Judy's Collective Insites images

Judy Barras, curator of Collective Insites stayed with me recently as she was presenting a paper at the Artspoken Conference.  She bought with her a disc with some images from my works...and even a video of the big moment when we positioned the digital print. I will post some images over the next few days.

First up is the work called "Mother".

Till soon,       c x

Mon Repos Dump Shop

Fancy finding Reg's twin  at the Mon Repos Dump Shop!  I have no idea what I will do with it!!  I also bought a couple of fold up bed frames.  They might be useful as I am going to take part in a major exhibition at the new Hervey Bay gallery next year.  That is.....subject to me coming up with some good artworks.
Brad Marsellos (ABC Open Wide Bay Producer) has produced a brilliant video of the opening of Dirty Linen.  I will pass on the link when the video  is properly  finished.



c  x

Stats

My art blog has over 8,000 page views now!! Thanks for your support!!

Has anyone been with me since my first blogs around May 2010?

It would be nice to hear from you.

Check out some great pix of the opening. I am not sure where my video disappeared to.

www.news-mail.com.au
Talk soon c x

Dirty Linen opens

What a wonderful night.  There were about 50 people at the opening.  A very enthusiastic group.
Terrific music, by the band - 'Tabletop Lamps". 3 Nazzari's sold , 4 Turner, 2  McCue, 2 Hutton.

The artist books were very popular. There was a diverse display.

Some folk stayed on for dinner. A fabulous day.

My videos are fairly hopeless and I wasn't able to get much footage...Too busy!!. I'm posting a small video  for Ryan. Fortunately Brad got a lot of footage.  I can't wait to see it.

Dirty Linen will be open Saturday and Sunday 10 - 2pm, this weekend and next weekend.

Drop in!!!  c x

Opening Dirty Linen

It's the big day...the opening of Dirty Linen.  I have a lot to do, including shopping for nibbles and wine.  At 10.30 I have an interview with radio 4bu. 

I have been getting some great publicity thanks to Jess (creative regions) and Brad (ABC Open).  Jess even dropped some flyers around town yesterday.

This project is part of the wonderful Crush Festival.

Ryan Nazzari....everyone is buzzing about seeing some of your work in the flesh!!

I better get going....much to do!!  Better write a short speech!  Pics coming tomorrow!  Cheers c x

Acquittal

I spent all day on an acquittal.  It was quite frustrating as I still have a few things to do  before the opening of Dirty Linen.  Two interviews coming up tomorrow and one Thursday. Busy, busy thanks to Jess and Brad.

The opening of Dirty Linen is another wonderful CRUSH event.
A special feature at the Dirty Linen opening will be works by WA artist Ryan Nazzari !!  Fantastic works!!

c  x

One handmade book

After many hours, I have finished the first of my handmade books for the exhibition at Dirty Linen this Thursday.

It is a small book  about 15cm sq and it has an embossed cover.   It has five digital prints of  " Little Monas"-(Mona Lisas).  These were produced purely for fun.  The images were taken from  photos  of a doll in my collection.

c x

Getting ready

I have a lot to do these last few days leading up to the opening of Dirty Linen.  I spent the morning on my small handmade books. They are very labour intensive.

Brad (ABC Open)and Jess(Creativeregions) called in to help me finish setting up for the opening.   Brad took control of the lighting for the exhibition and has the goddesses bathed in a warm but mysterious glow. Their shadows are etched on the  surrounding walls and roof.  Very interesting. A huge improvement on the two rows of stark fluorescent lights.  Thanks so much Brad and Jess. You are wonderful!!.

I spent the afternoon with Clinton, discussing a few ideas I have for the new year.  In the meantime he has the exhibition he is curating to  fine tune for December. He is working like a Trojan to get this very interesting project "Just Ideas" up and running.
He showed me the fantastic works he has of the WA artist Ryan Nazzari...Ryan's dolls are  my favourites. I will post some pictures in the future if Ryan gives his consent.

I spent a productive evening with Susan Hutton, who is staying over tonight to catch a few of the Crush Festival special movies.  She saw Jane Eyre tonight. I loved the book.

After a huge storm, we settled in to arrange her Flickr and Blog accounts. It is all systems go now!

Till soon! c x

Artspoken

Artspoken seems to have been a very succesful event...actually there is more to come tomorrow.  I made a couple of connections at the art market today and will be looking forward to some interesting projects developing from that. 

