Website

I make up to four personal websites a  year and have just completed the latest.It is  so easy with the software you can get these days.  I have used  Serif Webplus 4 here.  That version has been superseded many times now and I'm sure their latest version would be very good.

I usually make my websites from scratch, adding all the links and so on, but this time I used a template.  It is certainly easier and quicker using templates.

The picture to the right is a screen capture. If you are interested to visit my website....go to:

www.christineturner.com.au

Gatakers Artspace video bombing 2013

Gatakers Artspace held a Flood fundraiser  and this resulted in a fabulous evening of entertainment, which included video bombing by Brad Marsellos and me.

We  learnt quite a bit from this session...our first more public engagement. 

Dirty Linen 2013

Dirty Linen Art Space

 

Hi all, Just letting you know that Dirty Linen will be open for the remainder of the year, but on a reduced scale due to commitments.
The gallery will open 10- 2pm, the first Sunday of each month unless otherwise advised.

There are three or four exhibitions coming up. You will be advised about them shortly.

... Please note that Brad Marsellos and Christine Turner will be presenting a video bombing on the facade of Gatakers Artspace this Saturday night, 23rd Feb.

This will be very exciting and will coincide with other presentations, music etc, all monies to benefit the flood appeal.

Great chance to see a variety of different performances, and an opportunity to see Jennifer Mc Duff's exhibition that is currently on show at Gatakers! cx

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery After Flood party.

Tonight I attended a dinner initiated by the staff at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery (BRAG).  The evening was about bringing together artists and other interested parties  after all the negativity of recent weeks.  It was a great night, and we artists, expressed interest in attending future events of this kind.

The powers that be, at BRAG, have conducted a number of fact finding missions over recent months, and really seem to have been listening to what the artists  have been saying over a number of issues.

I personally feel encouraged by the stance the staff at BRAG are taking and the support they are offering the local artists.

Great flood song and film clip. Check it out!

http://youtu.be/sGZ50wR2XAc







This is a great film clip and song by Jessie Lovejoy!

Eight days from Australia Day - ABC Wide Bay Qld - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Eight days from Australia Day - ABC Wide Bay Qld - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Photos by ABC Open Wide Bay Producer,  Brad Marsellos.

Art and Duck talk

I'm hoping to get this blog more focused on art again, as things seem to be settling down  a bit now across the flood ravaged areas.  Some people are returning to their homes in North Bundaberg now, which seemed to be one of the worst affected areas.. 

I just called by Phil and Marlies's art framing shop, and the tilers had about a quarter of the tiles down.  The shop is looking superb. New light grey paint, new tiles, new decorative windows, nice dark red accent.  The shop will be rearranged and ready for a fresh start.  Sounds like time for a party....almost - have to get all that art paper back to the shop, from Dirty Linen.    The papers and books and some other vulnerable materials had been transferred to DL for safe keeping and to prevent them getting contaminated with mould spores.

I am thinking we will have a party at DL this weekend coming as many artists and friends have indicated the desire to get together.  There are many issues to address and the need to de-brief after the storm , the  flood, the Bundaberg Bohemians show and so on.  We also need to discuss the future of Dirty Linen, which is in some doubt.

To lighten these more sombre issues, there is bound to be some light-hearted chat and even some concerns  about Brad Marsellos's plan to bring a 5 story yellow rubber duck from it's home in Sydney Harbour, to our Burnett River, to bring a smile to the faces of many and to put forward the notion that the river won't beat us...which is a fact!! 

Go to the following link for Duck information.  Small rubber ducks are appearing all over town.  See if you can spot one. I saw two today!


https://www.facebook.com/#!/BringTheDuckToBundy?fref=ts

 

 

 

Give the duck a go!...and talk art soon!   c x

Exclusion Zone Clean-Up | Bundaberg NewsMail

Exclusion Zone Clean-Up | Bundaberg NewsMail   

Click that link for some amazing photos of the exclusion zone (North Bundaberg), which sustained the most devastating flood and storm damage.

