Big Sky

I was thrilled to bits to learn that Brett from the Bundaberg Writer’s Club had written a wonderful song, inspired by my ‘Big Sky’ painting In the WBHD 2 exhibition here at BRAG.

Brett’s song is posted on Vimeo…Click ‘Big Sky Dreaming’ to check it out.

Thanks Brett for the great song. You are inspiring me in return!  C x

WBHD 2...another great success story for BRAG!

'Sing your song songwriter,

wrap it in a big blue sky,

you give  it back to me

tied up with ribbons and riffs.

Big sky dreaming,

sharing, 

finding meaning.'

Topsy-Turvy

My life has been a little 'topsy-turvy' of late several trips to and fro - Bundaberg to Brisbane to Bundaberg and a trip to Melbourne to look after my mother, who had been very ill.  Fortunately she is making an amazing recovery.  The doctors said her recovery was 'miraculous'!!

So I am back in Bundaberg for a while, trying to sell my home.  Sales of property in Bundaberg are down 30% apparently and I think it will take a long time to improve.  Recent floods have not helped.

The WBHD exhibition is finishing soon.  I am so happy that my 'Cane Cutter's Moon' has found a good home in New Mexico.  The work generated a great deal of interest apparently.

This work is an acrylic collage on canvas.  The surface is heavily textured as the base layer is covered with plastic doily and tablecloth squares. It is my favourite of the four works I produced for WBHD.

I really enjoyed painting this landscape, so I will probably attempt another one or two this year.  cx

Lipsticks

Digital image by Christine Turner:  A photograph of a mannequin merged with a photograph of some old lipsticks and hair curlers.

Faces

Another of the many faces of Adam Anderson.  Photography by Christine Turner.

Latest digital artwork

This work is almost finished.  I am loving making digital images these days.  I can now make a complete image on Photoshop, but I still have a lot to learn.  cx

Dancer

This is the first work to come from my latest photo shoot with Adam Anderson. Let me know if you like it.  cx

Adam Anderson

My friend Adam Anderson is a multi-talented artist. As well as painting and drawing he is becoming known for video production and his very interesting performances.
His works explore ideas relating to identity, gender, sexuality and a great deal more.  Adam's work, sometimes disturbing, opens a dialogue that is rooted deeply in our sense of self.

Adam is currently in his final year of a visual arts degree at Griffith University, Southbank.

Today I took a series of photos of Adam, as I have done several times over the last three years. As a model I find him to be patient, co-operative  and kind. ...and fun to work with.!

Attached is one of the beautiful photos that came out of the photo shoot.

Link for Adam's work;    https://www.facebook.com/adamart01

cx

Big Sky

This is 'Big Sky',  an acrylic collage on canvas, 150cm sq.  It is one of four artworks that I produced for WBHD 2.  Two of the four works were sent to the beautiful Unsettled Gallery in Las Cruces, New Mexico...(one of which was sold)...please see previous post.

Enquiries about the 'Big Sky' artwork can be made to me or to the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery.  cx

WBHD opening

The WBHD opening was at BRAG last Saturday morning at 10am, in order to link up with our Las Cruces, New Mexico counterparts.

Trudie, Jenny and their gallery assistants had the space beautifully set out.  There was a good turnout of appreciative artlovers who enjoyed the delicious appetisers and the live music while they perused the artworks.  Our Skype link up failed for the opening speeches,  but mysteriously became operative at a later stage.

I had the chance to talk via Skype to the lovely lady who purchased my work, 'Cane Cutter's Moon' seen below.

This work was my favourite of the four I have on show.  It is an acrylic collage on canvas. It was inspired by memories of the night-time cane fires that were once so prevalent around Bundaberg. Smoke haze and cane 'trash' would fill the air - the thick, dusty smell of the burn invading our senses.  Orchestration was  conducted to the sharp snaps and cursing crackles of the ravaging blood red and gold flames that whipped themselves into a frenzy, desperately penetrating the big sky. Trying to hold on.

