Summer exhibition.

Quadrant Gallery in Hawthorn is holding a summer exhibition. 

I have a few pieces in it and I know there are also many beautiful works of art. You might find that gift for someone special or just want to look at the amazing array of art works there.

It is a beautiful gallery, run by an artist friend of mine, Pam Jackson. I can"t be at the opening as I have a wedding to go to, but the openings are always lovely.
Check it out!

Onwards with the exhibition collection.

 So I have the date booked for the next major showing of my work.
It will be in May, argh,  the date seemed so far away when I booked it a couple of months ago, but it seems to be looming now.
I have been working steadily, just slowly. Finding it difficult to pare the work back. So much I want to include but want the work to be cohesive as a body.
I have jumped around with various materials and mediums, experimenting.

dyed, collaged and stitched detail of a glimpse of Croatia

                                          The plains in Spain... And yes I even had a go at painting, so quick in comparison to the piece above.

A glimpse of my students' work.

So sorry for my extreme absence, things just got a little out of hand, what with a massive school art show, holidays and general dislike for spending more time on the computer, I just haven't written anything.

In my role as primary art teacher I put together a massive Art Show celebrating my school's 30th birthday. The show was called Feast. It was so great to see the children's art on display. There was drama as well.  It was so good that I will include a few photos of my amazing children's work here

picnic food, mmm

picnic overview

The banquet table

  beautiful little ceramic cakes for High Tea, on paper mache plates!

So then it was back to work on my artwork. 

That will be in the next update!

Hopefully very soon

Artist Books Exhibition

Artisan Books in Fitzroy has its annual Artist Book exhibition starting next weekend.
 I was accepted into this show and I know there will be heaps of amazing and beautiful books on display.
 Pop down and have a look -there are many beautiful books to buy there too!
I love that shop!!

Dyeing... again and watermarks in silk and stitch

In preparation for the next few pieces of work I have dyed stacks of silk ( love my scrap silk supplies).

 silk drying on the grapevine clothes line

I've printed  some of my photos from Croatia and now am experimenting with how to make watery marks with the silk. 

watery marks using layer organza and cut back technique

It's in the bag, journey in a suitcase

Artisan books, my most favourite bookshop, has an artist book exhibition each year and today I completed my entry - hopefully it will be accepted..ugh.  The show isn't until September, it is always wonderful.
I'm so excited as usually I am spending late night completing it at the last minute, but it has been a very cold, wet and blustery day here in melbourne so it was easy to stay inside and knuckle down.

I have made a little suitcase book before, it is made using a large matchbox!  I decided that I could make a little friend for the first suitcase.Then came the difficult decision, what on earth do I put in it?? This year there was no theme for the artist book show.
Finally decision made,  it would be a little journey from the Swiss Alps to Venice by train, all in pictures of course!
So here it is.

and here is one of the little stitched birds flying (on a spring) over the mountains, and the wood engraved trees!

this little boat is a pop out on tabs. 

HART ART

HART ART  is Hartwell primary school's art show.
This year it is on from next Thursday night 8 August until Saturday 10 August.

Opening night 7 pm Thursday 8 August

Exhibition opening times

Friday 9 August
9-11 am and 2-5 pm

Saturday 10
11 am - 4 pm

If you live in eastern Melbourne this might be a great way to pick up some art and support a primary school at the same time.

Here's my work wrapped and ready to deliver. This represents a ridiculous amount of time to get these ready to go.... ah the joys of exhibiting!

Black and White

Black and white is not even normally in my spectrum, I am a colour girl!!

So for me to accept the challenge of working in black and white is progress of sorts.

The reason for this madness??? well, travelling to Switzerland in early spring is the motivation. There was still heaps of snow and the magnificence of those snowy alps just drew me in.

I have been working steadily on various experiments in order to depict the beauty and awe I felt when in the alps.

I will give you a peep at the experiments. These involve wood engravings on slices of fruit tree wood, printed in white on a black background.

printed on paper

wood engraving, printed on black silk 

                                                   lines in the snow

                                           
                                                        paintings for idea making

                                                    birds, painted and stitched on silk

                                                 snow covered village from above, painted and stitched on silk

Spiral stairs

Cutting, tearing, folding and stitching.... thus a book is made. the next piece ready for my solo exhibition, booked ( ha ha, no pun intended) for May next year.. believe me I need the time to get everything made.

This book is made from maps and brochures from England, specifically, London, York and a few other surrounding areas.
Stone spiral stairs featured a lot in our travels, we climbed sooooooo many of them. always worth the view and great for the leg muscles!! Therefore a set of stairs had to made somehow...

Once again a shoe last has been very useful for the support it provides.

Bookmaking class

What a great day we had on Saturday.

Three participants created a beautiful book each from various papers. I even made one so I could demonstrate and handily, became a gift for a 21st I was going to that evening!

21st present...

 

Student at work

 from this......

to this

 Three beautiful books

On the Bench

While it has been quiet from me lately I have been working. i thought Id show you what is on the bench at the moment. 

This piece is my Gaudi and Barcelona inspired piece. A combination of my photos and various stitched fabric pieces. 

Reminder

The book making class is coming up very soon. If you want to join it, send me an email asap. sally.darlison@gmail.com

Book making workshop : June 22!

I know, I haven't run a workshop for ages and I have a number of people who have requested a stitched spine book making class. 

so.......... here it is, all this, and a yummy home cooked lunch and morning tea. 

what better way to spend a winter saturday?! 

Stitched book making workshop

June 22 2013

                                                       1 day class 

9.30am - 3.30pm

This class explores coptic stitched book making techniques

Maximum of 6 students per class. 

Classes held in Sally’s studio in Balwyn. 

                        Cost $160 for the day includes materials and lunch

rush to book.. email me on sally.darlison@gmail.com

see below for examples of student work from the last class for stitched books!

5 Frames

 I was asked by a friend, whose daughter worked as a teacher in Ernabella Anangu School for a number of years,  to provide some art work for the 5 Frames exhibition.  

5 Frames was established as a fundraiser for the Ernabella Anangu School Ceramics Work Project. Ernabella is a remote Aboriginal community in the north-west corner of South Australia. The Ceramics Work Project provides senior girls in the school with the opportunity to study ceramics as a Vocational Education and Training unit in an environment where employment options are very limited.

 Each frame holds a piece 14 x 19 cm. The resulting art works are sold for $100 each with all proceeds and donations going to the ceramics project. 

The opening of 5 Frames 2013 is on Sunday May 26^th at the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club. The Club generously provide us with the venue at no cost and works will be exhibited until the end of June.

Here are my contributions. Get down to Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club to view the whole exhibition from may 26 until end of June