#gavinrogers

It's the weddingday of Anna Maher and Gavin Rogers. A wedding on a nice location because Anna's family is still very rich.

From today on she will have to get used to a less luxours life because Gavin still has to work hard for his money.

The Rogers family, the baby's and toddlers didn't attend because of the very nice location. Oliver&Dakota are very happy with a second son married off. It makes up for missing their daughter Belle, Ayla getting pregnant before marriage and the recent leave from the church of Jade&Pierre. They now have four married children and 10 grandchildren.

It's a bit weird for Howard and Christine Maher to be back. But they are very happy for Anna to marry Gavin. It's also nice for Lydia Barrow (Maher) to have a sister close by. The eight children: Lydia (30, married with 7 children), David (28, single), Lukas (24, single), Anna (21, now married with Gavin), Rebecca (18, single), Thirza (16), James (14), Rafael (11). David has been to buzy with leading his fathers company to think about a wife. Lukas has gone a different path in life ever since he started college. The younger children are still living with Howard&Christine.

A new family joined churchims. A introduction to the Rogers family below.

The Rogers family is lead by father Oliver. He is married to Dakota and together they have five childeren, Jade, Belle, Leo, Gavin and Ayla. Both Oliver and Dakota have been raised as christians but over the years as they where married they have become more and more fundamental about their faith. Because of that change they now changed churches also. Even thow it's a long drive from their house to the city they are willing to make it because they feel this is the right church for them.

They live in this four bedroom, three bathroom home near the desert. The girls have a room, the boys have a room, Oliver and Dakota have a room and they have a guestroom. They are very happy as a family of seven.

Oliver is almost 40th years old and has a jewelry store. And you can find him always outside looking for some nice stones around the desert for him to make jewelry from. Dakota is 37 years old and is a stay at home mom for their five childeren but also very creative. She nits, embroids and paints. She can make anything. Oliver and Dakota are very suited for eachother.

Their eldest daugther is Jade. She is 15 years old, very creative like her parents but she wants nothing more then getting married and becoming a mother herself.

Then their is Belle, she is 13 years old. She wants to make something of her life and preferably something bigger than motherhood. At the same time she very much wants to please her parents. She has a big inner conflict with those sides. And who knows what side will win in the end.

Then they finaly had a son, Leo, who is 10 years old. He loves to go out with his father looking for some treasures. He doesn't like school very much. He rather plays outside.

Gavin is 7 years old and he is more of the inside. He likes to do crafts with his mother. Anything will do as long as it's something creative and inside.

The youngest Roger is Ayla with her 4 years. She is a little bit of a tomboy even thow she dresses in skirts and dresses. She can perfectly play outside in those. For now she is aloud to do so but that won't be for ever.

Belle Follet (Rogers): Hi! Gavin!

Gavin Rogers: Hi sis, that has been way too long, girl!

Belle: Sorry

Gavin: Where have you been?

Belle: living a real life

Gavin: This is a real life, Belle. I'm married, I have a daughter, a job

Belle: Yeah, but your wife doesn't have a life

Gavin: She has a life. She is such a wonderful mother to Sabine.

Belle: She can do a lot more then being a mother

Gavin: That's not for everybody. Some people want something else in life

Belle: That's fine. It just wasn't for me, so I left.

Gavin: You sure hurt mom and dad. Leaving without a note or something. They have been worried sick about you. And for years!

Belle: I have never wanted to hurt them. I was just taking care of myself

Gavin: Well, you should have thought about what it would mean to us

Belle: Yeah... eh

Gavin: I heard you got married yourself too. Do you have children too?

Belle: No, I'm not meant to be a mother

Gavin: You would be a wonderful mother too, Belle. I'm sure

Belle: Well, we will never know because I'm not going to become a mother

Gavin: You can't stop the will of the Lord, Belle

Belle: sure you can

Gavin: You have fallen into a bad lifestyle, Belle

Belle: Gavin, I didn't came to be judged

Gavin: Well, I can't stop telling the truth

Belle: Maybe I should leave then

Gavin: You can always come and you are always welcome here. You don't have to leave

Anna Maher: I'm so happy we are finaly seeing eachother again.

Gavin Rogers: Yeah, we are living way to far apart.

Anna: If only I could move closer to you

Gavin: Well, I have something to ask you

Gavin: Anna Maher, do you want to marry me?

Anna: Yes! Oh, Gavin, yes!

Gavin: Now we can finaly hold hands

Anna: This is so nice. You have such strong hands

Gavin: Thank you, Anna, yours are the softest I ever felt.

This happend weeks ago

Gavin Rogers is calling Howard Maher. He and his family used to be part of the church but they left years ago. But one of his daughters, Anna Maher, has been a reguarly guest to her sister to meet up with her friends. Gavin has seen her in church, at his sisters wedding. He is interessed.

Gavin: Hello sir

Howard: Hello, Gavin

Gavin: I wanted to ask you something

Howard: About what

Gavin: About Anna

Howard: Anna who?

Gavin: Your daughter Anna

Howard: Oh, Anna

Gavin: Yes

Howard: What do you want from her?

Gavin: I wanted to ask her to court when she is in town for the wedding of Faith Leppert

Howard: Hmmm

Gavin: I know it will be long distance but I'm willing to travel to you as much as possible to make the relationship work.

Howard: Alright, you can ask her. But only with your parents present.

