Louise Saxton Embroiders Birds

Tags

Art, Australian art, Birds, Embroidery, Fine art, Gould Galleries, Haberdashery, Louise Saxton, Melbourne, Mixed media, Native Birds, Natural History, Textile Art

Flaming Flamingo 2011– after John James Audubon, 1838 by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins, nylon tulle
116 x 98cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

Flaming Flamingo 2011– after John James Audubon, 1838 (Detail) by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins, nylon tulle
116 x 98cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he’s carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he’s carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you’re drunk. (Jack Handy)

I can only imagine the hours and painstaking hours of effort that must go into the creation of just one of Louise Saxton’s beautiful works. Look carefully – you will see antique lace, tulle, glass beads and more in these fantastical needleworks. The minutiae of her pieces are what makes them, for me. And, of course, my love of all things ‘haberdashery*’! 

Where does she get her patience?

Queen Billie 2010 – after Sarah Stone, 1790 by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins, nylon tulle
127 x 95 cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

Queen Billie 2010 – after Sarah Stone, 1790 (Detail) by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins, nylon tulle
127 x 95 cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

I collect, I dissect, reinterpret, and reassemble. (Louise Saxton)

The images in this post are taken from the artist’s recent exhibition, ‘Sanctuary too’, held at Gould Galleries in Melbourne.

For this series, Louise was influenced by natural history artists from the 1600’s to modern-day. She has reinterpreted specific works by developing an outline of an original natural history painting before building up layers, textures and colours of collected materials, and pinning and repining, until she is happy with the result. Just fabulous.

Halcyone & Ceyx 2010 – after Lilian Medland, c.1930 by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins, nylon tulle
76 x 96cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

Halcyone & Ceyx 2010 – after Lilian Medland, c.1930 (Detail) by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins, nylon tulle
76 x 96cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

Major Tom 2010 – After John & Elizabeth Gould, c.1848 by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins and nylon tulle
103 x 49 cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

Major Tom 2010 – After John & Elizabeth Gould, c.1848 (Detail) by Louise Saxton
Reclaimed needlework, lace pins and nylon tulle
103 x 49 cm
(Image from Gould Galleries)

To learn more about Louise Saxton’s work, or other artists represented at Gould Galleries, check out the website or visit them at 270 Toorak Road, South Yarra, VIC 3141. I have added them to my list for next time I’m visiting Melbourne.

* My brother refers to my love of craft endeavours as ‘haberdashery classes’. I think he just likes the word haberdashery, but Louise Saxton takes ‘haberdashery’ to a whole new level.

3-D Art is All the Rage at (CTRL)(P) – Objects on Demand

Tags

3D printing, Art, Art exhibition, Art Museums, COTA, Courtesy of the Artist, Digital art, Marc Newson, Modern art, Museum of Art & Design, New York, Object Gallery, Printing, Sydney, Visual Arts

Opening Night at the (CTRL)(P) – Objects on Demand Design Lab and Pop Up
(Image by TSL)

The technology allows you to design an object in virtual space and transmit the data to another machine to ‘grow’ or ‘print’ that object in 3-D. (Marc Newson)

It seems that 3-D art is all the rage…

‘Them’ by Richard Dupont, Group of eight figures
Cast pigmented polyurethane
(Image from Galerie Maximillian)

In a recent NYTimes article, ‘Artists Take Up Digital Tools’, there was much talk of  the current ‘Out of Hand: Materializing the Post Digital‘ exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Apparently, in one section of the exhibition, devoted to demonstrations of 3-D printing and scanning, people can get full body scans and purchase miniatures of themselves in three sizes.

Sounds pretty cool, right?

Well, what if I told you you could get a 3-D miniature bust of yourself right here in little ol’ Sydney-town?

(CTRL)(P) 3-D Man
(Image from Object)

It’s true. You can.

In a collaboration with the very talented peeps from COTA (Courtesy of the Artist),  Object Gallery is currently fitted out with 9 3-D printers.

And, we are all invited to drop in and use the equipment, attend a workshop to learn how to print our own designs, listen to a talk, shop, or come along to one of the many events and take a 3-D photo of ourselves.

I went along to the opening on Tuesday night. And, I have to say, even a technologically challenged almost-Luddite like me was fascinated. IT IS SERIOUSLY COOL!

