Floods

The flooding has been outrageous in and around Bundaberg.. The water has entered the low lying parts of the town. Boats have been lost from the marina. Half the caravan park is under now. Many are homeless. Some have lost their businesses. The Burnet River flows fast, ruthlessly plucking its trophies as it goes. Boats, cars,caravans are some of its favourites.The whole town is abuzz. People want word of their friends and relatives. Its all over the news.

Rain

The rain doesn't stop. It's flooded all around Kendalls flats. It looks like a huge lake. Fortunately the rain runs of my block quite well and down the hill towards Walker St.

Xmas celebrations are all but over.....Ben and Sarah have gone home. Their baby girl will arrive in about 6 weeks.

I took some beautiful photos of Sarah.

They gave me a huge book called 'Photo-wisdom-Master Photographers on their Art'. It is a fabulous book. And Sarah's parents gave me Ann Geddes most recent book with beautiful baby photos - 'Beginnings'. So I will have many enjoyable hours ahead of me reading those.

I also received fromAllison and Alan a new book by Kate Llewellyn called 'Playing with Water', which will be a great follow on from 'The Waterlily'. I will forward it on to Kathy D when I'm finished it.

I had a call from London from Alan. He had spent a nice Xmas with his friends Richard (from Shalom school days) and Richard's wife Claire.

I have just started putting down a few ideas for an interactive art project. It's going to be a big year.

Collage

I hope you find my Picasa collage interesting.
More news soon.

C x

Alan in London

My eldest son Alan arrived safely in London recently...he says he has 'covered most of the Monopoly board already'!!

I'm quite excited about embedding my slideshows everywhere.

I will be posting a new video on Youtube- Older works pre 'Broken Woman'. I will also post a Picasa collage on my website- shortly!

http://www.christineturner.com.au/

I better start my Christmas shopping soon.

C xx

Embed

Kirsten

 

I'm really pleased with this image - my most recent since returning from Brisbane. It is no doubt an addition to the 200 or so images I have produced in the 'Broken Woman' series.

I have a page posted relating to this series. It's worth a look if you haven't seen it already.

I really want to get these images out into the world.

Youtube is doing quite a good job of that...over 400 visits in a little over a month across my 4 videos. That's much better than my website stats. Maybe people feel more comfortable

interacting within the Youtube formula...just as they have embraced Facebook.

I'm going to post all my new work on Youtube now. So please world...talk to me!!!

I will try to find out how to embed my Youtube videos on my website too.

Now to the subject of the website I have been producing. Here is a list of things I suggest you do if building a website for a client:

Establish price of the website project.

Write a contract.

Keep an accurate diary.

Insist on half payment up front.

Limit number of changes allowable.

Stipulate time frames for receiving project materials and for the project itself.

 

I'm sure there are more things I should have done, and will add them to the list as I remember them.

I have learnt quite a few lessons.

 

I sent off an application last week to the Pine Rivers gallery to have a small installation in the gallery exterior window. Suburban Goddesses featuring of course. And today I sent an application to Gatakers Artspace’s Trevor Spohr for a possible inclusion in a show relating to museum environments…should be an interesting one…

 

Here is an extract from the information provided…

The project approaches the museum as a place of relevance to contemporary culture and local community. The intention is to stimulate audience engagement and interest in museums through innovative approaches to interpreting and examining their collections.’

 

Till soon. x

Home today

Home today after my short journey to Brisbane for the opening of the SNAP! exhibition. I met the director, Peter at the gallery and we had a closer look at some of the works showing there. We discussed the possibility of showing some of my sculptures in the gallery exterior glass cabinet.

I am quite keen to do this, so I took some paperwork home with me.

I will also send Peter a disc featuring my Youtube DP's. He is interested to see the Suburban Goddesses.

Home via the tilt train leaving at midday. When I get back, I have to see my client re: the website. I am hoping to get it finished before Xmas.

Attached is my photo of Jip, which all have been most complimentary about.

C x

SNAP! Photographic exhibition

The SNAP! exhibition opened tonight at the Pine Rivers Gallery. Good show...many interesting works. I will return tomorrow to have a closer look.

Attached is a picture of the panorama of Jip's house. I will post Jip's portrait when I get home.

Till soon,

C x

About this Blog

I have decided to keep this blog going, particularly because my eldest son Alan will be in London for a year studying Aviation medicine. He will be able to look in on the blog from time to time.

I have been packing up some folders with pictures of my collages. I will be sending them to interior designers in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. It is so difficult to sell work these days.

One of the girls in my small art class suggested that fabric designers may be interested in some of the 'Broken Woman' images I have produced. Worth a look I think.

I had a buyer make an offer on my house and gallery today. I will shift to Brisbane eventually, but not in the near future I feel. I'm sure it will be good for my art practice to relocate there in the future some time.

