This year I have scored a residency at Hill End around 5 hours away. I am staying in Haefliger’s cottage for 4 weeks. The former residence of painters Paul Haefliger and Jean Bellette the house is full of their books and pictures, etc. indicative of mid last century (Australia’s Modern period) that they left behind. In addition this history there is the 19th century Victorian era building and all its accompaniments indicative of the gold mining heyday in Hill End which saw the town develop and swell to include 28 pubs! Now there is one pub standing, the old Royal Hotel which has WIFI (hence it be my present location). Lunchtime is the best time to be here (more people) as nighttime is cold and deserted (residents cosy by their fires!). Have begun a photo journey (been here settling in since Sunday afternoon when Darren and I set up a shroud). On Monday I set up the sun-drenched studio (while Darren roamed the hills) and completed a portion of one of the wetland paintings for Sanctuary Point. Darren got the potbelly going in there so once the sun left it was still warm and I happily painted till bedtime. Today we have had brekky on the sunny front porch before wandering off into the hills exploring mine shafts and the remnants of a town now overgrown with Aussie Bush. It is something I have always dreamed, to see the bush reclaim a town. We then got a coffee at the local corner store run by a lovely fella of English origins and after walking to the museum for a look ended up here at the pub for chips and beer!
Category: Studio Practice
Womboin Marine Relic Shroud Project
Today I drove the old Ford Falcon ute out to Sally’s place in Womboin to collect the fish and stingray shrouds on my lonesome. It was hot work and I was annoyed by the shadows created on the dried husks by the sun when documenting the process. Luckily clouds drifted in and I took some photos without the shadows. The mullet were still quite wet and smelly underneath but the stains were nice and rich. It was really difficult lifting the bedframes into the back of the ute on my own, and I had to leave the largest one there it was a two person job. I placed the husks in a crate for Sally to investigate for possible sculptural materials. I then drove on to Canberra to Adam’s place and gave the shrouds a vinegar bath. I then hung them out to dry in preparation for taking to Emma at ANU painting workshop for stretching tomorrow.
Womboin Shrouds
Last Sunday Darren and I drove to Sally and Dave’s house to set up the marine relic shroud installation. It was very hot work. Summer has extended into Autumn thus far. It didn’t take long for the mullet to leak and the stingray and catfish were already part rotten when I collected them so it was smelly work as the sun beat down and flies of all sizes began to swarm. The dog also broke out of the yard in excitement at the smell of pungent sea life so far inland. It was lovely to catch up with Sally in her wonderful home as she worked diligently weaving detritus together in her kitchen full of wonderful art and collected pieces.
South Nowra Shrouds
Today Darren and I went to Pirate’s house and he took us to a property in South Nowra where we set up the shroud installation in a former pig house. The mother and baby possum were hit by a car on the road where I live and the swallow was waiting for me to find him at the door of the shop on the first day back at work after dad passed away. It was sprinkling at the site but the sun came out for just enough time to set up. The rain returned as we drove away.
Woollamia shrouds completed
Ghost and the Shell received a highly commended at the annual Jervis Bay and Basin Arts members show ‘Emergence’
EMA442DigiDiary1
For a subject in my secondary teaching degree I am required to create a body of work about an object in the Chifley Home Museum in Bathurst. I have decided to include the digital diary movies that I will be making throughout the project and the final works on my blog.
Kangaroo/Stingray/Lorikeet Shroud collection
Darren and I drove the ute to the shroud site, but once I removed the body of the kangaroo, the smell was diabolical! I spent most of my time running away from the stench so I could take another deep breath and hold it while trying to put the rancid canvas in a vinegar tub. I didn’t have enough vinegar needing another 40 litres. The stingray was much easier to deal with and the print was perfect.
The lorikeet’s colourful feathers are so beautiful, but the print on paper needed to be exposed to the elements more so the feathers could be defined. Darren enjoyed taking photos of my disgusted expressions and flights to escape the cloud of doom!
To see all the images taken (there are more funny ones of me running away and making disgusted faces see https://www.flickr.com/gp/36965266@N08/7y3o91
Newspaper article and the finished Eliza mural
Today my interview with reporter Jo was published in the South Coast Register. I also spent time finding a local source for bulk vinegar in preparation for tomorrow’s shroud processing. In the studio I have been obsessively painting the colourful shells that were made into traditional Yuin necklaces by Julie Freeman, which I bought from the Galamban exhibition at CMAG a few years ago.
Shroud Site visit, Studio work and Eliza’s Mural Project
Yewande and I walked to the shroud site yesterday and saw the stingray very dried and the kangaroo losing fur now and internal liquids. In the studio I have been stitching canvas soaked in eucalyptus and wattle leaves to the back of the woodducks shroud to fill the holes in the body stain. I have also been working in ochre on ‘Nebachudanezar making a Cloud (after Boyd)’. Today I began working on the Woollamia Rosella shroud using oils and find the fumes a shock after using ochres. Yesterday I also began a mural project with local school student Eliza. The design and painting method were all her idea and its looking good!
After Boyd
The Following works reference original works by Boyd in title and/or composition.
The personal significance is in relation to my son Zephyr Nebachudanezzar born on the Shoalhaven river when Adam and I lived in a farmhouse across the river from Bundanon.
