Projections of the Past

What a great night!  the event attracted about 300 people and received much favourable comment.  The threatening rain did not arrive.
Thanks to Brad And Steve for your support and assistance,  and Greg as well.

The 'Projections of the Past' project was initiated by the Bundaberg City Council.  I was engaged to develop the project. It was part of the celebrations of Bundaberg  becoming a city one hundred years ago.  The event was held in the Bundaberg CBD at Buss Park.

On the evening I had both the historical video and a second video playing in different areas of the park.  The Boardgames video I produced a couple of months back.

I'm so happy that things went well and I had some wonderful comments from so many folk.

Dinner out with friends topped off a brilliant day.   cx

Above:  My good friend Brad(Right) and new friend Steve.  They helped me so much.  Below is a still looking at the historical projection on the brick wall. Also below is a very short video that captured images of both projections.

 

 

Bundaberg Centenary celebrations

Saturday night will be a momentous occasion for me, as I will be presenting  Projections of the Past: a selection of historical photographs from the Library  archives.

These images will be projected onto the side of the Civic Centre, which coincidentally was the site for the first projection Brad and I did two or three years ago.

I have been having problems again with the video hanging soon after it starts... and I get a black screen. .  I think it's because my Apple, and Adobe Photoshop gear doesn't want to mix with Windows Movie Maker.  However, I seem to have converted the file to a Quicktime movie and things are going along nicely at present.

It would be more sensible for me to stick with one editing program, but each of the three programs I use have their own unique features.  I use Windows Movie Maker for very simple videos, Adobe Premiere and Movie Plus6 .  Of the three I find MoviePlus 6 the most user-friendly, and it has more features.

Tomorrow I just have to join a few film clips together and I will be ready for  the showing.

I am hiring a larger projector for this occasion. 5500lumens will be better than the 3500 lumens of my projector.

I'm happy that Brad is on deck for this presentation.  He is very resourceful and will be an asset, should there be any dramas....and of course he is funny, and  a good friend.

There is the possibility of rain on Saturday evening, in which case, we will move into the Civic Centre.  The show must go on!!! I hope you can be there.  cx

Attached is a picture  of one of Bundaberg's beautiful old buildings, that has been converted to a backpackers facility.

Beautiful Brisbane

Even more news from The Edge

My week has been filled with long walks to The Edge…down by the river, where the 'Biomechanical Pelicans' live. Long spiky lizards abound there in the scrub, watching your every move…still as statues unless you come too close. Kids call them 'Frillys', though there is nothing Frilly about them. They should be called 'Spikys'.  I like lizards. As I child I used to keep Blue Tongued lizards.  I was a strange child.

The river is full of charming River Hoppers… small  ferries that you  can hop on and off at various docks along the Brisbane River.  The big City Cats (catamarans) glide silent and serene across the glistening water against the big city backdrop and rugged cliff faces.   I feel the temptation to paint those cliff faces, but immediately dismiss that idea as ridiculous…I am no longer  a painter.

River noises are muted by the never ending drone of traffic.  It spoils the ambience of this otherwise  picturesque scene.  There is the constant sound of heavy breathing of the ubiquitous joggers  as they pound the  riverside pavements in droves, intermixed with the ardent lycra clad streamlined helmeted bike riders, who all appear to be training for the Tour de France.  One must be as alert as a lizard on and around the bikeways or one is likely to get skittled!!

Seriously though, the Southbank walk and bikeways are a great asset and allow for interesting outings…and I love Brisbane.

Days at The Edge can swing between great and frustrating.  Great when I have learnt something new.  Frustrating when I realise how much I don't know.  I will persevere.    c x

 

Amon Tobin

  

Check out that link to see a most amazing projection extravaganza!    cx   Thanks to Dan Cook for showing this video last week.

More news from The Edge

Tuesday was a treat for me. The morning, I spent sampling some of the many software programs available for people to use.  Top of the range versions…..so intimidating!  Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Final Cut Pro, After Effects and so on.   The computer screens are completely covered in icons.
It made my day when I was able to rotate an object across the screen in Adobe After Effects!!!

