Today I explored some monotypes. I’m not sure where I’ll take them, but I feel they have promise.
My work at Northart Gallery
Here’s my works from the Crossing Boundaries show. I have included the artists statements for your interest. On Opening night the heavens opened and there was a violent storm. It’s a wonder anyone went!
Time Study.
I have always been drawn to the beauty of the surface of things, to surfaces marked by time. It’s a connection to the natural processes of ageing and the slow and beautiful cycle of decay and regeneration. These images are part of a current series exploiting the effects of rust on paper. Physical changes occur when you combine metal, paper and liquid in a kind of alchemy. The rusting process marks and colours both sides of the paper, and breaks down its structure, sometimes leaving holes. This piece will continue to deteriorate in a celebration of impermanence and imperfection. The rust marks on paper will remain, but the surface itself will disintegrate over time.
Armoured. Matt board, wax, pigment stick.
This work combines the soft, skin like surface of wax with the impression of a heated metal object applied to the surface. I have used a pigment stick to fill the printed image with colour. There are many tiles. They can be arranged in a different configuration to suit a different exhibition space.
The tiles, with their repetitive circular marks, can form a protective carapace for an imagined sensitive body within, or a shield against attack. This armour is rusted, and old.
Ken Unsworth at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
So enjoyed my time with Nicki on Friday at the MCA, we decided to do it all again, but this time at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. We saw a lovely small Lloyd Rees exhibition, and also revisited this wonderful Ken Unsworth sculpture, a version of which I first saw many years ago.
And here is a detail from Seven Sisters by Tjampawa Katie Kawiny.
Some images from today’s visit to the MCA
Had a great day. I met a very good friend for a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, an indulgent lunch at Sailor’s Thai, and a long chat.
Rosalie Gascoigne.
Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
Esme Timbery and Marilyn Russell.
Brian Blanchflower.
Boundless and Borderless.
See a theme developing here?
I will also have a work in this exhibition at Pine Street Creative Art Centre. Artworks from Sydney Printmakers will be shown together with an exchange portfolio developed between The Open Studio, Canada, and Sydney Printmakers. My prints are not part of the portfolio, but I will be showing another rust print as part of the Sydney Printmakers exhibition.
‘Crossing Boundaries’ Exhibition at Northart Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand.
This is the first exhibition for a project we have been working on for some time. We have all made works using printmaking techniques which might challenge the definition of print – and many of them will be presented in an unconventional manner.The ‘Crossing Boundaries’ exhibition features print-related artifacts resulting from the research of 10 artists (5 from Australia and 5 from New Zealand) who have been selected for their readiness and ability to move between materials and media without boundaries.
I will be presenting a triptych of prints on paper made using the rusting technique. They will be hung in space so that they can be viewed from both sides. Here is a detail from the central panel:
Please come along if you are in Auckland on the seventeenth of June. We would love to see you. There are more exhibitions of this work planned in New Zealand and Australia.
Marked by Water,Curve Gallery, Newcastle.
I am one of fifty printmakers in this exhibition at Curve Gallery, Newcastle. Its a collaboration between Newcastle Printmakers and Warringah Printmakers. I have one of my current obsession, rust prints, in the show. This one has some wax on it, too. Given the theme, Marked by Water, the wax makes the paper semi transparent, and reinforces the idea that water has ‘marked’ the paper, as well as producing the rust. Wish I could publish a picture here, but I didn’t photograph the work before submitting it. Maybe later!
As you can see, the Exhibition opens first in Newcastle at the Curve Gallery, and then at Warringah Printmakers Studio.
Some three dimensional forms.
I’ve been playing with making some small three dimensional forms. This first one is quite organic.
While this one is rather more colourful.
Baldessin Press Workshop
My next encaustic workshop will be at Baldessin Press, near Melbourne, on the 24th and 25th of August. There are only eight places available for what will be a great weekend exploring encaustic and paper in beautiful surroundings. The studio was built by renowned printmaker and sculptor George Baldessin at St Andrews, largely from recycled materials.
This course will take an experimental approach to using encaustic on paper. You will learn how to collage prints together using encaustic, how to exploit the characteristics of wax to layer and combine imagery, and how to work into the surface with wax and pigment to create interesting and compelling surfaces. We will cover the health and safety aspects of encaustic, and setting up an encaustic studio, so that you are equipped to explore further on your own. The course is suitable for all levels of experience.
I’m really looking forward to it, because I love teaching, I love spending time in Melbourne (even when its cold), and I will enjoy visiting George’s studio. I’ve always admired his work.
Wax workshops at Warringah
Well, that was fun!
Two very busy workshops one after the other. Two teachers. Eighteen students (Some of the students did both workshops.) Some amazing work.
Here’s some photos:
BOX OF BIRDS 