Lucas Parklands Sculpture Exhibition

I've been invited to partake in a group sculpture exhibition in June (details TBA) at the Lucas Parklands in Montville by Arts Connect Inc for the Maleny Garden Club open garden - Art & Garden Festival "Gardening on the Edge 2010"

A group of us got together to get some inspiration... and headed on down to the Lucas Parklands property. While on our walk we came across a running creek found through their beautiful rainforest walk track. Just divine!

Above and looking over the creek is a fantastic open deck, just begging for an artwork, kinda like a blank canvas waiting to be painted...

Painting the picture; an ambience so peaceful and serene, sounds of running water, wip-bird calls from beyond. Delightful aroma from the rainforest floor and the crisp clean air refreshes you from within....

Most definitely a place for contemplation, deserving of a meditative piece!

Being all inspired having contemplative mind, I set off to explore my 'oneness' within my discarded rusty pile to create a piece that would sit well in the surrounds and ambience of the deck.

The thing I love most about collecting and working with rusted discarded objects is that a once loved piece of machinery, garden tool, nut'n'bolt, car part etc... destined to be buried in landfill somewhere and lost forever now has a chance to be loved and appreciated again by being transformed into an artwork. Random parts come together so beautifully, if I allow myself to be open to chance, the form takes on it own indentity and as they are been placed in this case the random pieces mimick one another.

Balance with harmony, a piece that resonates with my Zen mind.

ALaW 2010 - IJKLM

The half way mark in ALaW 2010 alphabet challenge 13 down, 13 to go...

I must say, this exercise has been a refreshing flavour to my arts practise! I've really enjoyed the sense of adventure and play it has presented.

Some letters have come together very simply and while others very challenging indeed, especially the K in this month's letters. I try not to read to much into that but find it curious just the same... knowing that there is a hidden lesson there somewhere.

I - is simlpy a rusted nut & bolt.

J - a distorted hook

K - a wingnut with half a post (post internal rod that contects two door knobs, cut in half)

L - drill chuck

M- an end of a well worn out rake, cement intact.

ALaW

The challenge continues...we've reached the half way mark of the first alphabet in ALaW. My thoughts have been on how to present them as a whole. When photographing each month's letters I've placed them on a rusted backing plate bringing out each letter from the mesh.

I like to allow myself the freedom to be guided in my process and listen to my inner messages, even if I don't know what it's trying to say at the time. I've been on a creative urge lately to make works in a similar vain to Rosalie Gascoigne using old corrugated iron sheets and weathered timber from hardwood palletes etc... My thoughts kept going to these two planks of timber from a pallet which look really groovy with all the nails sticking out on the sides.

Then the message became clear...when I started placing the alphabet letters so far, onto the plank of timber, how poetic... fitting all 13 letters meaning the other plank is going to accomodate the other 13. Yipee!

And 13 just happens to be my lucky number...

Morning visitor...

I have a feathered friend that calls for me in the mornings...

I've named him RED, he normally has two females with him, today he was alone. It must be nesting season.

A couple of seasons ago, I had large Sunflowers plants planted in the garden, the locals got wind of it and demolished the flower heads. Now, each season I have RED 'squawking' for his seed! If I don't go out and put seed on the rail for him he will continue to squawk until I have done so.

He is so beautiful and personality plus!

The string challenge

As part of my "Expressions of Love" exhibition (8th - 30th May) and to coincide with the Charity ART Auction for the Cancer Council ABMT, held at Main Street Gallery, Montville, I am incorporating an interactive art piece open to the public to participate in, and on the day of the ART Auction it will be auctioned off as part of the fundraising.

I'm calling it "The String Challenge"...knitted in unity.

"The String Challenge" - knitted in unity

This porcelain knitting Nancy design is directly taken from an original wooden 'Vintage' knitting nancy - Porcelain & Recycled Teabags

I extend this invitation to you, to visit Main Street Gallery between 7th to 26th May, 2010 and add to the length of string and be part of the challenge.

New Works...

Fresh out of the kiln, cleaned up and gold leafed...

These are the pieces I photographed while in the leatherhard stage when in the making, now finished and ready to exhibit.

...a sneak preview of some of the works I will be exhibiting in the group exhibition "Essence of Time" April 12th to 25th in Graydon Gallery, 29 Merthyr Rd, New Farm.

