Join us!

MODERN MYTH Artist and Curator Talks:

This Saturday 13 February, 2.30 pm

With a special musical performance from The Lost Clog, whose members include MODERN MYTH artist Jazmina Cininas 

Eddy Carroll, Deborah Klein, Annette Phillips and curator Domenica Vavala discuss the current exhibition MODERN MYTH

In an information age where few mysteries remain, these artists represent the endurance of mythological thinking in notions of story, 
symbolism and other examples in the world around them

The exhibition runs until 6 March

Counihan Gallery in Brunswick 

233 Sydney Road

Brunswick Vic 3056

03 9389 8622

Wed - Sat 11 -5 pm/Sun 1 -5 pm

Free entry

counihangallery@moreland.vic.gov.au | moreland.vic.gov.au/gallery

www.facebook.com/counihangalleryinbrunswick

Photo top:

Pictured with my Homo-insecta watercolours on opening night. Photo credit: Tim Gresham

New life for an old work

An old drawing recently rediscovered, The Shell Game, 2000, oil and water soluble pastel, 76.5 x 56 cm, has just been given new life as one of the illustrations in the eight page mini-zine, Hair Pieces 2, one of the latest publications from Moth Woman Press. The zine will make its debut at the 2016 Sticky Institute Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair in Melbourne Town Hall this coming Sunday, 14 February, from 12 – 5 pm.

To preview Hair Pieces 2, visit Moth Woman Press HERE.

Once upon a time, at Castle Counihan...

My Homo-insecta watercolours. Like the viewers in this shot, this was the moment I first saw them up on the wall

For those who couldn’t join last night’s lively, enthusiastic crowd at the opening of MODERN MYTH, here are a couple of photos snapped early in the evening. A big thank you to all who came. The admirable Tim Gresham was on hand as official photographer; these will have to do until he is able to pass on his infinitely superior images, when I’ll be able to share some views of the show in its entirety. All of the works by exhibiting artists Eddy Carroll, Jazmina Cininas, Paul Compton, Minela Krupic, Alesh Macak, Annette Phillips, Dear Plastic, Carmel Seymour, Linda Studena and exhibition curator, Domenica Vavala are stunning. Thanks to them and in no small measure to Domenica's harmonious, elegant hang, a veritable wonderland is contained within the walls of 'Castle Counihan' (as it was described in the memorable 'Once Upon A Time...' opening remarks by Jazmina Cininas).

Jazmina Cininas delivers the opening address

Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone - MODERN MYTH tonight*

Pictured above: Stigmodera Jewel Beetle Woman (2014, watercolour on Khadi paper, 41.91 x 29.72 cm), one of my works in the group exhibition 'Modern Myth'. The opening event is 6-8 tonight at Counihan Gallery In Brunswick and you're all invited. For those who can make it, we look forward to seeing you there.

MODERN MYTH

5 February – 6 March

EDDY CARROLL / JAZMINA CININAS  / PAUL COMPTON / DEBORAH KLEIN / MINELA KRUPIC / ALESH MACAK / ANNETTE PHILLIPS / DEAR PLASTIC / CARMEL SEYMOUR / LINDA STUDENA / DOMENICA VAVALA

CURATED BY DOMENICA VAVALA

OPENING REMARKS BY JAZMINA CININAS 

Opening Event: Thursday 4 February, 6-8 pm

Artist Talks: Saturday 13 February, 2.30 pm

Counihan Gallery In Brunswick

233 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056  

Phone: 03 9389 8622

Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 11 am - 5 pm | Sunday 1 - 5 
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/169670160067202/

*Paraphrased with humble apologies to Stephen Sondheim

The Saga of Cossodes lyonetii Moth Woman

The long process of hand colouring Cossodes lyonetii Moth Woman

The hand colouring of linocut Cossodes lyonetii Moth Woman is at last completed. It was made for the print portfolio and group exhibition Eventide, curated by Rona Green. The show, which will celebrate the art of the relief print, opens at Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery in May 2016.

After several failed attempts to print this work, primarily due to problems with our presses, I turned to renowned Master Printer Bill Young. He did an extraordinary job, in searing heat and in double-quick time. Bill lives in King Valley, a good four-hour drive from Melbourne. As good fortune would have it, however, my SOS call coincided with his visit to Melbourne for a family lunch. Even so, he and his wife, Anita Laurence, who, coincidentally, is also an Eventide artist, still traveled miles out of their way to collect my ill-fated printing paraphernalia: paper, ink and a selection of duds he'd asked for so he could try to figure out what went wrong. (I was so stressed that I left the lino block behind in the Ballarat studio and had to mail it to him by express post).