But to no avail, the performance was soon over. Trash eventually falling to the ground, arranging itself into a fragile black veil that encompassed all.

These days, the cane is mostly cut green.

The Edge

Well, not only do I have the excitement of the WBHD exhibition, which opens later this week, but there are another couple of interesting projects coming up.  Firstly, I will be attending an induction at The Edge  to allow me to use one of their 3D printers.  This will be a bit of an adventure for me!  Fortunately my eldest son is booked in also. After he did his Science degree he achieved Honours in Physics, so I will be able to lean on him a little.

The other exciting news is that I have booked the Graydon Gallery, Newfarm, for a group exhibition early next year. You will be hearing more about these events over the coming weeks.  C x

WBHD Catalogue

Click here to view the beautiful catalogue produced at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery for the WBHD exhibition.

WBHD exchange exhibition opening

The Wide Bay High Desert exchange exhibition opening is scheduled for the end of the month! Six Aussie artists and six New Mexican artists have each produced 4 works, two of which will be sent to show in Unsettled Gallery, Las Cruces, New Mexico and two to be shown in Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery.

The two galleries will be linked via Skype for their openings which will be happening at the same time.  Click here to see BRAG's promotional publication, which features one of my works.

The artists have been finishing their works and packing them securely for their long journey.   My two canvases, taken off their timber stretchers, rolled and  squeezed into a pvc  pipe have arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico safely.

The  canvases have been restretched ready for hanging.

Meanwhile, Adrienne had organised a 'meet the makers'  workshop  at BRAG. This was a most enjoyable get-together apparently.  Unfortunately I was unable to attend.  c  x

Cane Cutter's Moon

Banbury Cross

This week it has been back to colour! cx

Underworld Interior

I posted my two works that are off to New Mexico last week.   The works will be exhibited in the Unsettled Gallery late  in August.  Two other works of mine will be shown at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) at the same time.  There are 12 artists taking part in this year's exchange exhibition. You can read more about the exhibitions  if you click the following link:

WBHD

I am still producing a lot of digital prints and I will probably plan a Brisbane exhibition for the best of them.    I have just become a member of the Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP).  That will be interesting.  I am keen to go to the first meeting which, will be in August.

The members  apparently give each other a lot of support, and importantly they offer critiques, which is very helpful.

Attached is another of my new works.  The series I have been working on utilises photographs I took of Adam Anderson a couple of years ago.  Working on the photos once converted to black and white has been really exciting for me. I am learning a lot about Photoshop Elements on the way also. Let me know what you think of it!!!  I call the piece 'Underworld Interior'.  It is almost finished.  I hope Adam likes it!

Talk Art soon!
c x

Eden's Garden

'Eden's Garden'

This is another of the 'Tripix' digital images that I have been producing.  It features Eden...my Grandaughter and Adam Anderson, fellow artist.

I feel I am finally making a transition to Apple products.  It has taken quite a while!   One thing is for sure and that is that Apple's Retina screen is beautiful!

I have rolled my paintings for the exchange exhibition in New Mexico, into a 90 cm pvc pipe and will send it next week.  Once it arrives at Las Cruces the works will have to be framed. It's getting exciting now.  cx

My Water Falls Installation.

My installation, ‘Water Falls’ opened last Friday night.  There were many young faces in the  crowd…Joe, Tyla, Sam.  It was great to  catch up with them.  In the two years since they left Bundaberg they have each matured in so many ways…both in their  creative pursuits  and also in their personal development.  It is just wonderful  to witness that.   Thankyou Staff of Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, (especially Trudie), for your assistance.    And thankyou all for kind words.  A special thank you to Joe for your fabulous songs.

My installation 'Water Falls' is made of 12 or so bridal veils.

I like to collect the veils as they are beautiful and have an air of mystery about them. They also carry with them a sense of innocence, promise and good fortune.  But veils hide, as well as reveal.

Veils have a gentle and elegant aspect. Their fall to the ground mimics a real waterfall.

This is why I was interested to create the 'Water Falls' installation.

Although inspired by the recent floods in Bundaberg, it explores the more gentle, forgiving and nurturing aspects of water.

