at the studio

 last year i had wanted to make some new work - just because. not for a show or anything. it didnt happen because i broke my wrist. this year i dont have much booked in for exhibitions, so i will try again to make work just because i want to.

this is the first time i have been in the cold shop since my wrist healed.

 

i had these glass pieces in my studio but they just need to be cold worked on the edges and the layout figured out. 

next is working on the imagery to be sandblast onto them. happily, my wrist held up pretty well from the cold working.

also here are 2 group photos from the other day when we all happened to be at the studio at the same time. this is a rare event, and it only lasted 10 minutes.

 

we need a group shot for some promo stuff - this one might work.

studio layout changes

at the studio we have had some discussion about changes to the studio layout and the need for some quiet space. 5 of us share studio space in the front area of an old church so the noise travels really well. also the ceilings are 7m tall so we have a bunch of space up that we dont use. we have a plan and some money to build a new structure in the building that will give us a second story and some closed in quiet space. until that happens though phase 1 began by rearranging the studio to accommodate another members space requirements. this mostly affected me and my space.

we dismantled the "pod" area that I was in and moved my office and storage into an area previously inhabited by another studio member. that studio member moved to my old area, and we reshuffled a few things so they now have a nice new space to set up in.

we then moved the walls you see in this photo that was my old "pod" and delineated some space with them. this table area is the other half of my space.

so i now have a long skinny space that spans across the room. i actually dont mind the change, it will be temporary but that could mean up to 6 months the way things take their time to happen. and thats fine - what do they say change is as good as a holiday, and i cant afford a holiday right now so this will have to do.

:)

SWAP

tonight there is an opening at the wheatie pub for the annual gate 8 workshop south australian living artists exhibition. this is the annual show that our studio has at our favourite pub each year. 

the idea of the show is that we each pulled a name of one of the artists in our studio out of a hat.

 

then we had the challenge to make a piece that is influenced, or is in the style of that persons work.

 

i got deb, so i started brainstorming on MDF with tape about what i might do.

i decided on using some balsa wood, and spray paint, and made a piece called 2D3D.

 

 the exhibition was installed the other day. and funnily enough i think the 6 pieces sit pretty well together. strange since the work is so different and we all made work that wasn't our own.

the names of the artists for the show have been combined too, on the left we have  Jesra Loha and on the right Debka Jeene

left is Katloz Fresimo and on the right is Cheb Chones (the C is silent)

 

on the left is Loje Simlou and on the right is Racch Hach

here is the overall look of the show installed at the pub. should be a good opening tonight.

all in a days work

at the studio deb and i often have a new helper - anna. she likes working with us.

on this occasion we are wrapping up some benches to be delivered and of course writing and drawing messages for the delivery men. 

she is a good helper

 

then switches jobs, now deb and i being interviewed about the mirrored artworks we installed earlier this year

they asked us questions separately and will edit the final interview together

we also were filmed walking around the building and doing lots of pointing.

the final video will be 90 seconds but the interview and filming took 3 hours! glad we are not actors.

artwork around the house

i am cleaning out my studio slowly. i always need to de-clutter and sort through my space before i can begin making new work. in this sorting process i decided that i wanted to hang some of my artwork around my house. this way i can clear out the studio, but also i can spend time with my work up and out of boxes.

 

i installed the forest road 16 slumped piece in my kitchen

on one of the rammed earth walls near the back door i installed the birch tree forest black panel

 

it relies on the right light but to see it clearly but i think it works here

 

another black tile with image of the city roof tops of kiev is positioned over the sofa in the lounge area

and a triptych of branchy trees is located at the base of the stair case.

its been this way for almost 2 weeks now, and i am really enjoying having the artwork hanging around the place.

and my studio has less stuff in it now. just need to find a few more pieces a good home, and then i can starting thinking about what i want to make next.

conference opening party

 the theme for the conference was light, and the theme for the opening party was 

street-trash-light

here is the party in full swing, people in the yard, using the furniture we made. you can see the net lighting deb and i installed in the background.

to go with the trash theme we had been in a bin, here is deb working the taps

 

the side lane lit up with a projection of light writing and drawing

 

the shipping container with light and mirrors and disco ball

 

a time lapse projection on the back wall over the party area

 

the back tool room all lit up to create a fun vibe

 

the dance floor mid night, people are dancing away in front of a dumpster dj. again fitting the street trash theme

 

the view from the dumpster dj booth

 

towards the end of the night and people dancing with light sticks

 

towards the end of the party,the vibe slowing down.

and this is the net lighting in between the 2 buildings we installed. that is me a the party entrance, this was before the crowds arrived and the fun began.

glass conference

a week ago today was the beginning of the ausglass conference. more info on the conference can be found here.

   

while the conference ran over 3.5 days the preparation has been going on for well over 1.5 years.  and more specifically for our studio that hosted the opening party the preparation has been going on for about 1.5 weeks.

 a couple of weekends ago we had a furniture making day at the studio, making seats and tables for the opening party and conference hub. 

 

we got a bunch of great stuff made, and had a good time making it.

deb and i hired a scissor lift to install some lights at the studio for the opening party.

 this is the lane way before,

here are the lights laid out, ready for install.

and after a few hours the lights installed. (i will post them in action at the party in the next post)

 

we had to clean up the inside of the studio as well.

so we hid most things in the middle room which would be blocked off for the party.

the yard of the studio set up with the furniture we made, and an area for the catering and bar.

the view from the back of the studio looking towards the street.

 

the side lane with screen ready for projections, and fake lawn for lounging.

 

this is the furniture we made being used at the HUB of the conference in town at Lion Arts Center near the JamFactory.

 

All the talks were aired live on a screen outside so you could sit in a bean bag and drink a beer while watching the talks. very civilized.

some photos from the party to follow.