We Raku - do you?

The Parks pottery group met at SA Studio Potters Club on Saturday to try their hand at Raku. There was lots of nervousness, a few "oohs" and "aahs" and lots of smoke and fire!
Thanks to Carol Knezevic and Peter Matthews for firing up the kiln for us and co-ordinating the day. And to the Bakery and Sri Lankan restaurant for yummy lunch!

Port Stall and new Palm Plate design

New palm plates now at Urban Cow Studio. A little something to celebrate the handmade object as an extension of the hand. Mine whilst making - someone else's while holding chocolate, salt, pepper or precious jewellery.



My stall with Felicity at the (marvellously organised) Port Festival Artist Market. Loads of people through, lots of lovely comments and enough sales to make it worth the very involved preparation that markets require (for me). I love the interaction with customers that comes through direct contact. Hearing who they're buying my work for and why and what they like about it. Reminds me of the special nature of a hand crafted object and it's continuation of life after leaving my hands.

Port Festival Artists Market

Next weekend - 8th and 9th of October - you can find some of my wares (and me!) at a stall in the Port Festival Artists Market as part of the Port Festival. I'll be joined by Felicity who makes gorgeous grass tree planters.

There'll be special market prices including extra savings for multiple purchases.



There's also be a few new lines which I'm excited to share.



Now might be a good time to start Christmas shopping!

PlaceMaking at Common Ground

Over the last few weeks, I have been working as the assisting artist for a PlaceMaking Project organised by Helen Bock of Community Arts Network (CAN). Working with lead artists Lawrence Wilkes and Helen Crawford, a mosaic mural, a painted mural and wooden seating in the shape of a big goanna (completed with exhaust pipe legs!) was created with the residents of Common Ground, Light Square.

Amazing transformation of a space from soul-less "passing through" kind of space to a community area well and truly marked with the artistic stamp of residents - exactly what a PlaceMaking project is all about!

Images from design to completion.

SALA and In The Space

SALA so far for me.... Gretel Girl Draws @ Vintage Carousel, Queen Street party @ Croydon, Printology 2 @ Flinders Medical Centre, In The Space @ Parks, Family Surplus @ Prospect Gallery. Best intentions for Crochet Coral Reef @ RiAus, Trace Elements @ Adelaide Health Care and so many more to come!

The Parks AiR's SALA exhibition is up, too. The opening has been had - and a lovely occasion it was, too.
Here's a sneak peek to whet your appetite.



What have you seen so far this SALA festival?

little artists handmade

carly schwerdt, one of the amazing ladies over at nest studio, has had a book published. it's called "little artists handmade" and is about encouraging children in art making and also ways of creating new work inspired by children's art.
as you may know, these are 2 of my favourite things!

quite excitingly, the book has some of my work in it, too! the "tandem" pieces that i made (way back in 2009) with umbrella prints have made their way into the pages of this lovely, encouraging, colourful and you-should-get-it book!

sneak peek of the pages i'm in..... you'll have to buy it here or at nest studio to see the rest!

SALA SALA SALA!!

I love the excitement of SALA - the catalogue full of ideas and arts and people making things.
Out comes the highlighter, circles are made and plans are hatched.
This year I've got work in 2 exhibitions. Grab that highlighter now!

In The Space is an exhibition by current Artists in Residence at Parks.
Printology 2 is an exhibition by people who use the Print department at Parks.

Enjoy your SALA experience, everyone.

In The Space

Some of the photographs I've been working with for the upcoming artists in residence exhibition at Parks for SALA.

Arranging, re-arranging, trying something else, hmmm.... at the kitchen table.

Given the uncertain future of the Parks centre the AIR's are all reflecting on what the space at Parks means to us - our relation to it and what it means for us as artists to have a space.
We're looking at it as a kind of "work in progress" expose, too. You know, the whole "I'm In The Space right now" thing that goes on when you're mind is ensconced in dreaming up some new work? Hmmm... yeah.. what? Sorry, just thinking about something else...........

where i'm at

a snippet of one of the artefacts from experimenting for the waterhouse natural history prize.
bamboo prints - leaves and... stalks? what's the bamboo part called? anyway...
printed, chopped, reassembled. works in progress.



what can you origami? (is that really a verb?) answer : pretty much everything!
after folding little packets for seeds from the garden and creating envelopes with little boats for my son's birthday party invites, i got a bit hooked.
so now i'm seeing what i can fold to broochify (yes, it's a word. now.).
first stop, material. what next?



poor little sausage is home all week with chickenpox. he seems to be on the mend, though, as this gorgeous photo shows. gladdened my heart so thought i'd share.

slow and steady wins the ... waterhouse?

So, I got into the studio to actually do some making today.
I remember why I love it so!

This year has had a very slow start for me - I'm trying to make myself walk slower, allow more time for everything and "plan" time for exploring new ideas. Anyone who knows me knows that this is NOT my natural way of being!
But it's been good. And frustrating. And tedious. And exciting.

So, I'm working towards entering the "Waterhouse" prize. I have 6 weeks and I'm at the "playing with ideas" stage. I suspect it won't be finished in time for this year but I'm closer than I have been for the last 2 years... eg. I've actually started making objects to explore some ideas I have! We'll see what happens.

Some of my inspirational photos... (sorry - no classical music accompaniment but feel free to hum along) ....

2011. Here we go!

a new year brings with it so many possibilities. almost too many.
bamboozlement is definitely on the drawing board!
speaking of drawing (love a good segue) i've been going along to the tuesday morning drawing group at parks centre. (10am-1pm, only $4.70 a session!)
our current tutor is sophie hann, a beautiful drawer and inspiring guide.
a few self - portraits.



i'm enjoying a rather slow start to the year (halfway through feb. already!) and choosing to play, be inspired and explore new possibilities. drawing for it's own sake regularly is one of these adventures and watching my children being creative inspires me.
we worked on this painting project over the holidays. lots of fun.



beautiful colours and exploration in the sunny backyard.





this year i'll be continuing my position as artist in residence at parks centre and embarking on a year-long project with westcare karpandi arts centre.
my "baby" will start school later in the year and i'm relishing these last "at home" days with him. all in all, life is good. bamboozalicious.