Just For the Record...

 

Hello world. I know I haven't been blogging about my art making lately, it's just that my brain is still in the process of cooking while house sitting and adjusting to studying Fine Arts Honours at uni (a.k.a spew-ni, poo-ni or eww-ni). This is a sample of an idea Mechelle and I had for a landscape workshop, which unfortunately didn't come to fruition. Basically the idea was to build a pop-up paper city over a pointillistic landscape- urban planning for kids. 

Last week however, we facilitated a fun record cover painting class. We both agree that this was the bestest, awesomest, funnest workshop ever thanks to Vi. Like my neologisms?  The kids participated in another previous workshop, where they wrote and recorded their own song entitled "Beyo". According to one girl, it means "My Sweetheart" in Italian. Mechelle asked her part Italian husband about its meaning and he said that they might've meant "bello" which means "lovely". Anyway, love means the same thing in any language, even made up ones! The song is really adorable, hopefully the whole world can hear it one day.

To inspire them we brought in a few records from our collection with interesting cover art. DJ Mechelle and Anney were in da house, spinning tracks such as "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music soundtrack and "Getting to Know You" from The King and I soundtrack. Par-tay!

The Beatles were also a hit, especially songs such as "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "All You Need is Love". I was very impressed with their musical knowledge. Would you believe, they knew who Pink Floyd were?

 

Here are the bright and colourful results. I was hoping for more self-portraiture but I was pleasantly surprised with lots of stripes and love hearts, a crocodile couple, flowers, a dragon and a couple of Rothko tributes. These will be on display in the Kid's Gallery at Casula Powerhouse soon. Exciting!

 Here is Mechelle's contribution, featuring robots in love... nawwwww.

There are more workshops coming soon in the school holidays including a stained glassless window workshop and an animal origami workshop for kids aged 5-13. I promise it will be heaps of fun!

Bye-o!

x

Anney B

If I Could Turn Back Time...

Here is a video interview I was part of for the COFA Annual 2011 with fellow artists Eric Davidson Gluyas and Julie Brockbank.

For those of you who don't know me, I sound like a chipmunk or an Australian version of Fran Drescher from the Nanny. When I watched this for the first time, I wanted to die! I was so incredibly nervous and had a hard time articulating myself. I had actually planned what I wanted to say in advance by writing it out and reciting it word for word, but when I had the camera in my face my brain decided to have a little nanna nap while I was mentally screaming, "WAKE UP NANNA, THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!!". I have never used the word "assumptions" so many times in such a short space of time in my life.

Where's a thesaurus when you need one?!!

x

Anney B

Colour My World

 

Last week I was asked to fill in as a facilitator for a badge making workshop for kids aged 2-5 at Casula Powerhouse. Here I am with public programs coordinator Vi (centre) and gallery volunteers Charlene and Paloma, getting ready by colouring in a few sample badges.

These were run in conjunction with White- a beautiful and magical theatre show for kids (and adults too) all the way from Scotland. It stars Wrinkle and Cotton, who are caretakers of white birdhouses. As colour is forbidden, everything is white until something strange happens and colours begin to emerge everywhere. Lots of quirky special effects. The surprise ending scared the living daylights out of me- I loved it!

There was also an interesting exhibition on called Panorama which features a few well known Australian artists.

 

 Ahh, organised stationery, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

Here are some of the results. They're not quite birdhouses, because they're actually houses but who cares?! They remind me of amazing Australian artist Howard Arkley, who liked representin' the 'burbs y'all. Some of these were coloured in by non 2-5 year olds, as you can tell. My favourite one is the red one, which was created by a cute little red haired boy. Vi and I had a great workout pressing a gazillion badges on the machine and I later discovered muscles I never knew existed. Oh, the pain...

 Smile! OK, let's try that again and look happy!

 Umm... Ok... that'll have to do!

Mechelle and I will be running a few other workshops in the future which we are very excited about.

In the meantime play this song on repeat!!! Yeah!!!

 

x

Anney B

Pretty as a Picture

After running our workshops, Mechelle and I had a look at the 2011 Archibald Prize portrait exhibition, which has come and goneskis. The Archibald Prize is basically a portraiture prize of Australian people distinguished in their field, mainly the arts. Ordinarily you have to pay to go see the show when it's on display at the Art Gallery of NSW, but people who came to Casula got to see it for free without it being too crowded. Also, if it wasn't free, no one in the area would actually go see it.

