guest judge

Yesterday I was one of three guest judges for Sunshine Beach State School's Art Extravaganza.  A tough call. A part from the obvious, how does one single out an artwork above another, when knowing only to well myself how important it can mean to 'win' an award. I heard myself repeat the words, "can we give another encouragement award???" Certainly things have come along way since my high school days some (eeeks!) 30yrs ago.  A credit goes out to all the students involved their work was of high standard, and certainly not forgetting the teachers for providing a nurturing environment for such creativity to flourish.  What a wonderful platform and experience for young emerging creatives to experience...

One such creative (for me) was a stand out - young Guy Lobwein (Yr.11) only 16yrs. I had an opportunity to chat briefly with Guy on his motivations of his subject, his exstensive research into the history of war reflects the maturity seen through his work.  Not alone in this notion, Guy picked up the Acquisitive and the People's Choice Awards.

Below, for me, this was my favourite and stand out piece in the whole exhibition, an installation with a projection of footage from the war.  I'm not normally drawn to works of this nature, but something resonated within me and I found myself really drawn to it!  This piece didn't pick up an award but was certainly a powerful piece with an even powerful message...

 

Mask of Expression - Installation

 

The following images are really only quick grab / snap shots and are not comprehensive of all the winning pieces, by the time I went to take the photos both rooms were way too crowded (...and apologies for the tardy compositions!).

 

Award Winner:  Acquisitive Award - Guy Lobwein (yr.11) for Fodder pen on paper.  The detail in this piece is truely incredible!

 

Award Winner: Traditional 2D media (including painting, print making & drawing) - Blair Crisdale (yr.12)for his Seven Deadly Sins - paint & marker. Blair was also the winner of this years logo design for the Art Extravaganza Catalogue and T- Shirt (last image below).

 

Award Winner: Multi-media (digital art, mixed media, installation) - Asha Tregear (yr.12) for her piece Seven Deadly Sins - multi-media, as seen in the top row of artworks. 

 

 

Award Winner: 3-D Works (sculpture, ceramics) - Cody Hincks (yr.11) for his piece Neglect - clay and metallic glaze.  A thought provoking piece...

 

 

Encouragement Award: 3-D works - went to Amber Caynes (yr.12) for her piece Steampunk Warrior - sculpture. Being an assembler of the found object myself, this piece was another favourite of mine. I happend to met Amber last night too, and we talked about our recent discovery of Steampunk Art. 

 

 

The annual Sunshine Beach SHS Art Extravaganza is not only a visual art exhibition, the gala evening, showcases a smorgsboard of talent with performance art, drama and music.

 

The winning logo (mentioned above) designed by Blair...

 

commission progress

Things are coming along nicely with the commission - the steel structure is ready and awaiting the clay component.  A few photographs to show how it's looking...

The two spirals are welded at points where the steel meets at the top and then reinforced with a steel plate welded to the base (lid) inbetween the spirals for strength.  This serves as the lid and bolts on either side to lock it all together - the clay blocks* are built up in the centre to the top and will highlight the house number No.11.

* (the clay blocks will be the dry Cream Glaze as the totem sculpture with the three shell spirals in my previous post)

A few minor changes to my design - angle steel replaces the reo for added strength and to protect the clay edges. Four brackets instead of two, to secure at the base.  The bolts on the lid had to be reconsidered and put to the side so the internal plates for securing were not in the way of the clay being placed within.  Overall the sculpture is shaping up like my design (which of course was not to scale, I might add).

                 

Behind view...

Next post will be on the clay component - so I best get into the studio and get on with it!

back into sculpting!

I've been working with a plethora of material this year, however, as much as its been fun, I feel it's time to settle back into my chosen materials of steel, clay and found objects for a bit!

To get back into the saddle, I've silently been working away on a commission. Taking on commissions are a great way to push the boundaries and of course they help pay the bills!

My scratchings on paper helped when discussing my ideas with my clients. A few minor changes were made but by and large, we were all happy with the concept design.

Below, some works that inspired my clients - the stacked block concept, spirals and rough textured clay.  These earlier works grace our gardens and are also incorporated into our landscape designs for Enviro Scapes (landscape garden business).