Volunteering

I had noticed last night the SES were calling on Facebook, for wheelbarrows at a site near the river, and so I decided to volunteer my wheelbarrow with myself attached.

Travelling to North Bundaberg can be a little different every time you drive there. what is a constant, is that you will always be in a long line of traffic. The route is from the old bridge, turn left and follow the battered riverside for a couple of kilometres, thus circumnavigating North Bundaberg. Head East to the highway and a kind policeman or SES worker will indicate that you must turn right to North Bundaberg. The need to travel around the outskirts of North Bundaberg is because of the severe road damage North Bundaberg  sustained. Potholes, massive sinkholes and missing bitumen have required many of the main roads to be closed, as was the Tallon Bridge that had a huge hole in it and required immediate closure.

Travelling towards North Bundaberg, I sail past homes and businesses that had not been seriously affected by the storm and flood. Of course, when you soon come across the small house that has floated down Queen Street and established itself on a busy corner, you know things are not right!

Finally in North Bundaberg, I parked at my friends Phil and Marlies's high set house. They had been holidaying with relatives in Germany when about a metre of water gushed through the lower floor of their high set home, swallowing up everything there including some very valuable art books.

Their art framing business, Art Plus, had suffered inundation also. Along with the loss of their Jeep and art van, they seem to have had more than their fair share of misfortune.

I had been amongst the volunteers that helped cleanup their properties and hopefully they will be back in action soon. The house had been cleaned out, washed with a gurney and now only awaits connection of electricity. They were lucky that their water supply had not disconnected.

Their shop has been cleaned out of damaged stock, washed with the gurney, painted and will have floors tiled hopefully for reopening early next week once some stock that had been relocated is returned.

All these miracles have happened within such a short time.

I went with my wheel barrow down to Fagg Street, which had been a visual nightmare a few days back. The dusty roadway had been narrowed by huge smelly piles of the complete contents of every house on the street. The silt sodden piles were growing everyday, awaiting removal by men driving bob cats. 

The street had been full of SES workers, police, volunteers, homeowners and their relatives and the Army. There were people delivering cakes and treats or bottles of water, gloves, disinfectants-all manner of things for the workers!! Big Potable Water trucks would drive by. Trucks sprinkling water to keep the dust down, Trucks full of drinking water, army tanks full of very fit soldiers and police vans and fire engines.

Today it was  quieter. There were only a few people about and all the rubbish piles were gone. I started to feel that things had reached a turning point...that we, together had shown that we won't give in. But that impression went out the door when later that afternoon I went to help clean out a home down by the river.

Cleanup of this property had only begun today. The owner had stipulated that everything in the house was to be disposed of.

Entering the dark house was a shocking experience. All the furniture had been tossed about and broken. Cupboards had disgorged their contents all over the floor. Rooms were exploding with broken beds, chairs, filthy pillows and blankets. The kitchen was indescribable. In fact, the entire house and it's jumbled broken contents was indescribable.

A thick layer of sticky smelly black mud covered everything.

A few volunteers had already started work, We would nod or say a quick hello. I have found that volunteers don't seem to talk to each other much. This is partly because they are trying to get the job done as quickly as possible. As well as this, there seems to be a solemnity surrounding the cleanup task. As I gathered up the chattels of a persons life, I felt moved by the experience...even haunted by it. Then to discard these chattels brutally on a heap, is quite heartbreaking.

I hang on to a couple of thoughts. One is that in a year or two, the majority of flood victims will have their lives back on track. Secondly, I think there are always interesting possibilities that come with a new start.

I learnt today, that there is still a lot of work to be done.. Hope to work with you soon!

Bundaberg's mud army | Bundaberg NewsMail

Bundaberg's mud army | Bundaberg NewsMail

Bundaberg Floods 2013

rain came with the beast-shrieking wind
waterboarding the land
until it gave in

bursting open like a poorly healed wound

and we are stuck in mud again

More floods

The rains came last week.  Tornadoes too.  Six of them. The shrieking and howling of the wind is something I will not forget.   Nor will I forget the sound of a young boy weeping for his lost toys.

