Inspiration via the Ashmolean

As part of living the boy's dream life and living with him in Oxford while he is on tour, today I visited two great places the Ashmolean  Museum of Art and Archaeology and Pitt Rivers Museum. Inspiration on their own merits, and much more of the influence of Pitt Rivers later, I discovered the work of Angela Palmer.

Little did I know I would see two of her great pieces in my time in Oxford, Angela Palmer has done amazing things with Ghost Forest and Mummy.  Her art is often a collision between science and art, often tackling environmental issues.

Angela has clearly had an amazing education at Oxford and Royal Academy of which I am a little envious and she has achieved technically, physically and emotionally beautiful work which is an inspiration.


There is something about a particular artist whose research and creations walks a fine line with science and research, anthropology, ethnography and art which really interests me. Artists like Susan Hiller, Mark Dion, Grayson Perry, Fiona Tan to name a few that are intriguing me.

Studio delights

One of the highlights of 2011 is finding a great studio to share with some very good friends and artists. It has pushed to me and challenged me in: time management, priorities, ongoing routine of going to a place to create. It has been great just to be able to make something even just a mess and leave it to be there when you return, no more lugging stuff around and also not concerned when paint splashes everywhere. 

I was delighted to see that a photo of our studio is being used to promote Bow Arts SE1 studios. Check out the second image in the 5 images used to promote SE1. In super hectic year I also managed to participate in the Open Studios, flickr has the full set. 

It was interesting to hang and install my flags again and notice people's reaction and be able to talk to interested people about my work. A really good experience even if it was freezing cold and a little quiet on the Sunday. It is my nerdy, art geek that gets excited about a window of opportunity to see that my making and art will grow and continue. That I can be part of the broader community of people who are doing the same, ok act cool and nonchalant now, sorry I just can't.

Boxing Day words from Louise Bourgeois

I have a thing for art books, a love and passion that I am often chastised about by the boy. Especially as piles of books in rooms are building along with our bookshelves that are groaning. I am also reminded that as we live in a foreign land one day we will be shipping all my books somewhere. But my love continues and this year it included a investment (somewhat wild when i consider the price) in Louise Bourgeois The Fabric Works Germano Celant.


I do reread the books, there are an inspiration an comfort, a pleasure and a luxury and when the TV box is on I often reading and flicking through an art book.  Christmas break brings about the opportunity of time in mooching and in which I have read some fabulous words in the opening essay which seems so pertinent to what I am working on at the moment which I share below:

page 13  
"....The lives and adventures of artists are traced by what they leave behind them: marks and tracks scattered over the terrain of images.  It is on the basis of this set of imprints and fragments left over the course of time, in different spaces, that observers can read an account and a story 'written' by the human being who has used different and varied materials to reflect her vision as well as existence.........these things and events reveal multilpe meaning s connected to a personal and linguistic story, one that can be told as a posteriori by someone who has not shared this set of lived and recorded events.  


...... So this observer does not set out aspire to set out a complete comprehensive and unifying discourse, but only aims to recount   the partial story of artistic adventure ... a wrapper if not an actual garment.....a fragile like all the theoretical mirages and adornments produced by the art historian who tires to define 'destiny" of an artist  but only succeeds in expressing his observation  of the visible and the potential invisible corresponding to a view from the outside, not from the inside. "

p.s. this also justifies my love love of books and my purchasing and wish listing of them

Making meaning.... a Christmas experience

I have for the first time developed a sense of what Christmas means to me.   A celebration that a year has passed and  you still exist, you may share time with your own important people, food that is special and not often purchased is cooked, caressed and eaten. Joy given to others by contemplating their dreams and wishes and trying to give a gesture of that under a tree. Resting, eating sleeping reading chatting for no particular purpose or reason, the luxury of time.

the boy's christmas cooking 2010, YUM!

It doesn't mean that our Christmas Day was what was planned either but all the same it challenged my sense of right or wrong, good or bad.

Then with the pleasure of time to actually contemplate, a lightbulb moment when I realised that I experienced tangible clarity on a day where I made my own meaning in contrast to my own going exploration making art, looking to explore how we as humans make meaning. 

Current Work - Map - Part 2

A work in progress as part of White an extended project about my cultural identity being a white non indigenous Australian. The format and map is inspired by the map of language areas in Australia pre-colonisation ( ABC is Australia has a great interactive version of the map).

