Friday, August 31, 2012

BRIDGES - (updated post)

I have been meaning to tell you that I have a part time job. I work a couple of hours twice a week. I am curating an exhibition for 'Bridges' - a wonderful organisation that offers support to people recovering from mental health issues.

The members base is the Bridges Club House, where they can come and go, and get involved with the many activities available...if they want to.

Artist, Adam Anderson was employed to be an art tutor for the members. It has been wonderful to get to know Adam. I really admire the way he works with the members. He has given them a lot of encouragement and the art group is growing in numbers.

Bridges will present an exhibition called 'OPEN MIND' from 22nd to 26th of September.
The members can enter several works for the show. Carers of people with mental health issues are also able to exhibit.

So far, we have about 50 works to show, and more coming in... I hope. There are clay sculptures that have been fashioned over wire armatures, paintings in oil and acrylics, drawings and fabric works, and a small installation . There are some stunning works that are sure to impress. I have attached a couple for you to see.

Bridges have booked the School of Arts Gallery for the exhibition. The members will hang the exhibition with the help of artist, Tony Hills. Light refreshments will be served at the opening.



The exhibition will be opened by Jennifer McDuff,who is a highly respected artist from Woodgate. She has had first hand experience as a carer and is well qualified to speak on the issues tackled in this exhibition.

Jess Marsellos, from Creative Regions has helped me with a schedule for the marketing of Open Mind. There have been three radio interviews to date ( ABC, 4BU and Coral Coast) and a great story from the Newsmail.

I am busy, having designed a poster that includes supporters logos, a date saver and official exhibition invitation. I am currently collecting artist's biographies and stories about their works.

This has been a very rewarding project for me and I am really enjoying working with the wonderful staff and members of Bridges. I hope you will come to see this exhibition.


                                                                              Artwork by Robyn
Talk art soon......cx


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Video Bombing




It is ages...too long...since I went video bombing.  Petrina McDonald and I were invited to show a projection on a wall at the rear of  the Alowishus Coffee shop.  Writers from Brisbane had made the journey to Bundaberg to conduct a workshop.



Brad was unable to take part as he is currently on his honeymoon.

We were able to project some good images;  The Broken Woman series
Part1,  Fledglings and a few experimental pieces to finish the session.

Attached are a couple of pics of my videos for you. Instagram by Petrina McDonald - Queen of Instagrams, above.

Image by Pamela Fisher  below.  


At the very bottom is a little statement of mine for those people who have sought to end this harmless practice of bringing art to the people of Bundaberg.

You won't stop us! Art rules!





Talk art soon!  cx

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Brad wins a Clarion Award

http://clarions.org/awards/

Check out that link to the Clarion Awards.   Brad Marsellos has won a Clarion Award for online journalism!     

Congatulations Brad!   So well deserved!!!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Brad and Jess get married

Saturday last  was Brad and Jess's wedding day.  Friends from far and near gathered uptown to catch one of two huge buses that transported over 100  family  members and well-wishers to the beautiful Waterloo Hall. 

Brad and Jess fell in love with hall earlier in the year...on Good Friday.  ( You can see that post by following this link.)  At that time, I had travelled with Brad and Jess and Darling the dog to join the Waterloo locals for a barbecue.  It turned out to be such a magical adventure.  It was then that Brad and Jess decided they would hold their wedding  at the hall.

 The huge bus rocked gently as we sailed along in anticipation of the upcoming event.  This was a smart looking group.  Very nicely dressed for the occasion.  Very friendly too.  

On and on we went for  a good half hour or so. We turned off  the main thoroughfare at a signpost  decorated with the carcases of three huge fish. Interesting I thought.   An  obscure custom perhaps?

On rocked the bus greedily devouring  the narrow gray road. Up steep hills we went till I felt we were sure to drop off the edge of the world, but having reached each peak, we roller coasted down the other side, elated at our survival. 

The scrappy bush finally opened up to the clearing upon which the Waterloo Hall stands. Many people had travelled independently and there was a lot of activity around the little hall.  A pavilion had popped up quite magically.  Braziers were on hand to provide both light  and warmth for the coming evening. Small children ran out to greet us.

Entering the hall, I marvelled at the transformation therein.  Jess had a vision for  this special place  and she  and her handful of helpers had delivered that vision in every detail.  The hall was enchanting!  Its empty tables covered in blue and white check tablecloths were adorned with  old bottles of various sizes that served as vases for the beautiful flowers they held.  Tables  were set with an enormous variety of cakes and treats.  There were dozens of jars of chutneys and pickles that would be gifts given to  the well wishers when the evening came to an end.   Old doilies adorned some of the walls, creating a feeling of nostalgia. 

This beautiful old timber hall reeks of history,  It is as ever, presided over by the  framed portrait of the young Queen Elizabeth, whose dignified demeanour never fail to impress the viewer.






The rafters were dripping with sparkling fairy lights.  The old hall dressed up to the nines! Her windows flung full open, allowed glimpses, small snapshots of the dusty landscape that was sparsely  inhabited by the ubiquitous tall gums.

 The stage where the band would play was generously hung with white paper lanterns of various sizes.  Our favourite band 'Tabletop Lamps' would play later that evening.

All present soon gathered to an area  away from the back of the building where  Brad had fashioned a rustic aisle of  tree branches. To each side people sat on old  timber benches. There was a hum  of nervous excitement.  The groom awaited his bride.


The car  arrived and one after another gorgeous creatures emerged.  Flower girl - one.  Flower girl - now two.  Add a bridesmaid.....then another.  A proud father and finally Jess.    Herself beautifully transformed into a bride, uniquely dressed in a charming ivory gown she had designed.  She was stunning!



