Thursday, October 18, 2012

FLYING ARTS AWARD, continued

As announced in a previous post, I am thrilled to be the recipient of the prize for my 'Devil's Dice' fibre piece in the 2012 Flying Arts exhibition and award.
I thought it was worth another post as I am receiving all sorts of congraulations and accolades from near and far - including a full page in this week's local paper and even a hand signed letter from Campbell Newman [Qld Premier]!!!
I'd like to say 'thanks' to Flying Arts [and Gabriella], TAFTA [and Janet de Boer], and all the supporters out there who have sent me good wishes.

About Flying Arts - Flying Arts promotes the appreciation, practice and professional development of the visual and media arts throughout Queensland, especially for artists and communities with limited access. They offer arts development workshops and events in a wide variety of genre, delivered by a team of professional artists and facilitators. The exhibition will travel all over Qld in 2013.

About TAFTA - TAFTA has been a supporter of ‘Flying Arts’ for many years, offering an annual bursary for a fibre artist who exhibits in the annual touring exhibition. I have been awarded flights, fees and accommodation to the 2013 Textile Fibre Forum of my choice.  I will go to Geelong on Sept/October and do a week long workshop.


Statement about the work:

‘Devil’s Dice are iron ore cubes which can change to pyrite then limonite through a process of ‘pseudomorphism’.  This work relates to the mining of iron ore in Australia.
The ‘devil’ is a good metaphor for the industry and the dice has connotations of ‘dicing with death’, and taking risky chances. Will Mankind one day decide that the risk of mining the earth was too great?
My silk shapes reflect the fragility of the situation and the process of metamorphosis that happens not only to the iron ore and the silk but to the whole universe’.


I started with undyed silks which I steeped in green tea and rust for a few days. The resulting tones of brown and beige were a happy surprise. The fabric was cut, stitched and patched with the traditional Korean ‘pojagi’ style seams. Strips of the patched fabric were then constructed into 3D triangular forms. During htis process, I remembered some cubes of iron ore I had found in the outback many years ago. The connection to the pojagi forms and the current controversy surrounding the mining industry in Queensland was too strong to be ignored.

 ...some details. I love the interplay of lines, shapes, textures and shadows.
 



Monday, October 8, 2012

'Sailing Inland' last day

My second day of installing my sails at Gerrard's Lookout went well.
I chatted to lots of people and many were quite impressed with the concept.
I set thinks up a bit differently yesterday - sails on both sides of the road and I sat in the shade under a convenient tree [35deg in the sun], where most people needed to pass me to get to the lookout - ample opportunities for a casual chat.

Thanks to Christine for helping me set up, Ken for the morning coffee, and of course a huge thank you to Barry for the behind the scenes paper work to make the whole art4place 'Creative Spaces' viable.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

'Sailing Inland' rescheduled

I have had to reschedule my second day of 'Sailing Inland' installation at Gerrard's lookout, Balmoral [Maleny-Montville Rd] due to ill health, [damn, I'm not invincible].

I am reinstalling the sails this coming Sunday, 7th October - 10 till 4, so once again, if you are in the area, half strength white, no sugar [laugh], please stop for a chat.
 

Monday, October 1, 2012

A RED DOT

Yeah -  a reason to celebrate and do a short post - yes, a RED DOT, sold last week at the Tree Frog Gallery, Maleny.
This is a still life I did a couple of years ago - exploring my love of texture - must get back to these!!
...and on another note, it is a 'beautiful' day today - drizzle and mist, [Fiona calls it 'mizzle'], even in the early afternoon. I love the way the sights and sounds are all muffled, with only the gentle pitter of soft rain drops falling from the treees - a bit like the wonderful stillness and cosy shrouding of cloud and fog in the snow fields. The sharp starkness of colour is reduced to the essentials of tone, and the senses are given a rest from the over stimulation in daily life.
...my Scottish DNA is making a connection.....
...yes, 'Peace' indeed.