The map is something I discovered living here in London, it is interesting to me the perspective that living outside your own country gives you. It gives me an access to and space to explore my own culture's history and my identity within that.

This canvas is huge the size of my lounge room wall and incorporates drawing with Caran d'ache and I have carved stamps, experimenting with block ink to create the silhouette people recognising  Governor Davey's proclamation.

Me & 99 other artists - Open Studios

I remember you - pages

I remember you  - pages from the sketchbook

It always drives me forward I hope it reminds me to make the most of the opportunities I have, even the longest life is a brief run.

A saying that I stitched on one of the flags in my previous work, and just like the memories of the man who inspired the work this saying stays with me.

Life in the UK

The other thing that is keeping me busy is studying for my life in the UK test. Filling my brain with useless facts and figures so I can pass the multiple choice test.....as a first step to applying for my indefinite leave to remain - aka permanent residency.  I would have never guessed that I would live in London for five years. Sometimes it takes my breath away, where life has led me or where I have led my life.

So a 40 page form, lots of certificates, evidence and money and I may just be able to stay.

Current work - I Remember You - Part 1

Participating in the Sketchbook project and this is my second attempt,  the first time I didn't complete and send it off (yes this time it will be different).

I choose the theme I remember you - it is the last piece of work based around Dad's death. The final farewell in my art, that will be sent to another place to travel around the world and then live in Brooklyn.

I have until  January 31st to have it completed, packaged and posted. 

This is one of the three things I am working on and it is super exciting to feel them competing for my attention, driving me forward. Also a big reason why my poor blog has been neglected.

I remember you -  pages from the sketchbook

   many pieces of work in progress 
+ plans to seek exhibition opportunity for flags
+ full of great things to be made

= good place to be with my art
= me happy

save me from work(myself)

I need to take back my life from my work aka day job.  Take it from the claws of my own tyrant of dedication and sense of over responsibility.

The date is marked I am on my way back.

inspiration Emilie Faif

Inspiration plus plus plus - discover Emilie Faif a french artist with wonderful sculptures made with textiles and fabrics, such a delight.

snippets from the exhibition

Some snippets from my first ever participation in a exhibition. After months of planning, a day of building the space, weeks spent organise printing, 10 hours of hanging we had a show. It looked pretty great and I had lots of fun.

It was great to experience people seeing my work in this context, installed into a space. I was also curious to see people see the work without knowing me.

I also loved seeing other classmates work come to fruition in the show after working with them for two years.

to Australia and back

image: first morning in Australia

It has been whirlwind of activity, travel and happenings. That has lead me to participate in my first ever exhibition, installed my work for the first time, finished website, printed postcards and business cards and then journeyed across the world to the land where I am from to participate in the joining of lives and being with my beloved family and friends from Sydney for a moment (super wow wow).

Back in London I feel so brand new, starting at an 'official' new day job, the boy is his new dream job it feels like new beginnings.

My art is at the wobbly idea and playing phase again which is exciting especially as I will be working on it in a new space just made for making.

Australia was most awesome and it was lovely and sad to experience the beauty, love and belonging I have for the place.

my work - installing the work

Yesterday I spent 10 hours installing my work. I started at 10am and around 8.15pm when the lights were directed towards the flags I was done. Arms aching, feet sore and I was hungry. There were a few moments of laughter and almost tears when after 8hrs the struts fell down but I was very lucky when people jumped in to help.

After hours of stitching, months of work and 3 months of thought......it is done. I can't say right now if I am pleased, or happy or proud. When I see the people move through the space, if it catches their attention if I see people be interested, if it moves or delights then I can comment.

What I do know is that Dad is now is London and I know he would be happy and I have made it to the end of a process.

Currently stupid tired

I have reached the point of stupid tired again this week and it is Thursday morning; when you wake up from your sleep and you feel like you haven't slept at all. I know it is due to the completely hectic pace I am currently working at, with BIG BIG day job(which to my delight I am loving) and organising stuff for the upcoming Group Show. I volunteered to organise printing the programme and organissign schedule which sounds innocent enough but adds extras to my day. Add to that my ideas about wanting to have business cards(ordered), postcards(ordered) ad website(started last night with help from boy) ready for the show and I don't think I have stopped working before 11pm at night for the past month/s.

I did manage to fit in a weekend in Dorset that revived from previous month just enough to run the last mile.

On the countdown

One week away from being on a break from day job so I can focus on getting stuff sorted for the show and enjoy the process rather than running from place to place even in my own head.