We had record breaking flooding.  Now it's time to clean up.

Once again, our lives are piled up in soggy heaps of domestic detritus -  all over town.

Bohemian's show closes.

The ' Bundaberg Bohemians  not Bogans', exhibition in Brisbane has been a great success, with approximately 150  people attending the opening.  Several artworks were sold. 

With support from CreativeRegions, curators Brad and Jess Marsellos put together a very interesting exhibition. The Dirty Linen Artspace will show the exhibition on its return to Bundaberg.

Check out this link for a story about the exhibition by artsHub   http://au.artshub.com/au/news-article/news/visual-arts/bundaberg-artists-come-to-brisbane-with-bleeding-heart-193556

The Dirty Linen Artspace will reopen this Sunday 10am - 2pm. 
See you there!
 
Below:  'Boardgame for  St Francis'  My work for the Bohemians exhibition.

Flying home (before the floods)

　

　

blue haze, born of clouds, filters the untouchable dull grey-green landscape below,
…so far below

dark grey cloud shadows drift
in sync with their sudsy white companions above

trees gather and disperse
across parched earth
dun brown road scars crack and shatter
going nowhere

like the marks of a potter,
the scars run deep into clay
exposing the inner

the land deserts thirsty barren plains
deserts pinched rolling hills
deserts sun flashing golden billabongs

to reinvent itself
over and over

dividing at last
into lush fields of emerald cane

I am nearly home.

the small plane dips and slides,
rocking me gently onward.

　

New Year

2012 has been a very busy year.   Amongst other events and projects for me and Dirty Linen included  the following:

Cabinets and Curiosities,  Fledglings,   Suburban Goddess - (Pine Rivers), People are People and  Suburban Insomniac, renew - (Hervey Bay), Aboriginal Elders exhibition, Open Mind, Art and food - Beyond the Still Life (Sydney), Contemporary Works on Paper, and the current permanent display.  We also hosted the Brisbane Writers group, Crush's STREAM video event, and several workshops, private photo shoots and much more.

The way things are currently shaping up, it will be just as busy again this year.

I get just a little tired of hearing that there is not much happening in Bundaberg, and how we need to  develop the empty spaces around town and so on.  Some say Dirty Linen is too far from the central business district, in spite of the fact that DL is less than two kilometres from the Bundaberg Regional Gallery, which is right in the centre of the CBD.

We could well use more art related venues around town, but please don't forget to support Dirty Linen, which is still in its infancy.  We are producing cutting  edge digital projection events, quality exhibitions and other interesting events.  2013 will see experimental plays,  more photographic projects, and more emphasis on music and even a fashion parade, as well as lots of great art.

It's all happening here in Bundaberg at Dirty Linen.    Schedule out soon!

Till soon cx      And thankyou to our many loyal supporters.  All the best for 2013!

Xmas

Christmas was an enjoyable day on Brad and Jess's breezy balcony. A huge turkey was the main feature of a delicious banquet presented by the indefatigable Mrs Marsellos.

Clinton,  Phill and Marlies and I were the lucky guests for this occasion.  It was a very relaxing day.

We talked about the year ahead, and it appears that  Dirty Linen will have a another very busy year. Starting in January with the 'Bundaberg Bohemians not Bogans' exhibiton', curated by Brad and Jess. This exhibition will showcase the works of established artists from Bundaberg.  The exhibition will be held in Brisbane, but Brad has suggested that it also shows at DL on its return to Bundaberg.

I think this is a good idea, so stay tuned for more information.

The end of January, start of February  Di Wills will be presenting an experimental play titled 'Dead Matron's Society'.    I am very excited about this event.  It will combine  theatre and visual arts.  I hope it will be the start of many of this type of  event.

In April Brad will have an exciting photographic exhibition of new works.  This will present works that have that unique Marsellos  signature.  A treat for all.