Brad  was waiting with his best men, the celebrant and Darling the dog. Brad's smile 'said it all'.

 Darling made an attempt to steal the show, greeting Jess enthusiastically.



A moving ceremony ensued.  Vows and shiny rings exchanged. Papers signed and held out as proof!.  Smiles everywhere.  Some tears.   The flower girls tipped up their baskets of a few remaining petals and ran off to play. 


Brad and Jess and the photographer wandered off for their photo shoot. The rest of us retired to the hall for the evenings feast and festivities.  The champagne flowed and the sumptuous feast was delivered followed by a series  of speeches, which elucidated some aspects of the wedding couple that we had not been aware of!!  Lots of funny stories. Laughter and tears.

Then the band started up and the fun and dancing began.

I was so pleased to be able to share this experience with Brad and Jess their family and friends.
I wish them every happiness. cx

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Go Darling!

Talking about Brad Marsellos, you must see the video he posted recently...it's great.

He strapped a GoPro to his dog Darling's harness.

 Check it out!!

 Link:  http://open.abc.net.au/openregions/qld-wide-bay-71AY7Fz/posts/a-dogs-view-of-the-world-28mg7lv

c x

Faceless workshop

Yesterday a few keen photographers came together for a workshop with Brad Marsellos - Producer from ABC Open Wide Bay.  The venue - Dirty Linen of course!   Brad and I had set things up the afternoon before.  We had some interesting props,cardboard shapes hanging from the ceiling,  glasses and vases of water and we even had my new friend Mr Deady Bones , the skeleton. Attached is a picture of Sam and Mr DB.

On the day we had a digital projection of some of my videos, which provided an interesting backdrop for our photographic experiments.

We learnt more about aperture and focusing and other technical things.   I am struggling a bit with my new Nikon.  It is so finicky!   Though, I think the real problem is me!  I will have to be patient and keep reading the manual and taking the Youtube tutorials and local workshops when they come up.


(A faceless portrait of Brad below)





Attached are some of my pictures from the morning, and a link to a stunning short video by Keith Stewart and Pamela Fisher.  They are really turning out some classy videos these days. Check it out here:  http://vimeo.com/47772346

Some of the works produced will be posted on the ABC Open website. Try this link to see more: http://open.abc.net.au/openregions/qld-wide-bay-71AY7Fz  The Faceless Portrait project details are posted there.  Maybe you can join in on the fun?

Thanks Brad for another amazing workshop.

Till soon cx

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Long day

So much for going to bed early...I woke up at 4am!!   So, as you can imagine I have  achieved quite a bit over a very long day.

I have a large collage on canvas on the go. ( You may remember the Rhapsody series I produced a couple of years ago.  This was an unfinished collage from that time.   

I must say that it takes time to get back in to painting mode when one has neglected painting for such a long time.  This work has many more layers of paint than is usually required for me to be finished.  I will just have to keep on going it is resolved.  I hope that will be in time for the Bundaberg Arts Festival.

I like to return to these works of simple patterning every now and then.  They are so fundamental to all that I do. Attached is the type of surface I like to  create, when making collages.

I have put a search button on my Blogger home page.  You will now be able to search by key words, tags or labels - whatever you like to call them.   I am trying to update all my posts with their tags. 

Later in the morning I went online to make a photo book. I want to take some books to Sydney in October.   I have made a few changes to this production and I think they should be better.  I make these 8" x 8" soft cover books online with BigW.  They show up to 20 pictures and you can type on any of the pages.  They would make good short story books or children's books too.   There
are many styles and features that can be applied.  The results are very good. Sometimes the books come on special for half price, which is a great saving.

 

The rest of the morning I spent changing my lights around on their tripods, so that I can try out some new lighting effects on Justyn when he comes on Monday.  I hung the green grey and black sheeting...so I am ready for anything!

Tomorrow I have another photoshoot for the family in my upstairs apartment.  This is very good practice for me with my new camera.   "Depth of Field', 'fstops' and terms like that have been like a foreign language to me.  However, I am starting to understand it a little better. Maybe Brad's perseverance with me is starting to pay off?  I certainly hope so!

Till soon.  c x

PS  Welcome Wallace.


Monday, August 6, 2012

BRIDGES poster

At last the Bridges poster I designed has been printed and is starting to be circulated.  I hope to see you at the 'Open Mind' exhibition.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Piercings



Justyn got in touch with me the other day as he wants some photos taken of his skin piercings.  The photos will be used for a poster for the shop he frequents to have these procedures.



Some of you will remember my photoshoot of Justyn from a couple of years ago. He is a very versatile model and so easy to work with. 




As far as the piercings are concerned, I can only say...'to each his own!'
c x


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Bridges

I have been meaning to tell you that I have a part time job.  I work a couple of days a week, four hours total.  I am curating an exhibition for 'Bridges' - a wonderful organisation that offers support   to people recovering from mental  health issues.

Adam Anderson was employed to be an art tutor for the members at the same  time as me.  He works so well with the members and the art group is growing.

The members base is the Bridges Club House, where they can come and go, and get involved with the many activities available...if they want to.

Bridges will be having the exhibition called 'OPEN MIND' from 22nd to 26th of September.
The members can enter works for the show.  Carers of people with mental health issues are also able to exhibit.

This has been a very rewarding project for me and I am really enjoying working with the wonderful staff and members of Bridges.   I will update you with progress of the 'OPEN MIND' exhibition.

I have just finished a poster advertising the exhibiton:   I will probably post it tomorrow.


Talk art soon......cx