On wheels ... things are moving!

It's good to be finally posting images from the studio revealing progress at last.  

Everyday I've found more boxes to unpack... meaning places have to be found for all the books, magazines, art materials and such.

I've created  a few different work stations and chosen furniture to make it easier to pull off. Tables and shelves on castors help.

A place to paint was chosen next to the front windows for access to natural light and a view of sorts to the street.

This chair which has travelled with me over the past two decades is from 1920's Melbourne and has pride of place here, the kilim comes from travels in Turkey in 1987... together making the perfect reading space where I can sit and muse on any pantings as they evolve.

The following images are vignettes I've arranged on some of the shelves. This one contains small clay bowls I'm very fond of and a small pineapple I'm propagating.

An interesting aspect of the history of seeds are spices... its another angle of interest that overlaps with a passion for cuisines and cultures around the globe... and the plants that have shaped and defined cultures.

These are temporary installations whilst sorting through through everything. I've yet to put any kind of hanging system up and still have more shelves to install.

Laying things out has been such a deeply affirming activity after  what did in the end feel like too long a wait between studios. I vowed I was going to paint this weekend just gone but actually found I was just as content getting things in place and going through more boxes.

I've loved unearthing some of the things that have been packed away for 5 years when I moved interstate. This move is a much more deeply considered relocation than the one in May, 2008 when  illness prompted the move to Brisbane to be with family. It's a true experience of settling this time around for various reasons and I've given much thought to where things might go from here.

The painting above takes me back to 2006 when dealing with difficult and complex workplace issues in a teaching role that as a substitute moved between full-time and casual positions. 

Increasingly I'd became concerned with fall-out coming from all kinds of tensions, intense or failed communications threading through the work-place and impact it was having on staff. At the same time I was continually learning of student's struggles... some dealing with deeply traumatic events or challenging lives. Some colleagues manage pressures by tuning out, others measure their response or struggle. I guess I was never going to stay from the long term... 7 years was enough.

Putting that painting on the shelf brought back how grateful I feel to be in a different place now, putting energy to a direction of choice, despite the current and ongoing  uncertainties doing the artist's journey brings (she's says after a lean 6 months in transition)... it just feels so good to be here where I am now. I might not have everything figured to say the least...but there is a sense of realness to the project I pursue and no matter how many times I might question doing this art thing I don't question whether homage to the seed is worthwhile. There is no lack of conviction it matters and has value.

And if anything ... Homage to the Seed as  project is all about looking for the larger contexts that frame all kinds of smaller unique stories.

I bought these tea cups in Japan a long time ago now... 1988. They were ridiculously cheap and had a little tea pot which I just realise I've lost. The 'Picasso' portrait was done about 25 years ago when I discovered a paint that could be used on white china and fixed in the oven at not too high a temperature. I remember playing around with the paint for a time to see what I could do and I always rather liked this poorly rendered but moody Picasso rip-off plate. On the right is a DNA painting with an Arabidopsis plant imaged under the dna dots. And the small squares in front are for me totem-like, painted in 2010 and despite their humble nature really grab me in some way.

This recalls where I was at mid last year... I seemed to get very

submerged in these colours for a time... then I unpacked the little ceramic plate which was made by a Greek artist and remembered I loved this colours all those years ago when I found this... 1991 I think it was.

The effect of this last week of bringing things together in the studio has brought back the smile on my face. Yesterday I found a whole new level of contentment in my day... a somewhat absent feeling really for months following the studio contents going to storage.

I'd like to say I could do without access to these things ...attachments bring pleasure and pain. I've been reminded yet again however what an important way of living this has been to me  ...and although I know things can change, and this is a privilege I cant take for granted, immersing one's self in an animated pursuit of Art just resonates quite profoundly with what feels right for me.

