Friday Five: Modus Operandi

Over a year ago I saw a sign in Mona Vale that made me happy. It was this:

And then there was a sign that made me a lot less happy. It was this:

But since then, it has arrived. Modus Operandi is a brewery on the Northern Beaches, which uses fresh live yeast flown in from the U.S.A. and hops and malt from all over the world. The Head Brewer, DJ used to brew for Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado, where he was responsible for the Specialty Beer Programme and the Brew School. He is happy to share his brewing knowledge while making fantastic ales for us all to enjoy. And we are grateful.

5 Modus Operandi Beers:

1. Lola Golden Ale - An Aussie Pale Ale bursting with those juicy, hoppy, tropical flavours but still very refreshing and drinkable
2. Kite Flyer Cream Ale: An American-style common beer with a slightly sweet malt flavour and a hint of spicy hops
3. Zoo Feeder IPA - Maltier than a traditional IPA, with American resin/pine hops (2014 Craft Beer Awards Champion IPA)
4. Former Tenant Red IPA - Ruby Red IPA with citrus hops and caramel malt (2014 Craft Beer Awards Champion Australian Craft Beer
5. Silent Knight Porter - Brewed as a session version of a Russian Imperial Stout, it's full of rich chocolate and roast caramel, which makes it very malty with a light, dry finish

My Newest Favourite Thing: Charles Billich

When we were last in Sydney, we saw a beautiful building near the Harbour Bridge. It used to be a place for sailors to sleep; now it houses some spectacular art by Charles Billich. The canvases are crowded with images, real and imagined from the past, present and future. Cityscapes of Sydney, London, Paris, or Shanghai are vibrant and busy, juxtaposing iconic representations in a playful pastiche. As the official artist of Regatta Day, he delights in painting the Sydney waterfront, and as he is so close to it, it would seem contrary not to.

The gallery owner tells me that that the pictures don't date because they are often not real anyway. On hearing we lived in Canberra, she rushed to show us a print he had created of the capital. 

As well as cities and architecture, Billich's subjects include theatrical pursuits such as drama, ballet and orchestras, and sport - lots of sport. He was named the artist of the 1996 Olympic Games and in 2000 was the recipient of the Sport Artist of the Year Award presented annually by the American Sport Art Museum and Archives. The sports most represented in this gallery are racing, both of horses and motor cars. Billich captures the proud equine spirit brilliantly, and the paintings seem to burst to life; The World of Polo is a study of movement as realism melds into fantasy.

His Olympic portraits are stunning and often incorporate gold leaf, which shimmers from the walls and (I am assured) have no need for special gallery lighting to enhance their visual charms. Inspired by his work, The Beijing Cityscape, the official image for the successful Beijing bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Billich conceived a series of images based on the Bing Ma Yong Terracotta Warriors, engaged in sporting pursuits including fencing, rowing and archery.

Chinese masters also indulge in a series of games such as chess and other contests of skill in Billich's art. He also paints humanitarian pieces and works of religious significance. From landscapes to portraiture, classicism to eroticism, Billich has a wide and varied range of subject matter, to which he brings his inimitable style. The canvases are large and impressive, as are their price tags. A print of the Sochi Olympics is $200,000. At least looking is free.