Revisiting the studio archives blog!

Blogging these days is sadly something I barely find time for ... a recent check through this blog I discovered posts stripped of images... something has clearly gone wrong with the image bank for blogger... or my own image bank!

Once day I may have to delete the blogs but that is too harsh to think about now. I just posted this material below at my Studio Archives blog which has a great series of posts from 2009 till they tapered off last year to very minimal!

Its been a long time since I posted here. 

This morning I had a visit from Photographer Margie Bender who took this Studio panorama shot which I do rather like. Often when people visit the studio and its been a busy time I feel like I have to clean up first. Neither the studio nor myself were particularly well groomed but I like how it worked out... and looks a hell of a lot more organised than it feels.

Friday November 13th 2015 ... 

I started this blog in winter 2009 ... and I didn't really have a studio when I started, had been very ill & was  just getting things going again. So its great to be in a whole different phase where much has taken shape... although it must be said in 2009 it was easier to sell paintings, the economy in Australia hadn't fallen over from the GFC, global ecological disasters and Climate Change were less dominant in the general public's psyche even though many knew then that ignoring it was at our great peril. 

I spend more time on the Homage to the Seed page at Facebook and Instagram these days. So if you wonder what I am up to find me there... Homage to the Seed is alive and well.

what's coming up...

At the moment I'm completing work undertaken at Kelvin Grove Secondary College in Brisbane that has involved the coming together of around 60 yr 7 students from 5 local primary schools and a group of artists for a short term Artist-in-Residency project.

My group worked on the theme of Seeds and Biodiversity... and was held over 4 afternoon sessions from July to September. The students were remarkably responsive and had more time been possible deeper responses would have flowed quite easily.

The resources to run extra-curricular programs like this involves considerable organisation/funding by the lead school, Kelvin Grove Secondary College's Art + Design staff ... so it is a privilege to be asked along to play a part.

In thinking how to use available time I focused on giving a series of presentations offering a wide-sweeping picture of seeds across time and place throughout Millennia. Various forms of visual stimulus were also shared with students, including material from my own studio practice plus samples of work from two artists I chose to focus on.

This image provided the basis of the idea for the visual work I wanted to create with my group. Given the final outcome was a large work for exhibition at an School Event in late October I was keen to find an approach that would both hold appeal for students and hopefully provide impact when exhibited.

Pictured above is Claudia, a student from my afternoon classes in 2011. Behind her is the "wallpaper" for a presentation I did at a Sustainability Day held in August that year. Here Claudia points to her drawing of a Mahogany seed pod photocopied in positive and negative formats. I've long been drawn to 'text as art' and using word and image to make works.

Hence we explored the work of Australian based NZ painter Robert McPherson:

Image found here

and much loved NY artist Keith Haring who blazed through the world in the 80's before leaving this planet far too soon due to Aids.

Keith Haring and his signature style... image found here

What these images have in common is a simple graphic linear black and white approach... perfect for a crowded class room where time is limited and visual impact is neccesary!

Here are the first results on week 2 of the program.

students worked on a 30 x 30 cm board

seeds + pods I took in to show students

It took time each week spelling out the complex issues around seeds at this time in history to give students something adequate to work with. My intention was to make sure that any slogans being created in this exercise were coming from an introduction to the multi-faceted story of seeds, the layers and issues and politics and cultural histories. Not every student took that on board but there were those who did have some knowledge on which to build these sessions., with one student in particular on course to become a plant scientist who frequently contributed quite stunning information and ideas to the lessons.

Yesterday I spent time in the afternoon at the school touching up the work and getting ready to create boards for the exhibition. I like these two boards placed together  here:

More on this soon!

Meanwhile, in the new Studio I've been working flat-out whenever possible getting ready for the Studio Launch on November 23 which I will open to the public that weekend with a small exhibit of new work for sale.

I wrote an extensive post on this at my Visual Eclectica blog this week... take a peak at new work and read about the ideas behind the new Studio venture: Seed. Art. Lab : read here!

new business card

All are welcome to attend the studio launch weekend... watch this space for more information of follow/LIKE my Homage to the seed Facebook Page which will fill you in for sure. Alternatively email me here for more information!

Cheerio for now!

