Nets Private View – TAFTA Geelong Forum, Corio, Australia

Tonight was the Private View of the Nets Textile exhibition at the TAFTA Geelong Forum, Corio. It features works by 34 Australian and UK based artists who have all made works in response to the theme of ‘Nets’. This was the first time in the duration of the four years of this project that the groups have shown together in one venue. This is a project that has impacted upon the textile careers of many people at an international level, both as makers within the group and as a viewer visiting the show.

It was exceptionally busy with fantastic feedback from visitors, on the diversity of work on show. Interesting, how we have responded with some similarities of concept whereas other works explore the cultural differences across the two hemispheres. I will be posting photographs as we progress through the week of the TAFTA Geelong Forum.

Advertisement

Today has been about colour…

A grizzly grey morning soon changed as I decided to stop off at the Aquarium….hadn’t planned to, but decided that the Garden walk I had planned, wouldn’t be good on an overcast day.

Beautiful colours and textures of the sea, animals and plant life. I couldn’t help but be inspired.

Journeying along Flinders Street, I spent some time photographing the graffiti and myriad of road markings and signs.

My journey then took me to the Ian Potter Centre at the National Gallery of Victoria. A beautiful space to show the stunning indigenous art collection. A truly moving experience viewing these works, as emotive as a Rothko in their scale and presence. I will be posting credits to all of the artists whose work I have profiled.

Then on to a quiet, contemplative walk along the Yarra in the sunshine. Time to reflect and think about my new work and my response to being here. Listening to the noise of the cars on the busy road interspersed by new bird sounds from the trees……must find out what they are.

Back again into the hub of the city but still on the river….to Southgate. It reminded me of the lovely buzz of the Embankment in London. Walked along past Henley on the Yarra with the rowing clubs and then into a lovely restaurant complex with some lovely shops. I happened upon a beautiful vintage shop ‘American Rag’ http://www.americanrag.com.au and a great stationery shop Kikki.K. Many thanks to the great staff in both shops who allowed me to take photos and post them on here.

Finally, my journey ended where for many it began….at the Immigration Museum. Very poignant stories about leaving home and building a new life, which resonated with me packing my bags for my short stay here. Touching stories about textiles and immigration.

A Melbourne ‘Look Book’

Starting to create a photo diary while I am in Melbourne.

Family Trees moves to Australia

Today 19th September is my first day in Australia. I will be based here for the next three months. Initially based in Melbourne and Geelong. I will then be moving on to Canberra and the Textile department at the School of Art, Australian National University. A great series of projects are planned to link artists with textiles, family trees and developing new work.

‘and more bling…’

Really excited about the linear marks and shape of this; exploring distortion and line.

‘Bling’

Exploring macro photography and fish-eye setting against a chandelier crystal

Family Trees

Watching an installation being created at the V&A. I photographed the gradual development of line in space across the statue.

Family Trees

Continuing to develop samples which explore mark-making onto cloth. These are layers of marks – some which connect and others which will never connect. Deliberately using neutral colours to focus on the tonality and density of mark.

The Haberdasher and the Family tree

‘Haberdashery’ – collected, sifted, ordered and sorted…a myriad of coloured buttons are poured into tins and boxes of threads and fastenings are continually ravelled and unravelled then sorted into a never ending order of new colours and patterns.

This is the world of the textile artist and collector of haberdashery. Often it ‘escapes’ and becomes new and beautiful textile works that are displayed on gallery walls. While most of it rests in tins and boxes awaiting its next visitor.

This blog explores my collections of haberdashery and how they inform my textile practice. This collection explores the concept of the ‘family tree’; using imagery, fabrics and fastenings which connect and have connections with my family over the years.

Family Trees

Stitching on both the reverse and the front of a piece of work. Is there a point when the front become the back and the back becomes the front?