Domestic Duties: Process

It's all systems go working towards my Domestic Duties Solo Installation & Exhibition coming up end of May and most part of June (31 May to 24 June), 2012. Which is why the recent 'lack of' posts on the assemblage works. Currently my focus is on the process and what I intend creating for the installation.

I've been expanding on my peg mandala idea and have called on my local woodworker John for assistance to make the backing rings.

Armed with my notes - measurements, diagrams, etc... I discuss with John what and how many (wooden rings) I am needing for the mandala's, and within minutes my rings are made!!!

Starting off with a neat square piece of plyboard, its locked into the jig underneath (I think this is what it is called) and is cut with the bandsaw. Watching John at work is very informative, his workshop is brilliantly set out with all the right equipment to create whatever he choses. I love the way in which he works, he is very meticulous and attentive to detail and I believe is most part, the secret ingredient to the quality of his craftmanship.

A master at his craft, Johnno in his workshop using the bandsaw, cutting each ring one after the other in an orderly fashion.

Detail - once the circle is made, the ring is cut from the circle.

...then the edges are sanded off, and oh so smooth. Beats doing it by hand!

Neatly sorted into piles and almost done.

fragmented

A small 2D piece that came together from discards - combining the two elements of clay and steel on canvas.

The small flat rectangle steel sheets were found in a fire pit at a salvage yard I'm not sure what they have come from, among the burnt ashes though were which looked like a melted computer casing or an electrical box, so they could have come from the internal parts.

The clay scrolls are created from scraping off the remnants of clay left on the wheel head after throwing a pot. Getting them at the right consistancy of dryness to get a perfect scroll and stamped.

Finishing it off by stitching it to the canvas with recycled copper wire and nailing it to the frame.

"Fragment"

Berbagi

Last week I attended the opening exhibition BERBAGI currently on display until 3rd March, 2012 at the University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery. The word Berbagi is Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of Bali meaning 'sharing'. The show curated by Di Tait Queensland papermaker and fibre artist is simply stunning and is a result of a series of papermaking and paper sculpture workshops that were held in Bali in 2011.

So very inspiring and well worth the visit if your in the area! A snippet of works on show, to share with you and my overseas bloggers...

Ngaire MacLeod

Lynne Fellowes

Glenda Henning

Jill de Hayr

Di Tait

Tricia Smout

Judy Barrass

Joolie Gibbs

Domestic Duties update: a BIG thank you to...

As the new year takes off, I am in full swing into planning my next events for the year.... with an update on what is happening in the land of DOMESTIC DUTIES.

Firstly, a I need to acknowledge and give a HUGE BIG THANK YOU to Dorothy, Nicola and Tania. They have been diligently collecting ONE words for me since the beginning and I am ever grateful of their time and enthusiasm.

Dorothy collected over two hundred words,

Nicola kindly took my booklet to her market stall "Wild Nature" in Cairns,

and Tania at The Clay Shed got onboard and asked customers to add to the collective.

Next on the agenda for my DOMESTIC DUTIES PROJECT - reclaiming my booklets I have started to create artworks and developing a thoery as to the collective and will be undertaking a Solo Exhibition and Installation "Domestic Duties" at Studio 4 Gallery, Marcoola from Thurs 31st May to Sun 24th June, 2012.

If your not familar with my Domestic Duties project see my previous blog posts by clicking > here (ofcourse you will need to scroll down to the first post at the beginning)

opening night & new works on display

Upon arrival to Studio 4 Gallery's latest exhibition last week you were welcomed with an ambience of intimacy lit with candlelight emulating a radiant glow over the artworks and the air was filled with a warm balmy summer breeze..... It could very well have been an intentional ambience mind you, however it wasn't. It was due to the electricity company cutting the power for some reason, unexplained and unnotified! However inconvenient, it did create a lovely ambience to the evening, and depite the suituation (which would have sent me into a spin), Directors Jennifer and Richard Stiller remained totally calm and in control, and made everyone feel welcomed and relaxed, as the nibbles were served and the wine flowed.

Thinking that was set for the evening... a large roar from the crowd was heard as the power came back on and just in time for the official opening speech.

Jennifer Stiller still smiling, opens the exhibition.

