I contributed a work for the first time to the Exquisite Palette show which has been put on by the St. Luke Artists Colourmen for a number of years. Each artist is given a wooden palette to use in any way they wish - "Embracing the symbol of the painter, artists contribute works using the timber studio palette in an exhibition of the exquisite and the bizarre".
For my work I crocheted a cover for the palette with a random selection of wool which had been previously used to tie together a large box sculpture.
For my work I crocheted a cover for the palette with a random selection of wool which had been previously used to tie together a large box sculpture.
The Exquisite Palette Show manifesto by St. Luke Artist Colourmen.
Back in 2007 Louise Blyton, David Coles and their wonderful staff at the time sat down for after work drinks. We got to thinking how great it was that as a very small business, run by artists, for artists in Melbourne could survive and thrive. We knew it was because of the great support of our customers and we knew we wanted to do something special for them to say thank you. But what?
Let’s put on a show! we all yelled.
…..but it has to be different….
...and fun...
...hmmm…
What’s the most cliché, kitsch yet romantic object we could ask our customers to make into a artwork?
Yep, a artist’s palette!
Thus The Exquisite Palette Show was born.
The first Exquisite Palette show was strictly St. Luke customers and staff. We had 97 pallets arrive back to us and were blown away with the diversity and beauty of the works.
Due to the show’s popularity we then had it as a open to all artists policy.
It grew…and grew, with the last show having 300 artists participate.
The last three shows have been in our Collingwood store on Smith street. As St. Luke is turning 18 this year we decided to treat our artists and really show off their work by placing the show in a beautiful gallery.
Let’s put on a show! we all yelled.
…..but it has to be different….
...and fun...
...hmmm…
What’s the most cliché, kitsch yet romantic object we could ask our customers to make into a artwork?
Yep, a artist’s palette!
Thus The Exquisite Palette Show was born.
The first Exquisite Palette show was strictly St. Luke customers and staff. We had 97 pallets arrive back to us and were blown away with the diversity and beauty of the works.
Due to the show’s popularity we then had it as a open to all artists policy.
It grew…and grew, with the last show having 300 artists participate.
The last three shows have been in our Collingwood store on Smith street. As St. Luke is turning 18 this year we decided to treat our artists and really show off their work by placing the show in a beautiful gallery.
Over the last four shows, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018 we have exhibited palettes that have been crocheted, printed, burnt, waxed, painted, chopped, cast, embroidered and sculptured.
Palettes have been embellished with, bugs, nails, glitter, teeth, leaves, ashes, hair, buttons, feathers, lollies, rust, and model trees.
Palettes have been embellished with, bugs, nails, glitter, teeth, leaves, ashes, hair, buttons, feathers, lollies, rust, and model trees.
Each year we thought we had seen it all and each year shows more and more ways that these amazing artists could come up with their own individual take on what to do. We are delightfully surprised and sometimes breathless at the pure imagination of the talent out there.
This year we are very pleased to include, for the first time, international artists, pretty damn excited about that.
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Installation view courtesy of Tacit Galleries and St.Luke Artists ColourmenCLICK HERE for a link to the exhibitions facebook page and more images. |
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