Nudges

Susan Buret ,Afterimage, 2009 ©, Acrylic and Pigmented Ink on 

Watercolour Paper, 76cm x56.5cm

Most artists spend a lot of time alone in their studio and in their dreams and since moving I have not had any opportunity to mix with my peers except for emails and facebook. This is my chosen career and I enjoy the solitude and the luxury of time to dream and create but, from time to time, I fell a bit 'flat' and thats when I am so grateful for a nudge from my peers. Without their support and suggestions I would not achieve half of what I do. Without an email/nudge from Nicola Moss I would not have thought about entering the Alice Art Prize. Without several reminders from Catherine I would not have  work in the Liverpool Art Prize.

So thank you Candy, Lyndal, Nicola, Deb, Maja and Uta  for staying in touch and to Catherine from Anita Traverso Gallery for forwarding details of opportunities on a regular basis.

Stargazzy 2

Stargazzy 2. 2009. © detail.
Oh how I struggle with documenting my work! Here are two images of Stargazzy 2 my newest work. I experimented with using pigments instead of diluted acrylic to get a luminosity to the background. I'm not sure about the texture to the background but I am very interested in using this pattern to make some bigger works.

Susan Buret. Stargazzy 2. 2009. Acrylic and Pigment on Linen.35cm x 35cm ©

I am hoping when I get into my new studio I will be able get the tripod out and find the right camera setting for the lighting.

The Friday Report

Hossein Valamanesh
Leave Your Shoes Here (detail), 2008 ©
voile, felt, steel, lights, persian carpets

This morning I listened to a repeat of Margaret Throsby’s interview with Hossein Valamanesh on ABC radio. Hossein, who works with ideas of place and the displaced, talked with passion about how he bonded with Australia as he saw the country outside Perth and the outback. When asked to describe his art he replied that he made stuff. Wonderful, beautiful stuff indeed. You can hear the interview online. Next week there will be a series of interviews from the Melbourne Arts festival.

I attended the opening of Tickled Pink at Artereal Gallery in Sydney on Wednesday evening. The exhibition was, as I always want to say ‘well hung’ and, included works by 26 artists Cash Brown, Damian Dillon, Janice Kuczkowski and me. Funds from any sales will go to Breast Cancer Network Australia so if you are in Sydney here is the chance to support a good cause.

While in Sydney I also visited several other galleries.

Sarah Cottier Gallery was showing some whimsical works by Huseyin Sami, Liverpool Street Gallery featured work by Jeanette Siebols. A series of charcoal and burnt sienna works with layering and text reminiscent of CY Twombly’s work.

Grace Burzese. Seeker of Light 2009 ©
acrylic on canvas 168 x 152 cm

Ray Hughes was showing Sichuan Hot, a group show of young artists from Sichuan whose work combined traditional technique, brushwork and calligraphy, with contemporary themes. Grace Burzesse’s exhibition in the back gallery was a series of gestural works with yummy colours.

Penny Byrne Guantanamo Bay Souvenirs 2007©, vintage figurines, metal chains, epoxy resin, plastic, re-touching medium, powder pigments, 14 x 32 x 10 cm.

My favourite show was Penny Byrne’s exhibition of altered figurines at Sullivan+Strumpf. Her lightness of touch and use of humour engaged and challenged me to think again about ideas of power, the macho, horrors of war and the victims of fundamentalist regimes.

The big (really big) news of the week is that the windows are now in my studio and the lining will go in next week. It was approved by council this afternoon.

It will look better with landscaping!

The electrical wiring went in today.

This will be the view from my desk which of course will be tidy.

Oh, and I need to mention that the radishes are up and potatoes are doing well in the vegetable garden and here are two very pretty but unrelated garden shots.

Waterlogged tree peony, bluebells and cavolo nero.

So green after the rain.

Finally, I made it into my temporary studio today to do some work on my entry for the Chapman and Bailey competition today and I have prepared a submission for a Paper Works exhibition next year so I can finish the week on a virtuous note.

My Inspiration

My inspiration doesn’t only come from other artists it often comes from people I admire from all walks of life.

On Sunday I went to see The September Issue. I love high fashion, not because I want to wear it or can afford it but because it is a feast for the senses, a path to fantasy.

Grace Coddington, the creative director of American Vogue was my inspiration when I was a teenager looking at the fashion in English magazines and dreaming about what the future held. Now she produces the most beautiful fashion shots that like good art engage and transport us.

Grace Coddington modeling in British Vogue.

The quote below her image is one that I think all artists relate to. It is what makes my life as an artist so rewarding, the idea of living in the moment and being able to take in ones surroundings. There is never a chance to be bored.

This idea also came up in Peter Thompson’s interview with Greg Mortimer on Talking Heads last night. He said that when climbing you were in a state of heightened awareness and focused only on the present. He made me realize that climbing a mountain was the same sort of experience I have when making art (major epiphany). When asked if being the first Australian to conquer Everest was his major life experience he said that he believed that there is always something more exciting out there to come even in later life. Is this what drives us all to continue?  

The Friday Report

This weeks report is a little thin on activities to do with my arts practice. I have made no work at all and as a result I feel a bit miserable and as you can see from my previous post I have had bouts of monumental lethargy.

I am hoping that the video will in some way compensate for the lack of drive in other areas!

Most artists report times when it just doesn't happen and I feel very fortunate that my down times can be measured in days rather than weeks or months. I have been nurturing myself with frequent visits to the art21 blog and doses of good wine.

I notice that when I don't make work for a few days I always get unsettled. This also happens when I am traveling. Now if you are asking yourself why I don't have a sketch book or journal for these times the answer is simply that I am hopeless with both.

The plans for next week are that it will be more productive and, on that note, it has started to rain and I had better go out into the garden to see if any seeds have sprouted.

Sol LeWitt

Sol Lewitt is one of my favourite artists. I could stand for hours in front of one of his works. I have seen several of his works including some beautiful gouaches at Art Chicago but I would love to see the exhibition currently showing at Pace Wildenstein Gallery in New York.

Installation View. Sol LeWitt: Forms Derived from a Cube 

 showing at Pace Wildenstein Gallery.

I think I could spend a week in this room. Sol Lewitt: Forms Derived from a Cube is at Pace Wildenstein Gallery, 32 East 57th Street NYC. The exhibition continues until 17 October ... sigh. At least I can visit their great website.

Feeling Slothful

This is the view of my temporary desk, aka the dining table, from the couch. I am having a really slothful and unmotivated day. I am blaming it on the temporary desk and the temporary studio but I don't think either is the real reason. I think we all have days when it is better to forget about trying to be productive and write the day off.

In an effort to appease my consciense I am about to go look at the art21 blog which is generally a source of inspiration.  I hope it works. Even my internet speed is slow today. Here's to tomorrow.