Two little works, made as gifts to say thank you to J & S for assistance on SPUN. The twins, destined to be seperated.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Gemini I & II
Two little works, made as gifts to say thank you to J & S for assistance on SPUN. The twins, destined to be seperated.
return to the stars
On my sister kellie's return visit to Australia we embarked an a survey of my works around Brisbane.
Monday, February 04, 2008
2 completed commissions & a beautiful failure
Untitled, 2007,Steel reinforced, aerated concrete with a plaster skin, 117cm x 98cm x 117cm, in our garden. A work that had a very short life (6 days). Unfortunately the material was not able to hold its own weight, and the plaster skin cracked at the joints, I had to deconstruct it.
Blue Cube, 2008, polychrome galvanised wire, 44cm3
over and over and over, 2008, stainless steel wire, 42cm x 96cm x 42cm
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Count me the stars
I launced my friend Kylie Johnson's book of poetry last night, a few people asked for a transcript of the speech, here it is.
Generosity is a peculiar and often undervalued aspect of the creative spirit.
To write a poem is a generous act!
Personal thoughts are delicate and fragile. Keeping these thoughts guarded and protected; offering them only to the trusted is the prudent path. The generous offering of these thoughts to the world, laying them bare to be scrutinised and examined - this is the generosity of the creative spirit.
As humans we are bound by familiar experiences like love, fear, happiness and envy. Equipped with this knowledge we hope that others may recognise themselves in us and share in our experience. We hope to be understood. This collective aspect of experience transcends time, geography, politics and gender. The gift of the poet is in unmasking this mutual knowledge. The poet seeks out these shared concepts and avails these thoughts by revealing and reflecting them back to us. The poet offers us what is already known, what is forgotten and what is yet to be understood.
The artist begins with the intangible and makes it tangible.
This task may sound simple but believe me it isn't. Thoughts are not fixed, but rather elusive and fleeting, forever on the run. How can they be brought into this world? How can thoughts be made physical? How can they be given substance to transform into word, sound, form or image? How can this be done without damaging them, or forcing them into spaces into which they do not fit, without making them rigid or static?
these misfitted words, as our poet calls them,
these
butterfly
words
changing and disappearing
and neither mine
nor yours
to possess…
As a sculptor I too am faced with the task of composing the elusive into form. I must confess that I may never fully understand the mystery of how this happens, what I do know is that it does happen and that I get great joy out of the result.
Count me the stars. A challenging request, it is a lot to ask, maybe not asking for so much might be giving up too easily. After all, our poet would ask no more of us than she is willing to offer!
To write a poem is a generous act!
Count me the stars! One of life’s great mysteries is 'what on Earth do you do with it?' Our poet has generously offered us one possible lifetime’s occupation.
Of course, we are speaking of the poetic here; a literal reading will never reveal the full spectrum of what is being proposed. Poetry is rarely to be taken purely at face value. Yes, there may be sufficient meaning to occupy us on the surface and recognition aplenty, yet it is in the spaces between the lines that the essence is to be found. As our poet might suppose, trapped inside the cracks. Only when the pages of this book are pawed and softened might we say that we have understood. Until such time, we must continue to search the surface, patiently awaiting deeper understanding. Or perhaps, like a thought, a poem will continue to evade, teasing with the promise of complete understanding, showing more with time, but remain perpetually unresolved.
To write a poem is a generous act, as it is to read a poem. To willingly step into another’s world and listen requires us to be quiet and to give a little of ourselves. Obtaining what we hope to find requires our attention and consideration. Consider, from the Latin con, meaning ‘with’ and sidus, referring to the sky and the stars. Perhaps our poet does not ask so much, she may just ask us too look deeply, to feel ‘with the stars’.
The reader and the poets engagement with poetry is not wholly selfless - both the poet and the reader are mutually rewarded for their efforts. For the reader, the realisation that the poet listens and speaks our thoughts, or reveals something new is the bounty. For the poet, to know that someone has truly listened is reason for being.
I would like to congratulate Murdoch Books for their inspired foresight in publishing this beautiful book. Also, I would like to thank all of you for listening to and considering what I have said, and for supporting Kylie this evening. Most importantly, however, I would like thank Kylie for her generosity. Thank you for giving so much of yourself and for taking the time to help us in knowing ourselves a little better.
