Tracks from the Past Watercolour on canvas 2013

Tracks of the Past

A SALA exhibition at the Pt Pirie Regional Art Gallery

Well, it has been a busy year, not without its hurdles but after a long hard struggle 

my exhibition opened on the 26th July 2013.

Links from the past connect two unique cities through the industries of mining and smelting. Broken Hill is steeped with mining history and Pt Pirie played an important role in the processing of the riches excavated from the earth along the Barrier Ranges. I am intrigued by these historical connections between Pt Pirie and Broken Hill. Tracks from the Past is a series of etchings telling the story of these connections that date back over a century when Broken Hill’s silver lead and zinc deposits and Pt Pirie’s smelting were at their peak.

 Kirstie Jamieson opened "Tracks of the Past"

 Jenni Frost Director of the Pt Pirie Art Gallery

Rails to Riches Intaglio etching

Visitor Sue Kushert and her parents travelled to be at the opening

The exhibition is a combination of etchings and watercolor and was followed by an Artist talk and "easy etching" workshop.  

Loading Bullion Intaglio etching

The workshop was enjoyed by all in attendance and the participants created unique chemical free etchings using just ready available household products. I would like to thank the staff and volunteers at the Pt Pirie Art Gallery who put on the most scrumptious spread for afternoon tea.

Desert Equinox: A convergence of solar and art in the outback

When 30 or more artists from Australia and countries worldwide collaborate together to hold and sculpture exhibition then you can expect a fantastic result.  

But combine that with a prolific arts community in the middle of the outback, in a unique mining city like Broken Hill and you get an extra ordinary event.

Desert equinox is the result of that collaboration

A combination and interpretation of Solar powered Art by  international artists

Google desert equinox and you get a page full of results that will give you all sorts of information from many different perspectives. 

But as an artist exhibiting in this unique event a newer version can emerge.

This project was a very different direction for my art. I had in the past broached installation and found object works but never sculpture. So when invited to participate an opportunity arose that I found challenging, and immensely enjoyable.

 I love the sun, the light and the endless hues of colour over the outback landscape. The process to create one of my "suns" into metal was a huge challenge. I also have a connection to rustic objects which I collect, much to my husbands discontent. These rusty pieces of iron and metal hold an array of colours and textures that are replicated in my paintings. Often I found these patinas were influenced by the condition of the metal found object. If there was a deep scratch or dent in the metal, the elements of rust would be directed differently across the metal surface, occasionally bringing out marvelous textures and colour through line.

A started my idea with a large 1.2m piece of 5mm thick steel plate and a computer generated design.

An artist is generally poor, selling one peice of art to fund another and to be sponsored for such a experimental project is an inspiring opportunity.

Jamie Bolten from Boltons Engineering, Beryl St Broken Hill and his employee Tim gave me enormous support. Jamie used my design to plasma cut through the plate steel. To see what Jamie can offer go to www.boltonsengineering.com.au
From there it was up to me to take "Rays of Rust" from steel to Art.

The next step, a quick welding instruction course from my husband seen a mad artist I splattering flux here and there, burning holes into my base timber board with weld pools and eating up welding rods like a baby with a chocolate. Great fun!

My next process needed much more thought.

I needed to etch the steel to create the rays of the sun. Each ray needed to be etched at least 3-4mm deep in the steel plate if I was to achieve a rustic patina within lines.
 Each etch was painstaking slow, taking 2 months to etch over 500 rays into the steel. Each ray needed to be in an exact line to influence the rusting so the line penetrated through the rust in the final process.
After blistering fingers, holes in gloves and aching arms the etching was complete.

The final finish was to hasten the rusting process and with assistance from my sponsor a large steel bed  was made to fit the plate, the plate lowered into a murky mixture. I sat and waited for results, checking daily and hourly, impatiently waiting to see what evolved.
This was now at "a make or break stage".
There was no time to redo the work should it fail. I had just over one week to installation day.

The result was more than expected and the plate revealed a doubled sided effect. The sun on one side and the textures of the earth on the reverse.
The birth of...

Rays of Rust 

My involvement in Solar Desert Equinox was not restricted to just my work. I met wonderfully talented artists from all over the world. Thought provoking work by Alexandra Byrne, wings of polar rhythms suspended on poles that glowed like an aura through solar rays and Hamish Dunlop with his sculptured illuminated dogs howling at the Solar Moon by Peter Woodford Smith. 

To my sponsor Boltons Engineering, Allan, Georgie, Shim and Susan of Desert Solar Equinox
I say thank you.
What a wonderfully inspiring project!

In the Vault

Tuesday 22rd May 2012.

Deirdre enters The Vault Complex. The rear was dark, storage bays surrounded by solid grey concrete walls.there were thoughts of dread.  I headed upstairs.

My main cell was two tone in colour, facilities comfortable, surrounded by concrete walls but each cell had that atmosphere that started your heart to beat that little bit faster. I began to settle in, unpack my meager belongings.

Later I walked alone, past the existing cells, some were occupied, some were not. Each cell had the scent of an artist unknown and some walls were an extended expression of the artist within. My stomach felt that weird empty feeling, even though I had eaten earlier. I reached the end of the corridor, opened a large glass door and entered into a small room allocated as my "space". I liked this room. a room with no other attachment. A room where I could make mine. The window had no view, just concrete walls and iron but light spread its arms through the large glass panels throughout the room welcoming me.

Then I went down stairs again. I entered the main vault, steel bars of expression, framed, hanging lifeless; pieces of another artists soul waiting for it's rescuer from this concrete hold. Some echoed words to me, a connection with my own soul.Some hung at an awkward angle almost like it had given up finding a home. 

