Model Urban

Model Urban, a small sculpture show opens tonight at Manningham Gallery in Doncaster. The show has a pretty amazing line up of artists, I am feeling very privileged to have been included in this show. If you have time tonight - Wednesday 9 September from 6 - 8 pm please come and join me at the opening. If you can't make it tonight then it is on for a month.

Image: Greer Honeywill, Off the plan, 2009, wood, horse hair, found object, 124 x 70 x 84cm. Image courtesy the artist. Photo by John Best.

Featuring Daniel Agdag, Daniel Crooks, Sally Darlison, Daniel Dorall, Greer Honeywill, Llawella Lewis and Susan Robey. 
Curated by Davey Warnock.

A collection of small scale sculptural works engaging contemporary urban environments.

To be officially opened by Corbett Lyon, architect and co-founder of Lyons Architects and the Lyon Housemuseum.

RSVP by Friday 4 September

Hello again

Such a long time has passed since I have written.
It has been a difficult time for me over the past 3 months as my Mum sadly was diagnosed with cancer and then died 6 weeks later.
We also have been working towards selling our house - and my beautiful studio, so that has involved quite a lot of tidying up and thus not much art work!
But...
Soon I will be back into the work in a big way as I will be part of a show at Manningham gallery in September.
 It is very exciting as it will be my first public gallery show - where they asked me!!
It is called Model Urban and will include small sculptural works engaging contemporary urban environments.
My piece Walking the Cinque Terre will be in the show and the rest .. well that is yet to be made. Watch this space. 

Exciting news

I'm excited to tell you that the latest Artwear Publication Embellish has just come out and there is an interview in it with me about my artwork.
There are heaps of pictures of my work and quite detailed information about the process I use to make the work.
You can buy it online or have the paper form delivered to your door or find it in shops where all good art magazines can be found!

A drawing a day and Teachers workshop

The first weekend I spent in Kathmandu was taken up with a full day of teaching art to Nepali teachers. it was a fun day with all of the teachers appearing to enjoy themselves learning while making artwork.
I have been diligently drawing everyday and have nearly half a sketchbook of imagery. It has been a good discipline to draw each day and I have certainly noticed an improvement in my skills.

A New Adventure

This time next week I will be in the bustling city of Kathmandu in Nepal.
I am fortunate to be travelling with a friend who has lived there so I am looking forward to learning about Nepal from an insiders point of view.
I will be doing a some teaching for a day - running a workshop for teachers on creative ways of teaching art to young children.

I am also planning to create some visual memories for me to use at a later date in my own artwork.
I have prepared a new visual diary by painting some of the pages with ink and gesso.I find it easier to get into the drawing and layering if I already have started before I leave.
I have a little visual diary too that is pristine.

 I hope to spend time drawing and collecting papers - as usual, and then cut, glue and draw over the top.

Small Works exhibition

Small Works Exhibition: Brunswick Street Gallery

This show opens tonight. I have 6 pieces in the show. If you are in Melbourne it is always well worth having a look at the Small Works exhibition as there are always interesting pieces and usually a bargain or 2 !

SMALLWORKS 2014, 3 August - 20 August 2014 

8 August 2014 from 6pm - 9pm ~~ Please join us for drinks with the artists, the opportunity to view all the work, and to meet each other.

The exhibition of works measuring 30x30x30cm or less, in all mediums and concepts will be on display from 3 August - 20 August 2014

This open call Art Prize encourages our community of emerging creatives to hang their work, meet and connect with each other, and compete for a prize of $2000, and a prize of an exhibition at BSG in 2015.
PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENTS: 8 August 2014

Special ART THIS WAY Drinks: 15 August 2014, 6pm - 9pm 

A good read!

Today I received the link to an e-magazine called Threads.In-fusion. issue 5. I received this because I was asked to write an article for it by the publisher- Dale and Ian Rollerson of The Thread studio.

My article is about the process I used to collect information and ideas for my artwork- in particular the work I made for my most recent solo- Not All Who Wander Are Lost.

If you are interested in the magazine you can purchase it through the website ( click link above). it has a number of great articles. My favourite was one by Jacinta Leischmann who writes about inspiration for art.

to give you a small taster of my article it begins......

Journeys

by Sally Darlison

Journeys are the focus of my art work. Both physical and metaphorical. I am an observer of people and places. Pattern, colour and behaviour fascinate me. Teaching has taught me to observe and process my observations. I watch people and how they interact with each other and the world around them, often creating stories about what I think they may be doing or where they may be going. I like to make links between people and ideas. Part of the process of art creation for me is finding these links, or making links - a little like a story teller. In fact, I see my art work as story telling. The story can be read in many ways though, dependent on the viewer’s perspective or experience.

