The Eyes Have It

My linocut Lace Face (A/P, 1996, 46 x 30 cm) has been included in the group exhibition The Eyes Have It: featuring works from the Warrnambool Art Gallery Collection. 

A response to mask wearing, quarantining, closed borders and isolation during the time of COVID-19, this exhibition presents images and objects that explore the themes of observation and monitoring; restrictions on movement and the effects of anxiety. Artists have long dealt with aspects of alienation, uncertainty and social disruption. Though the works in this exhibition were made without the direct influence of COVID-19 they interact with our moment in time and are curiously prophetic.

- From Warrnambool Art Gallery’s website.

I’m delighted to see my work is hanging next to Pierced, a linocut by my old friend, Heather Shimmen. Coincidentally, Shane Jones and I have a copy of this print in our own collection. Shane also has a work in The Eyes Have It, a self-portrait titled Painting Drawing (2010), pictured below. You can see additional installation views on his blog post of Monday, 14 June. 

At this stage, we haven’t had a chance to see the exhibition, so we’re indebted to 

Kathryn Ryan for the photos. Kathryn runs a fantastic Instagram/Facebook page, Warrnambool Region Arts, which has just celebrated its first anniversary. You can find it on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE. 

The Eyes Have It opened on Saturday, 5 June and runs to Sunday, 26 September 2021.

Warrnambool Art Gallery

26 Liebig Street 

WARRNAMBOOL Vic 3280

Phone: +61 (0)3 5559 4949

email: gallery@warrnambool.vic.gov.au

Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm

Saturday - Sunday: 10am - 3pm

Public Holidays: 10am - 3pm

Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday

Digitisation of the Warrnambool Art Gallery collection

Warrnambool Art Gallery is currently undertaking the mammoth task of digitising its substantial collection of artworks and artefacts. In future, this will enable much of the work to be viewed online. Pictured here is my linocut, Lace Face (1996, Artist proof, 46 x 30 cm, Edition: 15) one of several of my works the gallery has in its permanent collection. 

Many thanks to my old friend, Warrnambool-based artist Kathryn Ryan, who took these photos of the digital process and for her kind permission to share them here.

Endings and beginnings

Next week will see the finish of one major group show (at least, for now) and the start of another.

On Monday 12 June From the bower - patterns of collecting will conclude its long run at Warrnambool Art Gallery. If you are not among the hundreds of people who saw the show, never fear. The exhibition will be reborn in a markedly different incarnation on 29 July at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. The AGB's Brenda Wellman, who also designed the elegant catalogue, has come up with a dynamic exhibition design befitting an entirely different gallery. Extra wall space will also enable the inclusion of additional artworks. So to those who saw the show at Warrnambool, you may want to come again!

Installation view of From the bower - patterns of collecting at Warrnambool Art Gallery. Photo credit: Tim Gresham.

From the Bower includes my artist book, Leaves of Absence. Coincidentally, on the same day we'll be dismantling the show at Warrnambool, the book will make its Melbourne debut in Between the Sheets: Artists' Books 2017 at Australian Galleries, Melbourne.

The show, which is curated by David Forrest and Janis Nedela, Directors of Gallery East in Western Australia, was previously exhibited at Gallery Central in Perth, WA. Shane and I called into Australian Galleries yesterday during day 3 of the installation. It was lovely to meet Janis and his colleague Andrew. To see further installation views, visit Moth Woman Press HERE.

Between the Sheets 2017 opens on Tuesday 13 June, 6 - 8 pm.  For full details, go HERE.

Installation in progress of Between the Sheets - Artists' Books 2017 at Australian Galleries Melbourne.
My artist book, Leaves of Absence (2017) is on the right hand plinth.

Floor Talk at Warrnambool Art Gallery

What a wonderful turnout we had for our artist talk on From the bower - patterns of collecting at Warrnambool Art Gallery on Saturday, May 13. Even with the addition of extra seating, it was standing room only. Loris Button, Carole Wilson and I couldn't have been more delighted. Warmest thanks to all who came, to WAG's Curator of Collections Agostina Hawkins for a fantastic introductory address and to Warrnambool Art Gallery for having us. 

Pictured above in front of the collaborative collections wall, comprising the collection objects and artworks of Carole, Loris, Louise Saxton and I, are (L - R) Agostina Hawkins, Carole Wilson, Loris Button and myself. 

Photos of the floor talk are by Shane Jones. The rest are by me.

Carole Wilson opens with some background information about the show. That's my Vignette Vitrine in the foreground.

Loris Button outlines the collection objects depicted in one of her multi-paneled works, including her Swiss SABA
clown doll (c 1925) in the display case to her right.

