AMONGST US Opening Event

Before the week runs away entirely, here are handful of highlights from last Saturday’s memorable opening of AMONGST US, an exhibition of figurative works on paper by Rachel Derum, Philip Faulks, Rona Green, Greg Harrison, Bill Hay and Deborah Klein at The Art Vault, Mildura.

That's me above with a selection of my Homo-insecta watercolours, snapped by Rachel Derum prior to our artist talk with Philip Faulks.

An installation view of all six watercolours is directly below:

Below, L-R: Julie Chambers, Director of the Art Vault, Philip, myself and Rachel present our talk in front of works by Philip Faulks. 

Following view, L-R: Philip, myself and Rachel with a selection of works by exhibition curator, Rona Green. (Photo credit for images 3 & 4: Shane Jones).

Thanks so much to Julie and Kevin, the peerless Art Vault team and everyone who came. We had an absolute ball and can’t wait to return.

AMONGST US

The Art Vault 

43 Deakin Avenue

Mildura VIC 3500

(03)5022 0013

www.theartvault.com.au

Opening hours: Monday 10 am - 2 pm; 

Wednesday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm; 

Saturday 10 am - 3 pm

The exhibition runs to 7 October 2019

Sainte Apolline

Readying my present house for sale has advanced in fits and starts, but preparations have now resumed in earnest, with (dare I suggest it) the end in sight. 

Pictured above, transformation of the front door unfolds under the watchful eye of Saint Apollonia, patron saint of dentistry and toothache. This is oddly appropriate; ordinarily I’d rather have all my teeth pulled out than tackle house painting. Fortunately, Shane is a dab hand at wielding a brush, much more so than I am, and has a far healthier attitude. Between us, progress has been made, and even in its half-finished state, the door is vastly improved, as is the rest of the house.

Sainte Apolline is from a series of drawings I made in 1993 as part of an Australia Council residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. Her primary emblem is a tooth held in a set of pincers, the instrument of her torture. Perhaps house painting isn’t so bad after all.

A flying visit to The Art Vault

Chrysochroa buqueti beetle woman, 2014, watercolour, 41.91 x 29.72 cm,
one of six works I have in AMONGST US at The Art Vault

Pictured top: Chrysochroa buqueti beetle woman in flight for AMONGST US, a group show by Rona Green, Rachel Derum, Philip Faulks, Bill Hay and Deborah Klein. 

I’m pleased to announce that I'll soon be following suit. Originally I wasn't able to attend, but now look forward to joining fellow artists at the opening event.

AMONGST US

Saturday 21 September: informal artist talk at 2.30 pm, official launch from 3pm - 4pm

The Art Vault
43 Deakin Avenue
Mildura VIC 3500
(03)5022 0013
www.theartvault.com.au

Opening hours: Monday 10 am - 2 pm; Wednesday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm; Saturday 10 am - 3 pm

The exhibition runs from 18 September - 7 October 2019

Reclamation

In the wake of our departure from Melbourne, my studio in Ballarat was requisitioned for extra storage. It was a sorry sight, becoming so overfull that gaining entry was all but impossible. Recently we rented an additional storage pod and over the last few days I've reclaimed my old space and restored it to something of its former glory.

At last, the transformation was completed. But even as I paused to savour the reinstatement of order and serenity, Alice barged in, dragging Shane behind her. He declared the space has never looked better and Alice, who’s not usually fussed about the studio, took it upon herself to investigate every nook and cranny, with a particular focus on the new plan cabinet. Eventually, however, the lure of the garden proved too strong, and she withdrew, followed by the hapless Shane.

Recent Acquisition

Pictured above and below: a new acquisition, purchased jointly with Shane Jones, is high on my list of favourite things. I love its industrial aesthetic and that it's on wheels. Housed in my current studio pending our move, the plan cabinet is also providing us with sorely needed extra storage for works on paper, in particular, Shane's ongoing series of portrait profile drawings.

An invitation to AMONGST US

Please find your special invitation to be amongst us, or rather, among my esteemed fellow artists and the fabulous Art Vault team, to toast the launch of AMONGST US. Sadly, I can’t attend, but six of my Homo-insecta watercolours will be there in my stead.

Saturday 21 September

Artist Talk: 2.30 pm

Official Opening: 3 - 4 pm 

The Art Vault 

43 Deakin Avenue

Mildura VIC 3500

(03)5022 0013

www.theartvault.com.au

Opening hours: Monday 10 am - 2 pm; 

Wednesday - Friday 10 am - 5 pm; 

Saturday 10 am - 3 pm

AMONGST US runs from 18 September - 7 October 2019

A past and future memory

My linocut The Drive Home, 2013, 17.5 x 12.5 cm, was originally made for the eponymous group exhibition at Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in New York that opened on this day in 2013.

Viewed today, the work seems uncannily prophetic as Shane Jones and I anticipate the drive to our future home. We’ve only seven more weeks to wait, but sometimes it feels like we’ve been waiting for this our entire lives.

AMONGST US

European Wasp Woman, 2014, watercolour, 41.91 x 29.72, made during a
residency at The Art Vault, will shortly return there. It's one of six works from the
Homo insecta series included in AMONGST US at The Art Vault, Mildura,
running from 18 September - 7 October

I’m delighted to be showing with some of my favourite artists in

AMONGST US

A group exhibition of figurative works on paper

Curated by Rona Green

Rachel Derum

Philip Faulks  
Rona Green

Greg Harrison

Bill Hay and

Deborah Klein

Opening Saturday 21 September. Artist talk at 2.30 pm, followed by official launch from 3pm-4pm

AMONGST US

The Art Vault

43 Deakin Avenue

Mildura VIC 3500

(03)5022 0013

www.theartvault.com.au

The show runs from 18 September - 7 October 2019