FABRICATION: FIVE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS WHO WORK WITH PATTERN - Tin Sheds Gallery, Faculty of Architecture, 148 City Road, The University of Sydney - 3 March-25 March 2006

'Fabrication' included the work of Christopher Dean, Judith Duquemin, Justin Trendall, John Aslanidis and myself.  It was organised by Judith Duquemin and opened by Dr Jacqueline Millner.

I exhibited my first large 'Squares' painting, an extended version of the crocheted blocks that I had shown previously  at The Cross Art Projects, a large crocheted cube and another smaller crocheted work.

'Red Squares', oil on canvas, 4 pieces, 200cm x 200cm, 2006

Installation - Christopher Dean and 'Red Squares'

Installation - Justin Trendall, Christopher Dean and 'Red Squares'

'Large Cube', acrylic & woolen yarn, wood, 147cm x 147cm x 147cm, 1999-2006

Installation - 'Large Cube' and John Aslanidis

Installation - Justin Trendall, 'Large Cube', John Aslanidis

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'Crocheted Cubes', acrylic & woolen yarn, fabric, foam, 22 pieces, 147cm x 143cm, 2005-6

Installation - John Aslanidis and 'Crocheted Cubes'

Installation - 'Crocheted Cubes' and Judith Duquemin

'Cross Square' acrylic yarn, fabric, foam, 47cm x 47cm, 2006

Installation - Judith Duquemin and 'Cross Square'

Below is a copy of the essay 'Extreme Pattern' written by Judith Duquemin and a link to the show on the Sydney University website.

6 Kms from CBD - SNO Showroom, Factory 11, 11 Faversham Street, Marrickville - 21 July-6 August, 2005

'6 kms from CBD' was a group exhibition curated by Pam Aitken at the SNO Showroom at it's original location in Faversham Street, Marrickville.  I exhibited a multi-coloured crocheted square.  It was a really nice show! - the installation shots below were taken by Pam Aitken.

Click here for photos of all the works from the SNO website.

'Untitled' crocheted acrylic yarn, 38cm x 38cm, 2005

COHESION: CONSTRUCTIONS, 1999-2005 - The Cross Art Projects, 33 Roslyn St, Kings Cross, 14 July-6 August 2005

This exhibition was part of a larger project curated by Christopher Dean called STREETWORKS (FOREVER) which also involved work by Mini Graff.  I exhibited work in the gallery space in Roslyn Street, as well as in the 'Spud & Douglas Cafe' and the 'Voi' hair salon.

From the invitation - 'Walk the streets of Kings Cross and Darlinghurst to view works by Kate Mackay and Mini Graff.  Artists' modifications, designed to counter corporate uniformity with techniques of incongruity, humour and irony, highlight the need for urban planning to play a role in creating cultural environments.'

Click here to see the website that Mini Graff created for the exhibition.

The gallery space included paintings, as well as cardboard, paper, wood and crocheted works. 

'Blue Square, Prototype', oil on canvas, 50cm x 50cm, 2003

Installation view, The Cross Art Projects

'Large Block', oil on MDF, 38cm x 38cm, 2004  (in Cross Art bookshop)

'Big Square 1 & 2', paper cardboard, PVA, 50cm x 50cm, 2004 (foreground)
(background - see below)

'Square Painting 4', oil on MDF board, 30cm x 30cm, 2003

'Square Painting 1', oil on MDF board, 30cm x 30cm, 2003

'Large Crochet Blocks', yarn, fabric, foam, dimensions variable, 2005

'Same Painting: Yarn 1', acrylic & woolen yarn, 150cm x 150cm, 1999

'Untitled 4', oil on canvas, 150cm x 200cm, 1999

I hung another stretched crocheted work on the wall at the 'Spud & Douglas' cafe that was in Roslyn Street up the road from Cross Art.

'Same Painting: Yarn 2', acrylic & woolen yarn, 150cm x 150cm, 1999

This 4 panel painting was suspended from a beam in the middle of the 'Voi' hair salon that was in Darlinghurst Road

'Untitled: All Pattern', oil on canvas (4 panels), 138cm x 138cm, 2000

The show got a mention in that weeks 'Critic's Picks' in the SMH and then Jo used a work for a backdrop for an article in the local 'Sydney Central Courier'

ART ON PAPER Hazelhurst Art Award, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, 782 Kingsway Gymea - 9 July-21 August 2005

I entered the woven paper cube that I had shown in the 'Conceptual Crochet' exhibition at Cross Art in the Art on Paper Award and got in!

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

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....