If you aren’t into having a wee bust of yourself, you can check out the jewellery by Cinnamon Lee, Cesar Cueva, Nancy Malik, Bin Dixon-Ward and more. These incredibly complex pieces are made out of a single piece of material and so light to wear.

3D Brooch by Bin Dixon-Ward on sale at (CTRL)(P)*
(Image by TSL)

3D Ring by Bin Dixon-Ward on sale at (CTRL)(P)*
(Image by TSL)

The exhibition runs at Object Gallery until 25 January, 2014. The gallery is located at 417 Bourke St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010. If you’d like to check out the workshops on offer, you can do that through the (CTRL)(P) website.

And, if you aren’t already familiar with the very talented peeps at COTA, they are well worth a visit. They run two galleries – one in Surry Hills and one in the Strand Arcade, featuring new works in contemporary art and design.

Incredibly knowledgable and helpful if you are searching for just the right contemporary piece, too. One of my favourite places to visit, especially if the lovely Nina is around.

* Images taken on my iPhone and really don’t do the pieces justice.

Sculpture by the Sea 2013 – Horizon by Lucy Humphrey

Tags

Art, Art Photography, Artist, Bondi, Carl Maria von Weber, Lucy Humphrey, Lucy Humphrey Studio, Photography, Sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Sydney Coastline, Tamarama New South Wales

‘Horizon’ by Lucy Humphrey
Sculpture by the Sea 2013
(Image by TSL)

An artist’s sphere of influence is the world. (Carl Maria von Weber)

LM and I rose with the birds yesterday for our annual trip to the always fabulous Sculpture by the Sea. We look forward to it every year – the location along Sydney’s Bondi to Tamarama coastline is stunning, and the free event makes art accessible to everyone in such a wonderful way. This year, we were not disappointed.

After days of sunshine and hot weather, yesterday dawned overcast and moody. Good day for walking the coast line checking out the art work…

Every year, there are one or two stand out pieces. Sculptures that strike a chord with seemingly everyone. This year, that piece was Lucy Humphrey’s ‘Horizon’.

‘Horizon’ by Lucy Humphrey
Sculpture by the Sea 2013
(Image by TSL)

A large acrylic sphere filled with water, and on a steel, timber and masonry base, ‘Horizon’ reinterprets the surrounding view when seen through the liquid within the perspex.

The artist’s statement reads: “Horizon is a site-specific sculpture that celebrates the surrounding natural environment. Using water as a sculptural material, the work will temporarily transform the viewer’s experience of the site, as a monument to the coastal landscape and the constant line of the horizon.”

And, ‘Horizon’ does celebrate the surrounding environment. Even at the early hour that LM and I were there, people seemed transfixed by Lucy Humphrey’s work. I know I fell in love with it… What do you think?

‘Horizon’ by Lucy Humphrey
Sculpture by the Sea 2013
(Images by TSL)

Lucy Humphrey is a Sydney-based architect and artist. She is the founder of Lucy Humphrey Studio and cofounder (with Claire McCaughan) of Archrival, a non-profit organisation that aims to unite the creative community through different projects.

The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition runs from 24 October – 10 November 2013. Do get along to see it if you are in Sydney.

More on Sculpture by the Sea tomorrow…

I’ve Got a Thing For Pukeko

Tags

Animal Photography, Art, Beatrice Carlson, Bird, Kiwi, Mixed media, Native Bird, New Zealand, Pukeko

‘Pukeko Kete’ by Beatrice Carlson
(Image from Essenze)

Like most Kiwis, I have a bit of a thing for the Pukeko. With its distinctive bright blue colouring and bright red beak, it is always easy to see against the green of the New Zealand wetland.

Also known as the New Zealand Swamp Hen, the Pukeko is a member of the rail family, and it is similar to other species found all over the world. There are apparently 15 sub species of the bird and their range includes southern Europe, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Melanesia, western Polynesia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, so it is a very common bird. In New Zealand, you can find them in almost any grassland area, especially in swampy locations.

Just why they have struck such a chord within the Kiwi culture is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps it is because they are a little ungainly, but still full of character. It’s certainly not because of their flying ability – their take off is laboured and they are awkward flyers with feet dangling and often crash landing into a tree or bush, although they can fly long distances.

