Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Jip’s secret obsession

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I follow Jip up the creaking staircase of his old highset 'Queenslander'. A lifetime's multi-coloured coatings of paint are peeling off the rickety trellis gate above. The steps are confettied with it. A heavy chain hangs to the side. Jip will use it to lock up the house at night. I have a feeling of nervous anticipation. One hears strange stories about this place.

"Come on in! Come on.!" he says loudly. IMG_3640
From the ceiling above the gate there hangs a small portable laundry carousel. Instead of the socks or handkerchiefs one would expect to see hung on such an object, the pegs have been used to attach flowers transforming the carousel into a colourful floral chandelier.
Nervously I enter the dark enclosed veranda. I am not sure what to expect. There are several more of the floral chandeliers hanging here. There are flowers and pots and floral sticks everywhere. I watch my step. A fat ginger cat is following me.
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Entering Jip's home is a bit like entering the Sistine chapel. But where there is an air about the Sistine chapel,...an air of familiarity, of past read books and pictures studied...of stories told and repeated through time immemorial,....entering Jip's house is stepping through an invisible portal towards an unknown future. Uncertainty is your companion, where one had hoped for Virgil.
I enter the first of two chambers that once had served the purpose of living and dining rooms for ordinary folk.
Now they are comprehensively covered with images roughly stuck. A transformation is taking place. The two inner chambers are almost completely collaged with a multitude of printed images covering most of the subjects known to man.
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It is quite breathtaking to see.
Whereas the Sistine chapel is covered with biblical characters and scenes, Jip's cathedral is pasted from floor to ceiling with all manner of pictures from magazines, cards, photos and so on. He likes to group them here and there....a wall of cars, a wall of kittens, native animals, children. There is a memorial wall dedicated to his passed friends and relatives.
Up high on some of the walls are shelves like lofty altars where old framed photos of his relatives jockey for space. A photo of his beloved mother in her wedding dress appears- a vision like that of Beatrice in the Empyrean. She is bought down gently, dusted off , and, presented tenderly to the observer.
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The fat ginger cat annoys my leg with its furry feline advances, breaking the spell I am under.
'Be careful or she might scratch you!' interrupts Jip, slapping me vigorously on the arm.
IMG_3646 I am released at once from my lofty thoughts by the almost tangible energy of this man. He loves to show visitors his home.
He is excited. He jokes and teases. He talks fast.
He is nowhere near finished he says.
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"I will keep going until I drop!"
"Channel seven came here once!" he says with pride.
Then... "Where do you want me?"

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Photographing Jip is not an easy task, as he talks all the time. Or pulls strange faces.
I have him stand, sit, point. Look this way....NO!..THIS way! Now look that way. Chin up, chin down, on a chair, by a window. In front of the fridge.
Give me a smile....'Cheese" he says with a smile to match. "Now look serious!" That is harder.
I find myself laughing, enjoying this banter.
Jp tells me that he started this project three years ago. (I think it may have been longer than that.)
He's not sure why he started the project. He is not sure why he continues with it. He just knows he is going to have to keep on with it it until it is finished.
"I think you are an artist." He nods but offers no opinion.
"I don't know how I am going to get up to those ceilings." he says



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There is a real sense of the sacred inside these walls. A feeling of timelessness.
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It is time to leave.
I have come to feel a strong sense of kinship with Jyp who often finds himself misunderstood.
His acting out of faith and conviction witnessed here, in this special place, is deeply moving.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Jip’s garden