Expressions of Love, Exhibition

Its been eight years in the making and I have been sitting on this body of work for some time now waiting for the right time to exhibit it, as it holds very significant meanings for me. I started making the pieces in 2002 with much excitement (or madness) gathering hundreds and hundreds of teabags pinning and sewing, pinning and sewing...my mother was my avid 'gatherer' making it her life's mission to collect as many teabags as she could on her many visits to her friends. Before you knew it I had a whole tribe of hunter gatherers of teabags...with teabags coming in from all directions.

“RAG RUG”- RECYCLED TEABAGS & CALICO

Recycled teabags (leaves intact) sewn on a treadle Singer Sewing Machine into long strips, three strips plaited and sewn together by hand, calico backing dyed with recycled tea leaves then sewn together. Upon my exhibition this piece will be displayed on a perpex box kindly donated by Australian marine Windows.
 

The works are inspired by the 'Arts/Crafts' that our Mother's and Grandmother's passed on to us through knitting, crocheting, sewing etc... once considered a necessity for around the home to comfort and nurture. This interaction between (grand)mother and daughter intergrated a common bond from an early age, creating a love like no other... shared moments to cherish forever.

“KNITTING IN PROGRESS”- RECYCLED TEABAGS & PORCELAINRecycled teabags sewn on a treadle Singer Sewing Machine knitted on antique wooden knitting needles

 

My previous post (below) details my "Charity ART Auction" I am hosting for this years Australia's Biggest Morning Tea, O so thankful....the universe is providing, and has given me the green light to exhibit my "Expressions of Love" works from 8th to 30th May along side... and in lead up to the morning tea art auction and in a most beautiful venue Main Street Gallery which I must say, have been overwhemly supportive and am ever thankful for their generosity.

Charity ART Auction

The Teapot pictured is made from recycled teabags from last years ABMT (2009), my intent was to make an artwork and donate it to the Cancer Council to raise money for research. Personally touched by cancer myself with the loss of my mother has been the inspiration to host this years event via the Charity ART Auction.

"A Strong Brew"- ABMT 2009

Recycled teabags sewn on a Treadle Singer Sewing Machine

My Australia's Biggest Morning Tea - Fundraising day is being presented as a Charity ART Auction with guest speaker Cr Jenny McKay. All Artworks being donated are by local Artists on the Sunshine Coast whose lives have been personally touched by cancer. The local business community has been very supportive with Main Street Gallery in Montville kindly providing the venue to exhibit the artworks and Roger from Roger Loughnan Real Estate being our Auctioneer on the day. Poet's Cafe are supplying small nibbles and tea for one and all, support is growing stronger with each day.

ALaW 2010 - EFGH

The alphabet challenge continues, ALaW - A Letter a Week 2010 with February's letters; E, F, G, H. Life duties dominated this month so I had to rely on my trusty stock pile to compile my letters.

E- is a weathered brass bracket, nuts intact with a nut & bolt welded in the centre,

F - discarded plugs from cut out metal,

G - rusted bike chain...still abit of movement under the rust, shaped nicely,

and

H - a small clamp, not sure from what...with the spring...un-sprung.

Happy snaps...

Happy snaps from my delivery to the Abbey Museum of the Canopic Jars....

They were very pleased with the results and shared the news with their followers on twitter!

Canopic Jars

Just out of the kiln last night and ready to deliver...

Four Canopic Jars for the Abbey Museum's Egyptian Tomb 'Dig'

From left to right - Four Canopic Jars; Falcon, Human, Anubis, and Baboon. Height tallest 30cm

Canopic Jars were used to store and preserve human organs for safekeeping in the afterlife. During the mumification process organs were removed and stored into the jars and were buried in the tomb together with the sarcophagus of the dead.

Each Jar held a particular organ; the intestines were stored within the falcon, the liver in the human headed jar, the stomach was stored in Anubis, and the lungs were contained within the baboon.

ALaW 2010- my first four letters..

My progress so far for ALaW 2010 with January's letters A B C & D.

I've choosen to use discarded rusted, weathered metals or similar to make my letters, that I find from my weekly rust hunts.

In my first week, to start me off I used what I had in my rust pile at home, three rusty horse shoe nails perfectly forming an 'A'. The second week I rummaged in a Sheetmetal's skip bin finding these curious 'plugs' forming my 'B'. The plugs are the discarded piece from metal that has punched a hole leaving the rounded shape seen in my 'B' below.

