Unearthed Treasures Exhibition

It is a great honour for me to have work in the current exhibition Unearthed Treasures at Caloundra Regional Gallery.

“Local residents reveal their extraordinary hidden collections and share the fascinating stories behind them in this unique exhibition, Unearthed Treasures. Bringing together an eclectic combination of paintings, sculptures, historical objects and keepsakes, this exhibition reveals the rich and diverse passion for collecting held within the Sunshine Coast community.” – Caloundra Regional Gallery.

A very special thank you to Julie Hauritz (Public Art Officer Sunshine Coast Regional Council) for nominating my art work for selection from her private collection – other works include distinguished artists like Charles Blackman, Norman Lindsay, Pro Hart, Ken Done and many more.

Ladies Fan & Lidded Box II (detail), 2015.

Exhibition dates: Wednesday 2 December, 2015 to Sunday 17 January, 2016. 

22 Omrah Ave,

Caloundra Qld 4551

(next to Caloundra Library)
Ph: 07 - 5420 8299

Book Launch - Noosa Regional Gallery

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to join me in this momentous occasion to celebrate the publication of Expressions of Love ...

Book Launch Friday 27 November 2015 at 10.30am 

Noosa Regional Gallery  

Riverside 9 Pelican St

Tewantin Q 4565

Please RSVP Noosa Regional Gallery on 07 5329 6145 or gallery@noosa.qld.gov.au

RELEASED Friday 27 November, 2015 - anyone wishing to purchase Expressions of Love the book, can find it at Books of Buderim, Rosetta Books Maleny, Caloundra Regional and Noosa Regional Gallery Gift Shops or by PayPal via my website www.kimschoenberger.com Retail price AUD $34.95 

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

 This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

tea bags mounted to canvas

The intensity of working on a certain medium over several months can open the flood gates for more creative ideas and experimentation, working on Expressions of Love II last year was no exception, it was super intense utilising over 10,000 tea bags, the ideas were literally oozing, it was challenging to juggle these creative juices and remain focused on the task at hand. I was able to steer off the beaten track every now and then, to explore this new found 'inspiration' and capture its intensity - so many fantastic concepts are given birth in these moments and they are not to be missed! I would often find myself working on a piece for Expressions of Love II then take a giant sideward step to initiate a new idea and document it, knowing when I could confidently come back to it at a later date, I would pick up the previous project again.

Expressions of Love II was carefully curated to build a sense of nostalgia upon entering into Gallery 3 with the object based works suituated on plinths, my intent was to draw my audience into a familar setting as seen with the works in Expressions of Love 2010 i.e 'Cols Cushions', the 'L' shaped gallery space allowed for it perfectly.  The direct view saw 'Close Knit CommUNITY' which lead the way for my new direction, by ustilising one knitting needle and hung 'partially literal' paved the way for this new direction with the final works in the larger open space - the three major works mounted to stretched canvas brought my audience with me into a new area I wish to explore - moving from the 'literal' sense into a contemporary context with wall based works.  This is not to say I am finished with object plinth based works, just for now, I wish to push the boundaries from the norm!

Which leads me into here, one such idea I have been entertaining and decided to explore...using original photos - process driven work exploring the element of rhythm and repetition with printed imagery on square shaped tea bags and mounted to stretched canvas...

A detail of the completed work comprises 374 recycled tea bags, entitled, Steel Square Tubing - Painted (30"x40)

 

Recycled tea bags drying on the deck - the humble home brewed!

 

On my treadle sewing machine, several individual panels were sewn first...

 

Then sewn together, at each interval ironed to maintain their shape and for easy sewing.  I seriously feel in love with the back view - I have most certainly made a note to explore this at a later date!

 

A backing sheet and binding was sewn with the panel for added strength.

 

Completed work, mounted to stretched canvas - detail.

Mark of the Artist

I am delighted to announce I will be kicking off the first ‘Mark of the Artist’ 2014 event at Noosa Regional Gallery.

Following on from my recent solo exhibition, Expressions of Love II  I'll share insights into my ceramic arts practice and how I go about creating the Southern Ice porcelain component to accommodate my recycled tea bags works, as seen in the image below.

