“The comics are where all the crazy subconscious stuff comes out.” Robert Crumb I met Ross at art school in the late nineties at College of Fine Arts in Sydney. I was finishing my masters in sculpture while he was doing his undergrad in painting. I met Ross through mutual friends but the real bond […]
Archives: Essays
Developing Social Responsibility as a Global Community
Essay by Luke Foster “We all have a social responsibility and have to be mindful of what we do and say.” Aja Brown After reading lots of transcripts of the Dalai Lamas talks and some of them over and over again, I realised that what is needed is for not just the world leaders but all […]
Sustainable Logging in Australia/ I want a Win/Win Situation Between the Greenies and Loggers
Essay by Luke Foster “The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause temperature change, desertification, eating away, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases within the atmosphere, and a number of problems for indigenous people. Illegal logging drives deforestation, biodiversity loss and temperature change.” Google People Also Ask I feel that cutting out logging in […]
Overcoming the Clean Water Crisis in the Developing World
“Because no matter who we are we are or where we come from, were all entitled to the basic human rights of clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a healthy land to call home. “ Martin Luther King After writing my AIDS essay a few days ago my computer died so I […]
Elton John/ Rocket Man and the Ongoing International AIDS Crisis
Essay by Luke Foster “But we came for the Kennedy Centre Awards, which was an incredible honour. Being a British person, I was bestowed this honour. And my partner and I, David, came. And we were so pleasantly surprised by George Bush and his knowledge of AIDS. He really – he treated David and I […]
I Was Going to Write a History of Gay and Lesbianism and Transgender Politics in Australia but I Felt it Was to Dry When I Was Reading the Wikipedia Section So I Decided it Would be Best to Talk of My Own Experiences of Meeting Gay and Lesbian and Transgender People in Australia.
Essay by Luke Foster “Never follow someone else’s path…unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost, and you see a path. By all means, you should follow that.” Ellen DeGeneres I am not gay, and I also don’t dismiss the struggles of gay and lesbians and transgender people in Australia, but I think its perhaps […]
Studying the Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and His Holiness the Dalai Lama/ To Much “I” and “Me” and More “We” and “Us” For Me
Essay by Luke Foster “The basic source of happiness is a sense of kindness and warm-heartedness towards others. “ His Holiness the Dalai Lama Recently I have been studying the transcripts of the Dalai Lamas talks and occasionally his talks on YouTube for a few hours a day and I intermittently stop to draw and […]
A History of the Australian Aboriginal Civil Rights Movement
Essay by Luke Foster “The Australian civil rights movement was a decades-long movement where Indigenous Australians and non-indigenous Australians worked together to fight for equal rights for Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The movement started to gain attention and momentum from the 1950s onwards.” Google I like this quote but also feel it’s […]
The Importance of Having a Team/ No Person is an Island
Essay by Luke Foster “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself,” Henry Ford I realised this year that teamwork is very important for success in life. I have a team of friends and technicians who help me with my art, and it takes the pressure off me to strive on […]
Building on the Bridge Building Metaphor/ The Worlds Traffic Travels on Bridges Like Multiple Freeways Intersecting in Places Like Los Angeles Where They Interweave in Complex Ways (It’s Called the Los Angeles Interchange Ramps)
Essay by Luke Foster As with the Harbour Bridge in Sydney there is only a few lanes of traffic going each way and two train tracks going each way. However international relations between different countries and people of different views and cultures and religions are more like the interweaving roads I described in the essay […]
I am a health nut who has become lactose intolerant.
Essay by Luke Foster “I am a vegetarian, and I sort of aspire to vegan-hood. So far, I’ve noticed no difference at all in my climbing, but I feel a bit healthier overall. Though that’s only because I’m eating more fruits and vegetables. I think the whole protein thing is overhyped. Most Americans eat far […]
Becoming a Man and Rites of Passage
Essay by Luke Foster “In societies where rites of passage are part of the norm, each young male participates in a formal ceremony during which his manhood is publicly and undeniably affirmed. From that day forward, he is treated differently by those around him and receives more freedom, rights, and privileges.” Wikipedia Seeing my mother’s […]
Cathy Freeman and Evonne Goolagong/ Strong Aboriginal women in sports in Australia and their massive influence in making headway for all Aboriginals in Australia.
