Windows on Weston

Recently I called in at Northcity4 studios in Weston Street. Inside a former factory or warehouse, with its translucent roof and exposed beams, there is a wonderful studio space for a number of artists and craftspeople. Looking at their window, now transformed into an art work, it occurs to me, why do so few of the windows on this stretch of Weston serve their original purpose of looking in or looking out? As it is, one can do neither with many of them. Some are boarded over, some are painted over. But they are all intriguing.

 This street is fascinating, especially the strip between Sydney Road and Ewing Street. Half of the southern side is the car park of Barkly Square shopping centre; along from that there is a furniture sales place, a large dry cleaning depot, an Italian cheese outlet and various other doorways. On the northern side, there is an array of industrial architecture, mostly early or mid-twentieth century. An art deco façade is discernible underneath the dark blue gymnasium. The decorative pub on the corner of Charles Street seems to be early twentieth century.

 Some places still house light industry and small business but others have moved into the realm of food or service industries, including a gourmet coffee provider and a large pet supplies outlet. One former factory now is the headquarters of a motorcycle club, and another is a music studio. There are car repair places and clothing discount outlet shops.

Around the corner, on Ewing Street, what was once a window is part of a mural for the new cat boarding house.  A few doors down, I notice the lovely but vacant looking windows of what perhaps used to be a boarding house for humans. But what is it now and how will it change?

Transformation and change seem to be the themes that occupy me in just about every entry I write. I wonder what transformations Anna and Lucy will make, as they use some of the images from the twenty year old Scientific American magazines that I brought them.