Pecha Kucha #6 & Exhibition opening

Last week was all about networking and socialising starting with Pecha Kucha #6 - eight presenters showcase their works and ideas - 20 slides in 20 seconds on the theme 'Inspire'. It was a great line-up of presentations and definitely an inspiring evening.

Some photo's before the show...

Natalija Brunovs and Greg Windsor

Carol Tohow, Kim Schoenberger (me) & Evangaline Cachinero

Me, Greg & Jandamarra Cadd

Phil Willy, Pam Madgefrau, Jim Cox and Kari

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Then it was off to "Marking Moments" an exhibition opening of fellow artists Barry Smith and Fiona Dempster at the Up Front Club Maleny.

Ken , Sonja & Wendy

Christine & Noela

from right, Barry, Lynn & Pam

Artist by Artist - update

This week has been like totally......full-on! And all about filming - Firstly, it was Pat in front of the camera at Voices on the Coast held at the University. Pat Flynn was one of a few select guest author's to speak to over one hundred or more lively bunch of school kids in each session. It was like a massive bookfest, how lucky to be given such a fab opportunity, I don't recall having anything of this nature when I was at school!

Some of Pat Flynn's books to purchase for signing.

A young trouper waiting in line to get his book signed...with me right behind waiting in line for my autograph :-)

Pat getting RSI from signing.

Then it was my turn infront of the camera, and what a freeeeeeeeeeezing cold day to be filming! I reckon it had to have been the coldest day we've had yet. It was blankets all round and plenty of hot cups of tea.

Pictured from left Christine Elcoate (on sound recorder), Natalija (producer) and Pat Flynn

Taking some shots - trying to get some tea out of my teapot, it just wasn't happening!

In action with the welding...
If you would like to see more behind the scene shots for Artist by Artist, click here > flickr

splash of golden hue

T'is a sight to behold! Yellow daisy like flowers, I'm not of sure its name... it's such a stunning display to irrestible not to take some happy snaps. As it seems I'm not the only one, I must have been past this spectacular view dozens of times recently and each time someone is taking a picture of it. I'm not supprised.

A side shot - the start of the colour, along side of the road and

...still splashes of yellow, a bit further up.

More yellow, part of the hill

and centre of the hill, to each side of this picture is a mass of bright golden yellow.

Matchbox show exhibits

An exhibition of ceramic artworks in a matchbox, titled "Up in Smoke" a fitting title don't you think? Michael Ciavarella is the brain child behind this groovy concept. The project began last year at the Clay Energy conference in NSW, Michael's goal is to reach 5000 boxes and will take "Up in Smoke" to Finland's International Ceramics Conference in 2014. My humble little offering is among the many, the number of entries is growing with each day..

"Up in Smoke" is now exhibiting at Noosa Regional Gallery, Tewantin - continues to June 5th.

porcelain with mixed media

It's been some time since I have posted any news about my ceramics on my blog and my reason being I have decided to use facebook as my primary platform for it (if you are wanting to see what's going on in the studio, all you need do is, scroll down, click on the fb link on this home page).

These days my ceramics practice is divided between my new found love of welding assemblages, and as it seems the 'clay & found objects' are starting to somewhat meld toward each other, as seen in the first couple of images... I'm straying alittle from my familiar coarse clay body to explore the pure white fine delicate body of southern ice porcelain - it's such a beautiful clay to work with and when fired to stoneware, feels like the skin of a new born - it's the ala carte of all porcelain (in my books anyhows!). I'm really enjoying breaking away from the norm, to have a play, and see what will evolve...

"Punctured I"

southern ice porcelain, clear gloss glaze inside, three rusted horse shoe nails

Detail - inside view

I can see some of my love of symbolism, coming through in the fall of the nails in this piece

"Flourish 1 & 2"

Detail - inside view

The next two assemblages - Clown & Maxine are reminiscesnt of fond childhood memoirs...

"White Clown"

southern ice porcelain, sterling silver diamante bracelets, anklets & parts, colapsible

Close-up view of diamante bracelet - a bit of bling!

"Maxine"

southern ice porcelain, colapsible, sterling silver diamante collar and accessories.

My ABC Open Artist by Artist - Artist Pat Flynn

I'd like to introduce PAT FLYNN my partner for the ABC Open - Artist by Artist project... It's like where do I start! In this post you will notice some extra links - it'll take you into the world of Pat.

