ART THAT'S (SORT OF) WEARABLE
Thanks to Julie Clarke who sent back my contributions to our Collisions Project, we have collaborated on for the past two years. I received a box back last Thursday and it was truly awesome to view the works I have made for this project. I have a favorite fashion design company here in Brisbane. I was enjoying some champagne in their store around the corner from my house a couple of weeks ago. Helen, the store mananger, said"Oh, it's wearable art". I don't agree with this remark. Easton Pearson make clothing that can be hung on a wall and appreciated as "art". I realised that, over the past few years, my 'making' has become almost wearable in it's bodily contact and influence. I am now considering the scale of my work(s) and progressing forward in my practice to include the "commonalities of adornment' along with the concept of traditional ideas of 'dressing up'. The Princess is rising.

"A FASHIONABLE VIOLENCE"

My latest series of works [10] are hand embroidered silk on canvas. I was wishing to use a drawing of a pattern I made in the early 90's. It was a pattern of a 1740's mens frock coat. I then composed a series of drawings based on the frock coat and a series of drawings I made, based on the fashion my Mum wore in the 60's and 70's. I wanted to juxtapose those refined inspirational sources to create a somewhat masculine collection of guns and bullets. Once again, the mapping influence overtook but I feel they are succesful in their resolution. The gun works are embroidered on subtle pink acrylic backgrounds.....and the 'bullet/bomb' series are slightly smaller scale on grey acrylic backgrounds. I love 'em and can't wait to start yet another series!

conversations overheard

In may 2012, I was in Byron Bay and decided to, rather than keep a comprehensive daily journal, I would focus on one short sentence. Either overheard or something that came up in conversation. I have recently printed some of them on T shirts and can't believe the response. I think 'Blame God' was a huge hit at Christmas lunch.

It is about time the blogger returns!

It has been many months since I have even viewed my Dumbcraft site and, as of December 28 2012, I am returning, hopefully on a daily basis.

suburban decoration

I am overwhelmed with bodily decoration in Newcastle. I feel slightly 'out of fashion' as I don't have a tattoo! I am about to collide the material pieces I have been working on lately with awesome body decoration. Documenting the body here is extremely easy when I tell them I'm an artist (and not a total pervert).

the questioning

I have been thinking hard recently, looking for an issue to both question & challenge. I am over the age old art vs craft debate so have decided to question contemporary art practice and it's validity within the wider design field. Okay, let me explain.......I have two works sitting in front of me. One is a Bill Viola video showing on a large flat screen [people crying, people dying, people staring in to space etc etc], on the next shelf is a 1950's Wedgwood white porcelain container. I am enjoying dissecting the concept, design and creation of the container, thinking of it's history, and uses over the past fifty years. I have to be careful as, if I view Viola's work for more than two minutes, I fall into a psychotic episode of sheer boredom.
I have decided I don't want to be rescued from my passion for design and my practice is taking a 'utilitarian' direction