the latest goss!

Yes, I've been very quiet on the social media front of late! Have you missed me?

The last little while has been pretty full on with exhibitions and things....I think I've been a little overwhelmed with it all and exciting stuff is happening!

It's like, where do I start...

Whilst exhibiting at Noosa Regional Gallery an opportunity presented itself for me to re-exhibit Expressions of Love II in September (14th to 28th) at Gallery 159, The Gap, Brisbane (Gallery 159 is an initiative of TAFTA - The Australian Forum for Textile Arts, Ltd).  In discussion with Janet De Boer O.A.M dates were confirmed and it's been a flurry of activity with all the preparations and planning...  also, I have taken on a mentoring roll by sharing the space with emerging artist, Anne Harris.  Anne came to my 'meet the artist' morning tea and was interested in knowing more about the exhibition process - it was around the same time I was in negotiations with Janet for Gallery 159 and thought it would be a great opportunity for Anne and to share the space together. (more details soon - I promise!). 

Here's a sneak peek... Expressions of Love II - Lovingly Interrupted

On going correspondence with freelance Writer and Quilter, Linda Seward see's my tea bag Quilt once again selected to feature in an overseas publication, Linda's new book entitled, The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting. Today's email notifies featuring artists' complimentary copies are in the mail - yippee!

Then today, the latest copy of Textiles Fibre Forum arrives via snail mail, and features a two page article for Expressions of Love II inside.

That's just a snippet of the latest news, 'tis all very exciting indeed....

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

Open studio + artworks showcased for purchase

Last weekend I participated in the Sunday Drive Open Studios - in partnership with Caloundra Regional Gallery's Sunday Drive Exhibition, Arts Connect Inc presented 11 Artists' Open Studios in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.  In addition, Sunshine Coast Council hosted a VIP bus tour to visit four selected artists' studios, a small hinterland gallery, a long term established commercial gallery and a pop-up gallery.  I was fortunate to receive a visit and was delighted to host an alfresco morning tea for refreshments.

Stunning weather created an ambience for the day, VIP's enjoying morning tea and studio viewing...

As artists we are constantly faced with gallery closures which always present us with an array of challenges - creating a sustainable income for one! Hosting an open studio with the wider community is a great way to share an insight into one's work and space, it also helps with generating potential sales and the prospect of future opportunities and then there's always the added bonus thrown into the mix of the shared experience and an appreciation for one's work, highly valued on my list and keeps me all inspired! 

One question I am often asked when people come and visit is, where can one purchase my artworks?   A selection of my ceramics and/or assemblage work are currently showcased in the following outlets:

Platform 72 a selection of my polished Southern Ice pierced porcelain was recently shipped down south, located at 72 Oxford St Darlinghurst 2010 N.S.W

 

 

Caloundra Regional Gallery Store 22 Omrah Ave, feature delicate porcelain works for purchase...

 

A Little Bling - etched, polished, translucent Southern Ice porcelain with diamantes and gloss interior.

 

 

Noosa Regional Gallery, Riverside Pelican St Tewantin, feature delicate Tea Cup & Doily Saucer sets a continued series from my Domestic Duties Chp.2, 2012 exhibition.  

 

 

Gary Myers Art Gallery 23 Maple St Maleny (upstairs Maleny Community Centre), for purchase feature assemblage artworks and small scale works including ceramics.

 

Beyond Silence - reclaimed steel and porcelain.

 

 

The Dancer I - reclaimed steel, found objects and acrylic.

 

It's the Little People - reclaimed steel and polished Southern Ice porcelain. (Limited Edition 10 - 8/10, 9/10, 10/10 available).

 

 

and last but not least, Main Street Gallery Montville, since 2008 have featured and continue to sell my popular Unearthed ceramics

 

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 ♥