Stories

October 12, 2023 - Robin Small Walks

 

Robin Small on river walking path below Goolugatup/Heathcote lowerlands (Perth, Western Australia)

September 25, 2023 - All That’s Good In Me

 

 

Vincent Fantuazzo talks about Dyslexia.*

‘All that’s good in me (self-portrait as son Luca)’.  Original in colour.

(Reposted for World Dyslexia Awareness Day)

 

 

Kicked out of school at 13, Vincent is still barely able to read or write.  After 20 years of isolation Vincent was diagnosed with dyslexia.  “I can’t tell you the months of the year in order or the alphabet.  I’ve tried to learn the times tables all of my life.  I’ve accepted that it’s not going to happen and that’s OK.  I can use a calculator and I’m getting along quite fine.”

“I was relieved that finally I knew I wasn’t stupid, there was just a processing problem in my brain which I could work with.”

* Article by Sue Smethurst in Weekend Australian Magazine (March 23-24, 2019)  Video from ABC’s Australian Story.

(Reposted from October, 2021)

September 22, 2023 - Street Art In Gallery

 

Boots The Clown.

 

Robin Small.

 

Meaningful to have these characters on and around the buildings of Goolugatup/Heathcote (Perth, Western Australia) with its dark history as a ‘mental institution’ – on land taken from the Bibbulmun people (traditional owners).  It has since been transformed into an art gallery, community park and concert space.  Part of the Melville Storylines Festival.

September 12, 2023 - Robin In The Pines

 

Robin Small street art Piney Lakes (Perth, Western Australia).

 

Boots in Kadidjiny Park (Melville, Western Australia).

Part of the Melville Storylines Festival.

August 29, 2023 - I Think I Can

 

boy little red engine

 

And the Little Engine said;  “I think I can.  I think I can.”

‘The Little Engine That Could’ is a folktale originating from 1906 used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work.  The underlying theme is a stranded train unable to find an engine willing to take it on over the difficult terrain to its destination.  Only the little blue engine is willing to try and, while repeating the ‘I think I can’ mantra, overcomes a seemingly impossible task.

A good story to ride on when things seem impossible.  And a reminder of the importance of little blue engines in life.

BOy Series, 2009.  Similar posts in BOY Topic in Blog & featured in Clunk & Jam book.  Reposted from June 2021.

 

September 18, 2022 - Robin Small Rocks

 

robin small rocks

 

Robin Small felt the turmoil on indecision in the balls of his feet as he rocked to – Will I?  Won’t I?

Footnote:  Sometimes when there are no answers, sitting it out for a while and taking some time makes good sense.   And sometimes things  never make sense but Robin’s ‘rocking’ seems to suggest he’s not stuck.  He’s working things out – in his own time.  Maybe he’s just wondering?  And wondering (or daydreaming) is so often perceived as ‘doing nothing’.  Nothing of value anyway.  But it’s where ideas come from.   It’s how we gain a deeper sense of things and their meaning –  that others might just pass on by. 

(Robin Small, Clunk & Jam, Second Edition 2019)