weed week

Maleny Image 9: Introduced COMA's next exhibition is to coincide with Weed Week - observed throughout the Shire and promoted through the Maleny Library. Our challenge to make an artwork via researching introduced species and how they have affected - or infected - our local enviroment...

My entry: "Farmer's friend!" the ole Cobblers' Pegs Bidens pilosa and ofcourse using my found objects approach...

My spin on it, is not so much on the negitave effects it has on our enviroment but how to perhaps consider its usefulness.

Bits and pieces gathered together to work with, see the old wire brush bottom right?

Perfect burrs for my Cobblers' peg!!!!!

...and what better way to use of my old typewriter from High School to translate Cobblers' Pegs story. It was a bit hard though without the backspace key!!

The finished piece, I've added a little touch of me into the piece - its a bit like Where's Wally and you really have to look closely to see it.

2D wall assemblage; silky-oak board, found objects, wall paper, cardboard, paper, oils, mounted onto canvas

Diamond on the inside

'MALENY IMAGE 8 : between the lines' - Take two! Last month we - COMA (Collaborative of Maleny Artists) members we were asked to create an artwork inspired by a book we had recently read on the theme 'between the lines', and exhibited at Rosetta's bookshop. We've now been given another opportunity to re-exhibit on the same theme, this time in the Maleny library starting on Monday11th July and continuing until Monday 25th July.

Seeing both artworks "Peace Within" and "Rest, Live, Seek" sold in the first showing, I was given the ok to make another piece. This time though, it is hanging space only and still set within the size of 120mm x 120mm. Being a 3D artist I had to reconsider my angle! Fortunately I've been entertaining the idea of two dimensional assemblages, so what a great opportunity to try my hand at it.

Focusing on the same book I chose for the first exhibit, a small booklet I came across, a chance find really, on Australian sculptor Ian McKay , some of his works are large scale, rusted, welded steel and found objects. After learning a little on Ian, it is his philosophy that I resonate with most. He is not necessarily driven by the need for prizes or accolades and likes to work with a piece rather than using control to dictate the final outcome. It has been said, "He sculptures are neither what you would describe as appealing, for McKay a sculpture has to have the right amount of bad taste."

With all this in mind, once again I gathered some steel (small scale) to see what evolved. This time I added another element to the mix, perspex. Another thing I have been contemplating... the centre is mirrored perspex and surrounding is clear (although it is hard to see in the photograph).

While making this piece, I kept hearing the song "Diamonds on the inside"by Ben Harper, just those four words - on repeat, over and over and over and over and over ..... With my assemblages there always seems to be an underling message within them if I listen close enough. This one however was quiet loud and clear, with the repetitive tune. If you were to look at this piece in the flesh, close up, you would see your reflection looking back at you. What I see, is, that this precious diamond is you!