I will book my train ticket to go to Brisbane for the SNAP! exhibition at Pine Rivers. Exciting. I'm planning to see Jip tomorrow to give him a copy of his panorama. I guess he will paste it up on one of his walls!

I had best put a new image on the front page of my blog...I'll see what I can come up with.

My latest video was posted on Youtube today...'Broken Woman' Part 2. Check it out and let me know what you think. I seem to be having sound issues with Youtube. I am looking into the problem.

Till soon

C xx

Susan Hutton's exhibition opening

My friend Susan Hutton had her opening tonight at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough. Good attendances and a fabulous opening speech from Jennifer McDuff. Susan's show looks beautiful. No sales yet, but it's difficult times to sell. Brisbane next she says...sounds good.

Heard from Kathy D. I'm so glad Willow is keeping you company Kathy. Love you!

C x

Gladstone Results

Well I had no luck at Gladstone's Art Awards, which was disappointing, but one must take the good with the bad.

I just received an email from a friend saying that the Major prize was withdrawn because the winner failed to meet some of the competition requirements...ie the work was not created within the last 12 months.

The prize was awarded to another artist.

I guess this has been quite stressful for the gallery staff, but they seem to have resolved the problem.

Now that the major prize money is $10,000 people are going to be that bit more interested in the results. Anyway, I will enter again next year.

c xx

Bill Cunningham

I travelled to Brisbane with my panorama for the Pine Rivers ‘SNAP’ exhibition.  It will be stored at my son’s house and he will deliver it to the gallery in a week.

I am really happy with the work and have been exploring further possibilities with panorama software. Attached is a photo of my

biscuit tin collection.

I caught up with a dear friend and we attended a showing of the ‘Bill Cunningham’ documentary at the theatre in Newfarm.

He is an 80 year old New York fashion photographer. This documentary is just fabulous, so try to catch it if you can.

I have finally finished Clinton’s slide show.  It’s great.  Have a look at it on Youtube. Link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbP5qoAZvDI

I have to tie up a few loose ends from the Suburban Goddess exhibition, and finish the website I have been working on, and then I can get down to some new work.

It was great to spend some time catching up with family over the weekend.  My eldest, Alan is off to London soon. Next time I see him it will be in Paris or  Rome I hope.

 

Till soon   C x

Farewell to all at Gatakers

Sue and I left early to travel to Maryborough to pack up the Suburban Goddess exhibition.  Our friends Ken and Beryl came to help.

 

I didn’t take long at all to unpack the ute of Susans’s artworks  and refill it with the many parts that make up  the Goddess sculptures.

Trevor from Gataker’s helped Susan with the hanging of her show.  He is very good at this as you will see from the pictures posted.

Susan was delighted  with the presentation of the work…and so she should be.  It‘s a beautiful show. (See attachments below.)

I have a website to finish uploading for a client sometime this week. The work is all but finished now.

Jip’s panorama is finally  at the printers…so fingers crossed they do a good job.  Then the print will be off to the framers, where I will spend a small fortune.

I went to visit  Jip the other day and he presented me with a bunch of freshly picked flowers from his garden and toured me around the garden once again. 

I took a few photos of his interior roof for the latest panorama.

That work will be taken to Brisbane for a photographic exhibition at Pine Rivers Art Gallery.

On the weekend I took works up to Gladstone for the Martin Hanson Art Awards. It is an excellent  Award exhibition and one that has been fairly good to me in the past.  I took one of my “Mother’ assemblages and a small Goddess.

According to tradition I stayed overnight at the ‘Rusty Anchor’ Motel.  It had been ‘spruced up’ somewhat….but still very much the ‘budget’ stopover. It was a noisy night with barking dogs rasping out their guttural threats to  the many  wanderers  and  drunks that dared to venture near.

There seemed to be a lot of those.

I took the quieter coastal roads home and found myself quite enjoying the trip. Solo time to think and plan.

I really need  to get into some new work  asap. I can hardly wait a minute longer.

 

I will list my Youtube videos when I get a chance.

Till soon,              C     xx

Packing up

 

I hate to look and see how long it has been since I posted a blog.   I have been flat out!

People to see, places to go.

Websites, art classes, art competitions x 2, side shows, , Clinton’s slide shows x 2 . Youtube….

Market day at BRAG.

Meetings with local photographers re: hiring the gallery for photo shots.

Another photoshoot of Justyn….this time with his lovely girlfriend Lauren.

Photographic exhibitions. Panoramas that are good just one day and boring the next!!  Improved panoramas that are good one day and boring the next.

Garage /suitcase sales.

I know there’s more than that….I just can't remember what!!

And tomorrow is a big day. 

Tomorrow, the Suburban Goddess Exhibition in Maryborough will be taken down.