Judy leaves early in the morning and I will be catching up with Trevor Spohr and Susan Rogers from Gataker's beautiful Artspace in Maryborough. Apparently it is just going from strength to strength.

Trevor and Susan will be calling in to Dirty Linen. I would like them to see some of my large paintings from the Rhapsody series.  It will be great to hear the latest from Maryborough and hopefully news of Elizabeth and Patrick from MavisBank.

My stats tonight say I have had 7777 pageviews.  This is great, but I would love to hear from you every so often.
Talk soon...c x

Suburban Goddess

The SG installation is looking pretty good in my gallery despite the small area.  There are a few pieces I have to find to complete some of the works... they will be in my back shed somewhere.

The curator of the exhibition I was in recently...'Collective Insites' - Judy Barrass is coming to stay with me while she is attending the Artspoken Conference in Bundaberg. There will be an Arts Market on Thursday to provide a venue at which artists can mingle with delegates.  The aim is to direct services more closely appropriate to the district.

I have a stall with Clinton, Catherine and Susan.   It should be quite interesting.

Talk soon   c x           PS  Welcome Lou!

New look for the gallery.

I have spent the last 2 days tidying my gallery and storage shed and getting the 'Suburban Goddesses' installed for the opening on the 20th. 

Susan arrived with her beautiful handmade books most of which are made with Japanese papers that she has collected on her many trips there.  She also bought with her several of Jennifer McDuff's fabulous art journals.  These journals tell the story of Jennifer's creative journey in a most interesting way. There is page after page of interesting writing punctuated with numerous sketches.

It is very generous of Jennifer to allow this insight into her works.

Catherine McCue will be adding to the selection of handmade books, as will Clinton and Brad and I.

Clinton has made a book of  drawings and paintings by the talented Ryan Nazzari. We  are all very keen to see these artworks in the flesh, having developed an interest in Ryan's work over the internet.

Most of the books showing will be for display only.  I believe Ryan's works will be available for purchase....be quick!!!!

I took some pics of Susan and Jenny's books, and the new look for the front of the gallery....Brad's 'Dirty Linen' T-shirt.  It looks great in the window!   c x

Dirty Linen

I am setting up the 'Suburban Goddess' installation in my gallery.  It has never been publically displayed in Bundaberg till now.

The opening of the renamed gallery...'Dirty Linen' will feature in the Bundaberg Crush Festival
program.

Thanks must go to Brad for some clever promotional designs.....the Dirty Linen t-shirt and the cheeky Dirty Linen underpants.!   They have caused a bit of a stir already!

I hope in the next year that Dirty Linen will be a focal point for some challenging programs and artforms.

With several of us keen to develop our video production skills I envisage  some very interesting projections coming up.   We will be looking to our 'guru' Brad Marselllos  (ABC Open Wide Bay) to get us started.  I think it will be a bit like opening up Pandora's Box.  Can't wait!

Jess (Creative Regions) took Susan and I to Childers for 'Vino & Clay Surprises'. - a Crush event. One's entry fee purchased a beautiful pottery goblet.  There was a great turnout for the event...about 70 people.  An abundant  feast  with copius flagons of wine  was provided.

The breaking open of the pre-fired Saggars from their rigid carcases was an exciting event....a bit like pillaging an ancient Egyptian tomb for its mummified  treasures. Some beautiful pottery pieces emerged.

To top it off Susan won the raffle!   She took home two elegant white pottery goblets.

Another busy day today in the gallery.

Pencil the opening of Dirty Linen in to your diary.  Hope to see you there!

Till soon.  c x

Handmade books

I have spent the evenings making covers for handmade books for the Dirty Linen opening. It's not far off and I have so much to do.


C x

Clinton

I dropped in on Clinton yesterday to catch up.  He was looking really well after his operation.  I'm so happy that he is doing some painting again.  He has been very generous painting a cat for each of the artists involved in his upcoming 'Just Ideas' exhibition. Each one has been painted specifically for each artist and is given free of charge.  Nice one Clinton!! Fantastic cats!

He has a great list of participating artists including artists from as far away as London and Hawaii.  His show will be in December.   More details soon.