 The second vault was the same, rows on rows of steel bars, upright but confined with more hopeful expressions from another brush so I moved forward emerging into main room. This was a happier place, a place of vibrant imagery , to the right an alcove,  stainless steel benches and inky reminders of the last inmate.

I moved forward into "The Vault", the hub of Art, a large open room with white walls and to the left a small room. In front of me was a bustle of workers whose main aim was to arrange unknown artworks along the blank stark walls of the large room, to bring these walls of concrete into a living sense of expression.

The small room was black, blank and stark, in the centre a long armless seat. I sat. I contemplated how these darkened walls could come alive.

And so my exhibition and residency began at The Art Vault, in Mildura. 

Wednesday 23rd September 2012.

All works are hanging, the black blank walls filled with colour. My works sang to me encouraging me to be positive. 

"River mapping" opened at The Art Vault.

Thursday 24th September 2012.

Through to 1st June 2012

As an artist when you exhibit your works and are scrutinized by others being in a prestigious gallery on a residency can be daunting. By the 3rd day all seemed to be calm and my creative juices began to flow as I ventured into the landscape of the environs of Mildura and its surrounding countryside.

The staff at the Art Vault are so helpful in making you feel at home and after my first trip out I came back with a small collection of inspirational pieces to get me going. The empty white walls of the studio began to fill with sectional sketches from my mind.

My main focus was now on going to Mungo National park. I had never been there before so was excited about my visit.

MUNGO 

An ancient earth, a world within another world.

I enjoyed Mungo immensely although the day was overcast and cold. At first the landscape of Mungo Lake looked very drab, no sunlight throwing colours, no shadows throwing form. As we drove up into the sand hills and through the "lunar landscape" a sense of wonder came over me. Nature had sculptured this landscape over millions of years and my camera captured the "moonscape" in contrast against the ominous storm clouds. 

The "Walls of China" spread alongside the ancient Willandra lake beds and were cradled by immense dunes. The furrows and ridges flowed through the mind and onto my paper. I filled my Vault studio walls with sketches and began to create.

To truly connect  to this wonderful place an artist could not pass up a tour by two local indigenous guides who are ancestors of this lands of time. Great guys with a surmountable knowledge of the history, the footprints through the sands by past inhabitants, the existing protection in place and return of the land to their peoples.

This place & its history inspired me to start a series of embossed relief etchings which were created within The Vault.

 The landscape of Mungo left a mountain of sketches, ideas and a series of artworks in mixed medium is in development in my own studio.

I would like to thank Julie chambers and staff Andrew, Robert, Mia and Trace of The Art vault for making my experience in The Vault a memorable one. 

(and anyone I have missed who worked in and out during my stay)

THIS IS NOT THE FINAL STAGE OF THIS RESIDENCY 

TO BE CONTINUED

Embossed, relief etchings produced at The Vault

The exhibition opening

Mother Nature, the exhibition opened on Thursday 17th Feb. at The Hotel Richmond First Bar, Level 1.

The atmosphere of relaxation in the private lounge portals of the Hotel Richmond First Bar set the scene for the visual art dislay of paintings and hand coloured etchings reflecting the sun, the earth and the seasons. A hub of a select few enjoyed a few wines and nibbles talking about art and the Fringe. I met with some old and some more frequent friends, a few new and exciting art lovers then afterward set to escape to dine at the restaurants on Gouger St. with my Fringe team, David my husband and wizard's apprentice and Feleena my consultant on everything Adelaide. We were accompanied by friend and relative Tracy Clarke and settled on a quiet but somewhat charming old pub.

From the desert to the sea Mother Nature demands an audience.

Fringe caravan

Well, I have to say to get a glimpse of what the Fringe has to offer then head to Rundle Mall and see the performances at the Fringe Caravan.
The Caravan has a 50's/ 60's feel, one of those classic chrome and red caravans and topped up with a polka dotted presenter to intoduce a sample of the delights of the Fringe to the general public. Jugglers, singers, actors and even visual artists like me get to show their wares and entice the public to their events. The Fringe team always there to support you through your stage fright and hand out pamplets to the passerby.
I simply love Rundle Mall with all its atmosphere, not just the chic boutiques (which any woman enjoys0 but the sidewalk performanaces. The violin at one corner, a juggler at another, a mime artist, always there all year round. This month the Mall is full of Art and the Fringe Caravan is the place to stop.

A wash out of Unearthly Delights

Hi again,

The Adelaide Fringe started wet but the postponing of the street parade did not deter the crowds from the streets from enjoying the Fringe events.

The Garden of Unearthly Delights definately the place to see. A somewhat sideshow setting of amazingly crafted stages of performances, art, craft and lip smacking food.

Set in the picturesce Rundle Park, the Garden of Unearthly Delights set the scene for the excitement that represents what the Fringe is all about. At night the lanterns sent unearthly shadows through the trees, whilst you were surrounded by shopfronted performance tents, artworks in their own right. Artists of all genres hypnotised the passing public offering delights, tempting the artistic taste buds to experience their unearthly performance.

"Mother Nature" Adelaide Fringe 2011

An exhibition of paintings & etchings.

(above painting "Ochres in the Sand", Mixed Medium - Using Natural Ochres from central SA to Yunta )

(above relief, embossed etching "Nature's Oasis" - An oasis linked by steel, linier to the sea.)

Australia is the "lucky country", a place renowned for its natural beauty spanning from the desert to the sea. The sun, the circle of life and harmony provides us with warmth, light and the vibrant colour that highlights Australia's natural beauty.

The exhibition "Mother Nature" simply touches on the changing seasons and the wonder of nature around us under the harmony of the Australian sun.
Mother Nature has been depicted in her glorious beauty, but her power can be implacable. Our natural world is not always cruel but is incredibly wonderful.

Whether we live in one of our wonderful cities or in the remote inland Mother Nature demands an audience.