In the evening, I was able to attend a wonderful lecture by Dan Cook, who has created projections for the Opera House,  Vivid and many other amazing projects.

Dan showed us some videos of the outstanding projects that people around the world have done.  So inspiring!


Dan told us the history to date of projections and also provided some very useful practical advice too.
This lecture is to be followed up by a couple of workshops, where we will be building prototype laser projectors, for mapping small objects.

I can see where my art practice is heading!

On the occasional evening that I am home early in the evening,  this is the view of Brisbane that I am fortunate to enjoy from my son's apartment by the river.  

Sometimes I think I am dreaming!!!


Till soon,      Cx

The Edge

Sunday morning arrived and I had the short flight to Brisbane.  I was curious to  see from high up in the air,  if the rivers were still muddy brown,  churned up as they had been by recent flooding.  The land is very forgiving it seems, because all appeared  to be in order.....for now.

Silver spangled rivers gently meandered towards a sparkling sea on a glorious Queensland morning. 'Beautiful one day-perfect the next.' as the saying goes.

On Monday, my first meeting was with the the Edge's boss, Daniel Flood, after 12, so I had arranged to meet the very talented photographer, Keith Carey in the morning.  We had a very nice time sipping our coffees on the river bank, and chatting about the possibilities of Keith  exhibiting at Dirty Linen some time in the future.

(That upside down elephant sculpture is growing on me.)

In the afternoon, Daniel gave me the grand tour of The Edge's brilliant facilities, which include everything a technology geek like myself could possibly dream of, from a huge room full of massive Apple computers, to sound studios, to auditoriums and so much more.  All accessible to  the public at very little , or no cost.   Their goal, simply stated, is to promote new technologies and also to support scientific endeavour..

Daniel and I discussed  what was possible for The Edge to provide for me in the way of tuition.  the outcome of that meeting was very positive, and I will come away a great deal more skilled than I have been in the past.  This is a wonderful opportunity for me, thanks to 'The Edge', and the Flying Arts organisation.

I am keen to catch up with Flying Arts Jenny Jones and co soon.

More news tomorrow.       cx

Off to Brizvegas!!

I will be on an early flight to Brisbane tomorrow, to start my residency at The Edge on Monday.  It is going to be an exciting fortnight.

I have spent the day on the computer as always.   I am trying to  finalise  my video for the Bundaberg Centenary celebrations   which will occur a few days after my return from Brisbane.....cutting it fine!

The video is coming along quite nicely.  I have had to access the library archives for this project.  Much of the historical material has been damaged even before it has been recorded, which is a shame.

Anyway, I will have to make do. I will let you know how things go in Brisbane.


Talk art soon.  cx

Re post

http://christineaturner.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/honours-for-alan.html

I am just re posting this blog link, as my son Alan is in Afghanistan again, doing a wonderful job!    This was a post about his achievements in 2011.  We can't wait to have him safely home.  He made a brief appearance on a recent episode of  Foreign Correspondent.

Latest digital works

A beautiful friend posed for me a couple of days ago.  Attached is one of the striking images that came out of that photoshoot.

Wide Bay - High Desert Project

The Wide Bay - High Desert exhibition is currently on display at the Childers Art Gallery (ChArts). Four artists from Las Cruces, New Mexico and four artists from the Wide Bay region have come together to create a fabulous exchange exhibition.

Each artist produced four works, two of which have been retained in the home gallery, and two sent to the distant gallery.

On Saturday October 12th we will celebrate the opening of the two exhibitions, simultaneously.  There will be a Skype linkup if all goes well.  A blog has been maintained over the course of the exhibition, and provides some interesting reading. Below are the four images I produced for the  project. I feel very privileged to be a part of this exciting project.  Congratulations also to Jenny Gilbertson, Trudie Leigo and Catherine Brenner  for organising this project.

