Early Morning

The up-side of getting up super early to get my daughter to the train station when it is still cold and dark is being able to see the sun rise over the horizon (after filing in and out of the constant stream of headlights).  The sun isn't showing itself around here until just after 6am at the moment and disappearing around 5.30pm.  Lovely, short, cool & sunny days.  BLISS.

Contributions to 'An Encyclopaedia of Everything'

Over the past little while I have involved myself sporadically with making a few books for Cheryl Penn's artist book project "An Encyclopaedia of Everything".

I am currently working on another edition for the project.  This time pamphlet stitch books as part of a collaborative trade between Artist Book 3.0 members.  For this latest edition I am incorporating lino prints with the subject of refugees/boat people.

I think this will be the final call of works for the project as the exhibition is imminent and Cheryl will reach her goal of 500 (?) books by the conclusion of this latest collaboration.

The most recent book I contributed was "After All", a concertina fold book about the final silence which awaits us all.  A bit of a dreary subject, but don't we all love a bit of melodrama now and then?! Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the cover before I sent it off into the never, never.

A small extract from a well known  Edgar Allan Poe poem "The Raven" weaves it's way across the folds 

(Deep into to that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before) 

along with images of gravestones, dodos, skeletons and the like - all symbols of memento mori and eternal demise.

The other books I have contributed:

You are my everything......

 and

Missing

Curious Little Visitor

We have had a curious little visitor in our garden this morning.

Whilst we sometimes see echidnas snuffling around at night time,

this is the first time we have seen one during the day 

- apart from on the side of the road after they have been hit by a car :(.

The temperatures are much milder today, which could explain

their daytime presence, as echidnas are not fond of extreme temperatures.

Echidna babies are called puggles.  

Should I get my hopes up of spying a puggle any time soon?

Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere

It's a beautiful time of year in my part of the world.

The light is softer, the days are shorter and the temperature is just a little cooler.

Hope you are enjoying nice weather in your corner of the world.

World War I - Mail Art Project

These are some little postcard sized artworks I have been working on as part of a mail art project centred on the centenary of World War I, organised by UK artist Theresa Easton entitled
WWI Trench & Folk Art.

 

For my part I have been investigating ways of showing how the war effected and interrupted the personal lives of ordinary people and how imperialism and geographical distance played a huge part in Australia's involvement in the conflict.

Print Exchange

My attentions have been diverted with the

organisation of the Personal Histories project

and I have been blatantly neglecting my own blog

and allowing it to gather cobwebs.

One of the myriad little projects I have been working on 

is a small print (7" x 5" - edition of 12) for the 

Brooklyn Art Library Print Exchange Project 2014.

The theme this year is "Let this be a sign....".

I went the environmental route with my little

bird representing the proverbial canary in a coal mine

as a metaphor for how we are treating the environment 

and how this affects the other creatures on this planet.

The good news is - if you are a true optimist you

can turn this little print upside down and you 

will be able to revive the state of play

by bringing the bird back to life :)

Waiting for the Breeze

Well, I have spent the first part of my year

lazing at Bondi Beach, visiting Taronga Zoo, wandering

the streets, galleries and underground mazes of Ol' Sydney Town.

Partaking of foods and restaurants available in abundance.

On my return to home soil, I find myself torpid and lethargic

with the muggy weather.  I am without compass.  Waiting for the
breeze to catch my sail and drag me forward over the Hokusai like,
mountainous wave of paraphernalia I should already be traversing.

Happy New Year 2014

The Daruma above served me well in 2013,

and their eyes have been filled in as I have 

completed my 2013 goals -

But it is now time to put my new Daruma into service.

A spiffy modern version of a very old Japanese tradition

- gifted to me at Christmas time.

This little fellow (designed by Paul Loebach for Areaware) came with these simple details:

The Daruma is a traditional Japanese talisman for focusing on personal goals.  Modelled after Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, it is a popular gift of encouragement.  When one is received, set a goal or make a wish and fill in one eye to illustrate your intention.  The other eye watches over you as a constant reminder and guide.  Once your goal is reached fill in the other eye and display the Daruma as a symbol of your success.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014 TO ALL!