I have always loved to tell stories, embellishing the truth ( just a little) for the sake of a laugh or added drama.............

If you want any more of this you will need to check out the E-mag.  

Well, it's back to the paper work for me, another article to compose, exhibitions to enter, lessons to plan and I'm on holidays- from school anyway, so maybe a little relaxing as well. 

Have a great day!!

Not All Who Wander Are Lost - artist statement and inspiration

Artist statement 

I have realised that those of you who read this blog- thanks so much!! - may be interested in the artist statement for this current exhibition...... so ........ dah dah here it is.

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Sally Darlison

Quadrant Gallery Hawthorn, May 8 - May 31 2014

"All That is Gold Does Not Glitter" by J. R. R. Tolkien

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

Wandering, exploring, seeking and learning. Traveling allows us to find new places, learn of others, creates empathy, opens our eyes to other ways of living. 

Wandering isn’t always aimless

Traveling for 3 months through Europe and Morocco in 2012 was the catalyst for my body of work.

 Traveling and creating can be difficult and to help me record and remember this trip I collected the brochures and maps along the journey. Using these and my little travel kit of water colour pastels, pencil, fineliner, glue stick, gesso, needle and thread I created a set of little books, to be a reminder of the trip, to challenge my creativity, give me time to be and help me to process the impact of such an epic trip. 

These little, flimsy and not too perfect books along with my many photographs have been the starting point for my artwork. 

Each book represents a place in the journey - a country, city or several smaller places. 

Each piece represents a small drop in the ocean of learning that took place on the journey. 

Look with new eyes wherever you go, it will always be refreshing

Sally Darlison

2014

Inspiration and resulting art 

I have also included some photos and the art that has sprung from it. For those familiar with my work you will have observed that I don't use white very often at all. However while in Switzerland the contrast of white and black were so strong and the mountains so magnificent that I had to work them into my body of work. The result was 2 large black and white pieces.

 Photos and Art 

Here is an example of how I use image to inspire art. The photos are taken in Switzerland  of snowy mountains, bare trees and black birds that swept overhead. 

photo of birds flying overhead 

completed piece with sweeping birds in the centre 

Wood engraved prints of bare trees white on black fabric beside the inspirational photo of the bare trees on the mountain side

Photos paired with the stitched piece. 

Opening Night

Last night was the opening night. It was great fun, with heaps of people coming for a chat, view and drink.
Thanks to the staff at Quadrant Gallery it was well organised and beautifully presented. A special thanks goes to Pam Jackson who has worked tirelessly to make sure all went smoothly.

Bumping In

So today was Bump In day.

Rachel and I took 2 car loads of art to the gallery and spent the day unwrapping the work and moving around the pieces around, finding the right plinth to display the pieces. tomorrow Pam from Quadrant gallery will complete the hanging.

It was fabulous to see Rachel's work - she has some truly beautiful jewellery, sculpture and enamelled copper pieces.. love love!!

Time to get excited, not sleepless any more.

The countdown begins..

The final week... all work made and ready to hang, documentation done, invites out, displays sorted, bills paid. I'm nearly there. Just need to clean the studio and make a bed for my lovely friend Rachel Young who is arriving with her beautiful jewellery, sculpture and enamelware from the desert of South Australia.

Then.... 

it is up to you, your friends, my friends and anyone else's friends and family to put it in the diary and pop on down to Quadrant Gallery some time in the next month. Opening night May 8, 6-8 pm and Artist talk May 17, 12pm. for all other opening times check out the website. 

Hope to see you there and meet some new friends!!

All stacked up and ready to go!!

Specimen book

Busy Week

It has been a busy week in the studio this past week. I have been turning out the work fast- nothing like a deadline to speed me up.
In between finishing works of art I have had the work photographed, visited the framer (to part with my life savings in order to have amazing frames put around the work - it certainly makes a difference), picked up the hardcopy invites and now it is back to the studio to complete the final series - Tuscany, and I am done..... I think.

Here's a few details of works- don't want to give away all the images before the show!

Berber Doorways - detail

Outside the Riad - detail

Paris Carousel- detail

Invites are here - well, the e-invites are here.

You are officially invited to.........

put it in your diary!! 

Woohoo, business cards and postcards arrived!

It's hotting up here in the studio, business cards and postcards arrived, another 2 pieces sent off to the photographer and another on the way.

On holidays from one job, ramping it up on the other job. It's a busy week here in Sal's Studio.

Time is running out, so I am on speedy street, stream of consciousness art pouring out of my fingers. Hope they don't get burnt!!

Count down is on,  only 1 month to the opening.......... Argh........

Here's a peek at the latest and the new cards!

detail of Roma 

business cards and postcards

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