Collecting Worrowing Autumn Shroud Set

Darren and I were only able to collect Shroud set 2 on Sunday as I had made the mistake of moving the sets into a shady area of the property. Shroud set 2 was not dried out enough to successfully remove the bodies. I made another mistake attempting to remove the flying fox and ringtail while moist. The imprint was not sufficiently revealed as the body was melted onto the canvas. I decided to leave shroud 2 at Worrowing in the sun to dry out further. I collected it in a few days and it was nicely dried. Vinegar processing went well, the stains nice and strong.

Worrowing Autumn Shroud Set 1

The first Worrowing Autumn Shroud Set features two ringtail possums, what looks to be a Swift, a cane toad and two geckos from Danny’s collection and a flying fox (they are currently in Vincentia and both me and my mum have them feeding and roosting at our homes).

Collecting and Processing Worrowing Summer Shroud Set

Today Darren and I packed the car with another set of frozen animal bodies and went to the Worrowing Shroud site to collect the Summer set and set up the first Autumn set. We remembered to protect ourselves from the mozzies this time.

When we got home I bathed the two stained canvases in vinegar and hung them out to dry

Bherwerre 11

Bherwerre11 The final of the twelve painted panels completed in the new year featuring a spotted pardalote in front of its muddy bank home and the silvereye in the wattle. Both photos referenced were taken by Chris Grounds. Today I joined the other Bherwerre wetland artists on a wetland walk guided by Plant specialist Rebecca and bird specialist/photographer Chris. It was lovely and inspiring.

Worrowing Summer Shroud Set

Darren and I set up an array of creatures this morning amidst the mozzies and heat, some of which were given to me by a friend Danny who was taught taxidermy by my father years ago. There were lots of surprises, a micro bat and what looks to be a Cuckoo amid my collection of ringtail, mouse, leather jacket, starfish, wonga pigeon and the crowning glory, a Southern Boobook owl with wings outstretched.

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Worrowing Shroud Processing

Last Sunday Darren and I drove to Worrowing in our old ute to pick up the shroud set featuring the turtle, baby Port Jackson shark, stingray and kookaburra. A horse came to check us out and ran away snorting and shaking its head when I shook out the turtle shroud. Must have got a diabolical whiff of it! At home I put them in a vinegar bath before hanging them out to cure for a few weeks. The only body I kept was the cute little baby shark. The rest I placed under a large eucalyptus tree.
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Worrowing Winter Shroud Set

In preparation for the Other Art Fair in Sydney I set up a new Winter Shroud set at Worrowing last weekend. Magically as soon as I thought I needed to create more marine shrouds a baby Port Jackson shark, green turtle and stingray magically appeared on the beach where I jog many mornings. Then on the way to the shroud site directed by Tom I saw something on the track and discovered a recently deceased kookaburra!
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Mummified Wombat

I have been staying in the musicians cottage at Bundanon with team Night Vision preparing for Alicia’s siteworks event during the last week and Suz showed me this wonderful wombat near the cottage.

Portrait of Haefligers

I created another painting over a $2 shop photo canvas. It is a portrait of the 19th century Haefliger residence. I have never created a portrait of a house before. Hill End has made an impact.

Hill End ringtail and currarong shroud

Today I could see (and I had heard) another rain event was headed our way so I decided to deinstall the Hill End Shroud. The prints worked very well especially the ringtail. I strung up a line in the woodshed so it could hopefully dry out a bit before it is packed on Saturday for the early morning Sunday trip home. Yesterday I had been invited to brekky at Dan and Vik’s house (short for viking and he was building a model boat when I arrived!). Like all places in Hill End on lease it is a restored 19th century ruin and absolutely beautiful miniature spaces in multiple buildings with earthen walls and wooden panel ceilings that set off the colourful personal collections of art and antiques brilliantly. Today I had (great) coffee at Genevieve and Bill’s place (home of Hill End Press) which was equally breathtaking and had the additional embellishments born from their eclectic art practices and those collected from artist friends. It was a wonderful first visit (and back for dinner on Saturday!) hopefully the first of many. I then delivered my work to Dave, he was very happy and gave me a free coffee.

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