Thank You

Today I sent a letter to the Pine Rivers Gallery to thank them for my award and it occurred to me that there are lots more people to thank so here goes....( I hope I don't miss anyone and if I do it's unintentional.)

My partner Faye for encouraging me to return to making art after many years of inactivity.

My art buddies, too numerous to name, who encouraged me to take classes again.

All those who have bought my work especially Roger Hose who has quite a collection!

My teachers Sally L'Estrange, Dr Irene Amos and Majena Mafe who opened my eyes and my mind.

Uta and all the members of the Brisbane Artists Development Co-op whose support and positive energy is infectious.

Carrie Knowles at Free Range Studio for showing my work in the United States

Ivan Lazarou for generously giving me a space to show my work in 2007.

Anita Traverso for taking me on and representing me in Melbourne and Cash Brown for believing in my work and marketing it at Art Brisbane08

Six Degrees of Separation

My mentor and inspiration Dr Irene Amos opened Six degrees of Separation a beautiful exhibition of work by Lyndal Hargrave which is showing at the Redland Art Gallery until 6 July. 2008.

2008 Pine Rivers Art Award

Her Arrival is the winner of the 2008 Pine Rivers Art Award and has been acquired for the collection of the Pine Rivers Gallery

Butterflies and Van Eyck

Butterflies and Van Eyck 2008. Mixed media on Canvas. 450mm x 450mm.

This is one of my recent works which I will be exhibiting at  off the wall at Art Brisbane08 next week. The stamping over the image began 'life' as a butterfly but somehow morphed into something which reminds me of the convex mirror in a Van Eyck Painting. I have spent the weekend naming works for the show ........a mind expanding activity! and trying to get organised for my residency at Bundanon next month.

Blonde on Blonde

 Dear Reader, 

If you like the appearance of my work please listen to Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album.

It has been my constant companion (my muse) for the last few days. I'm making a large work with images from my friend Chrys's Greek Passport which has lots of beautiful Greek script. I am layering a work with pale blue and the blue mauves of the passport pages and stamping over it with a deep blue pattern which is a sort reference to that Greek key design even though it owes more to 60's op/illusion. I am building up an image with different layers and melodies and messages  and listening to One of Us Must Know........now I know why I like it.

Unfair Comment

What do Hillary Clinton's physical attributes have to do with her political ability? Where are the similar remarks about Obama and McCain? I was going to keep a file of insults to Hillary when the campaign began but I got sidetracked. We have the same problem here in Australia where comments are made about Premier Anna Bligh's footwear and the contents of Deputy prime Minister Julia Gillard's fruit bowl.

Sophie Calle

I love Sophie Calle's work. She manages to deal with personal crises and the small things that loom so large in all our lives. She was on the ABC Arts program yesterday...playful and serious all at once. The presenter talked about the way she dealt with memory and loss. It made me think again about my interest in the gun and the way that memorials list what is lost. I saw an article in the weekend Australian about the two women who had lost their legs in the London Bombings and the Air Garuda crash. They were both afraid of forgetting sensations like walking through sand. I wonder if it is loss that is so painful or the fear of forgetting what has gone, what we took for granted when we had it.

Heartland selected as a finalist for the Churchie

Heartland. 2008. Mixed media on canvas. 1500mm x 1050mm has been selected for the exhibition of finalists for the Churchie National Emerging Artists Competition.

The Certificate of Registration

Poppy's Certificate. 2008. Mixed Media on Canvas. 450mm x 450mm.

My friend and fellow artist Chrys very kindly lent me her Mother's Certificate of Registration. the document was issued to migrants who came to Australia in the 1950s. It is a particularly viscious bureaucratic creation filled with threats and warnings. I immediately copied and shredded it and stamped over it. See the detail above.