for your lovely comment. Pools are a bit like art galleries I think, especially if you look closely. All the best.