New arrivals

For Shane Jones and I, the arrival last week of two small, fully insulated storage units felt like the first day of the rest of our lives. At long last, we can liberate the remainder of our artworks from offsite storage and declutter our studios - not to mention the spare bedroom. The next stage is to level the units (our driveway is on a slight slant), instigate a storage system - and also do a great deal of culling. 

From the day we ordered the units, locally based Ryebucks Portables Ballarat were brilliant to deal with. 

There were a few challenges involved in manoeuvring the units down our driveway, including  a very tight fit halfway along (see below) and overhanging tree branches. Kudos to their highly skilled driver, Kyle, for his patience, good humour, cool head and ability to think on his feet.

Arrival of the second unit:

We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but it will be worth it. 

Progress amidst distractions

Above and below are progress views of my current work, followed by photographic evidence of why I’m not further along with it.

Despite every distraction Alice (and life in general) throws my way, I’m confident all paintings will be ready in time for Rückenfigur, my solo show at Queenscliff Gallery, opening June 23 and running to July 10.

Reminder: UP LATE 2022 Gallery Night

ATTUNED, curated by Stephen McLaughlan, is a considered snapshot of the Gallery zeitgeist – an opportunity for 8 of our artists to “strut their stuff” in fine coalition. Such exhibitions are a traditional opener for us and a perfect “introduction” to the Gallery. We look forward to welcoming you.

GALLERY NIGHT is presented as part of the Broadsheet LATE NIGHTS program, and is supported by City of Melbourne through the Events Partnership Program (EPP).

- From the Melbourne Art Fair website.

Happening tomorrow, Wednesday, 16 February, 6 - 8 pm, at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery:

A special nighttime viewing of ATTUNED, part of NICHOLAS BUILDING UP LATE, in partnership with Melbourne Art Fair. Featuring Laszlo Romer, Jenny Loft, Felicity Spear, Elizabeth Banfield, Peter Rowe, Irene Barberis, Callum Jackson and myself.

Other participating art spaces in NICHOLAS BUILDING UP LATE 2022 Gallery Night: 

GIANT SWAN, JILL KEMPSON, BIBLIOPATH, LEVEL 917-922 STUDIOS, JOSEPH BEUYS CAFE, MISSING PERSONS, CAVES GALLERY, MELBOURNE ART LIBRARY, 99% GALLERY, JOANNE MORRIS ARTIST STUDIOS and BLINDSIDE.

Do drop by if you can. Personally, I reckon the only thing more fascinating than the iconic, heritage-listed Nicholas Building by day is the Nicholas Building by night.

Pictured top: Philonist, 16 x 11 cm, pigmented drawing ink, one of my contributions to ATTUNED.

ATTUNED installation views: courtesy Stephen Mclaughlan.

For further information, please find your NICHOLAS BUILDING UP LATE invitation below. Alternatively, scroll down to our Blog Post of Friday, 11 February, or go HERE.

Foreign Flora - a work in progress

 

Presenting Foreign Flora, 15 x 11.5 cm, a newly carved lino block intended for Illustrated Women, an artist book that’s slowly, but surely, in the making. 

The subject’s floral tattoo is a motif from Australia, circa 1888, an embroidered table cover designed in Britain by the remarkable May Morris (1862 - 1938). It’s reproduced (not to scale) in the first developmental view below. In fact, none of the flowers depicted in the textile are native to Australia. The table cover was originally commissioned by a Scottish-born couple residing in Adelaide, South Australia, which I assume is how it acquired its title. Australia is now held in the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Directly following are four sequential progress views of Foreign Flora.

Caught in the act

Cat among the canvases - or more specifically, Alice, captured shortly after I hastily removed one of my paintings from underneath her. 

Puzzled at my protestations, she reckons an Alice-shaped dent in the canvas will surely increase the value of the finished work, which is destined for Rückenfigur, my forthcoming solo show at Queenscliff Gallery, running from June 23 - July 17. 

A preview of the rescued painting will follow in the near future. 

NICHOLAS BUILDING UP LATE 2022 - a Melbourne Art Fair Satellite Event

The group show, ATTUNED, is part of an exciting Melbourne Art Fair satellite event: a nocturnal viewing of selected Melbourne art spaces. Among them are the galleries in the Nicholas Building, including Stephen Mclaughlan Gallery. Visit the link below and scroll down for the listing under ALL EVENTS. Click on the image for further information. (It’s the ninth item, third row from the top):

https://melbourneartfair.com.au/2022-program/.

The special viewing at Stephen Mclaughlan Gallery will take place on the evening of Wednesday February 16, from 6 - 8 pm, the night before Melbourne Art Fair commences its 4 day run. 