I will let you know how it goes. 

Till soon,

Chris x

Too busy.

 

Too busy to write…running here ..running there…around in circles every where!  So I can barely remember what to tell you.

The civic centre  volunteers  packed  up the Bundaberg Arts Festival for another year. Rumour has it that there is no one to run it next year. I feel certain that someone will take it on.

We had a ‘Suitcase Sale’ in the gallery Saturday morning.  We are trying to attract a few more sellers.  We  did have very good responses and Rachael did an outstanding  job letting everyone know details..

Bit of a dynamo that girl.

See attached photo of Clinton’s cute Bambi’s at the ‘Suitcase Sale’… They only lasted about ten minutes!!

 

I’m trying madly to get my panorama done, so I can focus on something new. Actually I am quite excited about the panorama. I think it will be quite good.

Kathy D is back. Hooray! Plenty of time ahead of us now to explore her new haven on the waterfront with it’s picture book lilac sunsets.

Time to dream up a few delicious metaphors  that would make Kate Lewellyn weep with envy!!! (If only)

Time also for interesting talks! Lots of art to be made and critiqued. Lots of laughs and the occasional tear.  Good food and plenty of wine!!

That reminds me …I finished the wonderful book  by Kate Lewellyn  ‘The Waterlily’ that was a gift from Kathy.

It is a beautiful book full of so many  amazing descriptions. Her observations are so intense and her responses very unique.

Susan is reading it now. She had so enjoyed the couple of chapters I read to her in the ute on the way to Gatakers Artspace.

Oh yes  …Gatakers!!  All seems to be going fine there. Lots of visitors and interesting notes in the visitors book.

A few cards have sold. Trevor says I will be able to retire soon.!  Cheeky!

Till soon.

Portrait prize

I am really pleased to say that I won a prize in the Bundaberg Art awards.   I won the Lions Club  prize for a portrait of a local identity.  $500.

My portrait seen below is a digital print of  artist Clinton Cross in his small living quarters, which he shares with all his junk, collectibles and art paraphernalia. 

The Lions  Club prize also means that the work is to be  acquired to become part of the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery collection.

Jenny McDuff, who we visited at Woodgate was a worthy winner of the major prize.  Clinton picked up an award for a beach scene, and Susan also won a prize. I’m not sure what that was…either for a ceramic or a miniature. So, we locals faired quite well.

I had  been to see Jip  a day or so ago, and I finally have the right pictures to commence his  panorama.

After I took the photos Jip escorted me on a royal tour of the garden.   All was in order.

Bundaberg Art Festival

I have a couple of entries for the art festival. It has been years since I entered it. I have more time these days to be involved.

So, I have a digital portrait of Clinton, one of the Broken Woman series and one of my collages entered.

I will post a couple of pictures later.

I have to go and pick Clinton up so he can deliver his fragile artworks. I might try to see Jip again....I have to get this panorama right!

Digital Projection

I have had to separate my Digital Projection into two parts as maximum time for a video on Youtube is 10 minutes. I am loading up the first half shortly. See what you thinK c xx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vnKjFtPACY

Gallery Sunday

It was just Susan and I in the gallery last Sunday. Her works are coming together now as her exhibition at Gatakers looms ever closer.

Clinton informed me that someone had left my exhibition in tears.  I’m not sure why and hope to get some more information soon.

Apparently the show is upsetting a few people around the town. 

I think it is  very positive if artworks generate strong responses.  People are very passionate about the types of  artworks they choose to champion.  This is a good thing up to a point. I don’t agree with people disgorging negativity over artworks they don’t understand.

I always say there is something for everyone in the boundless world of art.  If you are receptive you can always find something positive.

If in doubt…talk to the artist!

Susan and I called in to see  Jip again and I took this photo of him in his garden where this fabulous giant sunflower was overseeing things!

Well really, it’s a photo of the sunflower and its companion bug isn’t it? Not Jip at all if the truth be known!!

The garden was driving up flowers at a rate of knots. They were almost leaping out of the ground. A fence of tall red cordylines (?) greeted us on our arrival.  They looked as if they were on fire. Their long thin leaves whipped about in a frenzy in the determined breeze. I knew they  rustled with the excitement of another spring day.

The Snapdragons I had seen just a few weeks ago had multiplied inordinately.  Their beautiful pinks and yellow faces now delicately  embroidered with the touches of the deepest  reds and browns.

Their companions, the pink geraniums timidly presented themselves like a group of debutants full of anticipation.

I took another 360 degree panorama, but I am still not happy with it. I keep having lighting problems with the sun streaming cunningly into the inner chambers as it does  in St Peter’s at times.

I will have to come back again.

Jip enjoys company so all is well.  He has given me another photo to restore.  I will show you when it is finished.

