make hay while the sun shines

November and December are always a big time on the art calendar. 

Along with the big end of year exhibitions at the private galleries, you also have the graduation shows at the the art schools. AND then you cant forget the emergence of the Summer blockbuster shows at the big art institutions like the MCA and the AGNSW.

Every few years or so I catch the art frenzy bug that infects the local community and I try and see as many exhibitions as my body and brain will allow. 

This year the sun was shining and I saw some beautiful works - and that also has to include my trip to the APT8 in Brisbane (which I talked about in my last post). 

Here are just a few images from some of my favourite artists and exhibitions. 

Zoe Veness and her beautiful and intricate folded paper jewellery pieces
were on display at Studio 20/17 last month in her solo exhibition entitled
'Autonomous Jewellery'

The amazing Stephen Bird just exhibited his new collection of ceramic pieces
at Olsen Irwin Gallery in Paddington. Mad and amazing...

One of my favourite painters Elizabeth Cummings has her solo show on now
at King st Gallery on William. This piece is entitled
'Granite Country 2015'

Gemma Smith and the amazing polished concrete floor made a great combination
at Sarah Cottier Gallery. 

This a view of the main gallery floor at Roslyn Oxley Gallery
and on display a couple of weeks ago was this amazing exhibition
by the brilliant Australian artists' John Wolseley and Mulkun Wirrpanda.

On Sunday I had an hour to kill before hearing Grayson Perry talk at the Opera House,
Unfortunately the attendants at the MCA informed me that this HUGE Summer exhibition
needed longer than an hour to view.
Fair enough...
So I went down to see the permanent collection
and found this beautiful work by Rosalie Gascoigne entitled Tiger Tiger 1987

The Tenderness of Rain 2011-12 by Lindy Lee
was also on display at the MCA. Loved the texture and detail in this work on paper

Finally... I had to include this street find.
I found it on the weekend in Redfern and its by Baf Cat -
who is a Fine art student from Wollongong

APT8 arrives in Brisbane

As you can see from this amazing image by Australian artist Danie Mellor (above) Ive been out and about seeing some beautiful work over the weekend in Brisbane - as the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial has just opened. The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) have been taken over by some amazing contemporary artists. And believe me - two days was just enough! 

The APT is such a brilliant and unique exhibition and The Queensland Arts has to be commended for their brave move to continue investing in this initiative to find, cultivate, support, and acquire artworks from countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Mongolia, New Caledonia and every country in between. The collection of works they present is always interesting, diverse and completely thought provoking. 

Ive just been to Venice to see the Biennale this year and I swear I saw more eclectic and engaging work in Brisbane with this Triennial than I did in Italy. The work this time focused on some key areas such as kinetic energy, issues of personal identity, the environment, displacement and globalisation. 

The one phrase I wrote down when I entered the foyer space at GOMA this year was....

'Public space + collective experience' 

and I think that's what all the works were really about. 

Protest, sharing of information, and a want of acceptance and acknowledgement of our histories - both past and present. 

Great show.

I didnt take many pics but here are a few that made it onto my phone.

Massive mural charcoal drawing by Indian artist Prabhakar Pachpute in the GOMA foyer
created in a couple of days before the exhibition opened

Min Thein Sungs amazing sculptural installation at GOMA.
He is from Myanmar and this work was all about the oppression in his country
and how people made their own toys using everyday materials

Mural drawing in the Queensland Art Gallery by an Indian artist

This amazing multimedia installation by Nicolas Mole (Kanak Peoples/New Caledonia)
was one of my favourite artworks.
It was made in collaboration with artists and performers from New Caledonia

My mate Amelia taking photos of the massive installation of 1000 Venetian blinds
that was in the Queensland art gallery waterfall foyer
by artist Haegue Yang (South Korea)

It was hard to take pics of these stunning photos by Taloi Havini + Stuart Miller
that represent the Hako people and the environmental concerns of  Bougainville.
I loved this series of works...

Amazing SaVage K'lub created by New Zealand artist Rosanna Raymond

A couple of pics of the HUGE installation of paintings, sculptures, drawings and everything else in between ...
by three artists - Ramin Haerizadeh (Iran/UAE), Rokni Haerizadeh (Iran/UEA), Hesam Rahmanian (USA,UEA)
The whole thing was mad, absurd, DADA and funny...

Beautiful work by Joe Ngallametta in QAG.
It wasnt a part of the Triennial but I loved it anyway

Three galleries in three months and three times ive found the work of Vincent Namadjira exhibited!
This man's work is going to be huge! 