My new gallery...'Dirty Linen' will open  soon  as part of Bundaberg's  fabulous 'Crush" Festival.
For the opening I will be showing an exhibition of  'Suburban Goddess' -  an installation in the main gallery and artists books by several artists in the front shop.

Check out the following link for a programme of the 'Crush' events.

http://bundaberg.qld.gov.au/feature/crush-festival-2011/crush-festival-programme

I will be calling in on Jess at Creative Regions today to confirm details of opening times etc.  It's going to be an exciting few weeks!

I'm attaching some pictures from my travels over the next few weeks.  Here is one of my favourite works in the Louvre.
c x

Frida Kahlo and Diego Riviera

I travelled to Chichester today to see an exhibition of Frida Kahlo and Diego Riviera's work. It was a great  exhibition. It had about 12 of Frida's fantastic paintings. There were also prints and drawings and some memorabilia.  I hadn't realised how small some of her works were. Much of the works had been painted with very fine brushes. There was an incredible amount of finely detailed work.



Her paintings are stunningly beautiful. Very rich.  Diego Ithink is better known for his political murals which must be quite amazing to see.

Another treat for me at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester was
the inclusion in the exhibition of several photograpihic
portraits of Frida by Nikolas Muray.    Absolutely superb!

The Pallant House Gallery is a gem! I was pleased I had travelled so far to visit. Till soon C x

Home

I will be travelling home this week. Arriving October 2 after a long flight and train trip.  I have completely worn out one of the 2 pairs of shoes I took with me.  I have covered quite some kilometres. I went to the Tate Modern a few days ago...a bit disappointing I thought.  I must be  a spoilt brat!   Maybe it's art overload?  Anyway I did see some Picassos and Dubuffet, Schwitters and Balthus works that were interesting.

After seeing their Jackson Pollock work....it made me realise how lucky we are to have the magnificent 'Blue Poles' at NGA.

I went to the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, where there was an interesting collection of contemporary works.  Lots of plaster over chicken wire there.  (not my favourite form of sculpture).

My favourite work there was the work created with flouro tubes. You will see it on the following link:
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/current/sculpture_installation_views.htm      amongst other examples from the exhibition.  It was a very playful piece.

You can hire the gallery  there for a mere 47,000 pounds a week! So there's a thought!

The gallery itself is superb.  Each gallery space, of which there are 14, has an attendant who will talk to you about the artwork on display.   It has a very friendly atmosphere.

The exhibition of slabs of rock on metal stands was beautiful, and with small wire crosses on their tops, they evoked the mountainous landscape.....landscapes I have been travelling through recently.

Talk again soon. c x

Back to London

I am back in London after a whirl wind trip around Italy, taking in all of my favourite places. On the way home we stopped over in Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. It was an extraordinary experience.

This is a view from Gornergrat in the Swiss Alps...3089m...looking over to the Matterhorn, (under cloud).  Photos taken by my son and I stitched them together to make this panorama. An amazing place.

Today I visited the British Museum to see an exhibition - "Treasures of Heaven" - saints, relics and devotion in medieval Europe.  A superb collection. I'm loving London!  

Till soon. c x

Rome

Friday night Alan and I will arrive in Rome. It brings back so many memories of the time my mother and I travelled to Italy. It was so special. We often talk about it. Capri, Lake Como, Venice...and getting lost in Rome one night after visiting St Peters again. So proud of ourselves when we finally found our way back to our accommodation...thanks to a very few Italian words we knew and some very helpful locals. It was just a wonderful adventure! Wish you were here Mum!! c x

Paris

I have fallen in love with Paris. What a fabulous city. Lots of wonderful galleries to visit. Lunches in the park beneath the Eiffel Tower. Walks by the Seine. Markets, open air cafes, beautiful parks full of people enjoying Paris. Fabulous!

c x

Video of Jip

I have so many people asking me about Brad Marsellos's video of Jip, that I thought I should share it again. It is a fantastic story. Thanks again Brad!!

cx

The accidental artist from ABC Open Wide Bay on Vimeo.

London

It's wonderful to be here in London!! The weather is fabulous and I have been touring around all of the usual tourist spots with Alan and yesterday by myself. The rail system is so fabulous and I am only 20 minutes to the centre of London.

I'm going to explore Hitchin(where Alan is living) today. It is a rather quaint suburb.

Packing for Paris tomorrow via the Eurostar train!
Two hours to Paris!

