The 2nd Annual Collectors' Edition

June 23, 2015 in Exhibition

Exhibition: 3-26th July 2015

Where: Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Katoomba

About:

The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre is having their second annual Collectors’ Edition show with all artworks being A5 in size. The artworks will be available for silent auction beginning 6.30pm on the 3rd July at the gallery.
All proceeds from the auction go towards the galleries collection acquisition fund. Since starting the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre collection, 95 artworks have been acquired either through donation or purchase by the gallery.
I am one of many artists donating work for this exhibition. It is a wonderful way to support the gallery; and for potential buyers, an opportunity to buy smaller scale artworks that are affordable.

Katoomba Street Art

June 22, 2015 in Public Art

It is June, it is winter, and it can be bleak. But thanks to a vibrant community initiative, colour has come to Katoomba!

Launched in June 2015, a usually nondescript laneway in Katoomba known as Beverly Place became alive with colour thanks to a collaboration between Street Art Murals Australia (SAMA), The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre and the University of Western Sydney.

A plaque at the beginning of the laneway states- 'The street Art Walk displays world standard street art from all aerosol disciplines. International, national and local artists of varying experience paint large-scale artworks in this precinct through a curated process of proposal and selection. Stylistically the murals cover all street art artistic disciplines and are temporary by nature’.

The plaque also offers us the history-‘ The Street Art Walk was conceived in 2013 when local resident Dave Riley suggested painting murals in this laneway to SAMA’s founder Jarrod Wheatley. At once the sites’ urban aesthetics and potential to make a positive contribution to street artists, the town and its creative economies were recognised. SAMA worked for 18 months, meeting legal, heritage, planning and stakeholder requirements. The space was launched in June 2015 after being initially resourced through a highly successful crowd funding campaign, to which 135 individuals contributed’.

You can rate the Street Art Walk on the Trip Advisor page. Post your photos of the Street Art Walk using these hashtags: #thestreetartwalk and #streetartmuralsaustralia Stay in the loop by liking SAMA's Facebook page and following them on instagram at @streetartmuralsaustralia

For more information about the space visit SAMA website

The 2015 Aurora Ball

June 18, 2015 in Events

This Saturday 20th June is the 16th Aurora Ball and is being held at Sydney Town Hall. I've been kindly asked to donate artworks for their auction to raise money for the Aurora Group.

The Aurora Group, as written on their website says- ' is a charity, raising funds to disburse to gay, lesbian and transgender community organisations. Aurora exists so people can donate to a broad range of causes that benefit the community. It is the fund raising organisation people choose when they want their money to benefit the community as a whole and not just one specific cause.'

I am donating 'Embryonic' 2012 (see below) and 'Shifting Sand' 2012. And this year, bidding on donated prizes can be done online prior to the event. Just visit HERE

'Embryonic' 2012. 57cm x 57cm. Paper, Pandorea pandorana seeds, Pine needles.

This years Gala Ball is being hosted by Andrew Mercado (Andrew is an author, commentator and TV personality), and Nath Valvo (Nath is a stand-up comedian, radio host and writer). Entertainment for the evening is set to be a stunning with the singing talents of Katie Noonan amongst others. I'm looking forward to the evening and hope the organisation raises a substantial amount of money.

'Shifting Sand' 2012. 44cm x 44cm. Paper, sand, palm fronds

A big thank you to Alison King (Co-chair for the Aurora Group) for contacting me and asking for artwork to donate to this great cause.

Artist Susanna Bauer

June 17, 2015 in Inspiration

I'm always enchanted when I happen upon an artist with an interest in making works out of natural materials, like leaves and twigs, that are often stepped on and overlooked in the natural environment. Thanks to a friend, Jocah, I came across an artist named Susanna Bauer who resides in Cornwall England who originated from Germany, whose focus on creating artworks which represent tension & fragility are somewhat similar in tone to what I hope to achieve in my own work. People often ask me how long it takes to create my artworks and convey that I must have super-human focus and patience. I don't really. I've just decided to dedicate myself to feeling grounded in the environment and the landscape I'm in by immersing myself in 'play' for a few hours at a time. The materials lead me to an 'arrangement' that somehow whisper to me ... 'this is it'. I imagine Susanna must feel the same way.

Susanna Bauer worked as modelmaker for advertising, television, film and artists in Germany, Ireland and UK and has studied Landscape Architecture as well as studying at Camberwell College of Art, London. Her acute observation and attention to detail produce these exquisite objects that remind us of the feeble and precarious nature of our own existence.

Susanna Bauer is represented by Badcocks Gallery and Lemon Street Gallery in Cornwall UK and is currently on exhibition until 27th June 2015. I look forward to following her work.