Please accept this warm invitation to join me for morning tea, on Friday 11 April, 2014 between 10.30am and 11.30am – Riverside, Pelican St, Tewantin – gold coin donation – RSVP 8 April Email : gallery@noosa.qld.gov.au

hightlights

I am feeling all sentimental after downloading the last exhibition images (yesterday's bump out) and thought it might be nice to share a few highlights with you. The whole process of working toward my exhibition has been great fun, certainly one of my highlights was working and sharing with the community. It also provided me with an opportunity to get out from the isolation of my studio and form new friendships along the way - together we created a buzz leaving behind a trail of tea dust from collecting well over 10,000 tea bags!

It was a challenge narrowing it down to a dozen photographs because all the moments were special, nonetheless, here are some of my highlights from Expressions of Love II...

Embraced by the community...my first tea bag call out, February 2013, via social media, unprepared for the response I was inundated with tea bags coming in from all directions, I quickly established four collection points across the Hinterland.

 

Tea Bag Tea Parties ...  Rosebed St Gallery, Maya (& former partner Annie) kindly shared my tea bag call-out in their e-newsletters and before long Tea Bag Tea Partes were on the agenda (a big thank you to Rosebed for their generousity in providing the venue).

Team effort... all eager to lend a hand while having a cuppa adding to the collection!

 

D-day, installation day.... with all the hype working around the clock, installation day came around so quick - it was a day filled with many emotions, with a little time for reflection.  The title and name going up made it feel all very real.

 

Anticipation and excitement with placement... one of the biggest works (containing 3600 tea bags in total) layed out to calculate wall placement. 

 

...freshly painted walls, nails going in, work going up... I only ever viewed latched with Love layed on the floor, this was the most defining moment, finally veiwing on the wall and in place.  Internal dialogue..."Yay. Relief. Yes!!! Looks great! Validation - all the hard work, it was worth it, yay!!!"

 

Day one, doors open to the public... what better way than to share the day with a special friend who needs some TLC ♥

 

On another day... a special bus trip organised for a special group of tea bag collectors - Kureelpa Spinners & Weavers, and a dear friend, Petrus.

 

Opening night celebrations.... with special friends

 

mammoth crowd of people filled the gallery rooms...

 

Fun with Janet De Boer...

  

 

'Meet the Artist' Morning Tea... an awesome opportunity to meet gallery visitors and talk about my work.

 

Family Day, Artist Demo Day.... time for interaction and conversation.

 

My most loyal... sharing the whole experience, from the birth of the idea all the way along to bump-in.& bump-out with my best friend ever, Glen.

Artist Demo Day

Today was Family Day at Noosa Regional Gallery, a regular monthly event for the gallery (Gallery Public Program), Family day is where volunteer staff host interactive art activities; clay, paint etc., for the kids, while one of the current exhibiting artist contributes, usually in the form of a demonstration or similar for the visiting public.

A wet drizzly day weather wise today, however, it didn't stop folk from coming to the gallery. I was fortunate to have the gallery Foyer to spread out (pictured below), while the outside undercover area graced several long tressel tables full of happy little creatives and a sausage sizzle.

Just alongside me in the gallery were more tressel tables and more little creatives, this time being creative with tea stained watercolour paper, tea bag paper and tea leaves. Unfortunately, I was too busy to take photographs... the results were most intriguing!

My Foyer display.

 

Below, an Interactive display area I provided for the gallery and the duration of Expressions of Love II, latch hooking in progress for folk to have a try.

 

Additional interactive work, displayed just for today for further exploration. Foreground; Twinnings - Raspberry, Strawberry & Loganberry flavoured, yield pink coloured tea bags; knitting with spun tea bag yarn; prototypes, sewn patchwork panels, the making of Deconstructed Quilt; and crocheting with spun tea bags and a few sample crochet flowerettes.

 

After a quick run down on how to prepare the recycled tea bag yarn for spinning - everyone was most intrigued when the spinning begun.

 

Then it was time for others to have a try.

 

Thanks to all whom came today, 'twas a most enjoyable day!

exhibition opens + opening night

Now that my works, Expressions of Love II are hung and the opening last Friday evening, it's time to reflect and savour the moment I think - after a full-on year of intense making, gathering and processing over 10,000 tea bags, three weeks will fly by like a blink of an eyelid!