Saturday night I invited a friend over who's hospitality is as warm as she is. It was high time to offer a meal to she and her partner and dinner was simple ingredients, fresh and seasonal, prepared simply. I like how restorative the ritual of cooking and sharing at the table, laughing and discussing things can be ...it really was so grounding.

This week has started with more spring in my step and anticipation of getting going again on the things I love to do. It was fascinating how I seemed to notice more when I was out today... like the fog has lifted and I can concentrate on more than packing, unpacking, waiting and sorting again! Hurray!

Best wishes all,
S x

ps Its late so excuse spelling mistakes etc...back tomorrow to finish editing!

photos from a special weekend!

Its not often that I post something like this... but when you have just one niece who is without doubt an absolute darling and she happens to wed her beloved in the most magical of circumstances then you will have to forgive me for being an indulgent aunt on this remarkable occasion!

These adorable young boys, aged between 7 and 2, played an important role in a beautiful country afternoon wedding. They walked ahead of the bride into the village hall which was specially decked out for the ceremony. Here they were waiting for the bride to arrive!

The hall was like so many I remember from my own country childhood... wooden floors so well suited to those frequent dance evenings! Love the red curtain backdrop which featured a garland made of sheet music of romantic songs from the 1920's, 30's and 40's... just perfect for this musical couple Lara and Dwight.

Lara's uncle reads a poem.

The atmosphere here was just delightful... all who travelled from the city seemed to particularly enjoy the ambience! The mood was set for a wonderful occasion and afternoon tea was served after the wedding ceremony! Raspberry jelly lamingtons and cucumber sandwiches were just the thing! 

The afternoon started with the 2pm wedding and by 5pm we made our way down a scenic country drive to the home of my nephew Tristan and his wife Renee set on small acreage in a quiet well-treed valley on a ridge looking over to the coast.

Peeking out from under the gorgeous dress are the boots Lara wore... so perfect for the dusty road and grassy walk to the reception area.

I had to snap her running down the road to talk to some people passing by she knew!

Being among the tall Eucalyptus trees just felt so right for this celebration day!

The afternoon light was stunning...

... and the scene was set with the band that Dwight plays in professionally... on stage waiting to greet us as we arrived!

The setting was an old Banana Packing Shed from a time when the land was farmed... a huge old shed with great timber logs for its structure and corrugated iron for roof and walls. For a few months Tristan and his Dad Robert and various others laboured to restore it into a weatherproof and safe site for this special event! It was finished off with curtains made from hession and repurposed old carpet turned over to reveal the hession under-layer.

My sister Jan spent months with notepad and pen with a small but enthusiastic team working through every possible detail which resulted in a spectacular day from beginning to end. The amount of creativity in every part of this venture was evident to all... so little was outsourced ... instead created from scratch wherever possible.

I found myself musing over this gorgeous building and the decor thinking what a stunning site it would make for all kinds of events ... and fantasising about what a great studio it would make! Its rustic form was brought to life with candles and fairy lights strung up everywhere.

The late afternoon sun bathed everything in the most beautiful light and allowed everyone to enjoy the view and notice every detail in the setting. My iPhone images don't really show it at its best.

I was utterly charmed and felt myself to be in some beautiful dream in an idealic spot! 

Later that night after speeches and dinner it was time for the cutting of the cake...

Cupcakes that is... in all kinds of scrumptious flavours!

The bridal bouquet was filled with beautifully scented flowers...

the stage setting

where the bride sang the most stunning rendition of a favourite song of her beloved's ... we were all mesmerised as the moon was rising over the old shed and her voice travelled out into the night!

All I can say is what a beautiful hand-crafted event this was ...every tiny and large gesture added up to make it a most glorious day that wrapped everyone in the mood of joy and celebration!

What more can add than to wish them a truly well-lived life of love, good health, prosperity and creativity! And to say a huge BRAVO to all who participated in making this day so joyful! You did good!

S x

that other kind of painting!

Some pics...

     from my new home. 