10 days away from exhibition

11 days away from getting of jet plane back to Australia

My first show

amazing artist studios by Joe Fig

www.joefig.com

Such a great discovery via the clutter of Joe Fig's inside the artist studios
which are 11 x11 table top sculptures.

my work - Aboriginal Australia Map canvas

So I have made it to the end of this first stage and I have now drawn what is thought of a indicative map of the indigenous nations.

As a starting place I have based my work on the map of Aboriginal Australia – created by Dr David Horton and produced by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

The Indigenous Map is just one representation of other map sources that are available for describing Aboriginal Australia. This map indicates only the general location of larger groupings of people which may include smaller groups such as clans, dialects or individual languages in a group.

Now I need the courage to take the next step and for a night or so that courage has been hiding.

my work - the canvas develops

Slowly slowly I am starting to map the climb to the top of this creative mountain.

I thought that this may be an 18 month task this crazy idea, so I would take a photo at each stage to document how it develops and share it on my blog.

All Sunday I worked away and at 11:30pm last night I made it to 80 percent of mapping the indigenous countries of Australia on my charcoal outlined Australia. Th map is based on countries and how Australia could would have looked before the European invasion.

stitched portraits, a-m-a-z-i-n-g

Via A Cup of Jo the discovery of artist Daniel Kornrumpf

Such amazing work, just when my last nine months of stitching was on the decline from my own doubts about the medium, I have been saved.

thank you interweb, thank you Daniel!.

my work - the canvas

Well today I started on my way to develop a new work on a really big piece of canvas. I have a mad idea to pull together the current ideas into a one hell of a big piece of work.

What am I thinking.....part of the idea is stitch my way around Australia..... my fingers already ache but then mad ideas like this can turn into something horrible or wonderful. Maybe in some months I will be able to know more.

the myth of primitivism:perspectives on art

At the moment I am reading The Myth of Primitivism edited by Susan Hiller. It is a very dense read but great at being thought provoking specifically in relation to my current project where I am starting to explore the impact of being a white non-indigenous Australian. This book is following another heavy read of White Out: How politics is killing black Australia by Rosemarie Neill. Tough books, hard topic and in no way do I think I can currently grapple the complexity or issues that is highlighting but I am trying.

I am faced with my own guilt and I am also confronted by how unhelpful almost self indulgent this can be for dealing the current situation.

I highly recommend both these books, particularly for Australians as we try to deal with our history along with the current crisis we are faced by the inequalities that many Indigenous people are experiencing this very day.

Pushed on through to create an online portfolio at London's Artist Quarter.

After frustration and annoyance here is my best shot for now: ajcarmichael portfolio

Project - Flags

Project - Flags, a set on Flickr.

Taking photos, documenting, working out how to share this work. Series of 64 slowly understanding the ways to develop it further. Getting back into the rigour of taking images and sharing them.

my work - how do I install this work?

Ok well I have been spending much of my time working out how to hang my flags to be in the group exhibition in July. This photo pretty much sums up what I have been doing physically, and in my thinking. This morning I woke up instantly options running through my mind and then dozed back to sleep. I am finding it so difficult to be able to translate my work to a space to be shared with an audience.

I am having a huge learning experience about how challenging it is to put together work to share. Everything I have imagined or sketched hasn't worked and so I just keep experimenting and asking for feedback and if I stick with it enough fingers crosed something will happen.

participating in Slowalk

On Saturday of the Royal Wedding weekend I participated in Hamish Fulton's Slowalk in support of Ai Weiwei. Much more important the me than any big activities, walking silently very slowly for two hours in the Tate Modern was a great experience.

It may be the only time I am linked to art in the Tate by participating in an Art piece.

Two videos I have shared below, one from Tate and another unofficial one I found video I found on Youtube.

I am looking forward to some other images being available of the movement at a distance to have an insight to what it was like for the spectator from above.

my work - chopping it up

So after an feeling I had to go big and paint on the wall, I came to a place where I then needed to chop and cut the hessian into pieces to continue to the work. I have started stitching and feel compelled to take the work to another form. Like a strange coincidence the British Museum is having Australian Season so I will be able to go and visit Australian plants, Indigenous Baskets, listen to lectures all while contemplating what it means to have our story and be Australian.

my work - exploring the kangaroo

First painting in the longest time, just enjoying the process and the call of the kangaroo as I wrestle with being Australian and what that means.