You'll notice the steel component incorporated into my design above - which is really where my focus now lies in the combination of steel, clay and found materials, much like my recent totemic forms below...however this particular commission is a little more conservative.

I'll marry these ideas together to form the basis of the sculpture (the design above) with an addition of most recent discovery and technique Waterjet cutting. Below; spirals and 'No.11' cut in mild steel by Steve at Caloundra Waterjet Cutting, 

Experimenting with placement...

Celebrating Love & Unity

A gorgeous way to start to my day with a moment of quiet time and reflection before the day begins looking over at the lagoon in the distance in Russell Family Park, Montville.

 

Then special family and friends arrived to join me, several people drop by, while an unexpected creative treat awaited the kids that came with their mums to play in the park.

 

 

 

 

 Rosemarie's heart is as big as her strawberry.

 

To share a message with you and one which rings true for me now painted on my studio floor, reminds me of how important the simple things in life are....

 

 "Greet each new day with love in your heart for one and all" - Emily Jeavons

  

 

So many heartfelt and powerful messages.... creating the ripple effect with one common theme. 

 

 

 

 

   

 

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came and to the facebook folk out there for sharing your messages with me.

If you would like to read about all the other six placemaking temporary art activities, workshops, and installations visit art4place blog

love & unity installation

As part of art4place 2012 Creative Spaces temporary placemaking art activities I will be hosting an interactive free family day installation based event, to kick off this Spring school holidays.  I'm inviting children and their parents to join me and write messages on bright pink heart shaped leaves that will be ceremoniously launched into the lagoon in Russell Park, Montville in celebration of love & unity.

 

The lagoon in Russell Family Park was a watering hole for members of the Gubbi Gubbi people as they made their way to Baroon Pocket for their annual gathering. At these gatherings stories were told, tools and ornaments exchanged, conflicts resolved and marriages arranged.  To me, these gatherings speak of love and unity, and by trailing hand-written messages of love and unity on a sea of bright pink painted heart shaped leaves, we celebrate how Russell Family Park is still a place for gathering and for families to spend time together.

 

Wanting to create a sea of giant lilly pads floating across the water, I sourced the largest bike tubes I could find and have inflated them as much as I could and lined the base with mesh.

 

Up to 13 inflatable tubes with zippy ties which worked a treat to secure the mesh in place!

 

Starting to write some messages on the leaves from folk to far away and want to participate.  Your most welcome to leave your message here on my blog if you want to join in.

 

Great exposure page 5 on our upcoming placemaking activities from the Hinterland Times.

 

My sea of hearts "Love & Unity" Installation will take place in Russell Family Park, Montville on Wednesday 26 September, 2012 from 11am to 2pm - one of six individual temporary placemaking community art projects taking place along the Hinterland through September and October, 2012.

 

 

Proudly sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Council, community enterprise Hinterland Business Centre and businesses Coffey International and N-Carta Group  -  all art4place 2012 Creative Spaces placemaking art activities are free to the public and also complement Arts Connect Inc., Sunshine Coast Hinterland Open Studios program that takes place each weekend from 15 Sept until 7 Oct, 2012 which I am also participating in.

International Cone Box Show

I am delighted to announce an entry of my pierced porcelain has been shortlisted and selected into the 2012 International Cone Box Show.  A biennial event the Cone Box Show showcases miniature ceramic pieces within the dimensions of 3" x 3" x 6" to fit inside one standard size Orton Cone Box.  If your wondering 'what' Orton cones are?  Orton Pyrometric Cones are used to visually guage that the firing process is under control within the kiln. Cones measure heat work, the effect of time and temperature an aid giving an acurate guide that the kiln has reached its temperature.


Unfortuantely I didn't take a photgraph of my actual entry (naughty me!) however it is pictured on a shelf (a wall mounted top shelf and to the left) in the preview album on their webiste, it is similar in size to the image below on the right however not the same as, of course! These pieces are in the collection of  FaB; Fiona Dempster and Barry Smith.

Feeling very honoured with only two enteries selected from Australia - myself and Greg Daly.  Other countries include; USA, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Scotland, England and Singapore.

 

Exhibition details for the US locals:

September 14-October 31, 2012 - Show available for viewing and pieces available for purchase at the Lawrence Arts Center.