Finally moved here a few weeks ago... BUT  still waiting for phone internet connection so have spent precious little time online.

In some ways its HUGELY annoying... in another ways not.

However.. I certainly miss popping in to visit online friends and blogs... so hello to anyone passing by here...  should be back in business soon!

This is my new studio...

     being painted at present ahead of delivery of some new things to fit it out ready for action.

Lovely to have an outdoor space for taking my morning coffee!

Dinner cooked for me here was delicious... enjoying fresh salads and fruit now back in my own home!

Last week gave this lecture to Interior Desgin Students at QUT as in Queensland University of Technology where I do sessional work from time to time. Love the people I work with here and always enjoy giving this lecture.

Gets me thinking further about all these ideas and concepts!

The other day I discovered a very odd thing... that my entire Photo library on my computer has distorted all images into wider format. Then I checked my various online sites and ditto. Have yet to visit the Apple store which is 5 mins from my new home. Hope there is a simple solution to this peculiar event.

Keen to rectify that situation as quickly as possible!

Best wishes to all,

Sophie x

"are we here ... yet?"

" “I find the question “Why are we here?” typically human. I’d suggest “Are we here?” would be the more logical choice.” "

— Leonard Nimoy, American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer, answering the question why we are here in The meaning of Life, LIFE Magazine, Dec 1988. (via amiquote)

Everyone is familiar with the "are we here yet?" question... usually asked by bored children who can't bare the thought of being inside a vehicle or such any longer when the destination is so anticipated.

Perhaps I am like that bored child  of late asking "Are we there yet?" ... so I had to laugh when a quick glance through my tumblr archive this morning took my attention to this statement above from Leonard Nimoy.

I have to admit I've not been asking why am I here at all of late... that is not the mystery it once might have been for  me... instead I'm truly preoccupied with the pending arrival at the new home rather than any of the big philosophical questions.


What I have done as the calendar is crossed off to this all important say is get increasingly interested in what I can create in the space ... colours to paint the walls... new pieces I have found and ideas gathered. Its organic this process... whether I want to think of it or not its just been preoccupying me so much and in a way allows for a less restless wait.

A few pics from my tumblr archives: 

and

must be off now... places to go!

Have a good weekend wont you!

...from the awakening person

Sunday morning musing...

Of the myriad things written about art what speaks to you?

trawling and relaxing...

Today is the first day for going slow in ages... the first day I've not needed to pack, move, sign things, make calls or think about moving.

Its a warmish winters day, sun shining, and I've got the quietest comfy spot to sprawl and read magazines and pop online for a trawl this morning! Biggest decision today is where to go for a walk and where to have coffee if I feel so inclined!

My Homage to the Seed Facebook page has been my online communication channel of late ... figured how to use my iPhone a little better lately and also Instagram. Otherwise its been rather quiet online here. 

Below I've posted a quote from an old journal shared on FB last week ... found when just out of art school all those years ago and wondering how life might unfold. It struck me as terribly poignant... all the more so that Franz Marc was such a young painter when his life ended tragically in WW1. The seed idea.... a poignant and wonderful metaphor one can explore in multiple ways.

I snapped quite a few pages from journals in the week I packed boxes... old favourites, photos and archived papers, journal pages etc. 

Particularly loved this quote from reading Thomas Moore's 'Care of the Soul' in the 90's.

At Huffington Post I found he writes a column. 

Thomas Moore

RSS Feed 

GET UPDATES FROM THOMAS MOORE

Like

55

Thomas Moore has been a monk, a musician, a professor, a psychotherapist, an author and a lecturer. His book Care of the Soul was a number one bestseller and he's written about 20 books in all. Currently he's working hard trying to bring soul to medicine.

From article: 

Redefining Education: Cultivating the Soul

I took this excerpt below from this article which will give you a taste of his thinking:

"One way is not to treat the material we teach as things. I've used mythology in much of my writing, and frequently a reader will say to me, "I never knew that mythology had anything to do with my life." Most people could say the same about many things they have studied. I didn't know literature had anything to do with me. I didn't know that science had something to say about my life. I didn't know that I could sort out moral issues by reading poems.