Every morning Jip gets up early to decorate his house and garden with artificial flowers. He returns to the old highset house for two flags.
He raises the Australian flag and the American Stars and Stripes.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.” he says. When Jip is not busy in his garden or home, he might spend his day fishing or sitting uptown watching the passers by.
Each afternoon he lowers the flags jipwebsm0005and takes them back upstairs. Then he returns to collect up all the flowers and bouquets, baskets and pots and brings them up to the enclosed veranda.
He locks the lattice veranda with a heavy chain.If he doesn’t lock up at night, ‘they’ come and steal from him.
They steal his flowers.
Jip often has rocks thrown by vandals, shattering his windows.
He doesn’t seem to be deterred by these setbacks. He doesn’t express a great deal of anger. It is as if he has become even more determined to fulfil the needs of his obsessions. He focuses on solutions. He seems to know he will prevail.
Jip has become quite inventive in the way he goes about achieving his floral mission.
He has long timber sticks studded along their length with blossoms looking remarkably like some kind of artefacts from an ancient tribe of eccentric florists.
He can bring out quite a lot of flowers at once when they are already attached to the timber sticks.
He has hooks on the sides of the house ready to hold the flowered timbers in their place.
He invented a pulley system to reel his flowers in and out of the house. Some beautiful kind of washing line – for fairies perhaps?
After he locks everything away, he watches the 4.30 news and then he goes to bed. stepsupsm
‘Keith’, can’t ever remember being called by his birth name. At first he had the nickname ‘Chip’. As a young boy, he had the chore of bringing in the woodchips for fuelling his mother’s wood burning stove. The name ‘Jip’ evolved from Chip, and that is the name he was known by ever after.
Jip is over 80 years old, though he prefers not to tell people. He is incredibly proud and self-confident and appears to be very fit for his age.
Jip dressed up for our meeting. His hair is neatly slicked back. He wears a chain around his neck.
He has his favourite shirt on.
This old highset ‘Queenslander’ is where Jp and his mother lived for over 30 years until she passed away.
Jip used to have quite extensive gardens back then, but has scaled down somewhat as the years have gone by.
He enjoys his retirement after many years of hard work. He cut cane for over twenty years and worked in the family dairy for twenty – five more…amongst other jobs he took from time to time.
His retirement seems to have bought Jip to a place of contentment in all aspects of his life.
Through the day he might venture into the garden to tape flowers to the branches of the dormant trees. He says it doesn’t stop the trees flowering again in Spring.
Later today he will go down to harvest pawpaws from the trees in the back yard.
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There are often cars full of interested observers pulling up on Jip’s nature strip for photos to be taken. The cars come and go. It’s a bit like Christmas night when you go seeking out all the houses done up with lights.
At Jip’s it’s a bit like Christmas all year round, but more likely - an eternal first day of spring.
Whatever it is, Jip has the prettiest house in the street.
But this is only part of Jip’s obsession – the public part. The secret obsession is revealed if one is able to find a means to invite oneself in to the house.
I will tell you how to do that tomorrow…..I do have chores!!

New Page Posted

A new permanent page has been added. The Broken Woman series page link can be seen on the right.

Jobs for today:

Track down Jip!!!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Gallery Sunday

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I am trying to continue the tradition of having friends come to my gallery each Sunday. We make art, talk art, plan exhibitions....whatever. We have a nice lunch and a couple of glasses of wine. stepsupsm
These Sundays have been very productive. This week it was only Beryl, Kathy Donnelly and I, but we had some very interesting conversations.
I am posting a few more pictures taken at Jyp's house. I feel very hopeful that I will be able to catch him tomorrow.
Till soon...c

PS:

Thank you Kathy for your interesting response to my posting yesterday. I can’t wait to read the book you spoke of. Safe trip….see you soon. c xx

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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Clinton Cross

Clinton Cross and I were reminiscing today over coffee in his cosy little shed full of wonderful treasures. We were a waiting to see Jyp...who didn't know we were coming.

Clinton said we met at his first exhibition in Bundaberg, when he was 19. Well that's some time ago now.

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While waiting for Jyp, I took the opportunity to do some photo portraits of Clinton. I also took a picture of one of his fabulous art works...the very latest in fact. The small scale of these works seems perfect for Clinton. I am also excited about his plans to do some more watercolours. I am lucky enough to have one he did some years back.

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I love this portrait of Clinton. I will 'Photoshop' some of the background though. I might enter it into the Bundaberg Art Awards. Clinton has been encouraging me to enter.

Unfortunately Jyp was later than I expected and I was not able to see him today. So my writing about him is not complete yet and I will have to hope I can catch him tomorrow. I will post the story as soon as I am able.