Sophie

2012 winding down ... but not the studio!

Yesterday I was over at Percolator Gallery in Paddington, Brisbane, working in my studio downstairs when I had a visual communication idea to try out in the gallery windows now the year's exhibition program has just come to an end.  In Melbourne during the mid 90's I had a shop-front studio, in the creative hub of Fitzroy / Collingwood, where I constantly made the most of the lovely old shopfront windows for such purposes.

It took time and ideas to do that well back then ... so I was keen to see what could be done here having discussed the possibilities with artist Helena Lloyd, who is also the Gallery owner. I was inspired by the thought of re-using photocopied posters on seeds I'd done for a Sustainability Event in 2011, as a kind of wall-paper. 

When I return to the studio today I will see if the posters are successfully staying up in the heat... that might determine a change of plan... so we'll see. I took photos at dusk and then when it was completely dark last night.

The window easily lends itself to a little drama!

My studio is at the back down the left. The Gallery runs as a for-hire space and thus has a changing panorama of exhibitions which run for a week, or sometimes two weeks at a time. Its wonderfully located in a particularly scenic part of Brisbane on one of the ridges overlooking the city. Surrounded by cafes and small boutique-type stores it has a lovely ambience and neighbourly feel.

The wallpaper idea worked quite well as a backdrop to the paintings... two seascapes on the right which Helena painted when at Cuchiemudloo Island in Moreton Bay which fringes Brisbane, and an oval painting of Brachychiton seed pods I painted in 2010.

The quotes which run down the middle of the window communicate a clear message for anyone who strolls by and wishes to take a closer look!

Night time the window is stark and very readable from up close.

The entrance to the right shows a glimpse of a long narrow work I hung there last night.

I will be having a show here at the end of January, running for two weeks, which I am starting to focus more on now, adding to work completed already this year.

There is quite a bit of reading if anyone is curious and takes the time!

Last time I used these posters I had a far bigger wall to work with.

Claudia, a student of mine in 2010, standing before of a presentation at a Brisbane Sustainability Day  event I did in 2011... using these same A3 posters.

Black and white photo-copying was the perfect vehicle for an effective 'wallpaper' of seed messages and drawings. I've enjoyed taking my journals to the copiers and playing with the positive /negative feature on the self-serve machines. Some imagery becomes really strong or curiously more sensitive when altered in this way. It certainly makes for quite an interesting 'homage' to the seed!

Watch this space for news of the exhibition at the tail end of January!
bye for now,
S 

OPEN STUDIO EVENT LAST WEEKEND + THIS SATURDAY

After lots of preparations the Open Studio event went off really well last weekend.... the beginning of spring!

So much so that I decided whilst everything was still all there and I will be at the studio painting all Saturday.... why not invite those who might have missed out on coming along to come by this week... on Saturday the 8th from 10am till late.

Today I sent out thank you's and also notes about this Saturday!

A small work on linen that I have had reproduced as an archival quality print which you can order through here.

A work on linen, 90 cm sq "rainforest seed capsules: cross-sections"

The studio with work for Cairns on the back wall and other works for sale... paintings on canvas and linen and works on paper.

Much of the work at the studio is connected to the Homage to the seed project in one way or another ... even the black and white paintings on the floor on the RHS of the photo above come from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience Residency in May and feature the DNA sequencing of arabidopsis seeds. 

More photos soon I hope!
Sophie

LATEST NEWS... reporting a busy month!

I have been preparing for two main events coming up in the next month or so.

The OPEN STUDIO event has required much preparation, sorting through work from the last couple of years and on top of that long hours spent painting ...completing works and starting new pieces. 

New Logo

On October 12th I will be concluding a month long residency in Cairns (starting 17th September) with an Exhibition opening. The invitation is just out and of course you will find more on all this down the track...with regular updates at the Homage to the Seed facebook page and Website..

This time last year I was so preoccupied with organising and fund raising for the UK Research Trip that I had little time for painting ... so it has been an excellent few months lately dedicated to painting as often as possible. Blogging has been overlooked and the weeks have flown by as decisions were made  re the artwork for Cairns and the event at my Paddington Studio Friday week. 

You can view work on the website , also at the studio blog here and tumblr here.