And a group shot - from left; me (Kim Schoenberger), Victoria Fitzpatrick, Jo Murray and Kym Barrett.

My previous post showed "Starry Nights" and sold on the day the exhibit opened even before the official opening. Below two images are 'details' of the other two pieces made in this series (of three only).

"Sailing the Seas"

"City Lights"

And my new works for the gallery shop were also on display...

"Guardian Wolf" (sold)

Miniatures "Gateway I & II"

The exhibition is now open for viewing and is current until Sunday 5th February, 2012. For more details on Gallery hours or directions please click > here

next group exhibit

In between working towards exhibitions I like to allow myself freedom of expression to create - letting go of all preconcieved outcomes. I created a triptych earlier last year made from stump caps, barb wire rusted steel and the like and have been waiting for the right time and place to showcase them.

I was invited to participate in Studio 4 Gallery Jan/Feb group exhibition where each artist were asked to exhibit three artworks. The exhibition is being hung today with the official opening this Saturday 7th January, 2012 from 5.30pm.

A snippet detail of one of my works (of three), sold separately or as a triptych. Made from stump caps, barb wire, rusted steel and recycled materials.

"Starry Nights"

Dia 41cm x D 7cm

For directions to the gallery click > here

Corrigated Iron

Yesterday we went to see the Henri Matisse Exhibition at GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) - Queensland Art Gallery. ‘Matisse: Drawing Life’ is a major exhibition of works on paper by Henri Matisse and includes more than 300 drawings, prints and illustrated books. Of course no photographs were allowed in the exhibit so you will have to visit QAG's website.

Although in other parts of the gallery camera's were allowed and I managed to get a couple of pictures in, that were oh so very inspiring for me. Here's a few, as it goes they are all made from corrigated iron. I must apologise I only got one of the artists names and title - 'note to self' for next time, remember to write them down!!!

Twisted and crushed corrigated iron - a detail of the sculpture below,

This scuplture is easy 6 metres high.

The next three images are from the Across Country: Five Years of Indigenous Australian Art from the collection Exhibition and currently on show until 21st October, 2012.

Last image;

'Narbong 2009'

Lorraine Connelly-Northey

Waradgerie people

The red carpet

We're being served a real treat for Christmas with a rich red carpeted driveway from our Delonix regia Poinciana trees. We're normally a custom to having a lavender driveway from the Jacaranda petals in October, but this is our first real show we've experienced since living here, there in full bloom at the moment and are putting on a magnificant display.

## meanwhile and some hours later....

Two extra images purely for Stregata to get an idea of what the tree looks like. Ofcourse these aren't my Poincana trees I borrowed them off the web (mine are too hard to photograph due to other trees obstructing my view) they show what the actual tree does look like when given full potiental to grow, and are mighty fine specimens indeed!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Driving on my way home the other night I noticed so many Christmas lights that lit up the town. Glen and I decided to go back the next night and take a stroll to kick off the festive season, taking my camera along. Here's some photographs to share with you...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

hubcap arrives safely!

My hubcap made its way to Pennsylvania safe and sound and is up on the Landfillart's website p.39 with all the other enteries which to date stands at 775 and counting. Only 226 to go until it reaches the desired number of 1,041 hubcaps.

My photograph of the hubcap before the final touches...

Titled "Threaded Notion"

A Letter a Week 2011

A Letter a Week - the alphabet challenge - in short; 52 weeks in a year, 26 letters in an alphabet = two alphabets a year.

In wrapping up 2011 and almost finished my second alphabet, exploring the KISS Method (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) I chose to use recycled tea bags with what was at hand in my sewing room at the time of making each letter, to see all the juicy details on each letter visit ALaW

Wanting to display them individually I decided to showcase them within their own little box. I had some little wooden boxes made up and I've painted them white, now I'm just waiting on the glass to enclose them.

Snippet, of detailed photographs...

A - part of an ole' tape measure, K - denim scrap,

T - Lemon scented Gum leaf,

U - bread tag, V - an old embroidered patch,

X - recycled tea bag, and Y - cut from an image of star with rays.

The full alphabet together for a group detailed photo.

Now in it's second year running ALaW is about to launch into its third and is now open to newcomers for participation, if your interested click here to apply.