Residencies
2024 FLOAT Artist in residence
1-30 August
It's not often I do 2 residencies in a year and particularly one after another but I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend 4 weeks on the floating residency that is FLOAT
the vessel
everything changed daily
my studio space- what a view
seagrass was plentiful on the beaches and inspired botanicus
I would watch the lake each day , marvelling at the changes - the surface could be choppy, still and mirror-like, coated in dust and floating detritus and once or twice hundreds of seaweed fragments decorated the surface around the vessel- bringing hand crocheted lacework to mind.
They were the inspiration for my main body of work lake drawings made by hand stitching fragments collected from the shores and out in the bush onto paper, simply letting them draw their own shape. I was amazed to see how many relembled observations of life on and around the lake- they are rather like a diary of my time there.
This residency was unique- I had to paddle a kayak from shore to vessel and beacause the lake ( Tyers) was so high it was about 500 m each way. It was a beautiful way to approach and leave and part of the sustainabliity ethos of the residency. I found the parred back furnishings and solitude very empowering ( even though I did venture off the vessel every day for one reason or another). All that noise that fills our heads settled by the second day and an immense peace opend up within me- it was a profoundly moving experience and one that will never leave me
2024 Saltbush Balnarring Artist in Residence
2-29 July
Even though Balnarring is only 10 kms from where I live I felt like I was immersed in another world for 2 weeks while at Saltbush. The cottage was so comfortable and the studio area made working on my project self reflection a real pleasure.
self reflection- work in progress
the finished works
such a lovely space to work in
a woke one morning to find this print on the window- a poor bird had unknowingly flown into it and left its ghostly portrait.
I spent hours wandering around the wetlands and Coolart watching the birds and collecting fallen bush fragments and plastic waste ( there wasnt much of that, thankfully) to take back into the studio.
I wanted to paint a natural fragment and piece of rubish on each miirror. Initially I painted them realistically but found the colour jarring- it just didnt carry the message I was hoping to convey. So I pared the colours right back- the natural fragments were painted in monochrome and the litter painted in the palest of tones. It worked much better . This project is yet to be shown and I'm still collecting mirrors.
2023 Carss Park ( Georges River ) Artist in Residence
2-29 October
This was an unusual residency as the cottage /studio was nestled right in the heart of Carss Park. Once I got used to it, I found it fabulous being in the centre of all that activity- walkers, cyclists , skateboarders, picnicers and dog walkers provided endless entertainment and some wonderful converstations.
I was meant to undertake this residency in 2021 but then COVID got in the way, so it was postponed until 2022, but we were still in lockdown. The next date was 2022 but unfortunatley Sydney was then in lockdown so it was called off again. Thankfully ,life had returned to normal by the following year and it was well worth the wait.
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in the studio the cottage
My intended project was salt of the earth- a large chain of charms ( amulets) made from vintage metals inspired by natural fragments found in the park and surrounds. As the residency drew to a close I immersed the work in the Georges river, bathing it with a permanent sense of place .An amulet is said to protect its wearer from harm and I hope this work does a=exactly that for this magnificent park.
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Salt of the earth-vintage metals, saltwater
I always find it extremely exciting responding to the the immediate environment by making work inspired by the particularities of an location-oyster shells, rocks, barnacles and birdlife that were such an important part of Carss park and resulted in some unexpected works.
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feather midden
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the listening bed
2019 The G.R.A.I.N. Store Nathalia
Nathalia
with Avis Gardner
While on residency for two weeks at the remarkable G.R.A.I.N. Store Avis and I worked with the communigy on a project and exhibition called Marking the nature of things.
We spent a day foraging and collecting natural materials from roadsides, the township, along the river, in the paddocks and the Barmah National Park. These fragments were used in a series of community workshops where participants created individual map pieces on 20 x 20 cm board. Paper clay, natural vergetable dyes and ephemera were all used to create gorgeous, colorful panels . Each workshop series depicted a different area of the region and when dry were placed together , photographed and printed on a 75 cm x 1500 cm arches paper wall map of the district.
Marking the nature of things was made possible by the support of Vision 2020, the Moira Council and the efforts of thef abulous volunteers and coordinator at the G.R.A.I.N. Store.
one of our wonderful workshops.
The more you look the more you see!
working on one of the panels- beautiful colours and textures. Clay slip mixed with natural food colouring created exciting finishes.
