The Morning after the Night Before

There are times when being an artist sucks really. If you are one and you've done a solo ever, then you know what I am talking about. Lots of time, effort and of course money goes in and once its all done, there's the crash and burn. I've come away from the opening with more doubts than anything else - not enough work, space wasn't right, particularly the massive white walls, not good enough - the usual. And now I am back at home surveying the wreckage that has accumulated over the last few weeks of me frenetically trying to be ready, knowing that the weekend is going to be all about tidying, sorting and cleaning!

Anyway, a big thanks to my wonderful friends and fam who showed up for support. Special thanks to Mel for being kind enough to make a purchase. So, onward and upward, vacuuming here I come!

 

Rock Pools Installed!

My premonition about Murphy's Law (see facebook) was unfortunately correct. Things were going swimmingly well yesterday until I got to the gallery to find no one was there. Freaked out, took half the day to track someone down and the nett result was that I had to go back today in between work, picking up kids and a netball game to finish off.

Anyway, its done now. I took a few quick snaps before I left this afternoon. Hoping that it looks okay on the night, and hopefully I'll see some of you there for the opening.

 

 

 

Scenic World

Some more exciting news: I have been selected as a finalist in Scenic Worlds' annual sculpture exhibition, which means I will be creating a sculpture to be exhibited in the rainforest at Katoomba. Very exciting, can't wait. The exhibition is April-May next year, so things will be pretty busy even after Doggett Street.

Below is a link to the Scenic World web page so you can see what goes on with their sculpture exhibition.

Scenic World Sculpture

Blake Prize

No, sadly not a finalist again this year, but have been notified that I am an exhibitor in the associated Director's Cut Exhibition which will be online in January next year. The piece I entered is 'Shrine to the Truth, which I have posted before, but in case you didn't see it, here it is again. I will post again when the exhibition starts.

Upcoming Exhibition

Hi y'all! This is your invitation to attend the exhibition opening for 'Rock Pools', which I have previously mentioned. Hope you can come.

Its all so dry!

I'm sure it must seem like I am terribly slack for not getting back here too often. Trouble is, just the opposite is true - been run off my feet doing some terribly ordinary things, including marking, compiling and documenting 9 year 12 folios during the last week of term, another 300 cubic metres or so of laundry (yes, I'm exaggerating, but only slightly) and the usual grocery shopping, paying bills, filling in forms...you know the drill.

As a result, the creativity has been pretty dry, I have to say. So has the weather. Sunny Qld has been living up to expectations and we've had barely a spit for the last couple of months. Spring has not been the usual heralding of life and regeneration. In fact the warmer weather has just turned the gasping plants into crispy brown things and yesterday I saw my first snake of the season in the back yard.

Generally my soul is feeling a little withered. However, I did, amongst all the busyness and madness attend a professional development workshop a couple of months ago making artists books. The books are great to fiddle around with when you get a moment here or there, unlike the 3D work I have been doing. I decided to make the first one about eyes (don't know why) and the second is just playing with watercolour. The photos below are some of the results.

 

 

Remember Me?

Yes, it has been a while...again. Not that I think that anyone is anxiously waiting for my next blog, but you never know. Anyway, things are very slow on the creative front just now, due to a whole lot of work going on. I have given notice that I won't be keeping on with the curriculum leader thing next year, which will hopefully free up some time and mental space to focus again on my work. In the meantime, I am trying to prepare for a planned exhibition in November. It will be entitled 'Rock Pools' and below are some of the pools I have put together so far.

 

 

The exhibition will be an installation involving a minimum of at least 50 separate 'pools' and some associated creatures, mainly birds. So far I have 14 pools and three birds. Going to need to get cracking!