Looking at artwork with my sister is sooo funny and embarrassing because she is such a brutally honest critic. One memorable quote was, "What is that? Look at it, she looks like she's doing a poo!". Thankfully the artist wasn't around to hear that. Mechelle's advice for anyone who wants to be in the Archibald is:

1. Paint the subject either hyper-realistically or totally unrecognisable

2. Make it GINORMOUSLY BIG!!!

I'd personally love to paint Lee Lin Chin or Jenny Kee one day. One day!

These works were our personal favourites. I have long been a fan of Del Kathryn Barton and Lucy Culliton ever since I found out about both of these artists from one of my art teachers Lorna Grear, who is also an amazing artist. Lorna encouraged me to consider studying art at university but I didn't think my decorative, ornate, "pretty" and..."feminine" style of work would fit in. So she told me about Del Kathryn Barton.

Mother (A Portrait of Cate)

Del Kathryn Barton

Mechelle and I both love Del Kathryn Barton's work. We were both talking about how she has received criticism from some for becoming formulaic in her style because she is such a commercial success. But we both agreed that it didn't bother us and that we didn't think of those things when viewing her work. Why cut people down because they're successful? Not our style! I love her work because it's proudly "feminine" and reminds me of a patchwork quilt with lots of complex colours, patterns and textures interwoven together. 

 Ray in Paris

Lucy Culliton

Lucy Culliton is another one of my favourite artists. Her palette is sorta similar to Australian artist Rupert Bunny and reminds me of smudged makeup or ice cream melting in the sun. Her work is very "sunny". Culliton paints ordinary, everyday things and makes them super beautiful and obviously loved. I love her cake paintings, her knitted doll paintings, her cactus paintings- basically, I love all her work! 

And one day, when I'm a squillionaire, I'll buy a painting or two!

x

Anney B

A Girl's Best Friend

Here are some photos from the second workshop Mechelle and I ran at Casula Powerhouse for the school holidays. This time it was origami paper jewellery making.  This workshop was a bit more challenging in trying to keep the kids motivated. I was very surprised that not many of them knew what origami was to begin with. Once one had given up, it had this domino effect that created this sea of scared children crying out "Miss? Miss? Miss!!!". I had to keep telling them, "I know this looks tricky, but I want you to keep trying, don't give up. I know you can do this!"

And they did! Once they had made a couple of things, they had confidence to make more. Here are some of the students, there were more but they had to go home. There were a few familiar faces from the mask making workshop. I wasn't sure if there would be any boys since it was a jewellery making workshop but there was one, who was a very good sport. He's the one in the photo playing a triangle, you can't miss him.

They made paper rings, watches and necklaces which were then decorated with glitter and pom poms etc. GLITTER EVERYWHERE! The decorating part got them most excited and I think it was because they finally had a chance to be creative, rather than follow instructions. I was told by a couple of lively rebels that they didn't like following instructions. Some also used the paper cubes as smuggling devices for craft supplies, which made me chuckle.

I'm sure that when they heard they were going to a jewellery making workshop they were expecting something along the lines of threading pasta onto string, but I knew this wouldn't challenge them, especially for a two hour workshop which is why I thought origami jewellery would be good to teach. I think they did really well. 

We even got a sweet little present from one of the more advanced students. Thanks!

I hope they were inspired to learn more about the art of origami at home- a very inexpensive, challenging and rewarding way to have fun. More importantly, I hope it gave them more confidence in themselves and their abilities.

x

Anney B

Skin Deeper

Last week Mechelle and I ran a school holiday mask-making workshop for 6- 12 year old kids at Casula Powerhouse. Not only did the kids have fun, so did we! We were both amazed by their creativity and super personalities- kids are really entertaining.

The workshop coincided with the 2011 Archibald Prize Exhibition which was on display at the time at Casula Powerhouse, so the class learned about portraiture, Pablo Picasso, Cubism and abstraction. (This is me!)

