Slowly slowly catch a monkey

Slowly slowly catch a monkey, 7 weeks and 69 objects to make a non stop winding bonanza. Objects 26-40 pictured above with my high tech recording system of my progress.

60 from 250? still going after not so happy ending

After some not so good news this week (didn't get selected for the show I applied for), I am continuing to push on with my self imposed deadline. There is 7 weeks to go and current status is 41 of 110 complete.

Objects 11-25 in pictures above.

60 from 250? I must be demented

Seriously when it comes to this project sometimes I do consider if I am crazy.   I have my self imposed project deadline of September 14th and at the same time I have increased my expectation to include the making of 110 objects to signify and represent the severely and critically endangered indigenous languages.  Whilst continueing to read in depth about history of the beginning of white people colonising the continent.  The books usually leave me feeling sad and despairing......
and so sometimes I just question what the hell I am doing
and then I continue.

To date on this next stage in this epic making journey, I have completed 16 objects of 110 (the first 5 pictured above).

 

 

Inspiration - Translating Emoji into a Giant Light Show

I love learning about other artists and their process, this project by Jennifer Wen Ma is on a monumental scale and truly inspirational.

 

the Story - v

"Transportation sort to remove, once and for all, the source of contamination from the otherwise decent bosom of the lower classes, and ship it "beyond the seas" to a place from which it could not easily return. There it would stay, providing slave labour for colonial development and undergoing such mutations toward respectability as whips and chains might induce. The main point was not what happened to it there, but that it would no longer be here."

Source: The Fatal Shore - Robert Hughes

one more to build and destroy and make - done

Well that is except for the 110 small/tiny/barely existent objects , I am still to make by September (to represent the 110 severely endangered languages). Of course this is my self imposed deadline.

So here it is!

application done

Applying for an exhibition is horrible, but happy that I have completed one tonight at least 15 hours before the deadline. 

are we still going on? by kaarina kaikkonen

The amazing and always inspiring Kaarina Kaikkonen.

via of paper and things

one more to build and destroy and make

So just one more object to make to complete stage two. 17 broken or breaking down vessels to be completed for this stage of the work I started in March 2011. It feels like an good moment for me, even when I do know what or how I will make the next final stage of the work.

16 completed as documented below.

James Rhodes: 'Find what you love and let it kill you'

I like the no so subtle reminder from James Rhodes when he wrote for the Guardian. Sadly I almost let my job take that place and very pleased to have my art and front and centre again.

 

blog recommendation - Joetta Maue

A newly discovered blog and delightful inspiration with connections to other artists working with thread, stick and textiles. The interesting blog of Joetta Maue.

the Story - iv

"Transportation- forced exile, in plain english - had undeniable merits. It preserved the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, as the felon was left alive.  At the same time he was removed from the realm as completely, if not as permanently, as any hanged man.  Transportation got rid of the prison as well as the prisoners.  It supplied Britain with a large labour force, consisting entirely of people of who, having forfeited their rights, could be sent to distant colonies of a growing Empire to work at jobs that no free settler would do.  Free-born Englishman had always disliked the idea of labouring bands of convicts engaged in public works at home.  A bill of 1752 introducing public chain-gang labour as punishment for criminals was rejected by the Lords partly because security was too great a problem but mainly because the sight of chain-gangs in public places was felt to be degrading. How could onlookers distinguish such a punishment fro outright slavery? In the New World there was no such problem."

Source: The Fatal Shore - Robert Hughes

What do artists do all day?

I really enjoyed discovering 'What do artists do all day?' series on iplayer yesterday. I watched Cornelia Parker  and then needed to search online for the remaining episodes as they had timed out on iplayer.

For ease here all all the links:
Cornelia Parker on iplayer
Norman Ackroyd on YouTube
Polly Morgan on YouTube
Jack Vettraino on YouTube
 

I love seeing inside artists' studios and I would love to be doing art full time like these people, lovely inspiration especially for me personally Cornelia Parker. 

Watching the Cornelia Parker video was super special after going to the private view last week at Frith St which was pretty awesome.




 



 

60 from 250?

60 from 250? - progress

From the estimated 250 languages spoken in Australia before invasion and colonisation there is estimated to be 35 still be be of strength, 18 strong and 17 with strength that is eroding, 110 severely and critically endangered and 105 now not spoken.  I have been working on the objects to address and somewhat represent the 17. After getting back my life this year and starting again in April I have made some significant progress and I have turned the final corner with only 3 more to build.  

Pictured above is 7 of those objects that are so far complete.

In this project I am making the effort to understand the impact of colonisation, about me knowing  alongside the reality of counter colonisation of me being Australian and moving to England, the dark history of the conflicted place that I call home. I am constantly concerned that the topic is so like dynamite it will at some stage blow up in my face.** 

** Based on research I have undertaken which is referenced here.

60 from 250?

the Story - iii

"The trade in convict or indentured servants was attractive to British government because, unlike the prison system, it cost them little."

Source: The Commonwealth of Thieves - Tom Keneally

60 from 250? progress

Determined to get at least the next stage of 60 from 250? completed by September and so progress in being made.

the Story - ii

Eora people asked the question,
Waube-rong orab,
Where is a better country?

The thief colony might hereafter become a great empire, whose nobles will probably, like the nobles of Rome, boast of their blood.

Source: The Commonwealth of Thieves - Tom Keneally

the Story

"If, in the New Year of 1788, the eye of God had strayed from the main games of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, and idled over the huge vacancy of sea to the south-east of Africa, it would have been surprised in this empty zone to see not one, but all eleven ships being driven east on the screaming band of westerlies."

Source: The Commonwealth of Thieves - Tom Keneally

Back to my life

During past months it was like I disappeared into a world of work, sick, and recovery. Luckily I have made it to the other side and after an awesome holiday to NYC and San Francisco I have been plotting my way back to art and studio world.

Recent activities to remind myself of good stuff:
- Ellen Gallagher at the Tate Modern
- Narelle Jubelin at Marlborough Contemporary
- Rachel Whiteread at Gagosian
- Open studios at Park Studios
- Souzou at the Wellcome 
- Seeing Aga's MA grad show at St Martins
- drawing on a rooftop terrace with great friends that I studied with
.....and of course back in the studio
oh and awesome dinner at Dishoom.

It has got me front and centre back into what I need to be doing and so I will also be trying to be blogging in a new and different way.

Great kickstarter campaign

18 languages still strong

So stage one is made, 18 vessels completed as I start the next stage of this work I started 23 months ago.