Art on Show

We had our Art Exhibition at Tafe last night.  Guess who forgot the camera?  I don't know what to write without any photos to prompt me.  

The good news is that there were heaps of people, the food was snaffled in no time and everyone was wandering about with glasses of wine, mingling, chatting,  laughing and happy.  A great atmosphere.  I even had to wait for a while for people to 'thin out' a bit so I could get a good look at some of the work.  Honestly, I was so worried that there wouldn't be enough artwork for an exhibition, but the lecturers (and very capable assistants!) did such a fantastic job of choosing work and setting it all up.  The life drawings  were 'mounted' in large cardboard boxes with lights behind them filling one complete wall, and a continual rotating slide show of shots by the photography class was shown in the same darkened room.  In total the exhibition filled three studios of the art department.
Yay for Art, Tafe  (or perhaps I should say the Durack Institute of Technology) and the amazing fortitude, diplomacy and positive attitude of the lecturers.  You guys rock.

I loved the speech too.....all about the reasons for Art.  I think I'll ask ask if I can have a copy to keep with my journal for this Semester.  Very moving.  I wonder if the powers that be......you know....the bean counters, were as moved as I was.  I hope so.  But then I'm such a stupid sooky-la-la.


Addit:
Ok we've just come home from the big exhibition pack up and clean up.  We took a couple of shots of my work as we were packing away........

One of my framed textiles.  The coloured dots are used to choose the 'viewer's choice' award.  Each person at the exhibition chooses their favourite work and puts a coloured dot on it.  This work had 10 dots, and the winner of the night had 20 dots.  The prize was a $250 Jackson's Voucher.
(That's my fat stripey butt in the mirror).

A shot of most of my other textile pieces that were included in the exhibition.  The slippers on the left had one dot and the green cloche hat had about five I think.  And the famous 'out there' skirt had a couple of dots too thank you very much.....so somebody liked it!


Not the best photos in the harsh light of day, but just taken quickly while we were packing away.  Well that's my excuse.

Home from Lombok and Bali

We have just returned from a short family holiday in Lombok and Bali.  Lombok is such a serene paradise, full of gentle natured happy people...always smiling and laughing. Can't wait to go back.

Each morning the sand was flattened out - ready for new footprints.

We hired scooters to get to a little town called Gerupuk (sp?) where we then hired an outrigger and 'captain' to get the boys out to a well known and recommended surf location.....to capture the perfect wave.

Leaving Gerupuk on the outrigger, and hoping our non-English speaking 'captain' knew where the famous surf that we'd heard so much about was.  (And secretly praying that the waves weren't going to tip us out).

Waiting for the boys to get that elusive perfect wave.  We couldn't get a very good shot as we were behind the waves.

One buggered husband making his way back during a lull in the surf.

Going for a walk along the village of Gerupuk while waiting for the boys to get back from the surf.  Oh yes, it's all about the surf.......not a shop in sight....and believe me, we looked.

I was trying to buy a tablecloth.........nooooo that's not quite big enough.
These ladies were just delightful.  They even shared the money from their sales with each other.  How many Aussies would do that?

The local travel agent.

And the local surf shop....where you  could hire a board or buy a Bintang.

The view from the little 'cafe' attached to the surf shop, where we had one (or two) nice cold Bintangs.

Some things just amuse girls more....like this.....

and this.....the palm trees were decorated with palm fronds and fresh hibiscus flowers, just beautiful.

Once again, the sun sets on beautiful Lombok.  There is just no holding back time.....hmmmm....now where's my plane ticket to Bali....did I hear someone say shopping????

Goodbye Lombok, hello Bali.

More surfing?  You're kidding!

At least our time on the beach was spent in good company........laughing & happy.....and with just the perfect amount of Bintang!

Got a skirt happening.

Busy busy busy.

Print print print.


Hapy happy happy.

Cut cut cut.

Thinking about how this will all go together........hmmmmm.

Think think think.

Ta - da!

Skirt front........and........

Skirt back.

Looks like a damn tee-pee.

....and yes, that is the size of my butt.

.....so call me barge-arse.

.....and yes girls....I am going to wear it.

Screen Printing

I've been learning about screen printing at Tafe.  I thought it would be as boring as batshit but I'm just loving it. Generally I'm not too keen on learning anything that can't be repeated or followed up at home (which this can't be really...well not without a bit of effort and a makeshift darkroom) but the idea of repeat printing a length of fabric just makes my mouth water.  Okay I have no life.

The silk screen ready to print with.  This was supposed to be my rough design, but I liked the way it turned out (not too contrived) and decided to just 'go with it'.

A length of pre-printed purchased (say that fast) grey spotty fabric, screen printed with my design.  Sooooo exciting! I've also printed the same design onto paper and other pieces of fabric, but love the grey one.  It inspires me to sew.....I just have to make something with this.  Watch this space.