Pat is an accomplished writer, (ex-professional Tennis player and teacher), modest and humble man and it is such an honour to be producing this documentry on him and under the professional guidance of ABC Open Producer Natalija Brunovs.

Pat writes realistic fiction with a dose of humour for young adults. among his long list of books and accolades, the most recent credit to his name is shortlisted for the 2011 REAL Awards (Reading & Enjoying Australian Literature) for his novel the "Tuckshop Kid"

Pat Flynn

Recently, Pat has taken up playing tennis all in the aid of research for his current work in progress - Ace a 28-year old tennis player who makes a comeback to the pro tour. Pat is competing in the Open Tournaments, he has started a blog tennisandwriting
on his comeback and journey...

Natalija filming Pat busting some moves on his skateboard.

Pat started writing at 30 (yrs) his first four novels Alex Jackson series - were based on a talented young skateboarder - Pat learnt to skate all in the name of research!

On the receiving end of the microphone, Pat gets a behind the scene's shot of Natalija and me in his interview.

ABC Open - partners revealed

I'm excited to announce that I have been selected among nine other (extremely talented) artists to partake in an ABC Open - Artist by Artist project. ABC Open has paired together artists to make documentaries on each other.

Such a wonderful opportunity, and a great bunch of extremely talented artists involved. I am really looking forward to it.

Four Sights

For me this assemblage has a resolution feel to it - not insomuch as to interpret an ending per se more of an understanding, coming to an awareness or an accomplishment of... until the next chapter, anyhows.

My recent mood and emotion has most definitely being a direct influrence on what has been coming through within my assemblages and upon looking back on the process an evident religious spiritual theme has appeared - such as the sculptures 'House of the Holy : Enlightenend Ones, Trinity, and Temple Within...'

The majority of my process in the assembling is preety much an automatic pilot and chance happenings - once I've attained an allowing, a freeing from all and any conscious control and thought, can the create energy be drawn upon. Then later observations, once I've given time to breathe between each process, am I able to formulate the technical side of things; the drilling, welding etc... into the construction of the piece. You know tho' - the best observations I have had with my works are actually the comments made by the viewer. Yes! I love, encourage and welcome these comments - for they help me in the way of looking at and seeing the piece - which I may not have be aware of...they are gold moments and at times become a pivotal turning point, in the direction in my life - and I am thankful for all those comments!

"House of the Holy :

Four Sights"

H 27cm x W 12cm x D 10cm

Radiant Soul

Radiant Soul - is a sturdy piece to say the least with a 10LB Sledge Hammer head at the base, and a barbeque burner welded vertically upright. The stoneware clay bones protrude from the burner are representations of one's own perspective or persona that radiates outward.

This piece emanates as being feminine, previously my reference to the majority of my assemblages has been masculine, until one day someone pointed out that they saw them as feminine. Puzzled over this comment at the time, however now yes, I believe he was right!

Radiant Soul

H 43cm x W 23cm x D 7cm

Firmly grounded, anchored to mother earth, solid foundation to build upon, ignite one's own flames and sustain, for She will hold her head high and Radiate...........

Peace Within

Still on the topic for COMA (Collaborative of Maleny Artists) member's exhibition Maleny Image 8 : between the lines... and yes as mentioned in my previous two posts - only one entry person! I think this is artwork number seven... The theme is to make an artwork based on a book recently read within a size frame of 120mm square (3D).

I came across this small booklet in a secondhand bookstore on an Australian Sculptor Ian McKay - a career survey of Sculpture, published by Art Gallery of NSW, 1984. His works are large scale of welded steel and rusted metal / objects. Curious to see what I could come up with I gathered together tiny steel pieces to apply to his large scale works. As it turned out I only needed four pieces of steel and a happy accident fell into place while assembling it.

A step by step image to see the peace within...

'Peace Within'

H 8cm x W 8cm x D 10cm

The narrative continues

REST - It seems I am being sent another message - oh, if only I'd listen........ perhaps one day?

This is a relatively small piece I was thinking of the COMA exhibition - even though 'one' entry per person, so why am I still making more works for it? Who knows, I give up!!! I guess I'm just having fun with the concept.

'REST'

Flattened corrigated iron, hardwood blocks & porcelain

H 7cm x W12cm x D 2.5cm

Narrative going on...