 

'Special Selection"   Unsettled Gallery, Las Cruces, New Mexico

 

 

'Queensland Vacation' ChArts, Childers, Australia 

 

 

 

'Aussie Bush Bride' Unsettled Gallery, Las Cruces, New Mexico

 

 

'Arrival in  Paradise', ChArts, Childers, Australia 

 

 

The Edge

I was delighted today, to find out that I had won an award at this years Queensland Regional Art Awards.   I have been awarded a two week , fully funded residency at The Edge at the State Library in Brisbane.

'The Queensland Regional Art Awards is an annual visual arts prize and exhibition for established and emerging artists living in regional and remote Queensland. The program aims to highlight the wealth of creative talent located outside the capital city and provide a platform for further professional development.'  (Quote taken from Flying Arts website.)

I am so excited about this wonderful opportunity!    Check out the artworks on the QRAA link above.

Magic

There is a little magic in the air!  I feel it...and it's coming out in my work today.  I don't mean to sound over-confident or arrogant even, but most artists have felt the magic when it's there.  It's a good feeling, and works seem to arrive effortlessly when that feeling is there.

I've been making digital images today based on photographs I took  months ago of a very special friend.

The works are photographs of my friend merged with photographs of celestial charts.

New digital works

I took photos some months back of one of my friends and have been waiting patiently to process them.  I have just managed to find a few hours here and there in between the work I have to develop for the Bundaberg Centenary celebrations.

I love making these digital images...merging photographs with patterns, celestial charts, lace and so on.   My models are transformed by this process. Here is one of the recent works and some older work as well.  Let me know what you think about them.  cx

 

2012

2012

Sorry

Sorry I have been neglecting you...I have had such a busy time with projects on and special family events. I have however managed to do a little painting, which has been therapeutic!   I won't be keeping that up for long....Video is really taking over!

But so much to learn.   Isn't it wonderful?!

I think I might buy a tripod with an extension  arm...I might try some stop animations.  Yeah!

More Foundry photos

These photos  courtesy of Shelley Pisani from Creative Regions via Fb.  It was Shelley who came up with the idea  of  projecting onto the foundry during the launch of Creative Regions ' The Foundry' website.  The launch dinner party was at the H2o bar across the river from the foundry. 

 

A photo above shows Shelley Pisani and a projection I designed for the entrance of the H2o bar.

 

Thanks Shelley for your vision and allowing me the opportunity to design the projection and see the project come to fruition.  It was a great night!

Whalesong 2013

It is always with a feeling of trepidation that I face another evening of digital projections.  It is so easy for things to go wrong....and one can end up looking like an idiot!  Art, I tell  people, is a leveller.....We can experience the very essence of the creative process one day, and enjoy the feeling of elation that comes with that, but tomorrow can bring imperfection. It can bring a sense of failure.

In spite of  the failures, I  prefer to look forward to tomorrow's ventures, hopefully having learned something from the past.  Tomorrow is a new day and I want to find something special in it!

The Whalesong projection I had produced, was displayed without a problem, at Hervey Bay,  last night.  Great evening!!

Now I can focus on the Bundaberg  centenary celebrations in November.

Congratulations to students Jess and James for their outstanding additions to the evening's schedule. Jess with a short video featuring whales and James with the music he had written  especially to feature  three very interesting instruments made of recycled materials.

 

The big inflatable screen went up.

 

My projection for Whalesong.

 

 

Jess....talented Media student stands in front of the huge screen ( Centre left.)

 

 

 James, young composer extraordinaire plays the seahorse. 

Another deadline

I had not long finished the Foundry project, when I was offered a role in the Whalesong event at Hervey Bay.  This project is part of the 'animating spaces' strategy and involves Artslink  and many other arts organisations. 

Click here to find out more about this great festival.

I am contributing a video projection for this event and offering support to a couple of very talented students.  One composing music to be played on some rather interesting  musical instruments made of recycled materials.  Instruments inspired by a children's drawing workshop that occurred some time ago.

I am hoping to get copies of some of the drawings, so that I can incorporate them into my video.

The other student is also producing a video to go with the newly composed music. 