Gavin: Ofcourse

The present

Dakota: So nice for you, Anna, to stop by at our place.

Anna: Well, my father said I had to stop by, so here I am

Gavin: That's very thoughtful of your father

Oliver: Boys, go upstairs please so we can chat

Patrick&Kenneth: Yes dad

Gavin: So, your father and I have been talking.

Anna: Oh, really? About what?

Gavin: If I could start a courtship with you

Anna: seriously?

Gavin: Yes, and it's alright if you want to court me

Anna: How are we going to do that? I live far away

Gavin: Well, you stay with your sister Lydia a lot and I can travel to you. That way we can see eachother reguarly

Anna: Well, you have it all worked out

Gavin: I have thought about it for a while now, Anna

Anna: I would very much like to court you, Gavin

Gavin: That sounds very good in my ears, Anna, say it again please

The family photo's of the wedding of Ayla&Alexander are done, Gavin Rogers has a moment to chat with the other guests.

Gavin: Hi, Anna, is it right?

Anna Maher: Yes, indeed. And you are one of Ayla's brothers right?

Gavin: yes, Gavin, I'm an older brother of her.

Anna gets called to make photo's

After the ceremony they have a moment to chat.

Anna: I really loved the ceremony.

Gavin: yeah, me too

Anna: But it's so sad that Belle isn't here. It's so weird.

Gavin: Yeah, it's very weird. But it's like we are getting used to it. We already had Leo's wedding without Belle and she has been gone for years.

Anna: Do you miss her?

Gavin: Yes, I do. She is my sister and she should be part of this.

Alexander Goth is on his way to the Rogers family home. He knows it very well since he has been long time friends with Gavin Rogers, the second son of Oliver&Dakota. But today Alexander doesn't really want to hang out with his friend.

Oliver: Hi Alexander, nice to see you here again.

Alexander: Hi mister Rogers

Gavin: Stay here, dad. Come sit with us

Oliver: Alright, what were you guys discussing?

Alexander: eh

Gavin: Girls

Oliver: Do you have someone in mind yet, Gavin?

Gavin: Hmmm, maybe

Alexander: Really? How do you want to court?

Gavin: It's not really an option yet

Oliver: Why not?

Alexander: I get it, she isn't 18 years old yet.

Gavin: yes, indeed

Alexander: Hmm, so Joanna Barrow? The next girl is Lois Nelson but she is only like 15 or so. She hangs out with my little sister Charlotte.

Gavin: I'm not saying anything else about it. But I do know one thing

Oliver: And that is?

Gavin: Ayla just turned 18 so she is ready to court....

Oliver: Hmmm, yes, that's true. I hadn't thought about that

Gavin: I know someone who did

Oliver: Really? Who?

Gavin looks at Alexander, he turns red

Alexander: Ehhhhhh, me, sir

Oliver: Alright, Alexander, you really want to court Ayla?

Alexander: I was thinking about it

Oliver: Well, let's ask her, shall we

Oliver: thanks for coming Ayla

Ayla: What's the matter?

Oliver: How do you feel about Alexander coming over all the time?

Ayla: Well, eh, dad, I think it's great he is friends with Gavin

Oliver: And how would you feel if Alexander would come over not only for Gavin.

Ayla: Ehhh?

Oliver: But also for.... eh... you?

Ayla is silent. She looks at Alexander and then back to her father

Oliver: Ayla?

Ayla: Well, I think that would be alright with me

Alexander: Really?

Ayla: Yeah

Alexander glows

Ayla: If that's alright with dad

Oliver: Ofcourse, Alexander would be a great match for you, Ayla. I have known him for years now as friend of Gavin and he is a great guy. You can court him if you want to

Ayla: I would like that

Alexander: I would like that very much

Dakota: This is great, you two! Time for a photo to mark this special occasion! Finaly we have another daughter courting.

Oliver: Now to get Gavin courting with that mystery girl

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Touching Gold – Installation, Gavin Rogers, Gold Rush Project, 2014

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The gold rush of 1851 resulted in many people flocking to Melbourne, for gold and work. The population of Australia grew four times in a period of 20 years from around half a million in 1850 to 1.8 million in 1870, with the majority of the growth within the Victoria Region - Melbourne.

Many of the people that migrated were from Europe and Asia. And not only did they bring their families but they also brought their ideas, cultures, clothes, religious thoughts and even their plants.

I decided to investigate this further, my visiting a number of parks, museums and gardens within Melbourne. I then craftily acquired leaf and plant specimens from across the city using the methodologies of my home boy - Robin Hood (stealing) and conducted research into the origins of the plans I collected. I was very surprised to find that many of the plants originated to Europe, Asia, South Africa, Mexico, USA and the Indonesian islands. I like the idea that these plants were in part an indirect consequence of the Gold Rush and movement of people to the City, and in some areas these imported plant varieties have become dominant over Australia’s indigenous plants, for better or for worse.

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This work invites you to touch golden leaves of the plant specimens which I found. Plants that sit quietly in the parks of Melbourne. They do not need a Visa, or proof of their nationality, they are merely an unspoken visual, touchable, sniffable and in some cases edible immigrant, bringing biodiversity to the city, which many residents perhaps take for granted.

Each leaf has a different shape, texture, size and resistance – which I have then interfered with by spraying gold paint onto them – creating a sensual conflict between real and a false, reflecting how the Gold Rush has interfered with the natural and indigenous plants.

These immigrants are rarely spoken of. 

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