Tag: photography

Art opening shoes — 1 of 7

When I was at the White on White opening  I remembered an idea I’d had before when at exhibition openings — photographing a series of people’s shoes. The idea of portraits of people’s shoes interests me, and it’s interesting how many people feel braver in wearing colourful/wacky accessories like earrings or shoes than in their clothing. I think the photos give a good sense of the event as well…

Presenting the first installment of a series:

White on White: celebrating 20 years of the Fiona Myer Award at Victoria University, 18 November 2019.

Art show

2_art_show_sign4A couple of weeks ago, I approached a local real estate agent about some empty shops in my local area. I’d been thinking they would be great for a pop-up art show. I was thrilled when he agreed to let me use the space for a reduced rent.

I called my artist friends and said ‘We’re having a show! in Yarraville!!’ One friend immediately asked ‘What’s the theme?’ to which I replied ‘We’re not from the VCA*! We don’t need a theme! We’re having a show! Bring your work!!

The show is opening on Friday night, and about one third of the work is at the space. Now comes the challenge of curating – deciding which works to put together in which rooms. The space is large and there are 18 artists involved, most of whom I met while studying Visual Art at Victoria University. It’s difficult to get a show when you’re an emerging (unknown) artist, so this is a great opportunity to show our work. It’s so exciting!

Lo-fi: new art collective is at 130 Gamon Street, Yarraville from 1–4 August, opening 6pm on Friday 1 August. Everyone is welcome to come and have a glass of wine and celebrate with us at the opening!

*VCA = Victorian College of the Arts

Albury Art Gallery

On my last trip to my home town of Wangaratta, I visited the Albury Art Gallery for the first time.

A few things caught my eye: a lovely crayon and ink drawing by Charles Blackman from the Alice in Wonderland series, an early Fred Williams watercolour of the You Yangs, and some sumptous photographs by Richard Janson.

But my favourite work was really unusual and 3D. I’d not heard of the artist Frank Hinder (1906 – 1992) before, and he made this ‘luminal kinetic’ in 1968 using timber, glass, metal, and electric motor and lamp. The parts inside slowly moved, giving a hypnotic effect. It reminded me a bit of watching a lava lamp. Beautiful!

Frank Hinder, Silver – white, 1968, luminal kinetic

Melissa Powell

traces of time_M_PowellTraces of time, 2012, pigment ink on cotton rag

Today I visited Vestige II by Melissa Powell at Anita Traverso Gallery.

I met Melissa last year when visiting my artist friend Mars in Natimuk, so I was curious to see her work. It was absolutely amazing! Beautiful aerial photography of the landscape, mainly in the Wimmera. Paddocks of canola embellished with curving plough lines like a yellow plush carpet. The mineral colours and abstract shapes of a salt lake. The traces left on the earth by farming, mining, erosion, fire and flood. And Droughtbreaker, a dark photograph of the delicate tracery of dead trees contrasting with dark flood water. Her photographs have a beautiful meditative quality and give us a bird’s eye view of the land.

Droughtbreaker_M_PowellDroughtbreaker, 2011, pigment ink on cotton rag

New show at Edmund Pearce

New Show at Edmund Pearce

Last night I went to an opening at Edmund Pearce in the Nicholas Building, Melbourne city. EP has only been around a few months, but I am mightily impressed by 1. the free drinks, 2. the quality of the work and 3. the charm and friendliness of the lovely Directors.

Anyway, this is their best show yet, IMO. Annalisa Feleppa’s georgeous flower ‘still lifes’, Rory Fink’s mirrored landscape installation, and Jacqui Henshaw’s spooky hedges. Check it out! Five stars from me…

http://edmundpearce.com.au/category/past/

Last night I went to an opening at Edmund Pearce in the Nicholas Building, Melbourne city. EP has only been around a few months, but I am mightily impressed by 1. the free drinks, 2. the quality of the work and 3. the charm and friendliness of the lovely Directors.

Anyway, this is their best show yet, IMO. Annalisa Feleppa’s gorgeous flower ‘still lifes’, Rory Fink’s mirrored landscape installation, and Jacqui Henshaw’s spooky hedges. Check it out! Five stars from me…

New studio with a view!

My studio has moved! To cut a long story short, a student dropped out of our art studios, then I swapped studios with another student, then a third student swapped with me… now I’ve got a studio with a window view looking down onto Melbourne city from the 17th floor… Sweet!