So all in all, an interesting project.  Opening on the 24th of August.(Next week!!)

cx

The Foundry projections

Two pictures taken from my digital projection a week or two back.   It's hard to convey just how big this foundry building is. 

It must be over 3 storeys high.

You can see a crescent moon above the building in the picture below.  It was a wonderfully successful projection.  I wish they all went that well.  cx  Even more pictures coming!

The Foundry digital projection

The day had come at last.  This was the day that I would see my latest project come to fruition.  A video bombing of the Bundaberg Foundry, to be viewed from the other side of the Burnett River at the H20 bar and Restaurant.

Later that night there was a special dinner there  showcasing produce from local providers and special tributes to some of the very innovative and successful of the local farming families...and of course, the launching of another project by Creative Regions, a new website...http://thefoundry.net.au....a website championing local content.

I have had several months to prepare videos for this project.

After  our test run early in the week, I realised I had some last minute changes to make to the videos.  Having made the changes I found on a couple of occasions, that the videos stopped soon after they started  and remained stuck.  I remade the  videos and they tested as fine, but I was not 100% confident with them....especially with the large scale of this particular project.

The projection went off without a hitch, I am very pleased to say.  Pictures coming.     cx

PS  It seems I am having problems combining PC generated files with Apple equipment.  Things are looking better for  my video making after a defrag, graphics card driver update and fixing the virtual memory setting.

Unfortunately, I didn't get many photos of the projection, as I was busy.  You can see from the bottom two photos, how the projection was improved when the Foundry lights were switched off for 15 minutes.  Thanks so much to the foundry management for allowing that.   cx

 



 

 

 

Digital Imaging

My recent days have been hours  and hours in front of the computer screen, attempting to move small picture files  along a path and across time.    It sounds easy enough,  but my results are inconsistent and I can see that it is going to take time and lots of practice.

I started producing digital works in 1998 when I had been confined to home for a period of time.   My late husband Alan arrived home one day with a thoughtful gift -  Corel 3 digital imaging software.   

I had found a new obsession.

As simple as that software was, compared to the packages I use today,  it still took me over six months to get reasonably confident with it. 

Digital imaging  has become the most important aspect of my work combined with a developing interest in photography and in video production for digital projection.

 

A still from the 'Cogs' animated video I am currently producing.    cx

Mary Poppins Festival

The Mary Poppins Festival happens each year  in Maryborough, as it is the birthplace of Mary Poppins author, PL Travers.

Maryborough is about a 1 1/2 hours trip, South of Bundaberg.

Trevor Spohr (Art and Cultural Development Officer)  from Gatakers Artspace, had asked Brad Marsellos and me to do a video projection for the festival.

Unfortunately Brad was not available for this Saturday appointment, but I went along anyway and had a great time.

It was a beautiful  evening...Irish band playing, lots of delicious foods and wines. Art and crafts. And of all things a magnificent little pirate ship on wheels accompanied by four pirates.

That little ship had come with its owners from the Sunshine Coast to be part of today's festivities. It would be such a treat for young children to take rides in the ornate ship, ferried around by four scary, but funny too, pirates.

Apparently, people enjoyed the projections I had prepared, so it was a very successful evening.

I had used umbrellas as my main theme...very plain and geometric shapes.  Often, less can be more.

I was lucky to be able to spend time later that evening,  with the charming and friendly (as it turned out),  pirates.

Talk art soon!

Bird spotting

I went bird spotting at the Botanical Gardens today.  It helps me to get to  get to know my new camera...and I love birds too.

I used the long lens today.

It was a glorious day.   There were many families at the Gardens.

 

The little duck in this picture was drying his wing, standing on one foot.  I think I was very lucky to get this shot.  cx

Adam James David Anderson

'Port of the Red City'


My friend and fellow artist Adam had his exhibition this evening at BRAG.  It was a very well attended exhibition, and very well received.. Adam's talented sister Julia provided musical entertainment, whilst the art lovers soaked up this unique experience.

