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

art observation

I spent a number of hours last Sunday, visiting the John Kaldor wing of the AGNSW. My darling friend Ivana & I viewed and discussed the brilliant collection. I found it somewhat odd to stand close to a trio who I thought were waiting for the lift. I stood by as they discussed the lift doors as a contemporary work. I stood by them and discussed contemporary installation practice. I sensed as I ws standing with them as they were overwhelmed when they commented...."oh mygod, the doors actually open!!