Latest artworks

My digital photo collages are coming along quite well.  They feature photographs of some of my friends, who have kindly posed for me.

I am structuring the works as triptychs with three separate parts.  I am using Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 to manipulate the images. I don't often use filters, but have found them useful in this series.

I am using my small Wacom tablet...trying to get used to it.

 

'Rehearsal'

Venus emerging

Venus emerging is my latest work and is indicative of the direction I want to move in this year.  It is a photo collage featuring fellow artist, the very talented Adam Anderson, who kindly posed for me.  Also featuring are Alex and Ambre whom I wrote about in my previous post.  I am very grateful to these wonderful people who have allowed me to take numerous photographs and develop an album of wonderful resources.

Botticelli's Birth of Venus is one of my favourite works of art and I have used it often to create interpretations that teach me something about the structure of  such a powerful  work.  As a self taught artist, this methodology  has been invaluable.

'Venus emerging' is a photo collage manipulated in Photoshop Elements.

Alex & Ambre

I was interviewed some months back by a couple of lovely French girls who were travelling around Australia filming a documentary as they went. Ambre and Alex are part of a group of four. Together they are making a film about Australian women. It will be most interesting.

While they were with me, we had a photo shoot of Alex and Ambre dressed up as brides. I was really happy with some of the shots. This one will form part of a larger work eventually.

Flamingos

It was very  disappointing to learn that the booth artist Marlies designed  for Nightingale's pies was vandalised in the first week of its installation.  All the heads were snapped off the flamingos.

Fortunately the flamingo heads were able to be saved and were reattached immediately.

Place Activation Project Opening

It was a beautiful Queensland evening for the walking tour of the North Bundaberg businesses that have been sponsored by Creative Regions with an RADF (Regional Arts Development Fund) grant.  Several artists were engaged to develop  outdoor seating options that might encourage people to come to North Bundaberg to try the various restaurants and bakeries.

All the projects were done on a very tight budget and they are a credit to all involved.  Below; Artist Jennifer McDuff paints the large tubs that will be planted with lemon trees.  Each tub has been placed in a corner of the chess board, which is made of pavers.

A few nights after the opening, my friend, Brad Marsellos came down to Bella Martino's to check out the chess board.  I had designed the chess pieces and Jennifer had designed all the trimmings, that made the project even more special.

Two young guys had a complex game going, which was exciting.  There was a beautiful full moon that evening.

I will post pictures of the other projects later this week.  C x

  

Wide Bay High Desert 2

At last the contracts for WBHD 2 have been signed so it is 'all systems go!'   This year I will

Special

Some artworks are special...such as this one.

More good news!

A most  exciting email arrived from Trudie Leigo, Exhibitions Officer at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery (BRAG).   I have been invited to participate in Wide Bay High Desert 11!   I feel very privileged to be included for the second time.  I got so much out of WBHD 1... Meeting the New Mexico artists and getting to know them through the blog  was quite a wonderful experience .
We certainly produced a lot of quality work for the two exchange exhibitions that were held at the end of the year.  One exhibition in Childers Art  Gallery and one at the Unsettled, Gallery in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

I will be doing some paintings for this year's WBHD11!  I have a few good ideas up my sleeve.  You can read more about WBHD if you use the 'Search' feature.  Attached is one of the works I produced  for WBHD1.  The final print had a few additions.

Place Activation Update

The Place Activation  Project I mentioned a while back is progressing quite nicely now.  Tomas O'Malley (Architect and project mentor), has kept us all on a good path.

We have booths and outdoor seating, decorative panels and a large chess set under way, amongst other things.  I don't want to give away too much at this time!!

We are all hoping that the various small businesses that have been targeted for this project will benefit from our efforts to enliven their surrounds.

I will be posting some photos here soon, when I have solved the problem I have been having, trying to upload files.     C. X

MONA

After Xmas spent with relatives in Melbourne, I travelled to Hobart to visit David Walsh's MONA...the Museum of Old and New Art.

