Exhibitions to think about

After visiting In.cube8tr yesterday....no sales, we live in hope....I decided I could afford the time to visit a couple of exhibitions. This is an area that should always be part of any art practice. To see what others are doing in whatever medium is stimulating and thought provoking.

The first was at Collingwood Gallery in Smith St, where the exhibition was 'Journeys' aboriginal art from a number of areas. My favourite picture was a fairly muted (greys, blacks, whites) on, I think, waterholes. but all the work was worth a look and in a number of styles, including 'body paint' which I hadn't seen before and quite different. The exhibition owner/curator showed a piece by Gabielle Possum, grandaughter of Clifford Possum. At six foot tall and about a foot wide, it was striking and beautiful. There were also a fish trap and fish net and sculptural works, all fairly traditional.

I then went off to the Yarra Sculpture Gallery in Vere St. Collingwood, (home of the Contemporary Sculpture Association of which I am a member) where, in particular, the members of the committee were holding a joint exhibition called 'Committed'. Derek & Julie Collins did another wonderful work combining plants and metal sculpture contrasting attitudes. Phill Hall had a large recycled work, different from what I'd seen him do before and Cecilia Fogelberg had some very confronting textile pieces. Incredibly exquisite work and confronting subject matter.

Both these exhibitions raised the question of the intent of the artists. All telling stories in their own way, about the things they think is important. I always wonder whether, or how much, you have to work to achieve this in your work, or whether it's an organic process, involving personal preferences.

Something about the nature of art.

I also have to start designing my website. Here is my inspiration from which I'll start work.

Just go crazy

When in doubt just go out left-field way. I've had this idea about wrapping rocks for awhile, but was going to do it on a big scale for the Sculpture Award, as that won't be happening till next year, I'll just do a little practice now.

Each of the rocks has a name and its' own scarf. They'll sit on a covered seat, much more comfortable than bare wood.

I'll sit them on the stall and at least people can have a bit of a laugh.

And here is a picture of the said stall, as taken by a friend on Sunday's market. It's a bit dark, and I haven't quite decided what it all says about the presentation. More thinking required.

Seashells

Has been a busy long weekend. Saturday, I did the domestic goddess thing and cleaned the house...my parents were coming over for youngest son's birthday. He's officially a teenager, I've got two now!

Sunday was the market, and unfortunately was hot. So if people could be bothered coming out, and who could blame them if they sat at home in the cool, they certainly weren't interested in buying scarves. I did sell one, which paid for the stall and made up for last months shortfall.

I'm now trying to figure out how to approach next Saturday night. The Banyule festival has Twilight Sounds at Sills Bend, which is a great night of quite good music. They giving us stalls there for free to help promote the market. But the weather forecast is for a week of 30degree(C) days, including Saturday. Who's going to buy scarves?

Anyway, feeling like something should get done, thought I'd better do some photocopying from someone else's book for the Sheep and Wool show project. What a wonderful book of shells. I collected shells when I was a child. Don't have many left from that time, but we've a very small collection down at the beach house. So here are some beautiful photographs to inspire.

Shapes

Whilst it would appear that I haven't been working on anything much in particular, I have had a project on the go for a few days. The knitting is finished, but I'm still wondering what I've done. They're a pair of fingerless mittons, only a thumb hole but with quite a cuff up to the elbow. I think they need to be displayed intelligently. I'm looking for the right sized tubes. I have either too large or too small. Sounds a bit like Goldilocks. Anyway I'll keep looking for wrist sized tubes.

I've also just started this triangle scarf. It's been sitting in my head for awhile and this is how it has manifest itself so far. I think I'll add buttons to finish it off.

I have been thinking about presentation for awhile. Some comments made about how people don't always realise that artists such as those at In.cube8tr make unique one-off pieces and that it needs to be spelt out. This has been the last piece in a corner of the complex puzzle, but I thought it might be nice to give each piece a name, with a description that is both useful and hopefully entertaining, as a way of saying something about the unique nature of my work.

I also need to photo my finished work, I have alot of work in progress, but few of the finished pieces. So I'll post these with their name and story. See how it goes!

Thanks George.

You can't have enough earings

The last couple of days has seen alot of administration and not alot of work. I did manage to console myself at In.cube8tr with these gorgeous and inexpensive pair of earings.

I haven't sold anything, as yet. I did have a chat with the lovely Kylie. Lots of encouragement and feedback. I have now met Kylie and the equally lovely Lisa. I did manage a good look around. My favourites were the knitwear and the found object jeweller. It will be interesting to see how this shop evolves.

Yesterday was market allocation day and we spent the morning putting people in their places. We've managed to just have enough to open both the upper and lower halls. There are some interesting new people. So if you're around Ivanhoe on Sunday come and have a look.

Web Design for dummies

As you may be aware I'm currently studying a short course in Web design which harks back to my earlier profession (ie. BC - before children) of Analyst/Programmer. I do however, at times, feel like a fool. In class, terrific......come home and try something....uuuugh. I think it's coming together, but to what end?

Anyway, something far more pleasant is my current spinning. In the Beginning Spinning class we always have a quick random dyeing lesson. It's fun and opens the students up to the possibility of colour to make even their earliest attempts look wonderful.

This is my attempt. I like to try something and this time, I didn't wash the fleece before dyeing. It is surprising, as it took the colour much better than I thought it would.

Here is the fluff, combed, before spinning.

The next class is tonight, I hope I can spin it all up.

Off to In.cube8tr today, wish me luck.

New product design

Have had an idea playing around in my head about making a simple but stylish backpack. This is my first attempt.

Using the weaving technique on the knitting machine, I've knit a piece of fabric as long as I could. I did run out of yarn and the machine started to kick up a fuss, so this is more in the line of a crochet hook holder...longer, longer....but it works. I've sewn it up and felted it.

Unfortunately, photography has let me down and you can't see the rich texture or colour, however, I love it and will be making a full sample, for me, next.

I've also had a bit of a thought about spinning. I have so enjoyed the last few days spinning that I really need to design yarn for particular projects. I look at the commercial yarn stash and am becoming more frustrated with it, as it doesn't have the colours or textures I want. Some serious stash busting is required here to get rid of that unwanted yarn!....