SMALL OFFERINGS - Cross Art Projects, 33 Roslyn St, Kings Cross - 11 March-2 April, 2005

'Small Offerings' was a group show of 70 Australian and Sri Lankan artists organised to raise funds for the Tsunami Relief effort in Sri Lanka.

I created a crocheted piece that was sort of representational of water...

'Untitled' crocheted yarn on foam, approx 20cm x 30cm, 2005 

CONCEPTUAL CROCHET - The Cross Art Projects, 33 Roslyn Street, Kings Cross - 12 November-4 December 2004

'Conceptual Crochet' was curated by Christopher Dean at the Cross Art Projects - a space run by Jo Holder.  The show included the work of John Aslanidis, Elizabeth Day, Christopher Dean, Judith Duquemin, Fiona MacDonald, Helen Nicholson, Elizabeth Pulie, Jacqueline Rose, Justin Trendall, Shaun Weston and myself. 

It was subtitled, with Christopher's characteristic wit, 'Between the Concept and the Crochet' and asked the question - "Why has the craft of weaving become central to the work of so many contemporary artists?"  My work was a large cube constructed from cardboard and paper, where coloured paper strips were woven together to cover the surface of the cube.  I have included a copy of Christopher's essay that accompanied the exhibition.

'Cube' paper, cardboard, PVA glue,  47.5cm x 47.5cm x 47.5cm, 2004

14 STATIONS OF THE CROSS, VIA CRUCIS AUSTRALIS - Sydney Town Hall, 9 April 2004

The Song Company in association with Music Theatre Sydney and the City of Sydney presented another 'Stations of the Cross'.  This performance took place within the main hall of the Sydney Town Hall.  16 artists presented various performances and installations in association with the performances by the 10 musicians and singers.

I had created a large colourful cardboard cross which I had entered in that year's Blake Prize - it didn't get in...I was then co-incidentally invited to participate in this exhibition - divine intervention?....

The cross was about 3 metres long and 2 metres wide and was constructed of 5 long rectangular boxes that were covered with various patterns of coloured paper and tied together.  I was allocated the stage of the Town Hall for my piece.  I had originally planned to suspend the cross on a large fishing net as a backdrop to the musical performance; but as the net was being raised into position we noticed that the cross sort of 'sat up' as it was being raised - spooky...so decided instead to raise it into position as the music was being performed.

Each 'Station' was performed in a different part of the hall with the audience walking around to experience each piece.  My cross was to be viewed from the upstairs balcony - not my decision, it had already been allocated.  As the music began, a spotlight lit up the cross on the floor of the stage - the net was slowly lifted and the cross sat up and floated into the air - the net had become invisible - several audience members (including myself) gasped - it was amazing - I take very little credit - lights, colour, music and movement are very seductive...

Of course I have no photos or video of the event....just one very ordinary photo of the cross.

the Cross looking very unimpressive against the brick wall....

PARALIPSIS - MOP Projects, Room 16, Level 2, 617 Elizabeth St, Redfern - 28 January-8 February 2004

'Paralipsis' was curated by Judith Duquemin at MOP Projects when it was in Elizabeth St, Redfern.  It involved works by myself, Judith Duquemin and Justin Trendall.

It was in this exhibition that I started to really use squares and cubes.  Some works were constructed by weaving coloured strips of paper over cardboard to create either 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional works, while other works were constructed of small cubes of MDF which were painted and then glued together.

'Big Square' paper, cardboard and PVA glue, 49cm x 49cm, 2004

'Cubes' 29 pieces, MDF, paper & PVA glue, 3.5cm x 3.5cm x 3.5cm each, 2004 

'Cube' oil paint on MDF, 7cm x 7cm x 7cm, 2004

'Small Blocks 1', oil paint on MDF, 17cm x 17cm , 2004

'Small Blocks 1-4' oil paint on MDF, 17cm x 17cm each, 2004

'Large Block' oil paint on MDF, 37cm x 37cm, 2004

FRONT ROOM FINAL SHOW - Front Room, City Rd, Chippendale - 2003

The end of 2003 saw the final exhibition at Front Room - an extravaganza of work from over 40 artists as well as magazine launches, party and DJ's!

I exhibited 4 cast metal works.  I had cast a number of the patterns that I had been using in my paintings - the ones I exhibited had coloured backgrounds with polished decorative motifs - one each in red, yellow, blue and green.  I failed to take any photos at the time...but Elizabeth Pulie has kindly sent me images from the show.

'Untitled' spray enamel on cast aluminium, 4 pieces, 15cm x 15cm each, 2003

SQUARE ONE - Front Room, City Rd, Chippendale - 6th August-23rd August, 2003

Between 2000 and 2003 I did not get to show very much - just the one painting in the Blue Lotus show - and it was becoming slightly discouraging.... Then Elizabeth Pulie and Jay Balbi opened their space called Front Room and invited me to show.

I called the show 'Square One' as that described how I felt about my practice at the time, as well as describing the work that I had begun making - works about squares, returning to first principles... I exhibited a combination of oil paintings, gouaches and works made from paper.

'Blue Painting Prototype' oil on canvas, 51cm x 51cm, 2003

'49 Squared' woven paper on cardboard, 49 pieces, 210cm 210cm overall, 2003 

'1-12 Squares' woven paper on cardboard, 12 pieces, 24cm x 24cm each, 2003

UNEXHIBITED WORKS - An Occasional Series

I have just found the first 'proper' painting that I made at college.  It was an exercise where we had to make the stretcher, boil up the rabbit skin glue to size it, apply layers of gesso with sanding in between...we then had to bring in 3 objects from home to paint.  I brought my kettle, some driftwood and a striped towel - I like that I chose a strong graphic element - a precursor of things to come.  The painting measured 30cm x 40cm, acrylic on canvas, 1985.