The huge ferry that takes us up the Derwent River to MONA is boldly painted in grey camouflage, mimicking  the dull sky above. It is one of those typical Tassie freezing summer days.  The wind is ferocious.

A short 20 minute ferry ride later and we arrive at our destination.  My iPad says the location is Berriedale. The ferry deposits it's travellers at the base of a 99 step concrete staircase.

Once surmounted, one enters the museum... a dark and mysterious environment.  It's what I think it must feel like to be entombed inside a pyramid.

One wanders around though, with a smart gadget that serves up information about the artworks housed there,  and it also provides some curious statements  from David Walsh.

There are a multitude of guides, to assist us on our journey,  but for the most part, they stand as if frozen, staring blankly.  When one interrupts them, they become instantly activated.  They are guardians of the treasured artworks/relics...which they tell us 'must not be touched.'

Place Activation Project

CreativeRegions have developed quite a few Place Activation projects in Bundaberg since the floods. I will be involved with the latest one.

The project is about targeting some of the ‘tired’ business areas, particularly in North Bundaberg and revamping them into vibrant, livable spaces.

Bundaberg City Council has approved to have the North Bundaberg CBD area a trial street-side dining zone for 3 months.

Project mentor is the very talented architect Tomas O’Malley.

Place activation artists are Jennifer McDuff, Marlies Oakley and myself. 

                                                                                         

This project has a very small materials and trade budget, so a challenge has been set for us to come up with some stunning and innovative ideas, within that budget.

Folio Art Market

The Folio Art Market went down well again at  Dirty Linen.  Fifty artworks were sold, which is a respectable  amount. The market provides a great time for artists to catch up on all the latest news.

Soul Journey Art Gala

There was a great roll up to Dirty Linen Artspace for Jassy Watson's 'Soul Journey Art Gala'.  The exhibition was primarily of the artworks of Jassy's students.  There were many lively and colourful works full of meaning.   The gallery was set up beautifully.

Jassy followed up with a workshop that introduced her methodology.  Everyone went home with a big smile on their face. ..and a finished canvas under their arm.  Attached is a picture of Jassy setting up last Friday's exhibition.

You can contact Jassy about her classes, and her guided art classes at

www.goddessesgardenandstudio.com

goddessesgardenandstudio@gmail.com


Cx

Somebody asked me the other day...

...what I had been up to. And I couldn't remember for a while because I am busy planning my future escapades. But it's coming back to me now....not in any particular order!!

Enter two local art awards...no prizes.
Enter a National photo award....expecting 'no prizes'
Enter Woodgate Arts in Spring....Sold one framed drawing.

Three photoshoots....one being of the beautiful Roana from BRAG.

Interview with two French documentary film makers. (More on this soon.)

Conducted a digital workshop for the BRIDGES lovely people. Helped hang and take down their 'Express Yourself' exhibition.

Attend opening of 'Living Change' touring show that I am part of after winning the Digital Art Award (that I blogged about last year.) Messed up the last line of my poem after my floor talk!

Delivered a carload of biscuit tins to BRAG for their wonderful 'Collectamania' exhibition. And pick up.

Didn't mess up my ABC interview with David Dowsett!

Packed and took over 1000 biscuit tins to install as a 5m sq 'Lifescape'on the floor of Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough.(Couldn't have done that without Susan and Peter Hutton).

Prepare application for WBHD 2

Received the wonderful news from the State Library of Qld, that my 'Christine Turner's Art Blog' has been selected for inclusion in the PANDORA archive, Australia's web archive...allowing public access in perpetuity.

Assist in setting up opening of 'Soul Journey Art Gala' at my Dirty Linen Artspace. Press releases etc.

Prepare for upcoming Folio Art Market at Dirty Linen in a couple of weeks.

Meet with Creative Regions tomorrow for a significant Place Activation project I have been chosen to take part in.

Finish my large graphite work, one good large acrylic figure study, several digital images and commence a video for a possible projection in December.

And that is only October and November, and is  all I can remember. No wonder people say, 'Oh, we haven't seen you in a while.' cx