The gloss menagerie

Lucy Culliton is entertaining guests in her kitchen, so there’s a lot going on when we arrive. In between pouring tea and passing around bickies, there’s that somewhat awkward square dance that ensues when seven adults and a couple of lanky greyhounds squeeze into a confined space. Then Clare decides to add to the confusion by climbing onto the kitchen table. I’m not quite sure what everyone else is thinking, but when you’re the guest of one of Australia’s most celebrated artists, it seems nonchalance is the best response. Perhaps they all have goats roaming into the kitchen and standing on the table? But the bridge too far is when Clare starts eating the flowers. “Oh, no, not the peonies,” Lucy admonishes. “Have an apple, or an orange, but don’t eat my peonies.”

All creatures great and