Silk Paper & Exhibition Opening

I've been experimenting with silk today! Throwers waste, silk rods and an assortment of sprays from the Moon Glow range (Starburst Sprays, Moonshadow Mists and Glitz Spritz...all from Dale at The Thread Studio) Sadly, the photo doesn't quite show the beautiful shimmer on the surface of these... This earthy green one is begging to have leaves stitched into it and to be made into a cuff. It started whispering to me the second I took the parchment away after ironing it all into one yummy piece of silk paper!

This looks a bit like an old elephants skin with a dusting of shimmer powder. In 'real life' it's much groovier!

Alan and I are heading off to Surat tomorrow for the opening of the "Curves" Exhibition. Remember Cherish? The artist book made from old bras? Well, it's finally time for it's public debut! You can have a gander at the other artists interpretations of the theme at the Roma Art Gallery - there are some painters, jewellers, photographers, mixed media artists...really worth a look to see how different artists have responded to the theme.

"Cherish" is finished!

The book for the "Curves" Exhibition is finally finished!! I've posted each page in a separate post...my computer had a huge hissy fit when I tried to upload a lot of photos in one go!

Each page inside has it's own title, and has been scanned and printed onto watercolour paper, which was bonded to the back of the page, so that I could add a small amount of text to the 'story'.

My warmest thanks to those precious women who entrusted me with their bras...and especially to Jill - trusting me with this has meant the world to me. I can't wait to show it to her in the flesh!

All the pages follow - I'd love to hear which one/s are your favourites!

Fate Knocks At The Door

The first page of the book...Fate Knocks at the Door, takes it's title from a very, very old book cover (the one I snaffled at Reverse Garbage in Brisbane ages ago). This page has a base of woven strips of silk paper, with appliqued and painted pieces of bra cup lycra, foil from tomato paste tubes, a handful of bra hooks and some little artgirlz charms

Kind of says it all, I think!

My Cup Runneth Empty

Page Two! One of my original ideas for the title of the book was My Cup Runneth Empty...I worried that perhaps it maybe a little lacking in sensitivity... But, it persisted, and became the title of this page.

The base is silk paper, with torn pieces of bra cup fabric incorporated into it, with lots of hand stitching, an embossed velvet tree and some buttons. The colours, swirling feel and 'bandage' appearance from the torn bras speak to me of anaesthetic, nausea and the haziness of being plunged into this journey...

Tides of Uncertainty

Tides of Uncertainty is consrtucted from silk paper with velvet pieces free machine stitched into place...

Here it is in place in the book..it reminds me of microscopic cells and scientific stuff, as well having a very watery, fluid, floaty feel...

Showing you the last page first...

The artists book is coming along...all the pages are in various stages of construction, but this one is as good as finished...it's also the last page of the book, so, you're getting the whole experience in reverse! (I like to think the sentiment and idea behind this page is self evident...)

The "Hope" circle is from an old foil wine bottle lid that has been hiding in the bottom of one of my drawers of goodies for years...I don't always keep such things, but that day, years ago, it whispered to me - and now it has found it's perfect home!

A piece of silk paper (a la Dale Rollerson) is the base for the hand and machine stitching, and photocopy transfer of a butterfly (My Mum Carmel told me there should be a butterfly! and I always do what my Mum tells me! At least that's what I tell my boys all the time!).

This is, I think, my favourite of all the pages...as I finish the rest, I'll post them too, and you can tell me which you like the best.

New Life For Obsolete Bras!

I'm excited to have been asked to create a piece for an exhibition called Curves - Through Art We Share Our Experiences Of Breast Cancer, which will be held in Surat at the Surat on Balonne Gallery in September.

What you see here will be the cover of an artist book - yet to be named...I have a thousand ideas floating around my head - but none quite right just yet. (Maybe you have a great suggestion?)

My inspiration is my friend, who, after way too many other life challenges (really, really tough ones), found herself facing a double mastectomy. Her positive attitude, strength, humour and courage have been a true inspiration.

She had been troubled by what to do with her bras... no longer any use to her, and quite a symbol of her loss. She bravely (and very trustingly!) handed them over to me when I suggested they could be used in this piece. Her daughter, sister-in-law and friends have also contributed to the collection. The fabrics were cut out of the bra cups and then torn into smaller pieces; laid down on a felt base with straps and bows, and machine stitched into place. The whole piece was then painted with dyes and paint.

I'm off to see what else I can do with these abandoned undergarments!