It is clear from my blog that I am all over the shop when it comes to what I like to create. Focus and narrowing down is difficult. I’m wondering whether I need to? Do I have to give it all up?
On
reflection, these days I am project driven and tend to work primarily in one/technique/style
in that project. When I throw in too
many different mediums my project falters. Having said that, I think that this relates more
to solo shows than group shows.
In the Re-create Collective's exhibition From where I sit:
Stories from within I worked across a couple of mediums. Focal points in my installations Fine
Dining and I don’t hold a hose were largely embroidered but had
other elements. For Fine Dining I learnt
to reupholster chairs, located vintage items
such as a tea service, table cloths and napkins in op shops (and my stash) and
embroidered a wall hanging. It was the
wall hanging that had the message but the table and chair which provoked many memories
and comments. On the other hand, I don’t
hold a hose comprised a deck chair and items that reflected the statement
upon which the title of the work was based; a direct quote from our PM of the
time. The deck chair is heavily embroidered depicting fires in Australia in 2019/20120 and was the statement piece. The other bits of the installation including a
lei, a fancy cocktail and an embroidery were context.
My other works in the exhibition include a series interpreting a poem and a series inspired by lockdowns and limited travel. In the former I created seven textile panels (30 cm X 30 cm) interpreting a poem Blue and Green by Australian poet Lesbia Harford. I had been exploring thoughts of how to translate text to textile and looking at work of colour field artist Helen Frankenthaler. Arm chair travel is a number of whimsical collages (14 cm X 14 cm) made for the joy of it andgrouped together in salon style.
Even though each of these sets of works are in different mediums
they were not discordant in the exhibition. I’m thinking
this is so as the quality of all the works in the exhibition was high, the ideas explored different
and presented with information available for those who wished to read it. The
Collective’s members works were all different but all held together well. And
importantly, the layout and curation of the exhibition was fabulous thanks to
the team at the Albury LibraryMuseum.
This bit of navel gazing arises out of an online residency I’m undertaking with the Enso Circle. It is structured to cover questions and issues which relate to our individual art practises. Week one was goal setting for the 12 weeks of the residency. And I need to decide what my focus will be (groan - I have to make a choice!!!)
I thought about what I wanted to explore/learn, and what outcome I want out of these 12 weeks. And I want to make sure my continued learning supports and dovetails into my current long-term plans - though they may change again after this residency. This is what I came up with as part of the what when I was considering the 5 W's (who, what, when, where and how) :
· Distal what I want to keep, let go of
others and learn new techniques.
· Have a serious approach to studio practice
- turn up every day
· Look at other artists
· Build up a resource folio
· Aim for a small series of mixed media
textile works in postcard, book, scroll and/or hanging format
No doubt something will change along the way 😊
May you stay creative, well and safe
Much metta
Donna
No comments:
Post a Comment