Pictured top is an overview of my nine drawings that are part of ATTUNED. Directly above is a still life snapped in Stephen’s gallery, with the event details captured on his laptop. 

ATTUNED artists comprise Laszlo Romer, Jenny Loft, Felicity Spear, Elizabeth Banfield, Peter Rowe, Irene Barberis, Callum Jackson and myself. 

Your invitation to UP LATE 2022 GALLERY NIGHT at the Nicholas Building is below: 

Click on images for enlarged views.

The gallery’s daytime hours are below:

ATTUNED - current to February 26

Curated by Stephen Mclaughlan 

Stephen Mclaughlan Gallery

ABN 93 265 950 324

Level 8 Room 16 Nicholas Building 37 Swanston Street Melbourne 3000

On the corner of Flinders Lane

T: 0407 317 323     E: st73599@bigpond.net.au 

www.stephenmclaughlangallery.com.au

Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Friday 1pm-5pm. Saturday 11am-5pm.

& by appointment

May Flowers Part 2

Pictured: further development of the lino block for May Flowers, 15 x 11.5 cm. Aside from some tweaking, it’s done. A previous progress view is below and a still earlier view is HERE.

As previously mentioned, the linocut will be part of a future artist book, Illustrated Women. My protagonist’s tattoo is based on a detail from Maids of Honour, a needlework design by May Morris, a larger part of which was the basis for the tattoo design in the 2020 watercolour, Maid of Honour. 

FIGURATION at APW Gallery

My linocut, Untitled, 2000, (pictured above), is among the works selected for the group exhibition, Figuration, at the Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne. 

Back in 2020, I was awarded the APW George Collie Memorial Print Award, along with one of my printmaking Muses, the late Barbara Hanrahan, so I was delighted to find my work hanging alongside her etching, Lovers with Angels, 1990.

Unfortunately, I’ve almost come to feel that the award never really happened. The 2020 George Collie Memorial Print Award Ceremony and accompanying exhibition subsequently became buried ever deeper by the ongoing pandemic - but fortunately, not without trace. All going well, the exhibition and ceremony will finally proceed this year, albeit in a slightly different format. Further information will follow when I’m more certain of times, dates and other details. 

Meanwhile Figuration is on exhibit at the APW Gallery from Saturday 5 February 2022 to Saturday 12 March 2022. 

The show features work by Davida Allen, Brook Andrew, Benjamin Armstrong, Del Kathryn Barton, Martin Bell, Arthur Boyd, Jazmina Cininas, Noel Counihan, Heri Dono, Emily Floyd, Graham Fransella, Shaun Gladwell, Barbara Hanrahan, Richard Harding, Julie Harman, Euan Heng, Shane Jones, Lily Karadada, William Kelly, Deborah Klein, Richard Lewer, Sian Marlow, Laith McGregor, Lewis Miller, Chris O’Doherty (aka Reg Mombassa), Emmet O'Dwyer, Geoffrey Ricardo, Robert Rooney, Gareth Sansom, Pijaju Peter Skipper, Jeffrey Smart, Mervyn Street, Thornton Walker, Judy Watson, and Peter Wegner. 

Apologies for the reflections - they were impossible to avoid, particularly in the installation view directly above. Click on images for a clearer view. 

Figuration

Australian Print Workshop Gallery
210 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065
T: (03) 9419 5466  E: contact@australianprintworkshop.com
Gallery hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm

ATTUNED Artists Celebration

In a day chock-full of highlights, the high point of yesterday’s trip to Melbourne was unquestionably the Artists Celebration of ATTUNED at Stephen Mclaughlan Gallery. Thanks to everyone who came. It was terrific to catch up with old friends and meet with fellow ATTUNED artists, some for the first time ever, others for the first time in what seems like ages, and to see their work in the flesh.

Thank you to Stephen McLaughlan for curating me into the show and for hosting such a delightful afternoon. (Stephen is pictured 7th from the top, along with John Waller, Anna Maria Plescia and John Ryrie). 

I’m only sorry I didn’t get photographs of everyone who dropped by, but it was wonderful to see you and your presence was very much appreciated. Post-exhibition coffee and cakes at Brunetti was an added treat. 

ATTUNED artists are: Laszlo Romer, Jenny Loft, Felicity Spear (pictured above with Shane Jones and with Wendy Kelly in photos 6 and 8), Elizabeth Banfield, Peter Rowe, Irene Barberis, Callum Jackson and myself. 

For those unable to make it yesterday, the exhibition continues to 26 February. 