Talk soon. C x

Keith Stewart's amazing videos

Take a little time to look at this wonderful video, produced sound and all, completely from scratch. Keith is obviously incredibly talented.

On Youtube, Keith is known as 'Unknown Zone'.

As video is becoming a bigger part of our art practice, we from the soon to be opened...'Dirty Linen', will be keen to see where Keith goes on his interesting journey.

Having upgraded all his software to the latest available, we are sure to see some very slick videos in 2012.

It is going to be a great year ahead.

On my way to Brisbane tomorrow....London on Saturday!!

A photo portrait of Clinton.

I hope Clinton likes this photo. I think it is the best portrait of him that I have done to date.

Brad Marsellos & Jip

http://vimeo.com/27991851              Check out  this video created by Brad Marsellos from ABC Open Wide Bay...it's absolutely brilliant!!  Great job Brad.   Keep them coming!

Hint:  If your video stops and starts,  Start it and then pause it.  It will stop playing, but it  will still be downloading.  Leave it to download for a couple of minutes, then play.

The accidental artist from ABC Open Wide Bay on Vimeo.

Pineapple bandit

We had such a great time on Sunday. Good company,  delicious food, plenty of wine and champagne. And out of the blue there arrived a most interesting woman called Gypsy who provided everyone with a pineapple to take home. It was quite bizarre, but we hope it happens again!  It was such a Queensland thing!  We are  truly blessed!!

Gypsy held a captive audience, which she regaled  with wondrous stories about crop-picking, goats and gladioli!

Sue Anderson came along.  She had recently won a photographic competition with a brilliant work about multiculturalism.  Great job Sue!  We were delighted for you.

We also  had some artworks on display that were by a local indigenous girl, Chernee Sutton. She is incredibly talented and only 14 years old.  She has exhibitions coming up everywhere including Parliament House. She has only been painting about a year and she is just skyrocketing to dizzying heights.   There's a girl to watch.  And she is just lovely to boot!

Later in the day, Brad Marsellos from ABC Open, took some great black and white portraits. I will have to find out what settings he used for those great pics.

Clinton had his portrait taken too.

Talk soon!   I'm packing!   C X

Last days of gallery 39

Attached are some pictures of a really fun Sunday in the gallery.   I'm trusting 'Dirty Linen' will provide more in the future.

Crucifix

Clinton gave me some fabric flowers. I used them to refurbish this crucifix that  made nearly 20 years ago.

The work was inspired by the 'Vision of Christ on the Cross' from Dante's Divine Comedy.  I created many pieces in response to that poetic work..... many of which were crucifixes.

And....great news.......I have a comment!!!  See below in the hand made books post.     Thanks Pamela, very much.

Party today.  I will post some photos this av.  See you then! c x

Hello!

Hello?  Anybody out there going to talk to me today?  I'd like it if you did!  Do you like my little book?

Hand made artist's books

Last night I spent my time cutting out the covers for some hand made books I want to have ready for the opening of 'Dirty Linen'. The little  book pictured is only 13 x 14 cm in size. It is called 'Little Monas' - (Mona Lisas) and it only has about six pages.

You can see how I have constructed the covers.  I have used embossed wallpaper. Once the cover is dry I will fold and paste down the edges and cover what's left with a heavy marbled paper.

Make two covers,  arrange torn prints in order, produce title page.  Use a punch to make holes for ribbon.

'Bingo'!!  You have a hand made artists book!

Clinton curates a show

Clinton is 'on a roll', with an exhibition he is curating, really taking shape. He said on Facebook:

thanks everyone i have 47 artists for the " just ideas " group show in December:) the boards will be sent to you all on Monday and list of artist are in my notes. Lets blow bundaberg away and i thank you all for breathing new life in the wide bay area! All good:)

He is giving artists small canvas boards (10cm sq) to produce a work on.   He is spending his own money on the boards and postage and even tells me that a small commission will be taken for the gallery on any sales. Prices will be very low.

He has lots of Brisbane artists involved as well as some from further afield. Some overseas artists too.

If he wants me to, I will photograph each work so we can run a Youtube video catalogue while the show is on.

Dates in December are to be confirmed. Should be fun! A great show for my gallery the re-invented 'Dirty Linen'.  And just in time for Christmas.

Great job Clinton.  c x