Artist Talk - What fun

Around 25 people came down to the gallery this afternoon to join me for a talk about my work, the processes and techniques I use and the method I used to gather the ideas for this exhibition.

I showed them some of the photos that were particularly influential in the creation of the art work, the kit of art materials I took with me on my trip and the print blocks, dyed fabric, brochures and map bags I collected for each place.

After the initial demonstration we wandered around the gallery to look more closely at the travel books and their relationship to the larger works of art.

A big thank you to Eugene at Quadrant gallery and to those who came, I enjoyed meeting up with old friends and new.

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.

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!! 

Frantic finishing time

Time has just whizzed on by and suddenly it is the end of March and my exhibition now has a name and nearly all the pieces done.
Not All Who Wander Are Lost  will open on May 8 at Quadrant gallery in hawthorn - more details will come when the invites are published.
In the meantime I have a lot of work to be done - some of it boring but also a couple more pieces to come into being.
I still need to beaver away in the studio for a few weeks.

Living Quarter

Tread softly

I did, however, manage to fit in a little side job, creating an adornment for an opera singer. Jude will wear my creation over her gown while singing at the Horticulture Media Awards in Melbourne on Tuesday at the Plaza Ballroom. Hand dyed silk and wool. The cord is felted wool and the leaves and flowers are silk, machine and hand stitched.

  

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!!

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. 

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!

Windows and Doors

Fiddly little books.. what was I thinking!?

This week I have been cutting small pieces, my glasses have been in full use! Gradually I have been filling each window of the French house box with tiny little books.. why did I make so many windows?

Anyway questions about my sanity aside they are all slowly coming together. 

Here is a little taster of the pieces I have been making. 

The overall theme of these books are windows, doors, thus shutters, ironwork and views. 

The emergence of a building

Next on the list for construction was a house book box. 

This is to contain images/ books that I haven't made yet, getting there! Just seem to be slow at the moment.  

It is representing Avignon in Provence and the books to go in it will be about the area surrounding Avignon. 

I have made the house using box card, and covered it with paper dyed with tea and caustic soda, then layered with dried teabags and painted. 

Each window will contain a book and the spaces for these are lined with maps and brochure pages from Avignon.

 It has taken me in excess of 12 hours just to construct this.

Anyway, I must go as I now have the books to create!!