Afghani and Australian Women Artists Books Collaboration

In 2009 a group of Australian women artists were invited by artist Gali Weiss to participate in a project that highlighted the plight of women in Afghanistan who had been denied the basic human right of an education. The project was intended to support them and SAWA (Support Association for the Women of Afghanistan.) Pictured above is the book Women with Wings, in which my linocuts are accompanied by a powerful and moving text by Majabeen. To read her story and learn about an exciting development in the project, visit Moth Woman Press HERE. 

IMPRESSIONS 2012

IMPRESSIONS 2012 opens on November 30. As usual, some fantastic artists have lent their support (see above ).

I really enjoy this event. It gives me a chance to catch up with other printmakers, many of whom I haven't seen all year, especially as I'm in Ballarat so much these days.

My linocut Four Eyes, pictured left, was made for IMPRESSIONS 2012. (For more about this work, scroll down to Blog Post October 19).

Corporeal, Part 2

   Corporeal/Ethereal, 2012, linocut, 60 x 50 cm, ed. 23

As promised in my previous post, here is a reproduction of Corporeal/Ethereal, my linocut for Rona Green’s Corporeal.

Although it didn't directly inspire this image, I found much of what I wanted to express about body/spirit dichotomy reflected in a song lyric by Dory Previn. Here is a fragment:

Dory Previn, early 1970s

Curse the mind that mounts the clouds

In search of mythical kings

And only mystical things

Mystical things

Cry for the soul that will not face

The body as an equal place

And I never learned to touch for real

And feel the things iguanas feel

Down

Down

Down

Where they play…

Dory Previn, Mythical Kings and Iguanas, 1971.

To see her perform the song, click HERE.

Previn, a superb, shamefully underrated American singer/songwriter died earlier this year. I still treasure the memory of her concert at London’s Albert Hall in the 1970s. This work is respectfully dedicated to her memory.

The twenty-three Corporeal artists are:

Graeme Drendel, Di Ellis, Philip Faulks, Rodney Forbes, Susan Fraser, David Frazer, Rona Green, Rew Hanks, Kaylene Kelly, Michael Kempson, Alexi Keywan, Martin King, Deborah Klein, Terry Matassoni, Ron McBurnie, Janet Parker-Smith, Travis Paterson, Ben Rak, Heather Shimmen, Stephen Spurrier, Anne Starling, Clayton Tremlett, Scott Trevelyan

Warmest thanks to Rona Green for instigating this challenging and rewarding project which I’m so proud to be part of, and to Andrew Gunnell for printing the edition of Corporeal/Ethereal.

Corporeal will be exhibited at Geelong Gallery, Victoria, during February-May 2013. Based on the works Rona showed me yesterday in her studio, it's going to be an impressive show. (Full details TBA nearer the time.)

Corporeal, Part 1

A project that has occupied me of late is the linocut Corporeal/Ethereal, my contribution to the Rona Green-curated print exchange portfolio Corporeal. (See also Blog Post October 8.) I was very drawn to the theme and began preliminary research some months ago. Several weeks and dozens of rough drawings later, however, few of my ideas felt quite right. Even compositions that appeared to have some potential failed to take the square-ish format fully into account (designated paper size was 60 x 50 cm.) Reluctantly, I had to abandon them all - at least as far as Corporeal was concerned - and put the project on temporary hold.

Concurrently I’d also been experimenting with painted silhouettes, some of which have featured in recent posts. I came to believe that I would eventually find my way back to Corporeal through the silhouettes, if only I could hold the faith while I took the necessary time to develop them further. This was indeed what eventuated. 

Corporeal/Ethereal was editioned by Andrew Gunnell; the completed work will feature in my next post. Another forthcoming post will illustrate its impact on the project that followed directly afterwards. In fact, although it’s still a little too soon to tell, it may well be a key image in terms of my work’s future direction.

Pictured above: Corporeal/Ethereal block: work in progress