In the mean time, I thought you might like to see the portrait of Clinton Cross and one of his works.

Please send us some comments. Does Clinton's work inspire you, as it does me......does it challenge your artistic sensibilities? Here is your chance to speak.

Come on World - share your thoughts!!

Till soon.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Secret obsession


Often on my journeys around Bundaberg I take a road that runs alongside the railway line. You can fly down that road with its gullies and dips and scoot around out of the heavier traffic without a second thought.


Well that would be the usual outcome... but there is just one thing....

That house!!






Wednesday, June 23, 2010

More digital works

More works from the Broken Woman series. Add Image

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Venus

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Here is Venus….a hint at what  will come after the Suburban Goddess exhibition.  I am  in  something of a ‘zone’ as they say -  I have been producing quite a lot of new digital works in the past few days.  I am very excited about them,  but will keep them under wraps for a future  exhibition.  I will have developed my ideas further by then.
In the weeks to follow I will be posting more  images from the SG series, both 2d and 3d.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Sunday at gallery39

I have had the most wonderful Sunday in my gallery/studio with all my favourite people around - Beryl, Susan, Catherine, Kathy and Jordan.

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We discussed the future display of the Suburban goddesses, and all will be revealed  in time. 

Catherine Mc Cue, our Print maker - 'extraordinaire', had us dressing up to model for  artworks for her exhibition at Gatakers with Susan in November .  I will report on that exhibition as we go along.  It is going to be fabulous. Trust me.

Look in on Catherine McCue’s website listed below.

Her  ‘The Big Picture’ printing business (also listed below), is booming -  particularly amongst artists who appreciate her attention to detail in all the print making processes. Speciality art printing is an area Catherine chooses to pursue. She caters for all manner of printing necessities.

We had Kathy Donnelly's delicious potato,leek and bacon soup for lunch and settled in with a couple of wines after that. (Except for Jordan of course). 

Don't forget to look in on Kathy's Scar Tree Art Project. It is listed to the right of the screen.  Leave her a message if you would like to comment on her beautiful work...or ask her how she came to make it -  whatever!

At the bottom of each posting you will see the word 'Comments'.  Click on the word and a comments box will come up. You don't even have to leave your name, but we would love to hear from you. 

I managed to dig a couple of mannequin parts out of the chaos of my back shed, and have quite a  good group of subjects to photograph for my digital works.  I have been in some kind of stupor  for the past few days, mesmerised by my computer screen and all the miraculous goings on afforded to me in this digital age.

I just love playing with imagery in my computer with its wonderful software.

I have made many works  that closely interlink with the 'Suburban Goddess' theme. 

The 'Broken Woman'BrWoman115 08 sm series is particularly important and is dedicated to the memory of my late husband, Alan.
I guess it's best to show you  a couple of the images and let them speak for me.

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Tomorrow I will post one of the latest series.

Getting back to Sunday in the gallery,  Sue, Kathy and I had a wonderful time over coffee at the end of the day.  Kathy introduced us to one of her clever creative writing exercises. I haven't laughed so much in years.  It is a great thing to have this close ‘camaraderie’ with kindred spirits.

Jobs for tomorrow:  Spend an hour or two on my silver canvas…I have been neglecting it.

Prepare a disc of new digital images for promotional purposes.

Take some more photos of the mannequins.

Take back downstairs to the gallery, all the art stuff I have bought up while so busy with the large collages.

Till soon!   c

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Kathy Donnelly’s ‘Scar Tree’ Project


“To be is to be perceived”
(Esse est perc ipi.)
Bishop George Berkeley (1685-1752)
The Scar Tree
In the winter of 2009, I was delighted to find a very large scar tree on our land; only to feel quite distressed when, a few months later, the scar tree fell over.
It had been eaten out by white ants and, in this weakened state, was vulnerable to the summer storms.
The scar on the tree was made when bark or wood was removed to make a canoe.
scar tree 3The hole inside the scar made me wonder.
That hole wasn’t empty; it held memories and stories of life on the river in times gone by.
Opinions are divided as to whether the canoe was made by Indigenous people perhaps hundreds of years ago or by the South Sea Islanders, who were indentured labourers on the sugar plantations around the end of the 19th Century.
Either way, the fallen scar tree told a story of loss.
Loss of country, loss of culture, loss even of the scar tree.
I felt the need to make reparation for this loss and so I made a shroud for the scar tree 2scar tree.
“Reparation...is the universal human response to knowledge of our capacity for destructiveness, and is the basis of art and culture.” (Pajaczkowska, C. On Stuff and Nonsense in Textile Volume 3/1 2005)
Kathy Donnelly
2010
Please leave a comment for Kathy. This is a powerful and moving work. Chris
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