Essay by Luke Foster “I have time to breathe, time to be myself more often, I am a lot more relaxed and less guarded.” Cathy Freeman Cathy Freeman sporting achievements in running: Commonwealth Games Gold 1990. 2 x 400m World Champion. Gold medal in 400m 2000 Olympics. Silver Medal in 400m in 1996 Olympics. Three-time […]
The Most Important Technological Developments to Come Out of America
“Technology is best when it brings people together.”Matt Mullenweg, Social Media Entrepreneur I feel that the most amazing and important technological developments have come out of America. They include Apollo 11 maned flight to the moon, the mars rover, the internet, the personal computer, and the two space probe Voyagers. “The Internet has been the […]
East Meets West: Pope Francis Meets the Dalai Lama
Essay by Luke Foster “A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” “Too often we participate in the globalization of indifference. May we strive instead to live global solidarity.” Pope Francis Sometimes when cultures with different values and beliefs meet there is friction, but I can only see good of […]
The Western Psychological Science of Emotional Intelligence is Similar to the Dalai Lamas Buddhist Philosophy of Unconditional Love and Compassion.
Essay by Luke Foster “We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us — -how we can take it, what we do with it —- and that is what really counts in the end.” —- Joseph Fort Newton I am just trying to figure […]
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Or Grandmothers Love and Wisdom
Essay by Luke Foster “So, what do I really know about being a grandmother? Well, I remember what I didn’t like as a child. I also loved being a mom, but I have to tell you that being a grandmother has brought a whole new side of life—the fun side—to me.” —Janet Steele I don’t […]
Paramedics, Doctors, Nurses, Support Workers, and Teachers Need a Pay Rise in Australia.
Essay by Luke Foster “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”—John Wayne. EMTs and paramedics have difficult and dangerous jobs. They know the risks, and yet every day, they prepare for the challenge, load up their gear, and race out to the next emergency. This is the courage that makes them real […]
The Multi-Disciplinary Art of Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy
Essay by Luke Foster “There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” Edward de Bono I have known Claire and Sean since art school days in the nineties studying in the medium of […]
Metaphorical Bridge Building/ Colloquial Name I Like Vegetarian Pizza
Essay by Luke Foster “Let’s build bridges, not walls.” Martin Luther king Jr My brother got 99 for his HSC TER in high school and the university medal as top student at the University of NSW in civil engineering. In other words, he’s a smart cookie. His first job out of university was drilling core […]
I am the Dalai Lamas Stray Cat, but I am Trying to Find My Way Home/ The Best Way to be Safe in the World is to Have no Enemies.
Essay by Luke Foster “Whether one is rich or poor, educated, or illiterate, religious, or non-believing, man, or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness, and we all […]
The Compassionate Nature of Vegetarianism
Essay by Luke Foster “No, I’m not a vegetarian. I do eat that way. I actually eat vegan quite a lot. I feel better when I eat that way, and I think there’s been a lot of proof that’s come up over the last however many years, that you can’t deny, I don’t think, that […]
I Want to go to McLeod Ganj to Study About Compassion with Tibetan Monks
Essay by Luke Foster “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquillity and happiness we all seek.” “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” “Compassion naturally creates a positive atmosphere, and as a result, you feel peaceful and content.” “Love and compassion are the true religions to me.” Dalai […]
The Fridge System in New York City
Essay by Luke Foster “Having an open mind means learning to add more to our already existing beliefs about affirming dignity of those who are impoverished.” — Terence Lester, I See You While I was in New York in December 2022 I discovered there was a fantastic system where hundreds of cafes in the city had fridges outside […]
Artists are Sensitive
Essay by Luke Foster “There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” Edward De Bono I went to the Museum of Contemporary of Art in Sydney today with my friend Birdie and had […]