‘Blue Comme’ by Beatrice Carlson
(Image from Essenze)

For me, one woman who has captured the quirkiness of the Pukeko perfectly, is Beatrice Carlson. She apparently originally studied oil painting and it has given her an understanding of layers and transparency that she now uses in her digital work. Her works are dramatic in scale – the piece above is 1200mm x 1200mm – but she works with the smallest of details, adjusting the images pixel by pixel.

I think I would quite like Blue Comme on my wall…

Essenze sells Blue Comme for NZ$2,901 and will ship anywhere in the world. You can check out their site here.

 

Lucy Gauntlett’s ‘Sweet As’ Mixed Media Art

Tags

Art, Auckland, Bach, Kiwiana, Lucy Gauntlett, Mixed media, New Zealand, New Zealand Art, Peter Jackson, Photography, Vacation property

‘Sweet As’ by Lucy Gauntlett
(Image from here)

New Zealand is not a small country but a large village.(Peter Jackson)

In New Zealand, the ownership or use of a bach (or, ‘crib’ if you hail from the South Island) is almost part of our cultural heritage. And, for the initiated, a bach is an unassuming, sometimes even rustic, holiday home.  

My parents have a bach about an hour’s drive north of Auckland. And, when I say ‘bach’, I mean a modest-yet-lovely wee house nestled into the bush.

The last time I visited, my Dad was talking ‘bach refurbishment’ with me. He wants to spruce the place up a bit, without spending too much money.

So, I’ve had bach refurbishment on my mind… And, I quite like the ‘Kiwiana nostalgia’ feel that Lucy Gauntlett’s work evokes in me.

New Zealand based professional photographer & graphic artist, Lucy Gauntlett specialises in creative New Zealand limited edition landscape photography, large-scale panoramic landscape photographs and prints of local New Zealand scenery. While these range from rugged West Coast beaches to edgy graffiti ridden streetscapes, my favourites are from her hand painted fruit and vegetable signs that she photographed and layered.

Perhaps I’m just feeling sentimental, but I think some of these pieces might be quite nice at the bach…

“Market Kitchen I’ by Lucy Gauntlett
Available in sepia, black and inverse
(Image from here)

‘Market Kitchen II’ by Lucy Gauntlett
Available in sepia, black and inverse
(Image from here)

‘Sign of the Times’ by Lucy Gauntlett
(Image from here)

Or, for something with less Kiwiana but even more of a retro feel, this kitchen aid poster could be just the thing for the kitchen…

‘Kitchen Aid’ by Lucy Gauntlett
(Image from here)

For a more complete look at Lucy Gauntlett’s work, check out her website here, or visit Clever Bastards – they have a great range.

Peter Lange Creates Trompe L’oeil Brick Sculpture

Tags

Art, Auckland, Auguste Rodin, Bondi, Mount Eden, New Zealand, Peter Lange, Richard Shaw, Sculpture, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Trompe L'oeil

Peter Lange’s Brick Wiggle Chair
(Image from Masterworks Gallery)

Sculpture is the art of the hole and the lump. (Auguste Rodin)

So, this year’s Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi is almost upon us. It’s one of those fab’ public exhibitions that Sydney does so well. I look forward to it every year. The Jacaranda are flowering here in Sydney and it feels like summer is well on its way. It must be time for Sculptures by the Sea…

One sculptor whose work I quite like, and who is not exhibiting in this years sculpture walk, is Peter Lange. A New Zealand ceramic artist, he taught himself pottery in the 1970s.

I’m a fan of trompe l’oeil. I like the humour and whimsy of it. And Lange brings this to his work. He started his slip-cast trompe l’oeil sculpture in the mid 1980s, after an encounter with Richard Shaw, a recognised master of trompe l’oeil sculpture.

Lange gained notoriety in 2002 for building an Anagama Boat. Apparently he was  investigating the motto “if you throw it in the water and it sinks, then it’s art… if it floats it’s craft”. Intrigued by the resemblance of the interior of an Anagama kiln to an inverted boat, Lange set out to prove that an inverted kiln could float.

Peter Lange on his Brick Boat
(Image from Ceramics Today)

In August of this year, he installed three giant brick kumara (that’s New Zealand sweet potato, for the uninitiated!) on Mt Eden Road in Auckland. The work is called ‘Tahuri’, after a legendary Māori gardener known for her fabulous kumara. The work was sponsored by Eden Arts, a lovely group of people committed to promoting the arts in Mt Eden (a suburb of Auckland).

