That was Then : This is Now by Jane Bodnaruk

Yesterday I caught the train into the Big Smoke to see Jane Bodnaruk’s That was Then: This is Now and listen to her artist talk. Her interrogation of the now combined with exquisite stitching honours the past so beautifully, matching the thread colours of the finely stitched vintage tray cloths from early last century with words from the news of the Covid epidemic from 2020 to 2022. Her integrity of line and depth of thought is matchless, this body of work needs to be housed in a museum for posterity.

Jane produced this catalogue for the show documenting the nearly 50 vintage tray cloths she stitched into

back cover of the catalogue and intro below

Jane talked about her work with such ease and grace

her placement of the texts compliment
the colours and forms of the the past perfectly

feeling inspired best get back to stitching my Old Man Crow!

Hiroshi Nagai : Paintings for Music at the Japan Foundation

We visited the sublime exhibition of Hiroshi Nagai : Paintings for Music at the Japan Foundation yesterday
Hiroshi Nagai Poolside – Yellow Towel 2019
Hiroshi Nagai A Long Vacation 1987
Hiroshi Nagai Beachside Cloud Vehicle late 2000s
Hiroshi Nagai Uptown Poolside 2019
Hiroshi Nagai Urban Sunset – Two Palm Trees 1982Hiroshi Nagai Untitled 1993
I love the pop aesthetic held in all his meticulously painted artworks
this show is just up the road and I have just joined their library so will be back to see these beautiful works many times before the end of January !

 

 

Nirin 22nd Biennale of Sydney

Karla Dickens powerful ‘Dickensian Circus’ in the foyer of the AGNSW for
Nirin: the 22nd Biennale of Sydney curated by Brook Andrew
above 4 photos from the Biennale of Sydney’s facebook page

Ibrahim Mahama ‘A Grain of Wheat’ at Artspace
Ibrahim Mahama ‘No Friend but the Mountains 2012-2020′ installation at Cockatoo Island
photo from the Biennale’s facebook page
Tony Albert ‘Brothers (The Prodigal Son)‘ at the National Art School
Lucienne Rickard ‘Extinction Studies’ at the National Art School
photo from the NAS facebook page
was hoping to see the offerings at Cockatoo Island and the MCA today but the government is closing down all non essential venues as of midday & encouraging people to stay home as much as possible
John McDonald has written a good review
and so has Felicity Fenner

Untethered Fibre Artists : Found Narrative

The Untethered Fibre Artists : Found Narrative exhibition opened last night
Pam de Groot
First You Must Burn
90 x 80 x 40 cm – variable
Merino wool wire, cotton thread
Felting, machine embroidery
“When the nest becomes too small a bird is ready to spread its wings and fly” Matshona Dhliyawo
Jane Bodnaruk
A Process of Vignettes
2.0 x 1.8 x 0.22 m variable
Second-hand shirts, fabric, embroidery threads, embroidery hoops, polyester film
Hand stitch
“In 2016 I sketched my handmade rope from Rope Journey once every week for 37 weeks primarily in pencil on paper. I added fabric and stitch to these sketches toward the end of the journey.
In 2019 I have focused on fabric and stitch as a process of creative discovery. I wanted to discover if the process of working straight into fabric with needle and thread could be effective as an alternative and/or accompanying tool of process for me in finding the narrative.”
Jane Bodnaruk
Unpacked (detail)
130 x 85 x 40 cm
Vintage embroidered tablecloth, vintage embroidery, muslin, fabric, embroidery threads
Hand stitch
‘There are two sides to every story’
Denise Lithgow
Amphora & Amphoriskoi
3 Amphora – 110 x 40 x 27cm, 92 x 42 x 27cm, 83 x 33 20 cm
3 Amphorsikoi – 77 x 37 x 20 cm, 76 x 36 20 cm, 72 x 36 x 20 cm
Merino and crossbred wool, yarn, silk, wire, polyfil, matt varnish
Felting, eco-dyed with Australian flora – Eucalyptus nicholii and Grevillea Moonlight
Carolyn Cabena
Under the Canopy
170 x 110 cm
Cotton, hessian, naphtol and fibre reactive dyes, wax
Silkscreen printing, hand stitch
Under the Canopy detail of Monstera leaves
Cathie Griffith
Conversations
137 x 97 cm
Recycled fabric, tulle, acrylic paint, thread, beads
Painting, stitch
Conversations detail
Kirry Toose
The Curious Minds Anthology
Lost & Found
175 x 100 x 100 cm
Flyscreen, boning, latex, rubber matting, silk, cotton
Silkscreen printing, applique, hand and machine stitch
‘Every artwork takes on its own narrative, finding itself and then becoming illusive in its intent. This wearable creation is the journey of being ‘lost and found’-that clarity of a concept at midnight, losing the intent at the light of dawn.
A lifetime of chasing memories which fade in and out of time and place.’
fabulous details
Kirry Toose
The Curious Minds Anthology
The Other Side – the mechanics of observation
175 x 100 x 100 cm
Flyscreen, boning, metal, silk, cotton
Silkscreen printing, applique, hand and machine stitch
Referenced within the work is a collection of narratives exploring the juncture between facades, metaphors and structure. The form is bound to both the body aesthetic and functionality of the wearable.
The translucent yet strong surface cloth represents the intangible memories of a voyager. Its sometimes to reconcile that time of day – the mechanics of observing the in between – the light and shadows caught out of the corner of one’s eye and in the fleeting glimpses and silhoueittes of past recollections.
The Other Side detail
love those big hooks and eyes!
there is so much more to see so get along if you are anywhere near Sydney
there are lots more photos on Facebook & Instagram

