World's Greatest Shave - we're George-ous!

We did it as a family - Mum, Dad, sister, brother in law, me and the WMBM (except he lost  his hair without the aid of electrical equipment). Fantastic day in Brisbane and the three teams shaved at our event raised more than $7000 for the Leukaemia Foundation - thanks so much to our friend Simmone who tidied up our heads after the fun bits! Thank you everyone for your support!

Update: as at 14 April the teams had raised over $10,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. Well done everyone!
 

Collagraphs and more printmaking

There has been plenty of time to think about what "was" and "when" over past months. Resolving these in the context of "transformation" has defined assignment responses in the introduction to printmaking course I have recently completed. Tea bag tags and strings represent change (from tea pots and tea leaves) and that time when "having a cuppa" allows for reflection.  The tea bag tags were arranged on a card background overlaid with crumpled tissue paper, the strings used to create the tag shape in some of the "blank spaces" then the used tea leaf remains scattered and glued to the background. Hand burnished with back of metal spoon.

the blue book

A recent challenge to re-think the book. First step is to shred prints and printed materials. Combine with a quality printmaking ink, preferably oil based for best quality print, and binding agent (achieved with diluted PVA glue). Press into shape - the vessel becomes the holder of information and printed works - the stack of pages, created from the shell, provides the sequential order that helps with the definition of "a book".

Was and when

More collagraphs in the making and the theme of transformation - introducing the power of text. "Was" symbolises the past and the known, the things that went before while "When" is hopeful, unknown and full of opportunity. Some shellac over the weekend and these will be ready for test printing. A final series of prints will be created after reviewing the success, or otherwise of "Was" and "When".

Unspoken

Hand stitching and mark making with beautiful threads - something that might not have happened if we hadn't lost contact with the outside world for a few days. The rhythmic nature of needle and thread - turning turbulence into calm and back into the chaos if simply living. Underneath the layer of tinted tissue paper is text torn from romance novels, cards and gift wrap, all stitched to a ground of open weave cotton - a former shirt of WMBM. All the things we want to say but can't quite get out. All the times where words get overtaken by the pace of life. Often unspoken, always near the surface.

Floods @ Tarome

Perhaps the last picture of our bridge - one way in and now there's not much left of the bridge, trees or banks. Now you see it, now you don't. Around the bend it was wild and still roaring after 24 hours - then we came back yesterday and another 3-5 acres had disappeared, exposing what once was our neighbour's well, and three power poles. Pumpkins are now strewn now half a mile up the road - such a strange sight. Hoping to have an alternate way out through a neighbour's farm by tomorrow afternoon. The world is good again. Thinking of those who are still in the grips of the flooding and related disaster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything is possible

I have been looking at the work of William Kentridge and his view on the importance of play. So often when I am in art quilt mode the focus tends towards time frames  deadlines and getting to the end of the binding. Kentridge believes in the seriousness of play, "in the looseness of trying different things from which images and ideas emerge" and "in between the things I thought I was doing, the real work has happened". So today is a day for some very serious play and remembering that anything and everything is possible, especially in between what I thought I was doing.