It gives me great pleasure to launch this book Count me the stars and to introduce ‘our poet’ KYLIE JOHNSON
Generosity is a peculiar and often undervalued aspect of the creative spirit.
To write a poem is a generous act!
Personal thoughts are delicate and fragile. Keeping these thoughts guarded and protected; offering them only to the trusted is the prudent path. The generous offering of these thoughts to the world, laying them bare to be scrutinised and examined - this is the generosity of the creative spirit.
As humans we are bound by familiar experiences like love, fear, happiness and envy. Equipped with this knowledge we hope that others may recognise themselves in us and share in our experience. We hope to be understood. This collective aspect of experience transcends time, geography, politics and gender. The gift of the poet is in unmasking this mutual knowledge. The poet seeks out these shared concepts and avails these thoughts by revealing and reflecting them back to us. The poet offers us what is already known, what is forgotten and what is yet to be understood.
The artist begins with the intangible and makes it tangible.
This task may sound simple but believe me it isn't. Thoughts are not fixed, but rather elusive and fleeting, forever on the run. How can they be brought into this world? How can thoughts be made physical? How can they be given substance to transform into word, sound, form or image? How can this be done without damaging them, or forcing them into spaces into which they do not fit, without making them rigid or static?
these misfitted words, as our poet calls them,
these
butterfly
words
changing and disappearing
and neither mine
nor yours
to possess…
As a sculptor I too am faced with the task of composing the elusive into form. I must confess that I may never fully understand the mystery of how this happens, what I do know is that it does happen and that I get great joy out of the result.
Count me the stars. A challenging request, it is a lot to ask, maybe not asking for so much might be giving up too easily. After all, our poet would ask no more of us than she is willing to offer!
To write a poem is a generous act!
Count me the stars! One of life’s great mysteries is 'what on Earth do you do with it?' Our poet has generously offered us one possible lifetime’s occupation.
Of course, we are speaking of the poetic here; a literal reading will never reveal the full spectrum of what is being proposed. Poetry is rarely to be taken purely at face value. Yes, there may be sufficient meaning to occupy us on the surface and recognition aplenty, yet it is in the spaces between the lines that the essence is to be found. As our poet might suppose, trapped inside the cracks. Only when the pages of this book are pawed and softened might we say that we have understood. Until such time, we must continue to search the surface, patiently awaiting deeper understanding. Or perhaps, like a thought, a poem will continue to evade, teasing with the promise of complete understanding, showing more with time, but remain perpetually unresolved.
To write a poem is a generous act, as it is to read a poem. To willingly step into another’s world and listen requires us to be quiet and to give a little of ourselves. Obtaining what we hope to find requires our attention and consideration. Consider, from the Latin con, meaning ‘with’ and sidus, referring to the sky and the stars. Perhaps our poet does not ask so much, she may just ask us too look deeply, to feel ‘with the stars’.
The reader and the poets engagement with poetry is not wholly selfless - both the poet and the reader are mutually rewarded for their efforts. For the reader, the realisation that the poet listens and speaks our thoughts, or reveals something new is the bounty. For the poet, to know that someone has truly listened is reason for being.
I would like to congratulate Murdoch Books for their inspired foresight in publishing this beautiful book. Also, I would like to thank all of you for listening to and considering what I have said, and for supporting Kylie this evening. Most importantly, however, I would like thank Kylie for her generosity. Thank you for giving so much of yourself and for taking the time to help us in knowing ourselves a little better.
It gives me great pleasure to launch this book Count me the stars and to introduce ‘our poet’ KYLIE JOHNSON
Sunday, January 20, 2008
2007 swan song
last work for 2007, imperfect pattern XLVI 170cm x 95cm x 5cm
Mornington Peninsula, National Works on Paper 2008 entry
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
???
wait 2007 (forth video in the series) I have a high quality DVD version if anyone would like a copy let me know.