Sculpture by the Sea 2019

Never Alone Throne Wayne Z Hudson
steel, powder coat
390 x 140 x 190 cm
was the first piece to catch my eye
Silence # 1.2 Pimpisa Tinpalit
wooden doors, rope
180 x 600 x 600 cm
I feel it is my duty as an artist to find harmony between the moments of absence
In the Grey of Daybreak Koichi Ishino
stainless steel, granite
230 x 200 x 200 cm
Ouroboros Charlie Trivers
carved laminated eco ply, eucalypt offcuts
350 x 100 x 100 cm
‘Ouroboros’ is an ancient infinity symbol of constant rebirth and renewal. This sculpture is carved and constructed out of timber, responsibly sourced and recycled. Metaphorically the sculpture materially is carbon stored and given a new cycle of life.
Ouroboros detail
2030 Sam Hopkins
aluminium
580 x 430 x 353 cm
A sight that will soon be all too familiar; a looming skeleton of this once great life giver, now destroyed by the lives it had supported. By 2030 the threat of climate change to ecosystems and the bioclimatic limit of trees will be irreversible.
Capture and Store Stephen King
siver top stringy bark, blue gum
500 x 300 x 300 cm
A hurricane raged through my district and tore down a million trees. Trees have been taking carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it away since life began. Any significant tree loss counts. “Capture and Store” is a memorial.
Eclipse Lucy Barker
salvaged electrical cables, steel, nickel, cement, hebel block
215 x 125 x 125 cm
One body moves into the shadow of another – E-waste is painstakingly reassembled, designed to spin on its own axis and meet the sky.
Eclipse detail
Transience Cave Urban
bamboo
400 x 800 x 1600 cm
love how these large woven domes nestle in the landscape so lightly & sustainably, they give me hopeSculpture by the Sea

Jenny Orchard ‘All Tomorrow’s Stories’ at May Space

Jenny Orchard’s solo exhibition ‘All Tomorrow’s Stories’ at May Space opened yesterday afternoon
I fell madly in love with her magical Monster with Windswept Branch 2019
ceramic with bronze branch
53 x 35 x 33cm
Jenny grinning with MaddyMonsterMedievalMemoriesMulticreature 2019
ceramic
61 x 35 x 35cm
her fishy pet has such beautiful pointy teeth!
Kudu Catwalker 2019
ceramic, hair extensions, fibre 165 x 60 x 50cm
‘Drunkenness is a triumphant irruption of the plant in us’ Giles, Deleuze 2019
ceramic, metal base 134 x 45 x 45cm
Ra 2019
ceramic, concrete, mosaic, synthetic hair, fibre
142 x 42 x 30cm
Ra’s fabulous pointy toed shoes!
Crocodile Whisperer 2019
ceramic, mosaic, metal stand
106 x 25 x 30cm
Three worlds Treewoman with Blue Labradorite stones 2019
ceramic and labradorite stones
90 x 30 x 25cm
Guccipet 2019
ceramic, feathers, black tourmaline stones
40 x 42 x 56cm
another view of Jenny’s marvelous Monster with Windswept Branch 2019