Till soon….c  xx

Youtube video

I posted my first  on Youtube. Not too sopideoisticated, but it does record my exhibition.  Click here.

 

Clinton’s portraits

I picked Clinton up this afternoon, so that I  could take some portraits of him and try out my lighting. I bought some black sheeting for a backdrop.

Clinton is getting used to these photo sessions now, as there have been quite a few now. He is much more relaxed. 

After the photo session we selected the best of the photos and I dropped Clinton back home. 

I noticed that Jyp’s light was still on…it being about 6pm.  I must call by in the morning and let him know when I will come to do the panorama of his ‘inner chambers’ as I like to call them. 

When I got home I converted some of Clinton’s portraits to black and white.

 

Then, I reduced a few of  files in size so they could be  posted on Facebook.    It took me a while to find out how to do this, but I eventually succeeded and I think Clinton will be quite happy.

Web design

Well it seems I have become a web designer overnight as well as a photographer!!   I am going to stick a poster  in my window and see if I get any responses. I designed a rather nice poster for this purpose. Tamara at Officeworks printed it up for me for $15.


In the end I gave  it to Justyn when I went to ask Rachael if I could post it in my studio window.  So I will have to get another tomorrow.
Rachael is thrilled to bits with the photos, and they really are quite good I think…better than I could have hoped for.  It is the lighting that seems to make the difference. I am going to have fun experimenting.
Rachael is working  around the corner in a retirement village and she put my name forward to develop a website for the growing complex. 
I have made a few over recent years, or helped friends to make their own.  Ben had bought me the software years ago… probably seven years.   I was a bit hesitant to go online at first, but once I got going there has been no looking back.
The days just get busier and busier and I don’t know how I am going to get everything done!  In the back of my mind is a little voice nagging me about what I will show at my next solo exhibition and I have been trying to sort that out.   I would really like to show the digital works on paper with the figures I have made using the panorama settings.  I am going to try to select  up  to ten good images.
But I must get on with the website first. It will mean some welcome dollars for me.
Till soon    C xx

Justyn’s photo shoot

I have just had a most exciting day. My  friend Rachael had asked me to do some portfolio shots for he son Justyn.
I have known Justyn and Rachael for about 12 years now. Rachael has become a very dear friend. You will remember that I wrote about Rachael’s obsessions a few postings back.
Early in the morning I went to Bunnings and purchased a couple of lights to try out  for this photo shoot.


In the morning session I couldn’t use the lights as they needed assembling.  I managed to put them together for the late afternoon photo session.
I have attached a few files for you  to see.  I was delighted with the results.  Let me know what you think.                   C  xx

Adel

I spent most of yesterday photographing Adel in a petticoat my Friend Rachael had loaned me.
I got some terrific shots and  spent a quiet evening at the computer.
Today I have Justyn coming by for a photo shoot.  I will try to pick up some lights this morning …I’m sure Bunnings will probably have something. I will tell you how it went this afternoon.
No calls from Gatakers, so all must be well.

Photo shoot

I went to Gatakers Artspace on Tuesday to take some quality photos  with my camera on a tripod.
I got some rather good results and I am about to post a few of the images. I have also sent out a couple of promotional packs.

I am feeling rather exhausted and yesterday I granted myself a day on the computer playing with images and not exerting myself too much.
This morning I tidied up the studio and in the afternoon I will open my big storage shed at the back and get it ready for the time that the goddesses return.
Trevor bought one of my small paintings on paper and I am hoping a few more will go over the course of the exhibition.
Talk soon C  xx

The Exhibition opening

 

Sue and I arrived at Trevor’s house in the late morning.  He had kindly offered to accommodate us  for the night.

His house is  a gem of a cottage down near the river. On arrival we found its enclosed veranda, latticed securely shut giving the cottage an air of mystery and self-containment.  Suddenly the door burst open presenting our friendly and welcoming host.

Venturing inside one finds that the cottage’s interior is resplendent with beautiful old timber cupboards and sideboards . Patterned and Persian rugs cover the floor in a unique abstraction. 

The walls are richly decorated with an array of interesting paintings,  collected over many years. From children's paintings to very accomplished artist’s works.

A filtered light gently seeps into the home bathing its chambers  with a secret  promise.

In all,  this beautiful old home, full of character and charm,  evokes  a sense of  the best  of times past  and the surety of blessed tomorrows.

Then spell is broken.  We are off to the gallery to set up the digital projection and to fix the lighting.

This done, it’s home to get ready for the evening. Time to relax a while. The exhibition is installed.

I am done! I am about to be released from the past and to  be propelled into a new and exciting tomorrow.

Back to the Gatakers Artspace we go, to help prepare food for the people who will attend the two openings, that are on tonight.

