new assemblages exhibiting

Last Friday night saw the official opening of Small Works/Small Town Exhibition at Rosebed St Gallery, in the quaint little township of Eudlo.  Recently featuring on the television show Better Homes & Gardens only a few months ago, the gallery is a hive of activity and oozing with funk!  Always a wonderfully curated show, the girls Annie Burns and Maya Carter-Malins really know how to deliver and never fail to showcase an amazing array of artworks.

Small Works/ Small Town is Rosebed St Gallery's annual summer showcase - a 'takeaway art' exhibition - its a great format where buyers can take the artwork with them instantly upon their purchase, practical and a great idea for the seasoned visitor!

I just happened to have some new small assemblages coming through in the studio and submitted an EOI and was selected to exhibit, among many other talented artists. A few images on show, (to save me time...all the finer details are all on my website :-)

 Soul Connection II

 

Trinity I - Sold

Trinity II

Trintiy III

 

 

...and good buddy Jo Murray has posted images from the opening night in her Picasa Web Album and on her blog if your wanting to see what fun was had!

The Small Works/ Small Town Exhibition continues until Sunday 23rd December, 2012.  Rosebed St Gallery, Eudlo. Hours: Wed-Sun 10am-4pm

No.11 sculpture - In situ

Installation day for the commission, it was really nice to see the piece in place and how I envisioned it....

  

 

Domestic Duties Chp.2 & Expressions Of Love - on tour

Upon reflection, this has been a big year and an exciting one for me with the development of my art career.  My focus this year has all been about 'honing in' on what and where I want to see myself and my art heading.   Bit by bit, chipping away and working hard - entering competitions, exhibiting, making art/installations, gallery proposals, upgrading my website etc., etc., while remaining focused and positive (even in the times of continual knock back and almost reaching the point of literally wanting to drop my bundle...!), I am now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and all my hardwork is starting to pay off with an array of successful outcomes coming to fruition and opportunities ahead of me.

One of my positive outcomes is that I was shortlisted and selected for Artslink Queensland 2013-14 Touring Exhibition Program.  A selection of my artworks from my most recent solo exhibition Domestic Duties Chp.2 and my Expressions Of Love will feature in a group exhibition (curated by Artslink Qld) entitled Teasing The Domestic alongside two other Queensland artists Corrie Wright and Kellie McEwan and the World Tea Cosy Competition, co-ordinated by Miles Regional Arts Council.

The layout image below showcases some of the artworks, which appears in the 2013-14 Catalogue.

 

A couple of images of the artworks selected from my Domestic Duties Chp.2 solo exhibition:

(more images and details can be seen on my website :-)

 

Constant Appetite Bottomless Pit

 

Group assemblage from left;

 

This Chook Is Totally Cooked, Dance To The Beat I + II, Betty Bloomers and Up The Duff.

 

 

SATIDSFYING + FULFILLING

 

...and from my Expressions Of Love solo exhibition:



 

Quilt - detail

 

Nancy's Challenge - detail

 

Doily - detail

steel structures around home

Lately, I've been able to beautify around the home a little with some steel sheeting 'discards' (and other random shapes of steel) thanks to my new mate Steve at Caloundra Waterjet Cutting.  The steel sheeting used and cut for jobs are skeletonised leaving behind the negative space from 'what' has been cut - each sheet can vary with random and sometimes repetitive shapes, which oozes sculptural fodder!!!  Not only do they look great, it has been an interesting experiement - I was able to get the one up around the water tank before the Open Studios program and as a result received some awesome feedback.  I can see this experiement has alot of potential!

A detail showing the different shapes welded to the steel sheet.

 

Two sheets were placed until I liked the results, then welded together from behind and bolted to hardwood planks - each sheet is around 6mm thick.

 

 

Then this sheet of steel (below) is a whopper, 12mm thick and super heavy! This was a recent collection, I really love the random nature of each cut, even though Steve is probably working at getting the most out of the steel.  This piece slot exactly into place and I felt didn't need anymore added to it (for now anyhows) and looks rad near the other sculptures.

 

commission progress - clay component

Shaping up nicely!  The clay component is labour intensive - there are so steps involved in the process, the making, the drying time, sanding each piece, bisque firing, several steps to glazing, the glaze firing etc... and then making sure you get the shrinkage rate right!!!  Thankfully after the final firing, the reward comes when opening the kiln door and seeing all is well.

In between blog posts and living with the steel structure for a bit, I've decided on some minor adjustments to the clay design - instead of making each alternate block smaller I've decided to make them all uniform and with less texture on the surface giving each block a flatter finish which sits better in the steel frame.  And slightly reducing the firing (reducing oxygen in the kiln whilst firing) to yield a richer patina in the glaze, aesthetically pleasing with the rusting steel.

A sneak peak - the clay behind the negative space looks good.

Clay process took two months in the making - various depths of clay blocks were made (estimated according to the clay's shrinkage rate). Here the kiln is all loaded and ready for bisque firing.

After the bisque, the clay blocks ready for glazing.

Glazed blocks drying and ready for loading into the kiln for the glaze firing. I've made more blocks than needed - experience has taught always have extra on hand just in case!

The anticipation of cracking open the kiln the next day..........!!!!

Assembling - a day or two of fine tuning. Detail blocks stacked within the steel frame and the clay's surface.