There are  a couple of other events coming up that are yet to be finalised, so stay tuned!

Talk art soon!
cx

Most recent artwork

This is my most recent work using one of Sam's photos and lots of different textured components.  I'm quite pleased with this work and Sam likes it, which is great news!

Another image of Sam attached below.

cx

Human Ventures

The Human Ventures team who are in Bundaberg  compiling the digital stories for AFLOAT (about the floods), showed Sam and I some  techniques in stop animation yesterday.

I recorded a voice over for a short video about roses....and flood waters.  You will see it soon on this blog. It was a very pleasant and  informative afternoon.

Sam

 

I  conducted a photoshoot the other day with Sam as my model. She is a very beautiful girl.  I will probably do some more projects with Sam before she goes of to Art College next year.

An observation

The sky is shrieking with parrots having a wild night out in Bundaberg.  Swooping low over heritage rooftops  they  vanish into the  welcoming canopies of soft viridian  trees that line the CBD.  Perched safe on woody limbs, they jostle, peck and nag , their raucous moments illuminated by the ubiquitous fairy lights that appear magically at this time of year.

A chorus of parrots, claiming the CBD as their own, bow low shrieking  ugly and obscene warnings to a  scruffy wide-eyed  cat and a flea-bitten derelict - down on their luck.                       
                                                                                                                                                                                            The indignant  pair slouch off to search  for their dinners in the dusty gutters and overstuffed bins.

Meanwhile, Bundaberg is tucked up, feet up... in front of the television.

 

 

Bombing Sam

Brad and I had another productive night video bombing with pictures of our young friend Sam. She is off  to art college next year and she is sure to do very well. She is already a brilliant photographer and has been making interesting videos as well.  She made a very beautiful model for our video bombing.




We watched Sam's video under a nearly full moon.  What a treat!

Talk art soon!

On the streets

Two digital photos merged. One taken on Quay Street while video bombing last week. The other photograph is of one of my shop mannequins, Adel.

Visiting Susan

I had a couple of reasons to visit my artist friend, Susan Hutton today.   Firstly, I was picking up some  artworks on paper for display at Dirty Linen now that I am going to be opening the gallery every Sunday.

She had some lovely works I haven't seen before.  I also came home with three ceramic pieces of Susan's. They will all look wonderful in the gallery and will be interesting talking points.

I also had to take a portrait photo of Susan for an exhibition coming up at BRAG. The exhibition will feature photos of local  artists in their studios.  I have four portraits to take and have completed two already.

There are a number of very talented artists living and working in Bundaberg.  Their studios are bound to be unique  and interesting.  I will post some of my pictures after the exhibition starts.

Dead Matron's Society

Local writer Di Wills came to Dirty Linen last week to discuss a project she has been developing, titled 'Dead Matron's Society'. 

The concept: A stage play that examines a group of women 'stuck' after experiencing sudden and unexpected deaths, and how they now fill their days. The play examines the value of women's friendships, both now and beyond. 

Artists will be a part of this collaboration, and I am excited that this play will take place at Dirty Linen  in approximately 3 months.

I will work on some digital projections for this event.

Di will be blogging the experience and you can find her page at the following link:

http://deadmatronssociety.blogspot.com.au/

Back to video bombing Bundaberg!!

I love going out into the balmy Bundaberg nights with my friend Brad.  Our mission is to find a wall. a building... a special place over which  we can  project our video images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This process demands new methods of working and throws up technical challenges along the way.   Sometimes we are the only  people who will see and know a successful outcome to any given projection event.   I try to document our stories.

Contemporary Works on Paper

Dirty Linen  generated its usual buzz of excitement last Friday night.  There was another great exhibition installed at the artspace.

This time it was Contemporary Works on Paper, curated by Bundaberg artist Clinton Cross.  Interstate and local artists contributed works on paper.  Subject matter was diverse.