'Haifa is a city as sleepy as it is ancient, known also as the Red City for its communist character and the philosophies of its inhabitants. The works in this exhibition convey the states the artist endured while living in the Red City, giving an uneasy, relentlessly restless account of his life, which is echoed in the city itself. The exhibition includes paintings, mixed media images and jewellery - all supported by photographs of the Red City and the artists' life in it.'  (Quote from the BRAG invitation.)

 

Adam is an artist to watch.  He will go far.  Make sure you don't miss this show.   Great job Adam!!! cx

 

 

Computer woes

In two weeks I have a few digital projections to provide
for a special dinner at the H20 Bar & Restaurant. Creative Regions is having the dinner to celebrate the launch of a new website for the Foundry project.

' It is a website that we have just had go live yesterday that encourages people to upload local stories – images, documents or films.  We named the site The Foundry as it is a place where information is collated and "forged" into new arts projects.  http://thefoundry.net.au '. Quote from Shelley Pisani, Creative Producer from Creative Regions.

So, of course,  my PC decided to break down, and all I had was a black screen.  Not a very nice scene at this point.  But luck was on my side this time and a faulty RAM stick was replaced and I am back in action!

The picture above is of a type of 'Goddess of the field', and will be part of a projection pertaining to the smallcrops industry in and around Bundaberg. The overlay on Brigid's face is an aerial photograph of parts of Bundaberg.    cx

Bunderground

'Bunderground' happened last night! 

Bunderground was an event incorporating art, music and video...the brainchild of Brad Marsellos.  The project was immediately embraced by Jess Marsellos and me, and was developed to show at my  Dirty Linen Artspace.

Bunderground had 3 aspects...music, art and video. It showcased works by young, emerging musicians and filmmakers together with works of art and video by myself and several other senior artists and photographers.  (One musician came from as far away as New York!!.)

It was an exciting night of music, art, digital projections and an amazing short film by Joe Saxby and Tyler Sajko...young Bundaberg filmmakers.

The depth of talent  of Bundaberg's young emerging creatives is quite remarkable.

Can't wait for Bunderground 2!! Cx

 

Brain Drain - from New York, performed at Dirty Linen

Clinton's show

My friend Clinton Cross had another exhibition of small contemporary works on paper at my Dirty Linen Artspace.  He was quite successful once more but a bit short of  a sellout like his previous show.  There were some delightful small works and somehow a huge 6m x about 2m painting on paper by Jennifer McDuff slipped past the measuring stick. This of course pleased everybody, as Jennifer is one of our district's favourite artists.

All week I have been busy on the computer creating video files for projection for a special dinner coming up next month.  The venue has changed from the local Catholic  college to the H20 bar and restaurant on the Burnett River.  The videos relate to the small crops industry and so I started the week with  a trip to the markets to photograph the fruit and vegetables.

 

 I am combining these photos with some of the aerial shots I took a while back, and of course Brigid will star again. 

There is a big weekend coming up with Bundaground, curated by Brad Marsellos.  I might catch you up with that story tomorrow.  Till soon.  cx

More video projections

I recently finished a short video for Maryborough's Mary Poppins festival, that is coming up soon.  I kept the designs very simple.  I took  the photos of my best, most interesting umbrella.  It's quite large.  Once I collected  all the photos, I converted them to black and white and then I inverted them all.  I built up many layers  to achieve the results seen  here.  Simple designs work well for projections. 

I have a new projector and I'm not feeling confident about its ability to provide the results I want.  I might ring Dell tomorrow and see what they can advise. Perhaps I have missed some information in the manual.

I am working towards another evening of projections at a local college.  Tell you about
that next time.

Talk art soon!  cx  

Video workshop

Last Friday we had a film night at BRAG about the history of video. Presented by Rhys and Tara from dLux Media Arts.  This was followed by a two day weekend workshop, which covered the basics of video production and some of the theory behind it.  
This was a very stimulating workshop and we are all keen to  work with Tara and Rhys again.   Brad and I projected some images on Sunday evening.

I'm waiting for the delivery of my new digital projector!  Exciting!