Had to finish with this colouring in table at QAG
Amelia and I spent a little while here creating patterns with the other kids and parents at the gallery
The program is events of kids at the Asia Pacific Triennial is always brilliant! 

big sky dreaming

October and the Christmas season has officially begun! Or so say our major high streets! 

I can barely get my head around the idea that 2015 is nearly out the door... 

Too many things have been happening around in me since coming home from Europe in mid July. And in amongst it all ive had some studio deadlines for a few new works on canvas, on paper, and in coil weaving. So today I thought id share an image of a new series coil woven objects that will be heading to Adelaide next week. 

They'll be taking part in a group exhibition at a lovely space called Council of Objects that is owned by Elise Short who is passionate about promoting local artists. The show is called TONE and it will feature the work of some great Australian artists including Mel Robson (ceramics), Amanda Dziedzic (glass), Abby Seymour (jewellery) and Vic Pemberton (textiles). 

The opening is on Friday October 23 and on Sunday Oct 25 Ill be teaching a five hour coil weaving workshop at the beautiful Gate 8 studios in Thebarton. Its been two years since I taught there, so Im looking forward to going back and playing in such an amazing creative space.

If youre in Adelaide please come along to the opening or the workshop.

All the details can be found at www.tinytrappings.bigcartel.com

And in the meantime I hope you have a great weekend - 

x

each artist was given this beautiful swatch of colours
that was to act as the inspiration for the artworks

graphite markings. 2015

charcoal sketch. 2015

raindrop. 2015

the design files

Getting our photo for The Design Files before Saturdays opening of art/vert
... at Saint Cloche in Paddington.
Photo Credit: Nikki To for The Design Files
(from left) Luisa Brimble, Evo O, me, Tara Burke, Alex Standen,
Emily Besser, Amber Cresswell Bell, Fiona Chandler, Ali Wood and Alison Fraser
(and missing from the pic... Drew Truslove)

What a weekend.

What an opening.

And its all documented for posterity on The Design Files today. 

Thank you Amber for all your hard work and for putting together such a lovely show. 

And thank you to Kitty and all the people that worked so tirelessly to get the Saint Cloche gallery space, and this show, off the ground - in January!!

It really is a beautiful concept... art and plant-life exhibited together in a light filled and airy gallery space. All the artists have created a unique collection of works all responding to the idea of nature and landscape. And all of the ten artists involved seemed to have created a series that is harmony with everyone else on display. Which is rare!

The exhibition is open everyday (10-5pm) at Saint Cloche until Sunday Feb 8. 

I know ill be back a few more times to enjoy it.

In situ... and surrounded by beautiful greenery.
Photo Credit: Amber Creswell Bell

(from left)
The work of Evi O, Emily Besser, Luisa Brinble, Evi O and Drew Truslove

The beautiful, light filled space of Saint Cloche in Paddington
Photo Credit: Nikki To for The Design Files

(from left) Emily Besser, Luisa Brimble, Evi O and a whole lot of lovely plants...
Photo Credit: Nikki To for The Design Files

n e w

New year. New exhibition. New series of works. New art space for sydney.

Happy new year everyone.

Oh it feels like FOREVER since Ive been on this little blog.

Too much has been happening - on both sides of the pendulum - and I know I  was just holding on by the ends of my fingertips in December. Time had a mind of its own and however I tried to slow things down and really concentrate on one task at a time - I knew things were going to happen of their own accord - and I had to let go. 

But now its 2015.

A year that holds so much excitement and promise.

And to start things off on a creative note, I have just come back from a week of teaching at Sturt College in Mittagong which was amazing as always. I will post some of those images in the coming days as I still have to go through them all. I had such a great class, with each person creating the most beautiful series of drawings and coil woven artworks...  

But today I have a new group exhibition to announce. 

A few months ago the lovely Amber Creswell -Bell, a writer from Sydney, asked me and nine other painters, designers, photographers and ceramicists to participate in a concept show for a new space in Paddington in Sydney. Along with our work Amber and the director of the gallery, Kitty, will be exhibiting some beautiful plant-life. 

So I know it will be a colourful, textural and inspiring show. 

What a way to start the year ...

New palette and new ideas for this series that focused on garden life and the energy that exists in
green spaces.

This drawing feels like a cross over piece - from the work for my solo show in August to this series about nature.

Lots of words.... lots of ideas.
After visiting The Botanical Gardens I wrote a poem and then threaded it through a few of the drawings.

While I was working in the studio at the end of last year there were some amazing storms
that hit Sydney.... and that energy seems to have found its way into this drawing.