Opening night was a blast - the gallery was so crowded people were literally spilling out the doorways - the result of three exhibition openings in the one evening. On show and in Gallery One The Friends of the Gallery, Taste of Art Exhibition, in Gallery Two is the gorgeous Emma Freeman with her retrospective On the Edge and myself, Expressions of Love II in Gallery Three. Having the three openings in the one evening is a great idea, and you also get to met new people too.

To share some photos with you...

With great honour opening my exhibition, guest speaker Janet De Boer O.A.M Editor, ‘Textile Fibre Forum’ Magazine + CEO, The Australian Forum for Textile Arts, Ltd, pictured with me below.

Janet with the microphone, delighting the crowd with her fun sense of humour, and Nina Shadforth Gallery Curator, to the right, looking on.

 

Just to show you how many folk were present, and each room in the gallery was just as crowded!

 

 

Myself and the adorable Emma Freeman.  Emma is such an inspiring woman, I hope to be as vibrant and full of life, as Emma is, when I reach her tender age of 91.

 

Joolie Gibbs, Gympie Regional Gallery Coordinator and Guest Judge, presenting the awards for the Friends of the Gallery, Taste of Art Exhibiton.

 

 ...and a few happy snaps of Expressions of Love II (images courtesy, Lindsay Ham).

 

When you visit the gallery, remember to smell the pink coloured squares in my Latched with Love piece, like the lady seen in the pic below - to experience the sweet aroma of the Twinnings: Raspberry, Strawberry and Loganberry flavoured tea bags!

More on my website > here, if your wanting to see more J

Sending gratitude to all who contributed and saved tea bags for me to create this new body of work, thank you ♥

Gallery Public Program for 'Expressions of Love II'

Hoping you all enjoyed your Christmas, New Year break. I certainly did and I'm feeling all refreshed after a few days off, although, I must admit I have entertained the idea of an extended holiday J but Expressions of Love II is fast approaching and I have still lots more to attend to, so it's back to work!

First thing on the agenda is preparing for the galleries Public Program, most would be aware each regional gallery hosts activites alongside each exhibition and to compliment mine there will be a Teabag Latch Hook Workshop, Meet the Artist Tea Party and an Artist Demonstration Day on Family Day - for all the finer details and dates please see 'END NOTES' listed below.

 

For the Latch Hook Workshop (Sat 25 January, 10.30am-1.30pm) bookings open as from this Monday 6th January, 2014.  Each participant will be shown how to process and work with 100 tea bags to create a small heart shaped latch hook piece, all you need bring is a Latch Hook and yourself!  All other materials will be provided. Spaces are limited to 12 participants so you will need to book-in and secure your place - please direct all enquiries and calls to Noosa Regional Gallery on 53296145, many thanks J

Meet the Artist Tea Party (Friday 31 January, 10.30-11.30am) I hope you will join me and share in some arty conversation over a cuppa and cake - rsvp by 28 Jan. I've got the hand action going on in this image, lol - photo courtesy of Lindsay Ham.

 

Family Day - Artist Demonstration Day (Sunday 9th February, 2014 from 11am to 2pm). With my trusty vintage spinning wheel at hand, my artist demonstration will consist of spinning tea bags into yarn and you'll locate me in the Gallery Foyer.  I'll also create a tangible corner for folk who may wish to have a hands on experience with the tea bags and tea bag yarn... you might even like to have a go at spinning some tea bags!

 

 

END NOTES:
Noosa Regional Gallery Public Program:

Teabag Latch Hook Workshop
Date: Saturday 25 January, 10.30am-1.30pm BYO latch hook, all other materials provided. Tea and coffee provided. $35 per person (Max. 12 participants). Bookings and prepayment essential. For more information and bookings phone 5329 6145.

Meet the Artist Tea Party
Date: Friday 31 January, 10.30-11.30am An informal gathering over tea and cake with artist Kim Schoenberger. Tea party refreshments. Gold coin donation. RSVP by 28 January 2014. For more information and bookings phone 5329 6145.

Family Day: Hands on Artist Demonstration
Date: Sunday 9th February, 2014 from 11am to 2pm
Meet talented artist Kim Schoenberger as she sews and spins magic into tea bags, transforming the mundane and disposable into extraordinary and repurposed.  A tactile and sensory experience for all ages and interests.  Free event. Demonstration times: 11.00am to 12.15pm & 12.45 to 2.00pm