Ben Gerdsen is exhibiting a vast display of  colourful paintings in downstairs. His wife Sarah is preparing food

Beautiful red roses arrive  from my sons and their families. They make me cry.

A small but ardent group gather for the opening. Marj (Director of Hervey Bay gallery) has kindly offered to MC the proceedings. Allison Bateman has travelled from the bay also and it is great to see her. Ben speaks about his work and then his show is officially opened by a very vivacious girl…..a local councillor. 

Carol Seeger generously speaks for me, opening my show, then its upstairs for my floor talk. 

I tell the story of the journey of a self taught artist. The story of an art practice that has sustained me through good times and bad, enriching my life in countless ways.

It is truly a privilege to be an artist.

 

C   xx

Suburban Goddess exhibition

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Setting up at Gatakers.

Susan and travelled in the overloaded ute to Maryborough.

When we arrived,  we were helped by Kim and Robert…(volunteers  at the gallery) to unload works to the loading bay and then up in the lift to  the Nicholson Room.

Kim and I measured out the grid pattern on the floor and I marked the significant points with stickers.

The photos were  set down in their correct  position.

Then came the big job  of finding the numbered  parts  and assembling the  ‘Suburban Goddesses’.

It all went together quite well, but still took  us four hours to finish with a half hour break.

During that break, Susan and I  lunched at  ‘Janet’s Bookshop/Cafe’. Attached is a photo of Susan checking on her shares! Also a  photo of setting up.

I must really thank Susan  as she has been amazingly helpful and supportive.  I hope to return some favours when she has her show in November.

Tomorrow we head back to Maryborough for the opening.

Wish me luck!!

C      xx

Packing Susan’s ute

My dear friend Susan Hutton has kindly offered to transport the SG’s to Maryborough in her ute. It is truly amazing how much we got into it.

Attached are some pictures of Susan, looking quite happy that we fitted everything in. It looks a bit messy doesn’t it?

On Wednesday Catherine McCue and I will head down to Cordalba to meet up with Susan . We will all travel in the ute to Maryborough. That should be interesting.

There will be a couple of gallery assistants to help us unload and set up the exhibition.

What a wonderful adventure. I always tell people… ‘it is a privilege to be an artist.’ And it is so much sweeter when one can share these significant moments with dearest friends.

C…xx

Rachael’s obsessions!

Speaking about obsessions as I do so frequently , I must point out that  my friend Rachael has many obsessions….more than most! Her collections have grown to the point that partner Jason has had to say…‘enough is enough’. And who can blame him?
But Rachael and I know that enough is never enough.
Rachael’s collections sample all manner of goods. China, crockery,  ornaments, expensive pots and pans, drink coasters by the bag full. Clocks , watches,  glo mesh bags by the dozens, scarves, dresses, petticoats, stockings, shoes,   the ‘I can’t believe its’s a girdle’ girdle and ‘Cross your Heart’ bras.  Dresses, capes, hats  and gloves. Toys, books, school readers, dolls, cowboys and indians, Yowies, smurfs, Gi Joe and friends, leggos, old computers, mix masters, vacuum cleaners and so the list goes on.
I think she just about has one of everything that has ever been manufactured and multiples of most.
(In fact I think it’s probably easier to list those things that she does not have).
Her collection, having a life force all its own, has been breeding in dark cupboards, under beds, in the rafters and in old cardboard boxes from whence it oozes out all over the floor and competes for the household space.   
Space?…..did I say space?………….Once many years back there had been space. But sadly the family is having to live on the few small pathways left between the household facilities.
It has become such a family dilemma, that Clinton  and I felt it was our duty to take some of this ‘Junk’ off  her hands, to ease her burden even a little.
Clinton delighted in the many ornaments and his favourites…Salt and Pepper shakers.
I selected doilies for my  collages.
We didn’t seem to make any impression on the ever growing pyramid of junk. It had  oozed out into the yard where it commandeered the pool table over which it nestled its bulky  derrière, its old bras and girdles hanging out for all to see.
It is a sad story I know, but now that Jason has put his foot down, Rachael is showing signs of recovery and is slowly, but surely finding new homes for much of her junk.   The rest is going up in the attic!
( Actually Rachael is always incredibly generous with her junk. It was Rachael who left the plastic coasters and the artists canvases on my door step weeks back.  I guessed it must have been her.)
If one overlooks  her addiction, one finds a charming, forthright woman with a heart of gold.
She is a very  special friend.  Love you Rach!  ( Sorry!Just  teasing!)
I am posting a picture of one of my fairies in her honour.
Till soon   xx

Jip says yes

I knew Jip would say yes to this latest adventure. He is so proud of his home.

He reminds me that Channel 7 once visited him.

I told him I am going to photograph a panorama of his main room. I have never done a proper panorama before, bit I have a very sturdy tripod and I will give the project my best.

