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. 

New Year’s Greetings from my Ballarat studio

Directly above is the painting on my studio workable at year’s end. Near completion and as yet untitled, the diptych is acrylic on canvas and measures 37.5 x 15 cm. The work will be part of my solo show, Rückenfigur, at Queenscliff Gallery, running from June 23 - July 17, 2022. 

Meanwhile, behind me as I worked was this: 

Pictured above: Alice, devoted studio cat and Muse.

As always, thanks for finding time to visit my Art Blog, especially during the extremely challenging year that was 2021. Wishing you all a safe and happy 2022.

Compliments of the Season

 

May your cup of Yuletide cheer runneth over and wishing you a happy, healthy and fulfilling 2022. Warmest thanks for dropping by and for all your support throughout the year.

Following are some views of our house set up in readiness for the Festive Season. We have two trees, dating from the time we had separate houses, but the smaller tree, pictured below in our entrance hall, remains our sentimental favourite. The big tree is upstairs in the cinema room and the two photos that directly follow it are the entrances to my studio and our small library which are also on the first floor.

We’re celebrating very quietly again this year, although a couple of family members are coming over for drinks this evening and a handful of friends will join us for afternoon tea on Christmas Eve. Shane, Alice (pictured above) and I plan to spend Christmas Day at home, but in the evening, COVID permitting, Shane and I will drive to Melbourne to reunite with a small group of dear friends, some of whom we haven’t seen for nearly two years.

Meanwhile, to see what I’ve been up to in the studio lately, visit my sister blog, Moth Woman Press, HERE.

However you plan to spend the holiday season, may your days be merry and bright, now and in the coming year. 

MORRIS DANCER

Pictured top: Lino block for Morris Dancer, 15 x 11.5 cm. 

This was the first work I undertook as part of the forthcoming artist book, Illustrated Women, but it wasn’t the first block from the series to be carved. You can see that one in my previous post. The subject is embellished with selected motifs from an embroidered three-fold screen designed by May Morris for Morris & Co, circa 1888. (See below).

SUNFLOWER - a linocut in progress

Pictured above is a progress view of Sunflower, one of several linocuts planned for Illustrated Women, a forthcoming artist book. The lino block measures 15 x 11.5 cm.

Two earlier developmental views are directly below.

For more about this fledgling project, which is now officially a goer, scroll down to SUNFLOWER, my blog post of Thursday November 11, or click HERE.

A landmark birthday

Thank you all so much for the warm birthday wishes I received yesterday. They meant the world - I’m truly blessed to have so many wonderful friends. It’s not every day a girl turns 70. Huge thanks to my love and life partner, Shane Jones, not just for making the day especially memorable, but for his strength and support, particularly over the past 12 months. I couldn’t have managed a quarter of what I’ve achieved without him. Needless to add, Alice was on hand to help us celebrate. Although Shane and I did get out and about (our very full day was sandwiched between breakfast at the Yacht Club on Lake Wendouree and dinner at historic Craig’s Hotel) these photos were snapped in our upstairs cinema room. The flowers are from Sue and Barbara, two very dear friends in London. For health reasons, I’m not supposed to be going overboard with cake, so we comprised with two cupcakes. They are rather dwarfed by the candles - after all, 70 is a big number. 

A true Renaissance man, Shane has been studying guitar and musical composition over the past year. As a surprise birthday gift, he composed a short, exquisite work for guitar, Deborah’s Pictures, and commissioned his music teacher, guitar virtuoso Daniel Nistico, to perform the work against a backdrop of my prints and paintings, thanks to the wonders of technology. Directly below is a fragment of the music, followed by a screenshot of the recital. The link to Daniel’s superb performance is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdCwXi3bdLI 

Thanks again, everyone.

Jazz age memories

I’m delighted to learn that two of my early, rarely seen relief prints, Jazz age memories and Sunny Sunday afternoon (not pictured), both 1985, are now part of the permanent collection at Geelong Gallery, thanks to the generosity of donors Conrad O'Donohue and Rosemarie Kiss.

Both works were made shortly after I graduated from art school and are a continuation and development of the still lifes and interiors on which I was primarily focused in my final year of undergraduate study. The subject matter was drawn from my immediate surroundings. When I began the series, I was living in an early 1940s apartment in Westbury Street, St Kilda East. 

As shown in the following photos, snapped in the living room of our house in Ballarat, the Art Deco clock and vase, together with the wind-up gramophone and record cabinet are still treasured possessions. All were purchased in London, where I was based for most of the 1970s - the clock, vase and gramophone cabinet at Portobello Road Market and the gramophone at an antiques fair in Alexandra Palace. I remember the gramophone came complete with a scratchy 78 rpm record on the turntable - Mel Torme’s classic recording of Rodgers and Hart’s Mountain Greenery, which I love to this day. I wouldn’t have paid more than a few pounds for any of these objects, but purely for the precious memories they hold, each and every one is priceless. 

The two ceramic sculptures seen in the preceding three photos are by Melbourne-based artist, David Pearson. Aside from a fragmentary view of Untitled 17, Shane Jones’s surrealist  glove painting directly above, top right, remaining artworks are by me. Click on images for a clearer view.

Pictured top: Deborah Klein, Jazz age memories, 1985, linocut on handmade paper; edition 4/25. Geelong Gallery, Gift of Conrad O’Donohue and Rosemarie Kiss, 2010. © Courtesy of the artist.