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John MonroCITY OF PORT PHILLIPMorning in Collins StreetAcrylic on canvas, 42 x 57cm, 2011, NFSTwo men walk purposefully on their“way to work, each immersed in histhoughts but hopefully still aware ofthe quiet beauty of his surroundings.This painting has a special meaningto me, as it is based on a black andwhite photograph I took around 1960.I was just a young man commencinguniversity studies when my parents droppedme off on this crisp, bright, autumn morning inCollins Street. The work seems to capture thatsense of freshness and new possibilities, whilealso having a nostalgic air that evokes ideasabout the relative nature of time, space and ourperceptions of memory.After a career in electronics andmathematics education, and manyyears of occasional, casual sketchingwith pen or ink, John joined thepainting group at Port Phillip U3A in2011, at age 68. Not having doneany painting since his school days,he experimented with differentmedia, and has adopted acrylicsas his preferred medium. John isnow busy exploring its apparentlylimitless possibilities while at thesame time striving to develop hisown technique and style.28 URBAN CREATURES