Peter Lange’s ‘Tahuri’ (kumara)
(Image from Eden Arts)

Peter Lange’s ‘Tahuri’ (kumara)
(Image from GCCG)

In my wee investigation of the talented Mr Lange, I found that Masterworks Gallery in Auckland has some of his work available. I imagine they are quite heavy and expensive to ship, but if one lived in Auckland…

Peter Lange’s Deckchairs
(Image from Masterworks Gallery)

Peter Lange’s Brick Chair
(Image from Masterworks Gallery)

If you’d like to see more examples of Peter Lange’s work, he has some great images on his website here.

Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi) runs from 24 October to 10 November 2013. If you’d like more details, check out the website here.

Julian Wolkenstein Horses Around…

Tags

Animal Photography, Art, Design, Horses, Interior design, Julian Wolkenstein, Megan Morton, Pets, Photography, Rachel CAstle, The School

Julian Wolkentein’s ‘Florence’
(Image from here)

A horse is a thing of beauty… none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendour. (Xenophon)

Sometimes, I’m a little behind the eight ball. Sometimes, it takes me a while to catch on. Clearly. This is one of those times…

I was having a mooch around the School*, that most fabulous site that is the brainchild of the lovely Megan Morton. To be honest, I was looking for Rachel Castle’s next screen printing class (It’s on 15 March, 2014, if you’re interested!) and then I found these splendiferous wee horsey pics by the talented Julian Wolkenstein. I kind of love them.

That is to say, I kind of love them, despite the fact I don’t fall into that ‘I love horses‘ camp that some girls belong to. They make me smile.

Julian Wolkentein’s ‘Misty’
(Image from here)

Apparently, Mr Wolkenstein had the idea of experimenting with horses’ manes after a conversation with another advertising mate.

With a background in advertising photography and used to working with a very specific client brief, Julian also thinks, “It is important to do personal projects just for fun, not to sell anything, but just to remind you why you make images, but mostly, and simply, to make you smile.”

Julian Wolkentein’s ‘Harmony’
(Image from here)

Apparently, each horse took around four hours to groom, with hair extensions being added by hair-stylist Acacio da Silva. Wow!

You can order prints of Julian’s horses from The School. They come in 3 sizes: 

The small print is 20cm x 26cm and retails for $125

The medium print is 42cm x 52cm and retails for $580

The large print is 72cm x 102cm and retails for $1,250.00

*If you live in Sydney (or Melbourne or Auckland! – there are road shows!) and consider yourself the teeniest bit creative, it’s illegal not to know about the School. If you don’t happen to live in the region, it’s still worth a look-see. I’d quite like to be like Megan Morton when I grow up…

Helena Leslie Quilts in Watercolour…

Tags

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Art, Artist, Brenda May Gallery, Drawing, Exhibition, Little Prince, Quilting, Sydney, Visual Arts, Watercolour

‘A Silence of Surprise’ by Helena Leslie
watercolour on paper
(Image from here)

I am quite drawn to Helena Leslie’s current exhibition at the very funky Brenda May Gallery in Danks Street.

Drawing inspiration from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s asteroids in ‘The Little Prince’, Helena has created a series of works which draw on her interest in personal histories that have been discarded and forgotten – things like photographs and printed matter; and then, tethers them to her quilts painted with watercolour.

One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye. (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

The Little Prince
(Image from here)

She gives me a sense of looking into someone else’s world. There is a softness, a gentleness, to her work which appeals. What do you think…?

‘A Silence of Gathering’ by Helena Leslie
watercolour on paper
(Image from here)

‘A Silence of Family’ by Helena Leslie
watercolour on paper
(Image from here)

‘A Silence of Return’ by Helena Leslie
watercolour on paper
(Image from here)

‘A Silence of Wishing’ by Helena Leslie
watercolour on paper
(Image from here)

Helena Leslie’s current exhibition, ‘Again’, runs until 15 June at Brenda May Gallery. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 11 – 6, Saturday 10 – 6 and can be found at 2 Danks Street, Waterloo. I may just have to check it out…

Vivid Sydney 2013 – Lights. Camera. Action!

