A time for farewells

One Way (pictured above) is one of several drawings that had their genesis during a particularly productive residency at The Art Vault in Mildura in 2017. Little did I know, it would be my last ever residency there, as this unique, irreplaceable gallery is currently in the process of closing down. The Art Vault has been a big part of my life; I’ll miss it very much, as will countless others, especially the many other artists they nurtured and encouraged. 

Navigator, pictured left in the following view, is a more recent work and Chainmail on its right, was also completed during the 2017 Art Vault residency. 

It seems this is a time for farewells. All three works are part of my solo show, Backstories at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery which is coming out of lockdown to see out its final two days this coming weekend, 30 - 31 October. 

Photo credit for the above installation views at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery: Kathryn Ryan and Julie Keating. All works are ink and gouache on Khadi paper, 15.5 x 11 cm.

BACKSTORIES

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery

Level 8, Room 16, 37 Swanston Street

MELBOURNE 3000

Special viewing times:

Saturday October 30: 11 am - 5 pm

Sunday October 31: 1 - 5 pm

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

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

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

Then and now

According to a recent ‘Facebook Memory’, it’s just over two years since my last residency at The Art Vault. It was such a happy and productive time - but then, it always is. The work bench in my Art Vault studio on 18 July 2017 is pictured above.

On 27 July, another memory popped up in my Facebook feed. Directly following is the final work from my fortnight at the Art Vault, completed on the last day of the residency.

Coincidentally, I’d been considering revisiting the series only moments before Facebook reprised the second post. The upcoming Melbourne International Film Festival runs from 1 - 18 August and I’ve booked myself into a hotel for its duration. I figured I could work on the small-scale drawings in between sessions. I’ll be seeing an inordinately large number of films this year, so I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to draw. But I’ll do what I can. At the very least, it will enable me to maintain a connection with my work.

I packed a bag of drawing materials yesterday, a major challenge in its own right. Pending our move, my former studio is so tightly packed with our furniture and other belongings, entry to the building is now virtually impossible. I took one look and promptly closed the door. Later, Shane gamely climbed in and managed to retrieve some sheets of drawing paper. My drawing inks were nowhere be seen. In the end, it was easier to drive into town and buy replacements.

Pictured below: my studio as it was on 29 July 2014 

- and as it is now.

A Residency at the Art Vault Part 3

This, the third of three posts about my stay at the Art Vault from 11 - 24 July, focuses primarily, although not entirely, on selected works that came out of the residency.

Directly below is the elegant front entrance to the Art Vault at 43 Deakin Avenue, Mildura.

Directly inside are gallery spaces 1 and 2. The following view of staff members Sonja Hodge, Mia Kolpin and Robert Watson was taken on my last day. All are talented makers in their own right. Unfortunately it was the day off of the fourth member of the inestimable Art Vault team, Andrew Svrta. To see some of Andrew's work, go HERE.

The etchings on the wall directly behind them are by Michael Kempson and much of the hand made glass jewellery in the display case was made by Mia.

Productive though the residency was, it wasn't all work. I found time to attend several sessions at the renowned Mildura Writers' Festival and it's always a joy to catch up with artist/illustrator Anne Spudvilas. Anne is a previous Art Vault artist in residence. Formerly based in Melbourne, she so fell in love with the area, that in 2012 she moved there permanently. The two photos immediately following were taken at the bottom of the garden of her house in Wentworth. That's the mighty Murray River in the background.

No visit to Anne's is complete without a pre-dinner drink as the sun sets over the river:

Meanwhile, back at the Art Vault studio, this is what occupied most of my time. All drawings are ink and gouache on hand-made Khadi paper, approx. 15 x 11 cm.

As mentioned in my previous post, these are essentially working drawings for a project that I anticipate will occupy most of next year - and beyond. In the meantime, the work is already starting to hear fruit. Seven of the drawings feature in a zine that's currently under construction. Full details about the zine, which I'm making for a forthcoming event, will be posted shortly on our sister blog Moth Woman Press.

A Residency at the Art Vault Part 2: Progress views

Further to my previous post, directly below are selected progress views of drawings made during my residency at the Art Vault, which ran from 11 July – 24 July. 

Although finished works in their own right, these diminutive drawings will be the basis of a major body of work planned for 2018.

The final work, pictured directly below, was completed on the last day of the residency.

And so, like all good things, my fourth residency at the Art Vault came to an end. It was a happy and fruitful time and, like countless others before me, I was very sad to leave.

Following is a bird's eye view of my work, snapped just before I began packing up. As previously noted, the drawings were made with pencil, ink and gouache on hand-made Khadi paper. The sheets, which are slightly irregular in size, measure approximately 15 x 11 cm. 

My third and final post on the Art Vault residency will feature detailed views of the finished works.