Biblio Art Prize, Part 1

Pictured: ‘Progeny’, 2018, unique artist book, pigmented drawing ink, gouache and hand stitching with cloth binding, 16.5 x 91 cm (open)

Two of my works, including Progeny, a one-of-a-kind artist book, are finalists in the Biblio Art Prize 2018, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Progeny was created during my residency at Melbourne Athenaeum Library for Melbourne Rare Book Week 2018. Its point of departure is Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, also celebrating a significant anniversary in 2018: the 200th year of its publication. 

In related noteworthy anniversaries, 28 October was the 116th birthday of the great Elsa Lanchester, arguably best known for her astonishing portrayal of the Bride of Frankenstein (1935) in James Whales’s eponymous film (widely considered to be the finest of all the Frankenstein movies and a masterpiece in its own right), and today, October 31, is Halloween.

Biblio Art Prize

Blarney Books & Art  

37 James Street,
Blarney 

Port Fairy

Victoria

The show runs from 3 November - 2 December and, following this, travels to Tacit Galleries in Melbourne, where it will be exhibited from 5 - 16 December 2018. 

Photos by Tim Gresham.

Drawing Strength at Montsalvat

Splendid emerald wasp woman, 2015, watercolour, 41.91 x 29.72 cm

My watercolour Splendid emerald wasp woman is part of the forthcoming show DRAWING STRENGTH at the Barn Gallery, Montsalvat. Curated by Jo Lane, it celebrates the gloriously diverse art of drawing. The exhibition features works by Melbourne and international artists, including, in some instances, their sketchbooks. (My own sketchbook will be previewed here in the near future).

DRAWING STRENGTH runs from November 17, 2018 - January 6, 2019.

Opening event: Saturday November 17, 2 -4 pm

Artist Talk: December 1, 11 am

For further information, including a list of participating artists and gallery opening hours, see below. Click on the invitation for a clearer view.

Artist Talk, Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors

In a shamefully belated follow-up to my post of Wednesday, September 26, huge thanks to the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors for inviting me to speak on Thursday, October 11, for their warm welcome, boundless hospitality (including a superb afternoon tea) and the magnificent flowers. I couldn’t have wished for a more receptive, enthusiastic audience and very much enjoyed talking to many individuals afterwards. It was a memorable afternoon and I enjoyed every minute of it. Photo credit for top image: Louise Foletta.

FRANKENSTEIN'S WOMEN - work in progress

Emerging from a sea of lino chips: the sixth of eight linocuts for my artist book, Frankenstein's Women, inspired by Mary Shelley's visionary Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus.

A couple of earlier progress views follow.

To preview the fifth block in the series, visit Moth Woman Press HERE.

PASSION FOR TAPESTRY

Red Comb #1, 2007, 39 x 39 cm, woven by Rebecca Moulton at the Australian Tapestry Workshop
Collection: Tuppy Cole. Photo credit: Vicki Petherbridge

In 2007 the Australian Tapestry Workshop in South Melbourne commissioned two tapestries based on my hair ornament paintings. (I had to double-check the date, because I simply cannot believe how many years have passed since then).

Red Comb #1, which was woven by ATW weaver Rebecca Moulton, is part of an upcoming exhibition, PASSION FOR TAPESTRY: Small Tapestries from a Private Collection. It has set me off on a short trip down Memory Lane. The following photos were taken at the Australian Tapestry Workshop, all those years ago.

Red Comb #1 on the loom

Weaver Rebecca Moulton at work on Red Comb #1

L- R: Shane Jones, Sara Lindsay and Rebecca Moulton

L-R: weavers Chris Cochius, Robyn Mountcastle, Cresside Colette, Tim Gresham and Cheryl Thornton. Cheryl wove
the second tapestry based on my work, Red Comb #2.

Rebecca Moulton and myself at the opening of ATW show in which the newly-completed
tapestries were launched

PASSION FOR TAPESTRY: Small Tapestries from a Private Collection

Artists: GW Bot, Belinda Fox, Graham Fransella, Helen Fuller, Deborah Klein, Pauline Nangala Sunfly, Nusra Latif Qureshi Weavers: Sue Batten, Grazyna Bleja, Chris Cochius, Amy Cornall, Louise King, Sara Lindsay, Rebecca Moulton, Laura Mar, Cheryl Thornton

Opening celebration: Tuesday 13 November, 5:30pm Exhibition: 7 November 2018 - 1 February 2019

A Passion for Tapestry is an exhibition at the Australian Tapestry Workshop of small tapestries from the collection of Tuppy Cole, long-term friend and supporter of the ATW. Throughout her long association with ATW, Tuppy has collected many wonderful tapestries. The exhibition features 18 small tapestries, woven since 2004, by weavers at the ATW. The collection includes tapestries that interpret designs by significant Australian artists, as well as tapestries based on the weaver’s own designs. Many of the works are experimental and demonstrate the open possibilities of the tapestry form. Together, the exhibition presents a diverse snapshot of contemporary tapestry, and the imaginative styles of ATW weavers past and present. PASSION FOR TAPESTRY  Australian Tapestry Workshop 262 - 266 Park Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Gallery hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm

IMPRESSIONS 2018

IMPRESSIONS 2018, the Australian Print Workshop's biennial fundraising exhibition, is nigh. As always, it features works by a virtual Who's Who of Australian printmakers. IMPRESSIONS is a highlight of the printmaking calendar, a perfect note on which to end the old year - and a fine way to start the new one.

As previously noted (see Blog Post Tuesday, July 24) my contribution will be printed and editioned by APW master printer, Simon White. 

A series of progress views follow:

Below: the first proofs:

Directly below are recent trial proofs. I've yet to sign off on the BAT, but the second proof, in which additional background texture has been cut away, is pretty close to the version we'll go for. The incorporation of chine colle, which brings warmth and depth to the work, was Simon's idea. (Photo credit: Simon White).

IMPRESSIONS 2018 opens on 17 November 2018 and runs until 16 February 2019. For further information, see the poster above, or contact the Australian Print Workshop HERE.

Royal Melbourne Show, 2018

Above: a flashback to September 7, when Shane Jones and I were printmaking and painting judges at the 2018 Royal Melbourne Show. For the second year running, we received invaluable assistance from the two stewards assigned to us, CWA members Helen O’Neill and Christine Mackaness. It was a joy working with these two.

Below: flashing forward to yesterday, October 2, the last day of the show. It was also a treat spending time in the inestimable company of Gracia Haby, Louise Jennison, Jill Kellett, Shane and last but not least, renowned cat judge, Kerry Fowler (AKA The Judge) pictured with the delightfully laidback Ragdoll cat, Phantom. 

One of many highlights was an exhibition of vintage Show Bags. I’m embarrassed to show my age by admitting to the myriad of childhood memories that these artefacts unleashed.

Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison

Above and below: Jill Kellett

Shane Jones, myself, Gracia and Louise

Karry Fowler and Phantom (centre). Foreground: Gracia and Louise

Phantom

Some other high points follow directly:

The Movie Magic event: horses and ponies working in the film industry, some (JT and Sprinkles l) seasoned veterans, the others in various stages of training:

Coop

Above and below: JT

Right: Sprinkles l and his stand-in, Sprinkles ll

Shorthair and longhair cats:

Companion Cat Blue ribbon winner