New York Print Exchange

I have received my prints from the Print Exchange I took part in, run by the Sketchbook Project in Brooklyn.
It's quite exciting to get a parcel of prints in the mail, and to see what you have.  The mediums used in my collection include letterpress, etching, relief, and some hand colouring.
Though I struggle to see how some of them relate to the theme of 'The Drive Home'.  It was worth taking part in.  Just wish I was able to see the exhibition of all 500 - in San Francisco or Brooklyn!

Here are the 10 I received.

Hunt and Lobb Building, Castlemaine



Back in March, I wandered the art exhibitions of the Castlemaine State Festival, and some were held in what was once a mechanical workshop. 

Forget the exhibitions, sorry artists! 

 

I just loved the patina of the Hunt and Lobb building.  It's past use as a mechanic's workshop was immediately obvious, from the relics left behind - signage, prices for car parts, the tool board.   So, too, were the changes to the building over time- weatherboard, brick and galvanised iron.  The faded texture of the timbers was wonderful, and I love the simple and elegant steel frames. I saw patterns in timbers, in textures, in colours. 

I suppose one day, it will be demolished in the name of progress, but I will have a photographic record of a faded building.

 

 

Studio Work

I have not been here, but I have been in the (temporary) studio.  Finally.

I completed my print for the Print Exchange, and sent it on it's way to New York.
Wishing I could follow it.
Titled Western Highway, a five colour screenprint.

And I can't wait to see the prints that I receive in the Exchange.

 



I completed my prints for the Goldfield Printmakers exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, opening this Sunday.  A series of monotypes for that one.

 

And, I am studying painting at the VCA this year.

So, there is homework sometimes.  I have really enjoyed hard-edge abstraction.

It's creating all those straight, crisp lines that appeals to the perfectionist in me.

Below, one of the abstract studies.



 

Starting Over

So I have been gone a while...longer than I intended.

I have been reassessing why I blog, should I continue to blog, do I have anything worthwhile to contribute.  The direction the blog had taken was not where I originally intended it to go.

But, I am back.  New banner (thanks to the design student, who tweaked my attempt).  New direction, and with every intention of posting regularly - and treating this as a work commitment, instead of something on the side.

(And we are finally renovating the farm, but I don't want this to become a renovation blog...just the odd update!)

The Summer vegetable garden

The tomatoes are finally beginning to ripen.
I still struggle with the lateness of the season in the Ranges, and I am thinking I need a hothouse.
But, just as they are getting big, and beginning to colour, the birds - Currawongs, it turns out - have found them too.
So, I have created a tomato tepee...and so far, so good.
My wobbly trellis has 'rustic charm'.

 The zucchini - long green, pale green, yellow, and yellow and green buttons - are producing lots of fruit.
We are eating zucchini in pasta, the gorgeous flaky zucchini and feta tart, and the summer favourite ratatouille.
Maybe some recipes in the next post.

To View

There are so many exhibitions on at the moment - some big 'blockbusters', some smaller ones.  Here is my wish list... the ones I am attempting to see.

LOUISE BOURGEOIS: LATE WORKS
Heide Museum of Modern Art
until 11 March

http://www.heide.com.au/whats-on/program-calendar/#/exhibitions/current/exhibition/louise-bourgeois-late-works/edate/2012-11-24/eid/24

JEFFERY SMART: MASTER OF STILLNESS
Tarrawarra Museum of Art
until 31 March

 http://twma.com.au/exhibitions/event/master-of-stillness-jeffrey-smart-paintings-1940-2011/

and
NADINE CHRISTENSEN

http://twma.com.au/exhibitions/event/nadine-christensen-and-anne-wallace-recent-paintings/

as she will be one of my tutors as I study Technical Painting this year.

BEA MADDOCK
NGV International
15 February - 21 July

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/bea-maddock

PAPER NIGHTS
an exhibition of artists who work with paper
Mars Gallery
5 February - 3 March

LINDEN POSTCARD SHOW 2013
Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts
2 February - 23 March

http://www.lindenarts.org/

In Sydney
ANISH KAPOOR
Museum of Contemporary Art
until 1 April

http://www.mca.com.au/exhibition/anish-kapoor/

In Adelaide
TURNER FROM THE TATE
Art Gallery of SA
8 February - 19 May

http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/agsa/home/Exhibitions/Turner_from_the_Tate.html

HELPMANN GRADUATE EXHIBITION 2013
Drill Hall
15 February - 10 March

and a couple of other printmaking exhibitions, but I can't confirm the details,
so I won't put them up, for fear they are not there.
(note to galleries and artists to keep their websites updated!)

...and another one...

49 SHEDS
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
27 February - 21 April

Ross Brewin 49 sheds 2005–12 digital print (detail)http://mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au/exhibitions/index.html

Road Tripping

A solo road trip between Melbourne and Adelaide in mid-summer.
It is a hot and dry country...a warm 43C beyond the car.