Jyp was ‘thrilled to bits’ with the photos I gave him…just delighted. He invited me to drop in for coffee any time I liked!

I might take the first photos on Monday, as Susan is coming to town from Cordalba. We are going to pack the SG’s into her ute and then put the roof covering over them. They will be quite safe in the shed until we leave for Maryborough.

Wednesday is setup day. I spoke to Trevor at Gatakers a few days ago as I had emailed him suggesting that my installation will probably measure 9m x 9m and I was wondering if he thought it would leave sufficient room for people to walk around it. He didn’t sound to sure that there was enough room. On the day I may have to make the decision to sacrifice another line of SG’s if I have to. I really don’t want that to happen.

So many compromises.

One good thing is that today I have finished the musical Digital Projection. I must have reworked the show a hundred times. I think I must be incredibly fussy. I am going to produce a standard Powerpoint presentation as well. I have loaded the first presentation on to my new laptop.

I had more prints done of my canvases. I have five packs ready to mail out to potential buyers and galleries. The packs look quit smart. But even so, times are difficult for artists and one can’t expect too much.

I emailed Carol Seeger, my printmaking friend who has kindly agreed to open my exhibition. She will do a great job.

Trevor has booked a table at a local restaurant for celebrations after the opening. It is going to be fun all week.

Tim Morrell, past curator of contemporary art at the Qld Art Gallery, past freelance curator and writer …now retired, is going to write about the show, which is wonderful news.

When I have his review I will contact one of the art magazines re publishing.

Till soon,

C xx

Jip’s photo

I called in on Clinton yesterday to show him the photo books and posters that I had bought. Along with the cards, they will make good souvenirs of the exhibition. They will be quite cheap to buy.

Clinton wants to have a book produced, so I’m sure I can help with that after next week.

Clinton showed me one of his most complex works…it was quite amazing. A small assemblage bursting with glued and stuck china ornaments and plastic fruit. The ultimate extravagance. I love it.

We had a glass of wine and talked about Joan Winter’s upcoming exhibition in Brisbane. I had thought I might be able to send a couple of the SG’s that are not required for the Maryborough show.

I will have to drop in on Clinton again as I didn’t get all the information. We strolled down the road…just a hop, skip and a jump from Jyp’s floral fantasy.

I had another digital print to give Jyp….The portrait of him in front of his deciduous tree that he had taped the fabric flowers to.

I think he was quite pleased with the portrait. But true to form, he complained about his ‘googly’ eyes and playfully slapped me around the shoulders a couple of times.

I don’t think the man knows his own strength!!

Jip showed Clinton and I around the garden. The grass had been freshly mowed and was luxuriously green in the late afternoon light. A dark shiny green. One of those painters greens that never seem quite natural. But there it was… a garishly beautiful green carpet rolled out for royalty.

(Red carpets having become boringly ubiquitous!)

All the many plants, recently watered, stood fresh and alert in the small disorderly garden. They radiated a joyful life force, much like their owner.

Tall shrubs stood between miniature cabbages mossy green and hard as cricket balls. Jyp had just cooked one for tea.It must have taken hours! He obviously has a strong constitution.

Jip offers me a cabbage, but I decline graciously.

Jip had been waiting for two years for those cabbages to reach maturity. Patience of a Saint.

The garden was alive with promise. Spring was certainly in the air. But remember, it is an eternal Spring at Jyp’s place.

The deciduous plants though, had not burst forth their buds and blooms. Maybe they felt the floral fakes that Jip had taped around their barren winter branches, were sufficient testimony to their maker that they were fulfilling their role in natures story.

But really, I think they will probably start to move anytime soon.

Newly planted Snap Dragons, stood to attention, lining the front of the house, in between tomato plants. We walked their line….an official inspection party, and found everything in order… if disorderly can ever truly be in order.

The Snap Dragons in yellows and pinks had started flowering soon after planting Jyp reported. No doubt they knew it was Spring and wanted to make the most of it.

Their strange frilled mouths slightly open, bought out a desire in me to pinch the flowers at their sides to make them ‘talk’ or ‘snap’, as I had done when I was a small child…a rather unusual small child. I resist the temptation, being older and wiser… which really means…having less fun!

We went upstairs as I had wanted to do a restoration of an early photo Jip has of himself.He is very proud of the young man depicted there. I took a number of photos of Jip’s damaged picture.

I will get a couple of photos done of the new image processed for Jip. I have attached the digital files with ‘Before’ and ‘After’ delight.

Well it’s still not 100% right, but it is a big improvement.

We wished Jip farewell, leaving him complaining to himself about the exorbitant price increases uptown for fabric flowers.

……………………………………………………………………………………

I had an email late today, inviting me to submit some works for a photographic exhibition. Subject matter preferred is of a quirky nature. Quirky comes easily to me!! I thought some photos of Jip’s house interior could be just the thing. Maybe even a 360 degree panorama!! What an exciting challenge.