Completed edition of Cossodes lyonetii Moth Woman, 2016, linocut, 32 x 30 cm, printed in Prussian Blue
with hand colouring. Printer: Bill Young

Bill subsequently delivered the edition to us in Melbourne. This morning he and Anita called in for morning tea and collected Bill’s hand coloured P/P (Printer’s Proof).

From left: Anita Laurence, Bill Young and Shane Jones at our Abbotsford place earlier today. The muffins and chocolate
Brownies that Anita and Bill brought along to our morning tea were delicious.

The edition packed up in readiness for delivery to Rona

Over the last couple of weeks Bill has been boundlessly generous with his time and knowledge. He has even offered to check out our presses at Ballarat. Needless to add, I simply can’t thank him enough.

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED

Another milestone for the Homo-insecta watercolours: yesterday morning's delivery to Counihan Gallery in Brunswick.

Pictured above from left: my partner Shane Jones, Modern Myth curator Domenica Vavala, two members of Counihan Gallery’s crack team and, far right, gallery director Victor Griss.

FRAMED

Collected last week from the fabulous Bonnie Hanlon at Omnus: some of the watercolours that will be part of the group exhibition Modern Myth at Counihan Gallery in Brunswick. If you’re free (and not living in another state or territory) join us for a celebratory drink at the opening night on February 4.

MODERN MYTH

5 February – 6 March

EDDY CARROLL | JAZMINA CININAS  | PAUL COMPTON | DEBORAH KLEIN

MINELA KRUPIC | ALESH MACAK | ANNETTE PHILLIPS | DEAR PLASTIC 

CARMEL SEYMOUR | LINDA STUDENA | DOMENICA VAVALA

CURATED BY DOMENICA VAVALA

Opening: Thursday 4 February, 6-8 pm

Artist Talks: Saturday 13 February, 2.30 pm

  

Counihan Gallery In Brunswick

233 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056 | 03 9389 8622

Wednesday - Saturday 11 am - 5 pm | Sunday 1 - 5 pm

www.facebook.com/counihangalleryinbrunswick

Eupholos linnei Weevil Woman

A good selection of the Homo-insecta watercolours I've been working on over the last 18 or so months are about to make their debut appearance at the Counihan Gallery in Brunswick, in a group exhibition curated by Domenica Vavala titled Modern Myth.

Eupholos linnei Weevil Woman (2015, watercolour, 41.91 x 29.72 cm) is the last work I made for the show. The watercolour was finished late last year, but this is the first chance I've had to devote a post to it. Pictured below are a series of developmental views and some of my reference materials, followed by the completed work.

Modern Myth will be launched on February 4 from 6 - 8 pm. The exhibition runs until 6 March.

Counihan Gallery in Brunswick
233 Sydney Road
Brunswick Vic 3056
Phone: 03 9389 8622
Hours:
Wed - Sat 11 am - 5 pm
Sun 1 - 5 pm
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Outsider Artists

The miniature linocuts Wallpaper Rose, the Disappearing Woman, Spider Woman and Bearded Lady featured in this post are part of Outsider Artists, a long-planned series that was stalled when other projects intervened. They finally came into the world after one of several unsuccessful attempts to edition the linocut Cossodes lyonetii Moth Woman. Sick and tired of wasting so much ink after each failed effort, I decided to proof some of them. A further incentive was the birthday of my good friend Paul Compton. Paul has always encouraged me to continue with the series, so it's entirely fitting that the very first proofs were presented to him on that auspicious occasion. 

Lino block and first proof of Wallpaper Rose, the Disappearing Woman

Hand-coloured artist proof of Wallpaper Rose, the Disappearing Woman

Lino block and first proof of Spider Woman

Hand-coloured artist proof of Spider Woman

Lino block and first proof of Bearded Lady

Hand-coloured artist proof of Bearded Lady

Meanwhile, acting on my partner Shane Jones's suggestion, I turned to Master Printer Bill Young to edition the vexed Cossodes lyonetii Moth Woman. I'm extremely fortunate that he agreed to take it on, especially at such short notice. Bill is one of the finest, most knowledgeable printers in the country. He's done a magnificent job and I can't thank him enough. Today I'll begin hand colouring the edition, which should still be ready by the deadline. The results will be shared in a future post. 

Once this is done, I stand firmly by my intention to take a break from lino cutting. Although the freshness and immediacy of working on a small scale has revived something of the sense of pleasure and satisfaction I once derived from making relief prints and the completed set of Outsider Artists prints may also become the basis for an artist book, all of this will happen in my own good time.