September 28, 2012 - Official Cone Box Show reception at the Lawrence Arts Center

March 19, 2013 - Exhibit on display in Houston, TX in conjunction with the NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) Conference.



ps...also I would like to send a special thank you to Carol Forster, friend and mentor for her continued support and guidance and informing me of the competition details, many thanks Carol!

What does 'Tribe' mean to you?

We were asked to describe "what does 'Tribe' mean to you?" ...for me Tribe embodies unity and kinship – my miniature totems explore the idea of living in a flourishing multi-cultural society.  We find ourselves living in and experiencing a rich tapestry of human existence and with each thread we are intertwined.  I believe deep in my heart we are all one and the same, no matter what shape or colour skin we wear. 'World Kin' and 'Same Kin' explore our multi-cultural lineage while 'Beyond Perception' offers another perspective for thinking. 

 

Outside my usual art practice when being invited into a group exhibition and asked to address a theme, I always see it as an opportunity to explore other media - for me its a little like exploring the many facets of my personality for growth both inward and outward as a person.  Not being one to get stuck or bogged down in one set of thinking and going on what material appears at any given time (when sourcing my recycled materials), this time I was guided into a sense of fun and play literally with children's blocks, I was compelled to take them home with me so I did, who's one to argue with divine intervention!    Even though it may appear child like initally on the surface, each piece embody a their own individual message as is the case with all my works.

 

TRIBE exhibition opens tonight at Rosebed St Gallery from 7pm, showcasing a colourful display of many and varied works of art by local artists of all walks of life and at different stages of their artistic career with no prejudice, curated with heart Directors Annie Burns & Maya Carter-Malins inspire for us all a sense of community to embrace.

 

 

Colourful and certainly different works from what you would used to be seeing from me - I enjoyed the freedom and playful nature of each piece, here's a sneak peak...

 



 

Beyond Perception

H 8 x W 7.5cm, H 8 x W 11.8cm, Diameter 6cm

 

'World Kin'

Tallest H 20 x W 12cm

 

 

'Same Kin'

H 33 x W 8cm

Kids in Action - art workshops

Kids in Action is a Environmental Projects day as part of Australia Post's Kids Teching Week.  The 2012 Australia Post's Kids Teaching Kids Week is an annual event educating children on enviromental issues, hosted as a free national program for kids helping them to find solutions to complex environmental problems like climate change, water, waste, conservation, energy, drought, population and pollution.  Throughout the week school kids will perform songs, comedy, dance, routines, poems, plays etc., for their classmates to deliver messages about the environment.

Kids in Action official title; Sunshine Coast Kids in Action Conference is designed for kids to learn through workshop processess. The event provides an opportunity for Sunshine Coast youth to develop skills, capabilities and confidence in taking action and building leadership around environmental issues. It builds on the Kids Teaching Kids model, in engaging and supporting local schools to address a local environmental issue, though curriculum inquiry and strategic teacher resourcing and training in effective environmental education.

Karen Shaw from Brush Turkey Enterprises Coordinator along with Clare Kiltley have invited four artists; Tricia Dobson, Noela Mills, Jill  Braiden and myself to each facilitate a workshop (consisting of four forty minute block sessions) as part of their Environmental Projects Day for the kids on the theme "Tree of Life" at the end of the workshop sessions the artworks created will feature in an installation (at the conference dinner conducted by kids for kids) onto a Tree - the Tree of Life a three dimensional wooden structure/scuplture designed by Tricia.

Each artists concept addresses the theme, Noela's 'Leaves of Life' will consist of recycled fabric dyed with onion skins using all natural/non-chemical dyes, Jill is making paper clay objects - semi abstract forms representing the human population, and my component is focused on 'foundation to awareness' making tree roots from recycled cord, jute, and fabric. Tricia who is co-ordinating the arts component of the Kids in Action conference and will be assisting us on the day.

A couple of images I came across of exposed tree roots for inspiration...

 

My box of goodies for the day...cords, jute, string etc.,

Using a mixture of different textures and an example to go by on the day, my 3D draft - a metre length tree root coiled around itself,

Another view; each tree root created on the day will be tied to the base of the three dimensional wooded Tree (Tree of Life).

 

 I really enjoy workshops and creating with kids, the spontaneity and their sense of fun and is infectous - its going to be a whole load of fun!