Step one will be to ask Jip if he is keen to allow it. I know he will say yes.

I will tell you more about the show as things progress.

C xx

Alan’s comments

My son Alan posted this response to my blog about life after the Suburban Goddess exhibition:
Alan said:
''I can't help thinking back over the various phases of your artwork as I read through your blog mum. The "Frogs on Lillypads" that hung on our bathroom wall for so many years, "The Battle of the Oranges" (I'm still upset at you for selling that one!), your early installations including the reinterpretation of "the birth of venus", the amazing journey of Dante, the Martyr's wall which evoked such amazingly personal responses, the engaging walk-under kaleidoscopes, your Escher-esque patterns and now into your digital works... a celebration of persistence is very true, but also an amazing evolution! You should be very proud! It has been a wonderful journey... and so much more to go! Love, Alan."

I think I told you all earlier in my blog about the wonderful support I have always had from my family,...and there it is! What can I say?  I am truly blessed.   Thankyou Alan. I love you so!
I'm attaching one of my new Venuses for you to see- a sneak preview of my latest work. 
By the way, you are a terrific writer. 
Alan has been awarded a scholarship to study Aviation Medicine in London next year.  We are so proud of Alan for this achievement and for the many long months he dedicated to caring for the sick and wounded troops and civilians in Afghanistan recently.
C  xx

Life after the SG show

I can’t help thinking about what I am going to do after the Suburban Goddess show is over.   It’s so close now. I have so many ideas…but they are mainly  in the digital arena.

I’m not feeling nervous about the exhibition…I am excited though. This event has been so long in the making and I have had to face so many difficulties over that time.  This show will be a celebration of persistence if nothing else.

It is really my art practice that has sustained me through the darkest times…and of course my dear friends and family.

Trevor Spohr  emailed the other day regarding the problem we have of positioning the digital projector for the exhibition.

He said he may be able to attach the projector to  one of the  large beams that cross the  gallery high in the roof.  Then we may be able to project the DP onto the back wall behind the Goddesses.

That would be brilliant!!

My guest speaker for the opening has unfortunately had to cancel due to commitments to her new job.  Understandable, but disappointing too.  I have been trying to think of alternatives, but  I may speak at the opening myself.

I will go down to the studio today to check on the goddesses and to polish a few halos!

Other job for today…mow the lawn!

C  xx

Photo books.

I have been working on my photo book design. The books will be 8’ x 8’, soft cover and 20 pages long.
I have selected a variety of the better images and the book design is looking quite good.
On the back cover, I will have contact  details. Web, blog, email etc.
Big W have a special deal  at the moment…two books for the price of one.  Fantastic! I may be able to sell them for $12 -  $15. They could make a small profit.
I’m not sure if you have seen any of my ‘Fairies?’ – I have attached one below.  I couldn’t resist making them, but they are not to be taken too seriously!!


Susan is coming up from Cordalba and staying overnight with me.  We are dining out tonight, which will be a treat.
Art is our favourite subject (as well as shares!) so there will be some interesting conversation.
There is not long now before Susan and Catherine Mc Cue have their joint exhibition. It will be straight after mine, and in the Gatakers sculpture room.
I hear on the grapevine that Catherine is back from her tour of Europe. I can’t wait to hear her stories.
I treated myself to a small laptop yesterday. It was such a good price. It is therefore not overly sophisticated, but it runs my Digital Projection perfectly and has quite a lot of storage space. I am even able to develop a Home Network as both of my computers have Windows 7.
This will mean that I won’t get caught out again, with discs not working properly when I am  doing my own  ‘networking’.
Trevor Spohr rang from Gatakers to go over a few details. He managed to get the Digital Projection working, but with space being an issue due to the large number of ‘Suburban Goddesses’, we may have to use a monitor to show it.
I am loving reading Kate Llewellyn’s ‘Water Lily.’ (A  Blue Mountains Journal.’)  It is so rich in it’s interesting descriptions. Thanks again Kathy Donnelly for such a beautiful gift.
Kathy  loves the  opening sentence. Kate writes…  ‘When I came to live in the mountains, I was determined to be happy.’
I wonder if it turned out that way. I will soon find out.
I so admire Kate’s  evocative words. Here are a couple of examples:
In Kate’s Journal she writes….Sunday, 29 September:
‘I have just walked outside. The moon is full. It is sailing across the sky above a pine like a huge white  coach pulled by invisible horses. There's the aura of a rainbow round it like a promise.’
A few pages later Kate writes… ‘And now to bed, while outside a sky stained with pink like a blouse with a lipstick smudge and the sea pounding strong and regular as your mother’s heart before you entered this world.’
I will always think of my own mother when I hear the sea in future.
Beautiful words.
c  x

Update

I found I did have some colour photos of  Kathy’s Scar Tree, so I have updated the ‘Lunch at Kathy’s’ posting.   I also included some photos of Kathy at work.

