Hello

Hi

Mel here, I’m back from a month long road trip. Nick, Katie Marco and I drove from Sydney up through QLD to Darwin then down to Alice Springs and home. We had some wonderful experiences and saw so many amazing landscapes. I return inspired!

Katie Nick & I – Arnhem Land

Sunset at the Devils Marbles

We visited some great galleries, You could spend days wandering around the galleries in Alice Springs. Framed in Darwin had a large selection of contemporary Jewellery by lots of familiar names . Framed had a wonderful exhibition of Jewellery by Regine Schwarzer – ‘iforming facets’.

I’m looking forward to seeing Bridget’s new work, from the images below it looks like she’s achieved lots in a month.

making a floor work for upcoming show at Gaffa

While Mel’s been away, I’ve continued working on the piece to add to my ongoing ‘deadwood’ series, for exhibition in re:re(a)d re:visited, a group show. Other artists in the show are Nicolette Scobier, Carlie Henderson, Sian Edwards, Brooke Johnston, Jane Reynolds, Linda Blair and Christina Adamson. The exhibition opens Thursday night 31st July and runs until August 12th.

I also started another body of work yesterday. Have been discussing the raised and formed objects in the gallery space with people that wander through….and just had to start making objects straight way, based on vessels… …….with a working title of ‘half empty (I want to fill you up)’…..it continues an underlying personal narrative that exists in much of my exhibition work….I imagine the end result to be a room full of rows and rows of vessels (carrying on the mild obsession I have with the comfort of the repetitive), mainly made from beeswax (continuing with my love of beeswax and all things honey) and any other materials I find in my day to day existance.

work in progress - half empty

Back in the workshop….but where’s MEL?

Mel has gone! Travelling around the outback of Australia, driving and camping through the Northern Territory exploring this great Nation of ours. Can’t wait to see how the trip influences her next body of work. In the meantime I’ve put my Chichu Art Museum book on the counter in the gallery and am raving about Japan to any poor soul that shows the slightest interest…and……I’m spreading out all over Mel’s desk – more space yeah!!! Have about 3 projects on the go. My  ‘diary’ series based on found objects during my travels….some ‘bread and butter’ work, and work for the upcoming group show at Gaffa end of July.

Here’s a little bit of it….I’m continuing my exploration of the ‘deadwood’ concept that I started last year….the plan is that it will be a floor work…..to go with existing pieces in the same body of work.

 

 

 

 

and to the right is one of the diary pieces in progress…these were found washed up on a beach on Naoshima Island. They look kind of evil and beautiful at the same time (ahh….the Chichu Art Museum…too difficult to describe – you’ve just got to go there!!!) I discovered Tadeo Ando, the mega Japanese Architect – wow! what an AMAZING man – I am a mega adoring fan!

snapshots from Japan….Itami Craft Museum and Rui

Rui took Luke and I to meet the students at the school at the Itami arts and crafts museum (Rui had recently completed her studies there). The charismatic ‘Juicy’ Jurio was teaching them casting on this day. He then took us to lunch at a local restaurant. The Museum of Arts and Crafts ITAMI is located in a beautifully restored Sake factory and merchants house.

 

Fumiko Tsubo, outside her studio with Rui and Luke. We had tea in her jewellery workshop, where she also teachers,  before heading off to Itami.