A Poem by Genevieve Carroll

Artist Genevieve Carroll of Hill End Press is one of three artists exhibiting at the Dubbo Regional Gallery with an exhibition titled 'The Long View' which runs until the 13th October. Genevieve exhibits along side Julie Williams and Janet Haslett. 

“This exhibition presents three artists’ distinctly individual responses to the remote, historically charged village of Hill End. Carroll’s autobiographical work is a meditation on still life, mortality and bees. Haslett attempts to explore painting through the 1870s Holtermann Collection photographic archive. Williams’ paintings from Hunts Creek Parramatta and Hill End continue her rigorous exploration of relationship between the natural and built environment.”

— Dubbo Regional Gallery

Genevieve also penned the poem below which has inspired me to put pen to paper and dedicate more time to writing. During my residency this month at Bundanon, I look forward to being alone with my thoughts and having the courage to commit them to the page. Not sure if they'll make the blog though!

THE BEDSPREAD OF NATURAL HISTORY

a bees' lament

S U M M E R
My mouth is full of the honest primrose night
With a slowing clock
delicate and accomplished
cross pollinating

A U T U M N
I imagine ticking soft shadows of air
with coarse black wings
While grass persists to remain
awake for an hour

W I N T E R
I did not imagine this slow frost stone
sustaining a secret
Strategic terrain
the crinkled spark
My thoughts are walking round the exhausted table

S P R I N G
Curvature of drunken bees on the landscape floor
Time lays in a short line
my only familiar scent is that of a flowering curtain

Gallery Hop - Sydney

It was off to the 'Big Smoke' yesterday to see a couple of exhibitions that I had learnt about from some of the many email subscription newsletters that flood my inbox.

First stop was Martin Browne Contemporary  to see a show by Alexander McKenzie titled 'The Cairn'. A stunning and somewhat overwhelming exhibition of imagined landscape paintings alternating somewhere between serene and menacing. The numerous paintings populating the cavernous white space of the gallery tempted you to dive in to these fantasy environments that are devoid of any people yet shed evidence of peoples influence on the beautifully manicured terrain. The ambiguous light of day/evening contributes to a conjured narrative that links each 'world' within the work.  The sheer volume of paintings is testament to McKenzie's commitment to studio practice and an obvious affection for the natural world. 

“These new works I believe are a combination of the urgency of creativity, the distilling of memory and my own imaginings and wanderings. ”

— Alexander McKenzie

Next stop was to visit the work of Dale Frank at Roslyn Oxley9 in Paddington. The show titled 'Nobody's Sweetie' is a suite of work including Frank's signature large fluid paintings as well as a curious assembly of taxidermy hyenas and domesticated dogs. 

“Colours barge into one another as if looking for a fight, swimming into sensation”

— Will Gosling, New York 2013

Viewing Frank's work en masse is tantamount to taking a massive sugar hit and wishing you could 'come down' from the psychedelic punch, sip on some hot chamomile tea and have a good lie down. Thankfully, our next stop would prove quite restorative.

Finally, it was off to Breenspace to see South Australian artist couple Angela & Hossein Valamanesh's exhibition. The work of each artist sits harmoniously together featuring Angela's ceramics, which links plant and animal forms in a quiet and meditative way, and Hossein's cast bronze work titled 'Breathe' which has been cast from branches from his garden to emulate lungs. Elsewhere,  the branches are transformed into well-known phrases by Sufi poets.

Valamanesh's work has remained a constant source of inspiration for me since my days at The National Art School at the turn of the century. Twelve years on and like some persistent memory, his work surfaces in my mind whenever people ask about my own influences. 

“Angela and Hossein Valamanesh’s works make poetry of existence, nature, place and time.”

— Breenspace

The Innovation of Loneliness

An interesting video on human behaviour and quest for connection....

'What is the connection between Social Networks and Being Lonely?
Inspired and Based on the wonderful book by Sherry Turkle - Alone Together.
Also Based on Dr. Yair Amichai-Hamburgers hebrew article -The Invention of Being Lonely.'

Script, Design & Animation: Shimi Cohen

Final Project at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design.

'Making Ground' - Exhibition at Blue Mountains City Gallery

Last night was the opening of 'Making Ground' at the Blue Mountains City Gallery. I am one of fourteen artists exhibiting work in this exhibition which showcases the artwork of local artists who use found natural materials as key elements in their work. The exhibition runs from the 23rd August-6th October 2013.

Maxx standing behind one of Pam De Groot's artworks

The exhibition has been successfully curated by Rilka Oakley whose skills in putting this eclectic show together are self evident. In the accompanying catalogue, Rilka says -

 'The Making Ground artists show us how ordinary natural materials can be transformed into intricate, meaningful, beautiful and even living works of art. The variety of processes and methods employed by the artists shows the richness of our landscape and reflects back our natural environment.'

Artwork by Scott Marr

Gallery Director Paul Brinkman introduced Bob Debus to open the show before the wine started flowing and people mulled about on a very cold and windy mountains evening. I only made a brief appearance at the opening as I have been unwell with the flu for several days. On a personal note, I am very grateful for my mother Mary Blackwell and her close friend Marjorie Barnwell travelling many km's to attend practically every opening I am in. I have a couple of devoted supporters! Love you gals!