Cards

I have spent the last day or so pricing  promotional products that might be suitable for the upcoming exhibition.
I have discounted  having T Shirts  printed up as they are just a bit too expensive.
I thought for a start that I could get some art cards printed. They would be an inexpensive memento of the exhibition and the cards will have my website advertised on the back cover.
I had 250gsm A4 card  printed with  images from my Digital Projection.  I’m quite pleased with them. (Picture attached below.)  I will just have to spend some time scoring the cards so they can be easily folded. That will be a tedious jog.
On Monday, will  look around for envelopes to  suit the cards.
C   x

Carol Seeger

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Carol Seeger sent through some images I had asked her for. 
When we had lunch at Woodgate recently she showed me these beautiful prints that she had made after our last big print workshop.
I had given her some small scraps from my  plastic tablecloths and she has made some truly sublime works from them.
Less is more as they say.
Thanks Carol. See you soon    c  xx

Lunch at Kathy’s

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I went to see Kathy at  Avondale today (30 minutes North of Bundaberg).
She has a gorgeous ‘pole house’, I think you call it. The house is surrounded by seven acres of bushland. It is a glorious and peaceful place.
The house is full of beautiful furniture and treasures old and new, from a lifetime of enthusiastic gathering.
You can sense that this is a home  that has encompassed a warm and loving family.
The walls  are embellished with paintings by friends, relatives and Kathy herself  - a talented girl  who has an enthusiasm for her art practice that is quite captivating.
Kathy studied  Ceramics and Textiles at college . She has also dedicated herself to many years of painting and drawing .
More recently Kathy has been collecting flotsam and jetsam and old weathered objects. Many of her treasured objects are incorporated into artworks that evoke the landscape.
Some of her artworks convey a deep respect for those people closely connected to the land.
You may remember Kathy from an earlier posting about the ‘Scar  Tree’ Art Project she completed some months back. She also is quite active with her responses to my postings and you can read her interesting comments here and there throughout this Blog.
The  house overlooks a river. You can admire the river from the upstairs balcony, while you are sipping your wine and enjoying Kathy’s company.
Beautiful black swans, ducks and other river dwellers go about their business as we go about ours…..our art business.

Kathy and I visited her  Scar Tree and I took some photos for you to see. The tree with it’s comforting shroud made with Kathy’s tender regard,  is a moving sight.

Later Kathy and I watched a series of slides from the Pilbara art expedition she had been on. It had been a fantastic and intense journey for her. 
Kathy produced a lot of exciting paintings and drawings in the Pilbara. My favourite work that she created there was her altarpiece assemblage titled  ‘In her memory’.
‘It was both a prayer and a meditation on the women who live and work on the Pilbara stations, and of course on my mother’ said Kathy.

I think you will agree that this work is very special.
Till soon.  C  xx

Catching up

Arriving back in Brisbane on Friday, I had an appointment to meet with Kevin from Artworkers.
I caught the Air Train from the airport in to Roma Street in the city. From there it was  a short ( and incredibly fast)  bus trip to Paddington.
The Artworkers building is  a strange  big cubic construction with two huge timber doors that look as if they have come from the entry of an old castle.
They were opened welcomingly wide and I could see that there was an exhibition of colourful drawings inside.
A very nice gallery volunteer named Paul advised me that the strange building had once served a purpose in the production of trams.
The menacing looking huge block and tackle device hanging from the ceiling had been useful  in that undertaking explained Paul.  So one’s fears of it being some cruel type of device  for your imminent torture were therefore relieved. Maybe they had other ways to torture you here!
I had wanted to discuss strategies for developing and broadening my audience in Brisbane. Three or four years of dealing with a series of health issues and a great personal loss, had made any kind of networking for the art practice at that time, seem discordant. In fact - it was impossible.  
Kevin gave me quite a lot of useful information and some advice on groups and people to contact. He explained to me that these were difficult times for artists and gallery owners and  the only course was to push on and keep working. 
We had unfortunate incompatibility problems with my Digital Projection discs.  They having been produced on an IBM PC didn’t agree with Artworkers Apple MACS. So we had to fall back on images I had previously sent to Artworkers for my folio there.
This was quite disappointing and I will have to check that the discs can be  read satisfactorily on either type of PC, in the future.

Today I prepared a few files from the DP to email to Kevin.
Tomorrow  I will check that my DP’s are functioning well on Apple or IBM, and I might look in on the Goddesses.
I have attached an image of Kim. She is a quite versatile mannequin, but she has a tendency to look rather menacing at times.
Till soon…c