OPEN
Still Moving, Andrew Baker Art Dealer, 19th September - 13th October 2007
Gallery 3
the transit of venus
around about, imperfect patterns
the sky silver, imperfect patterns
the sky silver, wing it, imperfect patterns
Gallery 1
new day
new day, imperfect pattern
abridged, new day, imperfect pattern
Gallery 2
helter skelter
bale, imperfect pattern
bale
(all works 2007)
Gallery 3
the transit of venus
around about, imperfect patterns
the sky silver, imperfect patterns
the sky silver, wing it, imperfect patterns
Gallery 1
new day
new day, imperfect pattern
abridged, new day, imperfect pattern
Gallery 2
helter skelter
bale, imperfect pattern
bale
(all works 2007)
Monday, September 03, 2007
news
'Still Moving', an exhibition of new 3D works, is due to open at Andrew Baker Art Dealer, 26 Brookes Street Bowen Hills on the 19th of September, please come and meet the artist (that's me) for drinks from 6:00pm on the 28th of September. A beautiful 40 page catalogue of these new works has been published by Andrew Baker (thank you Andrew) and is available from the galley (and the Gallery Store at QAG).
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
'Yes, there were times, when I had doubts'
As of 5:45 last night SPUN is DONE. It is a times like these (and when love is in the air) that I find myself singing the big numbers to myself, 'I'm still standing', 'I will survive' and ' I did it myyy wayyy'. Yes, 'at first I was afraid, I was petrified', I'm not quite sure what to do with myself now that I don't have to worry about riggers and welders, thankfully the show coming up will soon get me back to work. I will try to organise a little party at Southbank soon so you can all come and see it.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
STILL MOVING
A sneak peek at some work for 'Still Moving', September 2007 at Andrew Baker Art Dealer 26 Brookes Street Bowen Hills. Three of the works from this show will then go on to the ARC Biennial at QUT Art Museum, Gardens Point (don't know which yet) opening in early October.
as yet untitled, 2007, stainless steel wleded mesh, 95 x 56 x 63cm (approx.)
Imperfect Pattern XLI, 2007, matt board, 43 x 32x 6cm
At work on a cold Saturday morning, in my very warm ugg (woops the americans own ugg, and all dirivatives) boots (thank you Leonard).
as yet untitled, 2007, stainless steel wleded mesh, 95 x 56 x 63cm (approx.)
Imperfect Pattern XLI, 2007, matt board, 43 x 32x 6cm
At work on a cold Saturday morning, in my very warm ugg (woops the americans own ugg, and all dirivatives) boots (thank you Leonard).
meanwhile...
Work is starting to progress again now that the steel has arrived from melbourne, there are 194 panels that need to be folded, welded and galvanised, RPM are hard at work to get everything done by next Friday.
This is about 1/6 of the total, they are awaiting their trip to the galvanisers.
Monday, July 09, 2007
delay, delay delay
appologies that I have not updated the blog, things are not exactly going to plan at the moment. The concrete component is complete but the steel fin has been delayed causing all manner of headaches, the work will be complete in due time and it will be magnificent but until such time i will just have to wait.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Day 3
The work was supposed to be complete in 3 days, by mid morning Saturday it was obvious that this was not going to happen. All of the pieces are now on site and ready but it will take one more day before this phase of installing SPUN is complete.
slow and steady
Day two of installation, rain for the 24 hours after the first day of installation meant a two day delay to our progress, the pieces get larger as they move towars the street end of the work.
View from a first story balcony, as yet I have not been able to get any higher, I look forward to seeing the view from the 6th floor..
View from a first story balcony, as yet I have not been able to get any higher, I look forward to seeing the view from the 6th floor..
Thursday, June 07, 2007
so far so good
Tuesday the 5th of June the first 9 pieces of concrete were installed with less difficulty than I had expected. Tuesday night and Wednesday it rained almost nonstop, the footing is currently under 12cm of water, I am not sure when work will resume, but I am pretty confident when it does the rest (21 pieces to go) will happen without too much trouble.
Mulherin Rigging and Cranes are installing the work and doing a beautiful job. I am just standing around taking photos, trying to look busy and doing my best to stay out of their way.
Mulherin Rigging and Cranes are installing the work and doing a beautiful job. I am just standing around taking photos, trying to look busy and doing my best to stay out of their way.
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