New floor plan

I have had a busy day or two, running around on various chores.  Developing some picture files of my new large canvases, so that I can send them around to  galleries  and interior designers. I ordered two new canvases as well and picked up some watercolour paper for our next print workshop at BRAG.

Yesterday I decided to bring all the  goddess sculptures back into my gallery to try to combine them into the new floor plan I have devised.  Fortunately I had the assistance of the wonderful and tireless" Jordan, my friend from over the road.

"Just ring me! Any time you ring me, I'll be there.......  Just ring!" He tells me this all the time. jordy63m

He helps me carry the big canvases upstairs to my apartment where I paint them in the evenings, listening to the radio. Once they are painted, he helps me carry them back down to my gallery/studio for  hanging, storing, photographing or whatever.   

Yesterday he  called out to me and came over to help carry all the sculptures from my back storage shed into the gallery.  We had only stored them in the back shed a few weeks ago, but Jordan seems to jordy8smunderstand and we have lots of fun doing what is necessary.

I have posted a few photos of Jordan. He is a very special and wonderful person.  Funny too!

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There are also some photos of the contents of my storage shed.

  

 

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Today Kathy dropped in with her gorgeous daughter Bindi,  who is visiting from Sydney.  We had coffee, toured the gallery and spent time talking art and family again! ....which we never tire of!blogshed2sm  Kathy wiblogshed3all be sending me some writing about the Scar Tree Art Project she has just completed  and I will be able to post her photos  then.

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Here is a picture of these two amazing women  - Strong, motivated and passionate.

 

I really am fortunate to have such wonderful IMG_3216people  in my life.    I will introduce you to more of my friends as we go along. 

I spent most of yesterday evening trying to arrange the sculptures according to my new plan.  Try as I may, it seems that the new design is not going to work.  I will press on a while longer.

Till soon,   c.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Floor plan

Susan Hutton, came by as she so often does on Sundays, to paint or draw for a few hours while I do my work. Our other friends come too when they can. We sometimes go to BRAG to use their press. IMG_3185

Susan Hutton comes from Cordalba, about 40 minutes away. We have been friends for many years.

Susan has a website displaying her beautiful work. Follow this link: www.susanhutton.com.au

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Works by Susan Hutton

 

 

 

I was trying to develop my floor plan, and had photographs of all the works to place around the IMG_3191floor of my studio. Fortunately I have a lot of room, as the installation looks like it will be 6 metres square.

My second collage canvas is taking shape.

Jobs for tomorrow:IMG_3199

Set out some of my sculptures to assess suitability of floor plan.

Continue on with the collage.

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Biscuit tin collection

I am making progress with my floor plan.  I will post it in a day or so.  In the meantime, I thought you might like to see some of my biscuit tin collection.  Tins have become such an important part of my work. tins3
A few years back I was  asked to create a work in response to a beautiful traditional still life...a vase of white peonies  in the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) Collection. It's title just won't come to me at the moment.
In response to that work I made the attached image,  and wrote a brief statement........


'As a child I had little exposure to fine art. The only still lifes I IMAG0000encountered were the ones on the lids of biscuit tins. One could admire the beautiful tins whilst enjoying their contents! 
Once the tins were empty, they became reliquaries for all manner of things……needlework, gloves, letters. All sorts of treasures can be found in old biscuit tins.

Biscuit tins are reliquaries for memories, but the years take their toll on the biscuit tin still lifes. Progressively they succumb to the destructive nature of rust.' 
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