This video forms part of my installation '29.5 nights to catch the moon'.
Below is a brief explanation of how the installation came to be..
Chisholm Open Studio installation
With the imminent completion of my Chisholm studies combined with a hectic personal life,
and the successful installation of the Growing Home project. I really wanted to change the
rhythm of my life for my next project. Something a lot more introspective. So - I decided to
attempt a slow project that would allow a more meditative approach to the work.
I had recently attended a traditional string making and weaving workshop at the Koorie
Heritage Trust Cultural Center so the practice of traditional weaving appealed. I researched
techniques in net making, made a net loom and had a couple of practice runs.
There was a fair bit of synchronicity with this project. As the beginning of the weaving
coincided with the new moon, I thought that it would be interesting to make a series of nets,
one each day for a short time (1 month) to provide me with the discipline and consistency of
regular art practice. The net making did indeed become quite meditative and provided time
to consider ways in which the works might be displayed. I enjoyed the way each net had its
own character, often depending on my mood, time of day and time available to complete that
day’s work.
I became aware that there would be a full lunar eclipse that month so decided to dye the
cotton I was using to weave the nets using eucalyptus dyes. The cotton was soaked for
several days, then dyed after the dye bath preparation, allowed to rest over night then rinsed
and dried ready to to used in weaving.
The night of the full moon, I photographed the stages of the eclipse and on looking at the
images the next day realised although not technically great photographs, they were
appealing and told some kind of story. I combined them into a slide show and decided to
create a soundscape to accompany the images.
Bjork’s Biophillia app provided inspiration for sounds, and I had hoped to be able to use the
app to write a soundscape but communication between platforms became too challenging.
Garage Band, became the software of choice, knowing that it would link with iMovie in the
creation of a projection that I could combine with the nets in an installation.
In exploring myths relating to the moon and fishing, I discovered the story of the Asrai which
I then adapted to provide a thematic background for the installation. At the last minute, on
the recommendation of Robyn Rich I recorded the story over the soundscape, creating another
layer for the installation.
Although the presentation of the work will only be for the night of the Open Studio, I hope to
find other opportunities to display the work in the future.

The thing about having some time off (once you get used to that uncomfortable space where you're faced with the daunting unknown of nothing that needs to be done like .... yesterday) is that you can soak in playtime. And this week that playtime involved adventures. 
With kids off school yet before the official madness of official school holidays , we made the trek into the city to NGV and the fabulousness of Gaultier. With mannequin after mannequin of tightly bound corsetry, oh so French stripes, and the mightiest of mohawks it was a grand introduction for the girls to the hyper world of pret a porter and couture. Theres a lot of ground covered here, with a career that spans 40+ years Gaultier gives us an abundance of glamour for anyone with a thirst for feathers, pattern and decorating the human form. Yup - its BIG, but underlying the sparkles and sequins, there's a commitment to the craft of making that makes the whole thing a lot more real. Highlights were an immersion in the side installation of Sydney label Romance was Born and their collage crazy digital printed fabric. Its enough to make you want to go all photoshop.

Getting grounded with a country drive out to Tarrawarra to visit Ian Fairweather's The Drunken Buddha (via Innocent Bystander of course) was an ultimate girls own adventure, thats if the girls happen to be interested rebel hermit painters who shun society to live on a remote subtropical island and the artists who admire his work). Once again, it was the craft of the works that drew me in. Croissant paintings, from the forest. With layer upon layer of earthy calligraphic marks, each picture is a journey into the life of a poet painter. And its a whimsical, bittersweet one. It may require whiskey to truly comprehend the depth of the journey. I'm not sure....
Note: Don't forget to pick up the instruction for the viewer booklet for Gosia Wlodarczak's Found in Translation: The Drunken Buddha drawing, or like me you'll find yourself contemplating the whole David Lynchiness of the thing and wander off in a bemused revery only to be found several years later on deserted island, scratching your head thinking "what was lost highway all about?"

For your viewing pleasure, this ones on exhibition at The Frankston Arts Centre, Cube 37 until September 6th.

Work in progress. Some may call it procrastination. Avoidance maybe. Today I prefer to think of it as a lesson in patience. Learning to go deep with a piece, exploring every little nuance until eventually and with triumphant fanfare (cue choirs of angels) the work is declared done. Ta Da.

This piece is a self portrait I've been working on....for some time. It was a drawing exercise set earlier this year using biro on paper and the whole thing seems to have taken on a life of its own. Not sure where this first serious foray into portraiture drawing will lead but it could be an interesting little journey.

Still life with medlars. Whats a medlar ? I here you ask... they're those 3 fruity looking things. Apparently they make most excellent jelly and belong to the same family as apples and quinces. Dear Simon O'Dwyer has a lovely tree at his new house and let me pick some so I should really be making jelly rather than painting. But...As it tuns out, Balnarring Kinder is having a trivia night THIS SATURDAY and have asked me to donate a piece for their silent auction. What better reason to paint medlars.
So ... here it is. It could be yours if you come along to the trivia night but you'll have to be quick.. tables are booking fast. Tix $15 ,7pm sat 24/5 Balnarring Hall ph 59835803.
And on sunday i might make jelly....

Yup. Its that time of year again. Time to head up to BrightSpace Gallery to check out what happened at camp. This years invite features yours truly's very own 'Beyond Big Point'. Opening WED 7th May 6-8pm & continues till 17th May. See you there.

Tomorrow evening sees the final exhibition for the 2013 class of Visual Arts at Chisholm TAFE Frankston. What a year (or three) its been. What an amazingly talented bunch of people. The show looks a treat and the evenings festivities sure to be remembered till antiquity. See you there 6-8, or catch the exhibition till early December. Pics to follow.

Its the pointy end of the year. Tomorrow is the day to hand over  this sememster's work.
Bittersweet is the theme. Its an enormous relief to have actually finished the required number of pieces (sidenote: who said art was about quantity not quality.... but thats a whole other story), to have completed a qualification, to have juggled family, work and study.
There's a whole lot of other stuff too - that familiar feeling of getting ready to say goodbye to  a whole lot of people that I'm not likely to see again. Sigh.

One of the projects I've been working on for the past few months has been a paper mache sculpture based on drawings I've done of some beautiful diatoms. The finished product hasnt quite met my expectations... but its been a great lesson in choosing materials to fit the project, and engineering. The poor thing is struggling to stand upright and the legs have collapsed under the weight of the paper mache. And its a bit too gray and rough at the moment ....I'll do some research on finishing and see if we cant get it looking a bit smoother.

The whole process has been getting me comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Cutting my delicate little hands to bits on the wire, working with numb hands in the rain and wind. Letting go of expectations and judgement.