Artworks are available for sale with a small series of limited edition Artist's Quality prints available for order from next weekend. 

cheerio,

             Sophie

Planning for an exciting Residency and moving to a new studio!

This past month could not have been busier!

Photos of work from the May IMB residency at the University of Queensland have yet to be completed for posting because no sooner was that concluded than a 12 month studio residency in Paddington, Brisbane came up... and also a month long residency in Cairns this September/October. 

image: www.wettropics.gov.au

This will offer a wonderful opportunity to delve further into the rainforest species of the wet tropics... work started during the 2010 residency at Brisbane Botanic Gardens. I will also be looking much more into the Rainforest Aboriginal Heritage and connecting with the Botanic Gardens Staff and other key organisations in the area.

There has been so much press of late about the Great Barrier Reef and proposed mining development that I am sure this experience is bound to bring much to light.

Great Barrier Reef

Cairns

Its been something I've hoped to do for years ... travel north to see this extraordinary region. Whilst the planning for this has been taking place I was given the keys to the studio that I spent 6 months in during late 2010 thanks to Helena Lloyd, owner/director of Percolator Gallery (the studio is situated under the gallery).

Last week I trundled my journals and art materials across town...15 minutes from home... and set up studio and began painting! Read the post on the new studio at the studio archive blog... it includes a whole series of photos of work from the last week.

Now my only challenge is to keep up with these wonderful opportunities!

I hope to get back to routine posting soon... there's been much to share and when it gets really busy Twitter and the Homage to the Seed Facebook page is where you swill find me if there's a chance to go online!

This week coming!

To read all about the OPEN STUDIO WEEK just scroll down to posts written on July 8 and July 1st - I may not get to the computervery often in the next 8 days... but you can email if you are able to attend any events or wish to know more. You'll find a mobile number at the other posts! You can read more by clicking sophiemunns.blogspot.com - my other blog!

In the Studio this March

This blurred close up above of the work "Sophora Tomentosa" below accidently conveys  a feeling of movement and a certain lushness of form and colour. Often one deletes such images but it was hard to not enjoy the effect of this one. I had been reworking this last week having started it last year and decided to feature the one seed pod form for its seductive visual appeal. Sophora Tomentosa is also known as Silver Bush and Sea Coast Laburnum. Each bean contains 2 to 10 brown seeds - its found in litoral rainforest, beachfronts, mangrove edges from Torres Strait Islands to Port Maquarie in NSW.
Typically what occurs when doing concentrated sessions in the studio is to have various works around the room on the go -small and large. Never one to conceive of an idea and work it through to completion in a straight line - its much more productive and preferable I find to be ready to invite in the unexpected, the new thought or intuition of a way to take something further. This involves risk as it is not about replicating what one sees or holding to well worn formulas and practiced results. To see more of what is evolving visit the Studio Archives weblog.

Below is an image created from a 20 cm x 20 cm work repeated 4 times with slight colour variation. The focus on seed pods and capsules viewed in cross sections led to a rather abstract result that doesn't seem at all pod like a first glance - but is actually a different viewpoint, reduced to its simplest outline. Borrowing from and spending time in the Botanic Gardens Library, devouring many approaches to botanical subjects has led me to be completely awed by the magnificence of skill and beauty in the work of scientific botanical artists over past centuries. 

My aim is in an entirely different direction - to give the hidden, easily most neglected part of the botanical world a new appraisal in ways that 'shake the eyes awake' if thats at all possible and engage an audience to reflect a little longer than usual on this remarkable realm that in the past was revered for its critical link in the survival of humans and today is commonly overlooked, if not plain disregarded, as being of any value.

While we unfortunately collectively weren't looking the Transnational companies reached out and disrupted seed heritages going back hundreds, even thousands of years. Can a seed be copyrighted? Yes ... indeed it can be and the figures on this are startling. Is it illegal to save one's own seeds? Yes indeed - in certain places. Its timely we look at and think far more about this. We are fortunate to have local and global intiatives doing something on our behalf ... however ... it is our awareness and involvement,  plus our  u n d e r s t a n d i n g  a n d       v a l u i n g  of  the  s e e d  that ensure the reach and effectiveness of these concerned citizens and initiatives.