BLUE LOTUS - Tin Sheds Gallery, Sydney - 2001

The 'Blue Lotus' group curated a show at the old Tin Sheds Gallery at Sydney University.  As it was Blue Lotus I decided to do an Orange painting.  I used all of the pattern stencils that I had been using over the previous years in one painting.

'Orange' oil on canvas, 120cm x 70cm, 2001

THE BLUE LOTUS SECTION - Joe's, 496 King St, Newtown - opening 28 June, 2000

'The Blue Lotus Section' was a group exhibition curated by Billy Gruner at a little gallery called Joe's that existed on King  Street for a while.  It included 25 artists.

I exhibited my small paintings and castings - I know it SEEMS like I showed them a lot, but it was really only the first time in Sydney - they had been shown in Brisbane and Bundaburg, then the castings by themselves appeared at Gallery 4A earlier in the year, but it was the first time that the whole thing had been shown in Sydney.

'Abstract Object' , oil on MDF, aluminium, 30 pieces, 15 x 15cm each 

UNTITLED ARRANGEMENTS - Gallery 4A, Level 3, 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney - 15 March-8 April 2000

My first show in 2000 was at Gallery 4A (an initiative of the Asian Australian Artists Association inc).  I exhibited a combination of flower arrangements and castings.  The flower arrangements included a third incarnation of the 'flower tray' and 9 pieces consisting of layered flower petals and leaves set in polyester resin.  The resin pieces where arranged in one line opposite an arrangement of 15 small metal castings in a grid formation.

'Untitled Arrangement' dried flowers, sand, stainless steel, 70 x 55 x 70cm, 2000

'Untitled Arrangement' detail, 2000

'Untitled Arrangement' detail, 2000

'Hydrangea', 'Crepe Myrtle', 'Fern', flower petals, polyester resin, 15 x 15cm each, 2000

'Fern', 'Chrysanthemum', 'Carnation', flower petals, polyester resin, 15 x 15cm each, 2000

'Chrysanthemum 2', 'Statice', 'Rose', flower petals, polyester resin, 15 x 15cm each, 2000

'Hydrangea', 'Crepe Myrtle', 'Fern', 'Chrysanthemum', 'Carnation', 'Chrysanthemum 2', 'Statice', 'Rose', 'Protea' flower petals, polyester resin, 15 x 15cm each, 2000

'Untitled Castings 1-15' aluminium, 15 x 15cm each, 1996

'Untitled Casting' detail

ART AS ART: COLLECTIVE 99 - Newspace Gallery, Rozelle, opening 21st December - 1999

'Art as Art' was a show curated by Billy Gruner, being the fourth 'Collective 99' show.  It was to be the last exhibition in the space for 1999, therefore the last show before the year 2000.  Each artist was to create a work that referred to Ad Reinhardt's 'Black Paintings' from the 1960's.  I think I did a painting of black circles...maybe...as usual, I can't find it...  Below is the rationale for the exhibition.

THE MASTERS EXHIBITION - SCA Gallery, Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle - 10 December - 18 December 1999

I completed my Master of Visual Arts in Painting at Sydney College of the Arts in 1999 with an exhibition in the college gallery.  I exhibited 4 paintings and 2 crocheted works. The paintings were constructed by the repetition of a single motif.  Each painting had one motif that was repeatedly layered in a grid pattern until no blank canvas remained.

The crocheted works were also based on the grid, with one work being constructed from coloured squares, the other being a crocheted version of my 'Same Paintings'.

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

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

'Untitled 1' oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1998

'Untitled 1' detail, oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1998

'Untitled 2' oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1999

'Untitled 2' detail, oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1999

 'Untitled 3' oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1999   

'Untitled 3' detail, oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1999

'Untitled 4' oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1999

'Untitled 4' detail, oil on canvas, 152cm x 198cm, 1999

CASTING - Bundaberg Arts Centre, 1 Barolin St, Bundaberg, Queensland - 1999

I exhibited a selection of my large and small Cast Aluminium works in Queensland in 1999.

'Small Castings' (with paintings) 15cm x 15cm each

'Large Castings' (with paintings) 35cm x 35cm each

'Large Casting' 35cm x 35cm

WE ARE AUSTRALIAN - Travelling Exhibition, 1999-2002

In 1999 I was invited to be a part of an exhibition called 'We Are Australian'.  It was curated by David Thomas and supported by the 'Living in Harmony' initiative of the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

The original exhibition was at the Victorian Arts Centre as part of the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts.  It then travelled to Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Armidale, Hobart, Albury/Wodonga, Brisbane and Geelong over the next few years...whew!....

Each artist was given a board of the same size to work on.  I created a work based on the Mackay Family crest - it just happens to be a fist holding a sword - the family motto is 'manu forti' - 'strong armed'.  I thought it was a particularly (in)appropriate image for an exhibition based on living in harmony....

'Manu Forti' oil on board, 40cm x 30cm, 1999