On Saturday afternoon (June 16) we called
into Langford 120 gallery for the antipodean launch of Contemporary Australian Drawing #1 by Janet McKenzie. The book was an initiative
of Irene Barberis of Metasenta® and is
published by MacMillan Art Publishing, Australia. Seventy-seven Australian artists are featured, each one's images accompanied by a comprehensive and informative
essay. Janet McKenzie’s earlier
publication Drawing in Australia – Contemporary
Images and Ideas (Macmillan
Australia, 1986) was a post-art school bible for me and I still treasure it.
This exceptional new book will be an invaluable companion piece.
Directly below is a snapshot of the launch, followed by the pages that focus on
my own work. Initially I was intrigued that author Janet McKenzie specifically
requested these images for the book, as they are all relief prints. But then
for me the lino cutter has always been first and foremost a drawing implement.
The book also includes written contributions by Irene Barberis and Christopher Heathcote. For full details, including a
complete list of featured artists, click HERE.
Pictured above, from top:
Contemporary
Australian Drawing #1 cover
Artist William Kelly’s opening address.
Kelly also wrote the introduction to Janet McKenzie’s Drawing in Australia
(1986). On far left: Irene Barberis. Centre: Jenny Zimmer, editor and designer
of Contemporary Australian Drawing #1.
Background: paintings by Jennifer Goodman
Book
pages (1) illustration, left page:
Anonyme, 1998, linocut on
Japanese mending tissue overlaid onto brown oriental paper with hand stitching,
73 x 62 cm. Collection: State Library of Victoria
Right
hand page:
Sister Act, 2000, colour
linocut on Japanese mending tissue overlaid onto brown oriental paper with hand
stitching, 64 x 74 cm. Collection: City of Maroondah, Victoria
Book
pages (2) illustration, left page:
Lydia the Tattooed Lady, 1995,
linocut 89 x 60 cm. Collections: The Arts Centre, Melbourne, University of
Western Sydney, Macarthur, NSW
Right
hand page:
Tattooed Faces Sampler, 1997,
linocuts on interfacing, laid onto oriental paper and unbleached calico with
hand stitching. Collection: University of Western Sydney, Macarthur