Stephen Mclaughlan Gallery hours:
Wednesday - Friday 1 - 5 pm
Saturday 11 - 5 pm
- and by appointment.

A gentle reminder

A gentle reminder about the upcoming Artists’ Celebration of ATTUNED at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery this Saturday, 5 February, from 2 - 4 pm. I’ll be there and hope you will be too. 

The ATTUNED artists are: Laszlo Romer, Jenny Loft, Felicity Spear, Elizabeth Banfield, Peter Rowe, Irene Barberis, Callum Jackson and Deborah Klein. 

A preview is directly below. Click on images for an enlarged view.

Credit for all photos: Stephen McLaughlan. 

ATTUNED 
Curated by Stephen McLaughlan 

Stephen Mclaughlan Gallery 

Level 8 Room 16 Nicholas Building 37 Swanston Street Melbourne 3000

(On the corner of Flinders Lane)
T: 0407 317 323     E: st73599@bigpond.net.au 
www.stephenmclaughlangallery.com.au
Gallery Hours: 
Wednesday - Friday 1 - 5 pm
Saturday 11 - 5 pm
- or by appointment 

If you can’t make it on Saturday, ATTUNED is current to 26 February. 

May Flowers

Pictured above and below: Progress views of the lino block for May Flowers, 15 x 11.5 cm.

The tattoo motif is based on a fragment of an embroidery by May Morris, as are several of the works in this suite. 

The block looks rather like it has been coated with Mercurochrome; in fact, it’s a transparent red ink applied over the key drawing so I can see more clearly the areas I’ve cut away. 

The ruled lines in the background won’t be carved exactly as they appear here. Their purpose is to try and keep me on the straight and narrow - literally - when I carve the lines freehand. 

The completed linocut will be part of a forthcoming artist book, Illustrated Women. There will also be a small edition of each work in the series.

Your invitation to ATTUNED

ATTUNED is now well and truly up and running. 

Please find your invitation to view the exhibition, or better yet, join us for the Artists’ Celebration this coming Saturday, February 5, from 2 - 4 pm.

Other exhibiting artists are: Laszlo Romer, Jenny Loft, Felicity Spear, Elizabeth Banfield, Peter Rowe, Irene Barberis and Callum Jackson. 

Image on invitation: Lookout, acrylic on linen, 40.5 x 30.5 cm. 

Pictured directly below: 

Mystic, followed by Fated, both pigmented drawing ink and gouache on Khadi paper, 16 x 11 cm, from a suite of nine drawings included in the exhibition. 

ATTUNED - Curated by Stephen McLaughlan

Stephen McLaughlan Gallery

Level 8 Room 16 Nicholas Building 37 Swanston Street Melbourne 3000

(On the corner of Flinders Lane)

T: 0407 317 323     E: st73599@bigpond.net.au 

www.stephenmclaughlangallery.com.au

Gallery Hours: 

Wednesday - Friday 1 - 5 pm

Saturday 11 - 5 pm

- or by appointment 

The exhibition runs to 26 February. 

ATTUNED - opening tomorrow

Opening tomorrow: ATTUNED, a group show at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, curated by Stephen McLaughlan in conjunction with the Melbourne Art Fair. The exhibition runs from January 19 - February 26. There will be an Artist Celebration on Saturday February 5 from 2 - 4 pm. 

Exhibiting artists: Laszlo Romer, Jenny Loft, Felicity Spear, Elizabeth Banfield, Peter Rowe, Irene Barberis, Callum Jackson and Deborah Klein.

Photo credit for installation views: Stephen McLaughlan. Third view: sculpture by Jenny Loft alongside two of my drawings. Click on images for a clearer view.

Scroll down to my previous post for further information, including gallery hours. 

Opening soon: ATTUNED

Explorer, pigmented drawing ink and gouache on Khadi paper, 16 x 11 cm, is part of ATTUNED, a group show curated by Stephen McLaughlan for the first exhibition of 2022 at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, Melbourne.

ATTUNED opens on January 19, with an artist celebration on Saturday, February 5 from 2-4 pm.

👉Please note: the exhibition has been extended to February 26. Directly below is an updated invitation, including gallery hours and a list of all participating artists. 

THE WAY AHEAD

Given its title, The Way Ahead seems an appropriate image for the first day of the first month of a brand new year. 

The work is from a suite of nine drawings that will shortly debut in Attuned, a group show curated by Stephen McLaughlan at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, Melbourne. 

Pictured top: The Way Ahead, pigmented drawing ink and gouache on Khadi paper, 15.5 x 11 cm.

Attuned, the first show for the year at Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, runs from January 19 - February 5, 2022. Further details are below, including a list of exhibiting artists.