Tags

Art, Art Installation, Arts, Australia, Circular Quay, Colour, Festival, Light Show, Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Opera House, Travel, Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney 2013
Sydney Harbour Bridge
(Image by TSL)

If you’re a long-time TSL reader, you may remember my post on the Vivid Sydney 2012 light show. Honestly, I find it hard to believe it has been a year – almost to the day – since LM and I last attended the light spectacular that is Vivid Sydney. Well, it has been a whole year – and on Saturday night we joined the thousands and thousands of fellow Sydney-siders (young and old, big and small, bipedal and the doggie kind – they were all out in force) to check out this year’s lighting installations. I gotta’ tell you, we were not disappointed. Sydney’s annual Vivid Festival is a w e s o m e…

We splashed out and kicked off our evening with a pre-walk meal at the ever consistent ‘Guillaume at Bennelong’.

Vivid Sydney 2013
Sydney Opera House Light Installation from Inside ‘Guillaume at Bennelong’ Restaurant
(Images by TSL)

My best secret tip to avoiding the crowds for Vivid is to head up to the Cahill Walkway that runs next to the Cahill Expressway and then winds down through the rocks.

Vivid Sydney 2013
The Custom House from the Cahill Expressway
(Image by TSL)

Vivid Sydney 2013
Circular Quay from the Cahill Expressway
(Image by TSL)

Vivid Sydney 2013
Museum of Contemporary Art from the Cahill Expressway
(Image by TSL)

There were lots of surprising wee pockets to hunt down…

Vivid Sydney 2013
‘Praxis Makes Perfect’ Installation at Walsh Bay
An amazing animation series against a building wall
(Images by TSL)

Vivid Sydney 2013
‘Moths to a Flame’ Installation at Walsh Bay
(Image by TSL)

Vivid Sydney 2013
‘Sky Grass’ Installation at Circular Quay
(Images by TSL)

Lunar Park was all lit up…

Vivid Sydney 2013
Novotel at Walsh Bay
(Image by TSL)

Of course, The Sydney Opera House took centre stage…

Vivid Sydney
Sydney Opera House Lights Up
(Images by TSL)

But, the Custom House was pretty incredible, too.

Vivid Sydney 2013
The Custom House Lights Up…
(Images by TSL)

Vivid Sydney’s light installations kick off every night at 6pm until 10 June 2013. Seriously worth a look-see!

ArtExpress Turns 30 – That’s MUCH Older Than its Artists

Tags

Archibald Prize, Art, Art Express, Art Gallery NSW, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australian art, creativity, Exhibition, Higher School Certificate, New South Wales, Painting, Sulman, Sydney, Visual Art, Wynne Prize

‘Love the Home You’re In’ by Lochlan Howard
St Francis Xavier’s College
(Image from here)

Arguably, the Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in the Australian art scene. Along with the Wynne (best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture), and Sulman (best subject painting, genre painting or mural project in oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media) Prizes, the Art Gallery NSW is currently exhibiting the entrants for 2013. It’s almost un-Australian not to go.

Well, even though I am not an Australian, I tootled along to see the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman. I go every year. All good. But, what I was really looking forward to was ArtExpress…

Regular readers may recall my post from last year on ArtExpress 2012 (here). ArtExpress is an annual exhibition featuring a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the art making component of our Higher School Certificate examination in Visual Arts in New South Wales. It includes a broad range of approaches and expressive forms, including ceramics, collection of works, documented forms, drawing, graphic design, painting, photomedia, printmaking, sculpture, textiles and fibre, and time-based forms. And it is
A M A Z I N G. What these students achieve is mind-blowing, and this year was no exception (although I think 2012 just nudged ahead for me).

‘Double Think’ by Aoife Coleman-Clarke
Rose Bay Secondary College
(Image from here)

‘Babel’ by Rachel Cronin
Loreto Kirribilli
(Image from here)

‘Sweet Simplicity’ by Milli Wheeler
Oak Flats High School
(Image from here)

‘Conscience Vote’ by India Gates
Wenona School
(Image from here)

‘After Leonardo’ by Alexis O’Connor
Wenona School (a cracking year for Wenona School!)
(Image from here)

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of ArtExpress at the Art Gallery of NSW. If you haven’t yet made it to the exhibition, you have a few more days to do so. If you’re not in NSW, you can check out the works here.