The "thingification" of education has cost us an immeasurable loss of values and insight. We build great machines, but we don't know how to use them for human edification. Many have studied the natural world as a collection of things of which we are the absent landlord. We grant Ph.D.s to people without knowing if they're ready to be creative and responsible citizens of the world. As long as they know certain things...

Maybe it's time to restore subjectivity to the subjects we study and to redefine our very idea of education. We could guide people as they learn not only things of value but also how to be."

Well... 

I really liked that line:

Many have studied the natural world as a collection of things of which we are the absent landlord.

I think I am going to have to quote that line elsewhere!
Trawling the internet I found a few images which I've posted here. The first, blue marbles, reminded me of a series of drawings I was doing in 2000 from an old Marble collection. I'd picked out all the blue ones and was focusing on capturing the light and colour. Late that night I could smell something burning but dismissed it as someone reheating the risotto I'd cooked. A bang on my door to say the house was on fire soon got me moving though!

That was the last night I lived there! Blue marbles consequently came to represent something far more profound than one generally associates withe the subject. That fire was, in part, somewhat traumatic... being suddenly dislocated is tough and I feel for those who deal with dislocation around the world whenever all manner of circumstances intervene. The graphic images mean something when one can recall the reality of ending up homeless out of the blue. Not all are as fortunate as I was that night!

But there was a uneasiness for some time to come, the smell of smoke brought concern till I knew where it was coming from... and the weeks following that event I would not wish on anyone. One could say I didn't lose my marbles, literally or metaphorically... that fire became of symbol for me of making a big change that I was ready for and had resisted making... leaving Melbourne and moving back closer to where I had grown up... to where I had family connections and a strong sense of history. I was 42 and somehow it was THE change that I needed to make at that point. 

The fire was like the friend who said... "hey... its time!"

Found at kutukutuhaite : from muffett 68

Blue for me often offers a sense of calm and contemplation. This work by Robert Mangold caught my eye. Such a pared back work yet at the same time quietly but powerfully expressive!

Robert Mangold from here

These tiles with their muliplicity of patterning always speak to me as well. Arabic decorative forms strike me as both very clever and also spell-binding when installed and revealing that sense of endlessness .... the infinite ... a potent spiritual metaphor all cultures have some affinity with.

Islamic Tiles: Via here.

So many interpretations and mediums and cultural variations for these patterns!

from Here

Then I came to this humble city street scene from Paris below. Reminds me of being in Greece where olive tins were always recycled in the gardens, balconies or alleyways for pots. When I moved to Melbourne in 1989 I collected these kinds of tins from the Victoria markets from Greek deli friends I made there and grew my plants in such tins.

Sandra Juto: Finding colour in the city

See more of Sandra Juto's images at Flickr and see some Paris shots from this Swedish designer living in Paris here.

And then I saw this Keith Haring work. From here an unfinished work form Keith Haring in 1989.

When packing recently I found something I'd bought from his pop Shop in New York in 1986 when I spent 10 days there in route to live in London.

Well.. that walk is calling me... so I will say goodbye for now,
Enjoy your days,
S 

mini studio

Now that I am officially a nomad for the month I have resorted to that smallest of studios... my iPhone for some creative play!

And Instagram:

Here's a screen shot from my Instagram page:

and a closer view.... 

Its my birthday and I'm sitting in a fav Paddington cafe Rogue Rennard where they serve up everything with care... a short menu with real ingredients!

Settlement Day on our house yesterday ... in a few weeks it will be ours. We did an inspection yesterday and breathed a sigh of relief... its close soon. We are ready and really looking forward to it... the studio awaits!

And in the meantime I shall enjoy my nomadic days and nights!

More soon!

S x