Patterns and colours varied with each workshop. Curled eucalyptus leaves were a perfect way to represent the flow and movement of the river.
Every panel was different...each one represented a different area of the region.
The colours changed as clay and slip dried with suprisingly beautiful results.
The Barmah National Park- bark quills became ancient river gums viewed from above- an impressive and beautiful landscape.
School children enjoyed recreating the environmnet around their school.
The printed map of Nathalia and district.It was all a huge effort by so many in just 12 short days with an amazing outcome. Avis and I drove home tired and thrilled- what a community!
2018 Police Point Artist in Residence
Mornington Peninsula Shire, Point Nepean, Portsea
OCEAN EYES
This two week residency in the historic Gate Keepers cottage gave me the opportunity to work on a drawing project responding to the extraordinary environment around me.
enjoyed the creative solitude and spent time quietly observing, drawing and photographically documenting aspects of beach found ephemera, vegatation and the coastal landscape itself.
As awlays , I felt completely regenerated and inspired after this remarkable opportuinty.
Every morning there would be something new on the sand. Everything was perfect to draw and I never tired of looking at the textures and patternation. I was very sad to find this tiny Lap Wing chick in the shallows.
And of course there was plastic.......
the weather changed by the
minute and the skies were
always magnificent.
I returned all the natural found fragments before leaving- the plastics came with me.
2017 Artsbox Artist in Residence
City of Marybyrnong, Footscray
MAPPING MESSAGES
During the month long residency I worked with the community to populate a wooden wall map.
People passing by or visiting the neighbouring library were invited to write messages to a friend,make a statment about something they loved about where they lived, felt strongly about or simply draw a picture on a selected map piece.
The individual pieces had been premade out of ply wood and covered in bright fly-leaf pages from vintage Readers Digest condensed novels and fitted together to form a colourful and fun map of the city of Marybrynong- a message map celebrating the city's diversity, culture and the people who live there.
The map was then gifted to the people and now hangs in the Footscray Library for the community to enjoy
The locals taking part
So many people were interested in telling their stories.
The map is coming together nicely.
2015 Montsalvat Artist in Residence
Eltham
SITES UNSEEN
Sites unseen was a project investigating the small and often overlooked memories and nuances of Montsalvat.
Singularly, these individual components may appear quaint but insignificant while collectively they contribute to the heartbeat and charm of Australia's oldest artist colony.
While there for four weeks I documented and replicated obscure detail and embellishments from the architecture, gardens and art works on site as a starting point for a series of small sculptures and installations.
My Montsalvat residency studio
Matchams collar- inspired by the works of Matcham Skipper
test pieces
2012 Hill End Artist in Residence, Hill End NSW
Bathurst Council
NATURE'S TABLE
During my residency I undertook daily walks to collect glass and ceramic shards as well as natural remnants from the historical mining village of Hill End.
Taking these back to the studio to study their form and reinterpret them in either multiples or single pieces out of recycled corrugated iron sourced from the Hill End tip.THey were then placed back where I found them causing no disturbance to the natural environment.
I also created a metal and wire map of Hill End called Mullock heaps and mineshafts.
Both Natures table and Mullock heaps and mineshafts were exhibited at the Bathurst Regional Gallery in the same year.
Nature's table-detail
bucket fragments
marking pegs
Mullock heaps and mineshafts
My Hill End studio in Murrays Cottage
2011 Laughing Waters Artist in Residence, Eltham
Nillumbik Shire Council and Parks Victoria
NATURE'S TABLE
This project was inspired by wonderful childhood memories of the nature table we had both at home and in the classroom-always covered with objects of varying textures, colours and sizes - all found outdoors.
Elements left behind on the grounds of Birrarung House were borrowed; documented and recreated using recycled metals . The fragments included twigs, feathers, stones, incsects, fallen leaves and bones and all were placed back where I found them after being drawn, photographed, identified and replicated .
These pieces were displayed on handmade trestle tables imitating a museum or archeological presentation.
I also documented where the fragments were found and created a sculptural, three domensional map of the property constructed out of bird wire and recycled kitted woolens. The map combined a number of seperate segements fitting together like a puzzle .
Nature's table-detail
Working in my Laughing Waters studio. It was so peaceful looking out at the magnificent native bush garden while creating Nature's table.
The finished work set up outside for open house/studio at the end of the residency.
The completed sculptural map of Birrarung
at the open day.