Week three 'C' was found in discarded metal shavings, created from drilling into metals leaving long threads of spiral shavings. Upon closer inspection I noted the curve...hmmm 'C' for curve! Alittle bend back and forth on the long thread, and a bit broke off...the birth of my 'C'.

Week four letter 'D' . Somewhat dissapointed on my rust hunt with only finding some old weathered leather straps and buckles from horse riding gear. I had to take a closer look to see what I could do. Of course! The 'D' ring on the strap!

Work in progress...toward a group exhibition in April, 2010

I've got alot on the go in the studio and each day I work on what feels right, for that day. Throwing on the wheel is not my strongest area when working with clay, but shear determination to master the skill is etched deep inside me since I first put hands to clay.

I am currently working on many projects, each taking priority of what is needed first. In April I am part of a group exhibition titled "Essence of Time" in Graydon Gallery, New Farm - Brisbane. In this exhibition I plan to exhibit my traditional 'Ancient' forms, most of which will be wheel thrown and assembled works, with hand-carved designs.

I don't usually photograph works in the raw stage...but I was really happy with how these came up, I felt they were worthy of a few shots...

3 spouted vessels in the raw 'leatherhard' stage

Detail of the hand carving, designs of ancient beasts

500 Pitchers

Hot off the Press! I am extremely delighted to announce a work from my graduate exhibition (bottom image) features in the recent edition of '500 Pitchers'.  Published by Larks Books, over 4000 entries were received worldwide, with only six images in the 500 selected from Australia.

500 Pitchers, Larks Books USA, 2006; p.347

 Pitcher, 2002, wheel-thrown and hand-built, formulated mixed clay, mid-fired and dry glaze - Graduate Exhibition, CSIT.

A Letter a Week 2010

ALaW 2010 is a small challenge, project or experiment that was created by Fiona Dempster from paperponderings. The original project started small but is growing, and is primarily about having fun, experimenting and having a regular, small project to focus on each week creating a letter a week and creating 52 letters, which must form 2 alphabets, by the end of 2010.

My first thoughts for my letters were to put them down on paper.... but each time I walked past my rusty pile I just knew had to explore my possiblities there. Within minutes I saw letters standing out at me...I had to hold back as I could have had the whole alphabet done in one sitting!

Each week I go on a rust hunt for new treasures so I've decided to create my 'A Letter a Week' from each find.

Rusty disks

Now I've got my duties done with the commissions....

I'm just itching to get into my rusty pile! My partner came home yesterday with some more treasures, yipee... Four gorgeous plow disks.

I had an old slab of weathered grey wood (from my last find) laying on a sleeper, just happened to lay the disks down onto it to see them individually as they are quiet heavy.

And pure spontaneous creation evolved, a totem sculpture in the making. I knew instantly how it is going to look, now all I need is to find the other piece to complete it.

Watch this space!

Well... I hope it comes to me sooner rather than later, when working with 'found' discarded objects you need to cultivate patience.

Canopic Jars - Commission Abbey Museum

Another commission - Abbey Museum,

this time... four Canopic Jars for their Egyptian Tomb 'dig'

In the making, just finished and are in the raw stage, tallest just over 13" (33cm)

Roman Dig - finished and delivered!

Pottery for the Abbey Museum's Commission - Roman 'Dig' ....Finished!

Each Terracotta piece was burnished and polished by hand with a smooth pebble, and polished again after the final firing to give a gloss finish.

Now they are going to be... buried...unearthed...buried...unearthed...buried...unearthed

...hmmmm

my studio......green grass of home

We've been soooooo dry of late you wouldn't believe that these hills were all brown only a month ago.

Couple of days off with inspiration and rusty finds!

I decided to have a couple of days off from the studio, seeing it is the festive season and most sane people are on holidays!!!! And headed down to Brisvagas to see APT6 (Asia Pacific Triennel Exhibition) at GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art). I couldn't pass the opportunity to seek out one of my favourite Australian Sculptor's 'Robert Klippel' (1920-2001) while we were there.

No. 247 Metal Construction 1965-68

Welded and brazed steel, found objects, wood

detail

Totally inspired and in awe of the works from our visit....

Today we decided to head out on a 'rust hunt' to

find some more treasures to top up my stock pile

....and what a find!