Lots of energy... that will hopefully translate into lots of happy play, travel and  adventure for 2015!

springing back into it

^entangled light connections. mix media drawing on paper. 2014^

Its been too long.

Way too long. 

Some thought id left this blog-space for good.

Others asked if I was ok.

I didnt realise Id been away for so long.

The truth of the matter is my solo show took alot of energy, time and organisation. 

And after it all wound up I felt like I didnt have anything left in the ol' tank. 

But thank you for all your messages, and kinds words of support. The exhibition exceeded all my expectations and I loved every minute of it. Except for the part where I talked through tears while trying to give an artist talk on the last day of the show. Haha... that was not my finest hour.

When I get more time Ill post a few more images of the space for you to chew over.

But for now... 

It's Spring! And to get the ball rolling I thought it would be lovely to share a few images that say Spring to me. 

Take care I hope you have a great weekend! 

.........

Oh and before I go - ive just listed a few more workshops that will be coming up in the next few months... just in case you would like to get creative while the sun is shining! 

^colours of the season^

^matrix light movements. mix media drawing on paper. 2014^

^redfern....glowing in pink light^

weaving + movement

^soon to be named mix media drawing on paper. 2014^

As you can see ... im still need to tick the box when it comes to naming all my new artworks for the show.

Its on the long list of things to do before the opening on Wednesday 30th July. 

Actually the list keeps getting longer not shorter, as I add new things to it everyday. 

But as promised Im back to share a couple more artworks with you. 

These two pieces have just been dressed with lovely new white frames and are about to be named and added to the catalogue. 

They are both about the Universal Matrix and The Grid that connects and carries us all. Energy and particles of matter and life fluidly move and jump around the page - talking to each other and sharing information and growing. Well I hope that comes across. In the end they are both colourful and textural drawings that lighten the mood of the show as there are many dark coil weavings and drawings that focus on the Universe and the night sky. 

^soon to be named collaged drawing on hand made paper.2014^

the nocturne 528

^Banumbirr, Mixed Media drawing on Paper, 2013^

I swear it feels like a year since my last blogpost! 

So much has happened... 

And most of it centred squarely on my exhibition that opens in a couple of weeks time.

One of the most important things on my list was to commit to an exhibition title and find an image that best describes this new body of work that Ive been quietly creating these past two years. 

So... not an easy task!

As the theme of this new body of work is Quantum Mechanics I settled on The Nocturne 528 for the title- and this mixed media drawing (above) for the cover art.

I mean - abstract theories/abstract artwork. I think they marry. The deep indigo of this drawing speaks of what lies above our heads... and the energy and particles, atoms, stars and space that constantly move, shape, connect and inspire us. And the title speaks of the night sky and the sound (528 Hz) or note that promotes energy and healing. Full on concepts I know. But last year I did a bit of reading and research and its amazing how much we are yet to discover - about energy - and the Universe. 

So the invitations have gone out, the works on paper have been delivered to the framers. 

And im in the studio finishing off a few last pieces.

Below is a sneak peek of a few of the works that will be in the show. 

And in the next few weeks Ill be posting more images on instagram and here on this tiny blog! 

I swear ... I will be back! Soon! 

In the meantime I hope you're all well and warm and enjoying some lovely sunshine wherever you maybe sitting in the world.

take care

^ Mosaic Connections (detail), mixed media on board, 2013^

^Mix Media coil weaving, 2014^

d e t a i l s

^Mixed media weaving, 2014 (detail)
It is part of the new series for my solo show in July...^

Its been really hard to hide all my new work that Im dreaming of, playing with, and thinking about in the studio at the moment. 

Especially since it is the central preoccupation of my tiny life, until it is all unveiled to the public in July.

Imagining a whole body of new work and then having the time and space to complete it is becoming a difficult proposition for many creative people these days. So im very cognisant of the fact that Im very lucky to be in this position. And trying to not waste a single moment of it! 

So most days you'll find me in the studio talking to myself, singing to all the inanimate objects that share the space with me, and making a mess on the floor and walls with all manner of weaving and drawing materials. Ive also been taking a few moments to enjoy the last few days of this beautiful Autumnal sunshine before it says goodbye for another year.

I hope you can see a few linking elements throughout these images. 

The theme for this exhibition is The Quantum matrix, the stars, and the strands and threads of energy that tie and bind us together within this massive multi-verse that we all inhabit and share. 

I know. Its a BIG subject to try and tackle. 

But im enjoyed the challenge.

Detail from a mix media drawing on paper, 2013

The start of a new coil weaving... 2014

Going... BIG

Detail from a drawing on paper. 2013