Miss Larue - my new etching press

Keith and Nancye from Merlarue Etching Presses installing Miss Larue

I am very excited to say my new etching press was delivered yesterday and she's a beauty.

She was designed, made and delivered by the versatile and talented

team of Keith Wiltshire and Nancye Canobie from

Merlarue Etching Presses, Castlemaine.

If you are looking for a press I can thoroughly recommend

getting in touch with these guys.

Absolute pleasure to deal with.

It took less than 3 weeks for them to build and personally deliver

the press (driving from Castlemaine in Victoria to Queensland no less!)

Some other companies I'd approached had only just gotten

 around to responding to my initial email!  

Their pricing is very reasonable too.

Keith and Nancye are both established printmakers and have an 

extensive knowledge and keen interest in the art of printmaking.

I am so looking forward to playing around with Miss Larue (or Merle to her friends).

If anyone wants to come play - just drop me a line :)

Thanks Keith & Nancye.

Love your work :)

Artist Books 3.0 #12 - Biography - "Missing"

I have finally completed my edition of accordion fold books

for inclusion in the Artist Books 3.0 #12 (biography/autobiography) 

Collaborative Mail Art Group project.

"Missing"

The subject I chose to explore was Agatha Christie, specifically

the 11 days in December of 1926 she went missing.

I was originally going to poke a bit of fun,

making various disguises in which Ms Agatha

might have been spotted.

However, on re-reading information about the

personal angst which Ms Agatha was suffering at the time,

I thought it would be inconsiderate to make fun of her 

obvious state of desolation, even after all these years.

Herewith are the two pieces of writing 

included with the book (the first being a copy of the 

missing notice posted after Ms Agatha's disappearance,

offering a detailed (though not wholly flattering) description of her at the time:

       BERKSHIRE CONSTABULARY.

              WOKINGHAM DIVISION.

                       9^th December 1926

MISSING

From her home “Styles” Sunningdale in this Division

Mrs. Agatha Mary Clarissa CHRISTIE

(WIFE OF COLONEL A. CHRISTIE)

AGE 35 YEARS, HEIGHT 5FT 7”. HAIR RED (Shingled),

NATURAL TEETH, EYES GREY,

COMPLEXION FAIR, WELL BUILT.

DRESSED – Grey Stockingette Skirt,

Green Jumper, Grey and dark Grey Cardigan,

small Green Velour Hat, may have hand bag

containing 5-10 pounds. Left home in

4 seater Morris Cowley car at 9.45 p.m.

on 3^rd December leaving note saying she was

going for a drive.  The next morning the

car was found abandoned at Newlands

Corner, Albury, Surrey.

Should this lady be seen or any information

regarding her be obtained please communicate

to any Police Station, or to

        CHARLES GODDARD, Superintendent

                                  WOKINGHAM.

            Telephone No. 11 Wokingham

1926 was a tumultuous year for Agatha Christie.  Agatha’s books were beginning to gain in popularity, pushing her reluctantly into the spotlight.  Her ailing mother, Clarissa, died of bronchitis in early February.  Agatha’s husband, Archie, professed his distaste of grief and sadness and resolutely remained in Spain refusing to return to support Agatha through the funeral, her grief and the ordeal of sorting through her childhood home whilst caring for their young daughter.  When Archie did eventually return to England he took up residence in London, far away from their home in Surrey. He took a mistress, Nancy Neele, who shared his passion for golf.  It is believed Agatha, a shy, reserved person, quietly suffered a nervous breakdown after a year filled with personal trauma.

On the 3^rd December, after Archie left for a weekend house party to announce his engagement to his mistress, Agatha slipped quietly from their home “Styles” and disappeared for eleven days.  After a nation wide manhunt she was found safe at the Hydropathic Hotel and Spa at Harrogate, claiming she was not aware of who she was or what she was doing there.

Her disappearance has sparked much conjecture through the years, however, Agatha refused to ever speak of the events.