These works came about while contemplating my entry into COMA's next exhibition (Collaborative of Maleny Artists organised by Ken Munsie) 'MALENY IMAGE 8 : between the lines' to be exhibited at Rosetta Books, Maleny (27 Mayto 12 June, 2011).

So....... we are asked to create an artwork inspired by a book that we have recently read. Strictly a non-fiction kinda gal, my recent reads have had a tendency to be on the 'heavy' side and not everbodies cup of tea! So I opted for one of my 'lighter' non-fiction reads - 365 Tao Daily Meditation by Deng Ming-Dao with each piece (or word) reflecting one verse (daily meditation) from the book.

Working with my discarded prerequisite - 'chance' played its part once again with a happy find of an old Scrabble set a few days out from the call for entries. Too irresistable - exhibiting at a bookshop - title "between the lines"- finding the Scrabble tiles, words are a must for this one! And might I add, only one entry per person - geewizacumz which one to choose?

Each piece stands suspended upright onto old wooden stamp blanks. Assembled with cyclone rod, lock nuts, stainless steel spring and Scrabble tiles.

An arial view

REST : No.316 Rest

LIVE : No. 256 Arbitrary

SEEK : 261 Silence

Angled view - REST - LIVE - SEEK

DRAW - PLAY : No. 250 Reverence

HOPE - FIND : No. 240 Outlook

BE LOVE : LOVE ME

(corresponding verse - tba)

AWARENESS : No. 21 Skills

ABUNDANCE : No. 42 Walking

GRATITUDE No. 9 Optimism

TRAN_FORM : No. 41 Resolution

(this piece is open to be read either way - front to back or back to front!)

And of course, if further insight into each piece is desired, one would have to read the corresponding Daily Meditation to find out....

Keeping afloat

As in the title - life is a tad full on atm and you could say that I am just 'keeping afloat' with all my commitments. Time to post has been limited so I decided to post an image of one of my earlier assemblages. Exhibited in a competition this piece was Highly Commended.

Consisting of clay and rusted found objects, long sharp barbs protude - a sense of balancing pleasure and pain...

Trinity

You may or may not be familiar with my piece 'House of the Holy : Enlightened Ones' it was the face for my recent exhibition Deconstruction : Reconstruction and is pictured on the link for my website on the top right side here on my blog.

My inner thoughts and feelings that lie behind in the makings of this piece run pretty deep, and when I try to explain these emotions I find it very hard for me to articulate. Perhaps because I see them as a feeling rather than an explaination. Infact this applies to all my assemblages. I think that is why the titles are so important as they carry the message that has been transfered as I assemble them. It is certainly challenging to say the least, as I am always asked what lies behind the piece. It's a bit like trying to answer what lies behind the meaning of life!

And now other works have come about with the same emotion behind the construction and House of the Holy is becoming a body of work...

" Trinity"

"Temple Within"

"Fragility of Life"

my bookshops!

In the last couple of weeks I decided to induldge in a little retail therapy at my two favourite bookshops - Badger's Books and Books of Buderim.

Books of Buderim as in the name is located in Buderim top end of town across from the Tavern, it is a fantastic little bookshop that caters for all flavours and stocks some of the most beautiful books. It's not hard to spend an hour or two or to resist the urge and take one home! After all I was in there for some retail therapy, right? My intent was to go buy a book I had seen a month ago, my indulgence a totally delicious and extremely inspirational book titled WOOD by Andy Goldsworthy

Badger's Books on the otherhand is a secondhand bookstore that never fails to cater to my needs. Generally when I'm on the hunt for a book I always seem to find it there! My internal radar was going off this day - telling me "Badger's - Badger's, go into Badger's" "Okedokey then" so off I troddled down to Badger's Books. Thinking of my flavour atm - welding steel, assemblaging etc... I headed straight to the Art & Sculpture shelves. And would you believe it the first book I see and on the front cover is a picture of a welded rusted steel assemblage!

An Australian artist Ian McKay, not familiar with Ian and his sculptures I just had to buy it. Of course on the agenda - google and learn more about Ian McKay and his philosophy behind his works.

bone & bullets

This a relevatively small piece and came through while assembling another piece, which seems to be my patterning of late. The shell of three bullets still within their casing and one missing... the clay bone slot in perfectly, and as I inserted it the title came to me.

"Falling Soldiers"

H 13cm x W 17cm x D 5cm

A detail, I liked this shot (Pardon the pun!)