My insect collection, some of which features on the combined collections wall, has provided rich
source material for much of my work over the past several years

Centre: Louise Saxton's Marianne's clianthus, after Marianne Collison Campbell 1800s, 2014, reclaimed needlework
Far right: Loris Button's Western Australian seed pods presented in a glass dome atop a vintage wrought iron stand

Here I'm speaking about my suite of cut-out linocuts, Iron Butterflies. On the far right, among the objects in
 the combined collections installation, are some of the vintage and antique hair ornaments that inspired them 

I was as fascinated as the rest of the audience as Loris spoke about her exquisite Traveller's Tales,
a series of relief prints on tea bags

Talking about my linocut, Tattooed Faces Sampler. All of the artists have works or collection objects in the show
that relate to sewing, most of them connected to their family histories

Discussing my artist book, Leaves of Absence, along with the collection of Eucalyptus leaves that evolved into
the archival pigment prints that appear in the book and the antique flower presses in which they are stored.

Vintage maps reflect Carole Wilson's love of travel and are a major component of her collecting habit.
They are also raw materials for her extraordinary cut out paper works, including Urn 1 and Urn 2, pictured left.

After the floor talk we adjourned for a beverage at historic Proudfoot's Boathouse (see below).  Pictured back, L-R: Shane Jones, Kathryn Ryan, Annie Drum, Loris Button, Agostina Hawkins and Peter. Foreground L-R: myself and Julie Keating.

On our recent trips to Warrnambool we've stayed with our old friend Kathryn Ryan. Kathryn truly is the Hostess with the Mostest. Once upon a time not so long ago, we were studio neighbours in central Melbourne and used to see each other on almost a daily basis. Geographic distance has since separated us, so it's been great to make up for lost time. An added bonus is that thanks to Kathryn, we've got to know Warrnambool, of which we've become increasingly fond, a lot better. On the evening after the talk Kathryn took us for a sunset walk by the Merri River. The light was just beautiful.

We returned to her house for this spectacular light show, courtesy of a full moon and Kathryn's fairy lights.

The following morning we were privileged to see some of Kathryn's new paintings, soon to be exhibited at Olsen Irwin Gallery in Sydney. To see more of Kathryn's work you can visit her website HERE.

FROM THE BOWER: the opening night and morning after

On Friday evening, March 24, we celebrated the official opening of From the Bower: patterns of collecting at Warrnambool Art Gallery. It was immensely gratifying to see the combined efforts of Loris Button, Carole Wilson, Louise Saxton and myself come to fruition at long last. The exhibition was launched by the Lady Mayoress of Warrnambool, Cr Kylie Gaston (second from right). On the far right is Acting Director of Warrnambool Art Gallery, Murray Bowes.

Louise Saxton and Loris Button (first and second from left, directly below) listen to the opening address

- along with Carole Wilson (below, far right) and the rest of the opening night crowd.

Directly after the speeches, Carole asked Tim Gresham to take some snapshots of the Bowerbirds as a memento of the exhibition launch. The following three photos are by Tim. Directly below, L - R,  are myself, Loris Button, Carole Wilson and Louise Saxton. In the foreground is Louise's Porcelain Garden. 

Below, we stand in front of my linocut installation, Iron Butterflies. In the background, centre, are collages by Carole Wilson.

The last time we stood in front of our combined collections wall, it had just been installed by Carole and Shane (see last post).

Directly below, Shane Jones views two of my Homo-insecta watercolours. To their right is a triptych by Carole Wilson.

The following morning, Tim Gresham documented the show.

While he worked, Gaye Britt (pictured below), Kathryn Ryan, Paul Logsdon, Shane and I and took the opportunity to view the show again, minus the previous evening's crowd.

Nevertheless, there was a steady stream of visitors the whole time we were there.

The documentation process continued...

Meanwhile, Louise Saxton and her husband, Colin, also called in for a second look at the show. Pictured below, L - R: Paul Logsdon, Kathryn Ryan, Louise, Colin and Gaye Britt.

Below: Paul Logsdon and Shane Jones. Artworks and collection objects are mine, Loris Button's and Louise Saxton's.

After opening night and the many lovely people we met, for Shane and I, the greatest pleasure of our long weekend at Warrnambool was spending quality time with old friends. From left, flanking my Tattooed Faces Sampler (1997) are Gaye Britt, myself, Kathryn Ryan, Paul Logsdon and Tim Gresham. Photo credit: Shane Jones.

Shane also took the following two shots. Directly below, I'm checking out my Iron Butterflies, an installation of cut out linocuts.

-  then taking a closer look at the combined collections installation, which includes selections from my hair ornament, insect, lino block, mask and shadow puppet collections.

Below, Tim sets up another shot. On the far wall are three of Carole Wilson's artworks and on the partition, far right, is a shadow box containing objects from the collection of Loris Button.

Below, from right: Three collages by Carole Wilson and an installation view of my Cabinet of Moth Masks.

A lively group of students arrived. They were particularly engaged with the combined collections wall.

L - R below: Paul, Gaye, Shane and Tim.

Below: an installation view of collection items of Loris Button and Louise Saxton (L - R). Second from right are artworks by Loris Button (part of her Travelling Tales). On the far right are my Homo-insecta watercolours.

A detail from one of the large vitrines, containing collection items from all the artists.

Below are my Homo-insecta watercolours

- and Vignette Vitrine, a box box of Shadow Women.

Tim Gresham's installation views will be featured in the near future.

From the Bower continues until 12 June. For details of opening times, scroll to the end of the last post or go HERE.