Artist Statement: “Science tells us how close we are to other animals, we share the form of most of our organs with so many of them. Like them we have two eyes, two ears, breath and entropy, and like them we can laugh and cry. Even those who are foreign to our eyes have bodies which, like us share a genetic code and DNA that goes back through time to beginning of life on the planet. We are the future and unknowable destiny of the planet itself, now that we can manipulate the code.

My imagination is blown wild by that knowledge. I am both more and less than human through my interactions with our collective technology and consciousness.

I want to make creatures that ask Who am I, and Who are You?”

click the link to see lots more photos and details of Jenny’s wildly whimsical and wise wonders

The Sleep Walkers – making art as protest by Gab Bates for EDGE in August

The Sleep Walkers by Gab Bates for EDGE
‘On the train, sidewalks and streets of Sydenham, The Sleep Walkers are marching to protest the political apathy and disengagement of our times. They will appear at EDGE Sydenham, snoozing between the Station and Sydenham Green at (time tba) on Saturday 3 August and (time tba) on Saturday10 August 2019.’
Gab makes wild potent art for our beautiful broken world
click on the link to register your interest and come along!

inspiration in the Blue Mountains

we caught the train up to see Essentiae at Gallery One88 in Katoomba
Colleen Southwell’s work is astounding
detail of her flannel flowers
Colleen has such a fabulous eye for the exquisite beauty of Mother Nature
then we walked up the road to visit the Three Sisters
the wild beauty
a seriously steep walk !
the long view
with the blue of longing
Eucalypts
have such beautiful bark and form
feeding the dream of moving to the mountains
now it’s time to get back to drawing a few of my favourite things
a few of my favourite things Mo 19
graphite and watercolour on A3 Canson drawing paper
starting from the left
steel and red velvet box by Olga Cironis
invitation card detail of Hideous Human Angel # 6 by eX de Medici 2008 for the Sold Out show at Boutwell Draper Gallery
Crania Anatomica Filigre 2011- 3D printed skull by Joshua Harker with a feather from Michelle Slater
Kokopelli card by Carol Duprey 2005
Crow card by Glenda Jones 2004 for her Lustre exhibition at James Harvery Gallery
SW magic gourd by Carol Duprey 2004
sand dollar
Skull Mug by Jenny Orchard 2013 with crow feathers and The Cat’s Whiskers (a wand for seeing in the dark)
Pod 2015 by Bronwyn Berman
card with blue cat on  XVII century tile panel, Fronteira Palace, Lisbon Portugal
SW magic gourd container by Carol Duprey 2004
wood rose
print of the Letter D from An illuminated Book of Cats from an odd perspective
Crow feather for flying
parchment stars

preview of Collector’s Choice 2018 today opening tomorrow!

