The sea Creatures have been installed on the beachfront at Yeppoon. They made the trip on a truck from Natureworks from Mt Glorious, and were installed by Kevin Morgan on site at Yeppoon. Keith Sommer designed the sculptures, and Catriona Holland arranged the mosaic for the project, at David Joffe’s Natureworks.
The cephalopods are back from firing now I have plans to put these underwater.
I made up some linen tea towels from the Coochie Artist’s designs to display in the gallery cabinet during the exhibition, Here are some photos of them drying on my washing line.
Meanwhile, back at Natureworks, they’ve been finishing a giant Santa and shipping more big koalas. When they’re bubble wrapped they look like a Christo work in progress. I like the inside-outside casting shells that hang in the sheds. On the project, there is now a new perfectly smooth starfish to work on, a dream-like turtle and a rather beautiful stingray. Life is always interesting in my surreal workplace, and the pressure is on to move these big things to their locations.
‘ gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes’
Coming soon, more additions to the vegan/gardeners collection: mornings in my studio cutting up the vegetables. What is better than artichoke vinaigrette with freshly picked peas? I can’t imagine!
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The Sense of Coochie Flying Arts Curator project exhibition has now opened at Redland Art Gallery. I was visiting curator for this exhibition, working with the Coochie Art Group to design and develop an exhibition that draws on experience the group has visiting Coochiemudlo Island to make artworks.
Exhibition continues until Sunday 27th January
Monday to Friday 9am-4pm
Sunday 9am-2pm
Cnr Middle and Bloomfield Streets
Cleveland 4163
Closed 25 december-3rd January
My mother was a potter. I remember feeling excited to see the glazed pieces being unwrapped, opening and closing a set of rectangular boxes with lids that fitted perfectly, drinking from her stoneware cups and being in her wheel room surrounded by drying pots, the smell of clay intermingled with the soda smell of laundry powder. You can’t rush clay. It has its own time.
Pottering: I rarely work in a linear way, I always have several projects on at once, and move between them. I find, in this way I can layer up my projects as inspiration and enthusiasm catch me, instead of trying to will my uncooperative self to do.
I’ve learned to keep moving, and trust that projects get done in their own time. “Layer it up and then let it go” a festival director once said to me. Brainless tasks can lead me into more complex ideas than reading or procrastination. So when I went to play with my new toy: an orca torch, melting pieces of silver, my silversmithing lessons seemed to spring back into my hands, although my my conscious memory of how to solder and shape the silver is dim.
I’m obsessed with squid at the moment. They are the ultimate body decorators and sculptors.
They are outstanding navigators and complex communicators. They are dexterous and exceptionally spacial. They are not egotistical. Unfortunately for them, cephalopods are also tasty.
They have arms, like us, they use tools, like us, they are capable of complex tasks, and can recognise symbols.
I’m making a small tribute to these critters whose existence embodies the magic and wonder of this planet
To celebrate the grouting of the squid there was a garden party. Fatima S Hellfisch and I decided to make some attire for the project leaders and team. Heroic undies, a squid apron and chesty bond singlets, as well as some squiddley Tees. I wonder whether the squid will be gift wrapped and sent off like all the other big things?
Sometimes life takes a surreal turn. I never know what’s around the corner working on some large mosaic sculptural pieces in a bizarre and wonderful setting surrounded by low maintenance animals. Pinch myself to check if it’s real, and even then I’m not sure. curious and curiouser!
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