Seventy to eighty people attended the opening.  Clinton introduced the artist's works and then the red dots came out!  Over thirty two works were sold.  A brilliant achievement!

Thanks must go to Clinton for curating these exciting exhibitions.  He is already making plans for his next two shows!!

On Sunday, I opened the gallery from 10 -2pm and will be doing this every Sunday excluding public holidays.   I will have a permanent display of the works of established Bundaberg artists.....and. just in time for Xmas, I will be opening the small gallery at the front of Dirty Linen as a shop that will present artistic creations of many types, sculptures, fibre works, ceramics, art cards  and so on.   I hope the shop will be up and running this Sunday.  So look in between 10 and 2.

In the meantime I am formulating  ideas for my art practice in 2013, and will be finishing a large board I will be showing in Brisbane in January.

 Above, three superb drawings by Selwyn Rodda from Clinton Cross's  'Contemporary Works on     Paper' exhibition.

Till soon.  cx

Clinton's exhibition

I took a trip up to Gladstone last weekend to catch their Art awards. Bundaberg did very well capturing 5 awards over the 13 different categories! Sadly I missed out this time,but I have had my share of wins over the years and can't complain.

Clinton Cross and I have been preparing for another of the group exhibitions he has curated. This show brings together artists from interstate and New Zealand also. Hope you can come.

On Sunday, I am inviting people to come to Dirty Linen, perhaps to do a little work (writing, painting etc), have a coffee and some homemade cake....maybe join in on the new Poet's Corner. Come along and catch up with your fellow artists!

Talk art soon!! c x

Design for Sarah

 

I was recently in Alpha visiting my son Ben, his lovely wife Sarah and my gorgeous grandaughter Eden.  While I was there, Sarah asked me if I would be able to produce a design for her business cards and flyers etc.

 

I was really excited about this project.

 

I took a photo of Sarah, some of her jewellry and fabrics.   Using filters in Photoshop Elements 9, . I put together this image, which Sarah was very happy with.

 

cx

Last words on Alpha

Alpha is a town that has it's stories...no doubt, but it keeps them 'close to the chest'.

The houses here stand far apart... and silent. From brilliant blue, a powerful sun blasts down, baking the hardy weed-patched red soil of their yards. Gusts of wind play havoc with dust, dirt and leaves whirling through the gray galvanised wire yard fences that seem redundant here. Nothing holds back the dust which infiltrates everything.

There must be people behind those closed doors. Stiffly sun baked towels like colourful planks and tshirts and socks that look and feel like cardboard cutouts decorate the clotheslines. They all disappear sometime through the day, prised off the hot as hell metal lines .

Unwashed cars laze under tall leafy trees or dingey carports, recharging their batteries. Occasionally I would see a car travelling on one of Alpha's main roads. Some of these empty roads are as wide as four lane freeways.

A considerable number of the locals seem to be itinerant workers. They come and go and are forgotten. Some are teachers, like my son Ben whom I had come to visit. He is doing his 'Country Service'.

Ben takes me on a tour of notable landmarks in Alpha. It takes us half an hour. He has been here long enough now to have developed friendships and a sense of community with the locals. He has been out with 'the boys' who play hard capturing wild pigs, riding horses, shooting rifles and the like.

I visit the tourist information centre where volunteer Nola points out the marks on the building which show the heights to which three separate floods had inundated the town. She shows me a shed which houses a small collection of dusty cobwebbed museum worthy objects. Maybe one day, someone will clean them up and arrange them in some kind of display.

It's good to be home in Bundaberg tonight.




　

　

 

　

　

Capturing Alpha - Some photographs

 

 

Above: Main street Alpha (Population 400+.  630ks NW of Brisbane. Inland from Rockhampton).  I came to visit my son and his family   (Currently working in Alpha.)

 

                                                                                   Above: Railway Station Alpha

 

 

 

 Below:  Railway Station Alpha

                                                Above  Air strip Flying Doctor only. Hoon strip too by the look of it.

 

    Above: Flying Doctor's airport