preview of Artsite Galleries Collector’s Choice 2018 today
my offerings A Starry Necklace Mo Orkiszewski 2018
H24cm x W 20cm
vintage electric blue leather over 4mm cotton rope, white linen and blue Gütermann upholstery thread, antique parchment stars stitched with linen & cotton threads stabilized with silk organza, hand carved slice of tagua (aka Palm Ivory) pentacle, glass and lapis lazuli beads
Once in a Blue Moon Mo Orkiszewski 2018 (SOLD)
Moon Unit I
H 9.5cm x W 29cm (starry ladder 3.5cm)
embroidered vintage electric blue leather over papier maché mold, 1.5mm black leather cord coiled & stitched with black linen thread over papier maché mold, vintage white glove leather with linen thread stars, whisper silk organza rungs
Moon Unit II
H 5cm W 10cm (retractable ladder 25cm)
embroidered vintage electric blue suede over papier maché mold, 1.5mm black leather cord coiled and stitched with black linen thread over papier maché mold, bamboo rungs, waxed & knotted DMC cotton, vintage glass beads, carved bone beads, lead fishing weights, nickel silver links, lapis lazuli
artist statement:
Wrought with dark humour, high hopes and slow stitching lunacy, these vessels explore the surface of the moon both real and imagined. The ladders provide a way in and perhaps more importantly a way out.
(a blue moon is when two Full Moons land in one calendar month)
Book of Honesty Mo Orkiszewski 2017
H 27cm x W 22cm x D 2cm
bradel binding, relief sculpted spine, Moulin de Larroque handmade watercolour paper over boards
illustrations graphite and ink on Moulin de Larroque handmade watercolour paper, stitched Honesty pods
artist statement:
seeking honesty in this era of fake news
exhibition runs Dec 1-16th Wednesday to Sunday 11-5
the Silly Season is here & the xmas cards are well underway!

Untethered Fibre Artists present un:Seen

13th-25th November 2018
Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre
Hornsby
this fabulous exhibition finishes tomorrow, if you are anywhere near Sydney don’t miss it!
Destiny  by Carolyn Cabena
40 x 120cm
Linen, cotton, synthetic
Burnout print, applied dye, hand stitch
“A persona is shaped by experiences and images seen throughout one’s lifetime. These images are embedded in one’s memory forever and cannot be erased or unseen, although some may wish they could be.”
side viewlooking up
Carolyn’s work defined the show for me, loved the layering, exquisite stitching, complex hanging arrangement and how it fit the brief so beautifully
Eye Music (detail) by Samantha Tannous
40 x 120cm
merino fibre, silk fabrics
wet felted
“This felted sound wave conceals a poem by Petrarch, set to music by the late-Renaissance composer, Luca Marenzio, who frequently used eye music in his madrigals.”
Shouldering the Burden (detail) by Jane Bodnaruk
Installation
180 x 80 x 180cm
Second hand women’s shirts, netting, clothes airer, pegs, plinth
Hand stitch
“Let us acknowledge un:Seen women, who shoulder un:Seen burdens.”
Blockers (detail) by Desdemona Foster
Hanging
1.5 x 3m
Polyester, polyester thread
digital print, hand stitch
“Is what you see all that is there?”
Relief (detail) by Helen MacRitchie
one of 4 framed works
32 x 32cm
Merino wool roving and fabric, silk organza, cotton, silk and wool threads
Wet felting, hand and free macine embroidery
printed digital images of electron micrographs for asthma medication
Catching Breath (detail) by Helen MacRitchie
Hanging
120 x 80 x 10cm
Merino wool, cotton thread
Wet feting, free machine embroidery
“In the UK, asthma affects 1 in 11 of the population…
This work attempts to represent such an insidious contamination through a network. The whiteness of the lace felt layers is spoiled by spreading marks; marks which are in themselves tiny but en masse can prove impactful to the network integrity”
Disconnect (detail) by Kirry Toose
Wearable
175 x 80 x 80cm
Silk, wool, cotton, paper, rubber
Screen printed, hand woven fabric
Handmade paper framework
“This garment was created as a personal response to the sense of urgency to respond immediately to digital correspondence and Social Media- the inane attachment to a keyboard and the subsequent feeling of disconnect from reality and the tactile, through the everyday urge of the ‘screen’.”
Conversations in Time by Brenda Livermore
7 woven circular columns
1.0 – 1.4m variable height x 0.15m diameter
Paper string
Looping, fringing
“The time spent making these woven columns acknowledges and makes corporeal time spent with friends.”detail of looping and fringing
Common Ground (detail) by Brenda Livermore
54 vessels
8 x 60 x 90cm
Mulberry paper, paper string
Paper cast, fringing
“The imprint of memory on the landscape.”
to see more photos and information about this inspiring group of women here’s links to the Untethered Fibre Artists website and facebook