Portraits were drawn onto a paper plate in the same manner as Picasso by combining the side and front profile in one face. The eyes were cut out, colours and shapes were painted in and outlined in black...

 and finally the masks were decorated with pipe cleaners, glitter and pom poms etc. 

(Mechelle's on the right) There were moustaches, hair braids, eye glasses, crowns, bows and teeth galore. Stripes were all the rage.

Unfortunately the elastic to help attach the masks to their faces went missing at the end of the lesson which is why they're all holding up their masks by hand. But they didn't seem to mind.

The whole experience reminded me of how fun making art was as a child. There was no over analysing, fear of judgement or striving for perfection- it was just about being free, having fun and getting messy! So I learned a thing or two as well.

x

Anney B

Bad But Useful Business

What's new pussycats?

My apologies (again) for the infrequent posting. I bear good news...The camera has finally been reunited with the battery charger. I have to say, it is really hard to blog without a camera!

This post is going to be a bit long. Here are some photos of my major project last year that I wanted to share with you which I produced under A LOT OF STRESS!!!

This work is entitled Bad But Useful Business. It was inspired by a quote from art critic Robert Hughes in his documentary The Mona Lisa Curse which I highly recommend. In the film he talks about how art's cultural value has become insignificant to it's monetary value and celebrity status, at the hands of the commercial art market. I decided to explore the idea of the artist functioning as a commercial brand and whether the tension between making art and making money could be reconciled. Inspired by Australian artists/designers Ken Done, Jenny Kee and Reg Mombassa, I turned my Alien Nation artworks into a range of merchandise that I displayed in a shop/gallery installation.

I BECAME A MACHINE!!!

To set up the installation I painted the walls as a tribute to Ken Done. Ken Done is notorious for his art merchandise which often gets labelled as tacky and commercial. I actually like Ken Done. I can appreciate how he has bypassed the gallery system, made his work accessible and recognisable and earned a living from his art- something most artists would like. But I can also see how mass production can either alter or diminish art's meaning. I thought painting the wall would be a good way to reference the importance of art's originality and how this has been expanded upon.

Welcome to my shop, where all things are for sale except my soul! I made only one of each product mainly because it was affordable, but it also transformed each product into an art object.

I painted the fan and sewed the tea towel and apron. I was inspired by artists like Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst who often outsource the production of their work. I took advantage of external and online services to create some of my products and also combined this with hand-made craft techniques. I accept that there are different ways to make art but I also gain great satisfaction from making things myself. Note the teacup with my own face on it... sometimes art is about shameless self-promotion.

I was also inspired by the Surrealists and how they sought to bring together the internal and external world through the surrealist object and their interactive and experiential approach towards the typically sterile, "white cube", gallery experience. I made this fetching ensemble after Salvador Dali's and Elsa Schiaperelli's famous lobster dress. I hand painted and sewed the dress and matching felt prawn hat. It's pretty funny on. I'll show you later.

I decorated some Ikea plates using water slide decals...

I painted an umbrella in the style of Pop Art (which was all about mass production). It's also similar in style to artist Margaret Preston, whose works have been turned into an array of merchandise at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Sometimes, there are practicalities to think of in the business of art. I could never afford a Margaret Preston and I'd be happy to settle for an umbrella or print instead. Keith Haring wanted to incorporate art into everyday life and had a store called Popshop. His works are still being made into merchandise and they are pretty good examples of merchandising done well. It can be done!

More products including a puzzle, colouring in book, framed poster and...

 postcards...

handkerchiefs using computer printable fabric...

 a mini canvas print...

 hand painted babushka dolls...

 a snow dome...

and some fridge magnets. I made these using Fimo clay which you hand form, bake in the oven and glaze. Most of these haven't survived due to a few overzealous fridge door slams!

 I also sewed and decorated an apron using iron-on transfers of broken beer bottles.

Finally we have a handbag, key-ring, Dali-esque brooch and compact mirror...

Some of these things I had made with the help of Woolworths Photo Gifts. (No this isn't product placement, just letting you know, OK?)

I also had some silk scarves printed but they didn't arrive until later. I'll post them once I find them. Not only was this project costly, it was a nightmare to make, assemble and dismantle! I also had a hard time painting the walls back to their original state. 

Ahh, the joy of suffering for your art! 

x

Anney