Monkey Business

At present, I am enjoying twining the electrical wire that I acquired at the Basketry Gathering held in Tasmania.  I am making long wire "snakes" of various colours which I plan to wind together. My goal is to reflect aspects of the natural and built environment .    

I have also been making "monkey baskets" for the Melbourne zoo. These baskets are used in the feeding of the primates. 

 It is a liberating project creatively because the baskets are meant to be messy and natural. I am sure it will help me with ideas for other works. The monkeys are benefiting too."

The season of Summer

The season of Summer means a chance to concentrate on basketry work and fibre forms.  The warmer weather means longer days and more time to spare.  I will begin work on pieces in the coming weeks which will take me some time to complete.     One work, hanging on my bedroom wall, needs resolving and I have a few ideas that I would like to try out. Cane, inflorescence and colourful twines are materials that I am drawn to at present.  Primarily the shape is my focus then I work out what basketry technique I can utilise to put it together.

In the months ahead I am looking forward to attending the Basketry Biennial Gathering in Port Sorell in Tasmania in March.  In April Basketmakers of Victoria will hold an exhibition - 'Drift'  on Herring Island.

Baskets of Today @ Katoomba Fine Art Gallery

See some of my work in the current exhibition at Katoomba Fine Art Gallery. Go to http://www.katoombafineart.com.au/

Not long until BoV biennial exhibition

I hope you like the new images I have posted on the Photos page.  Making these works has kept me busy in the months after attending Fibres Ballarat.

I was given access to a lot of Kennedia nigricans, which is a lovely Australian native creeper so I made a big effort to use it while it was green.  I hope you like the results.

I am still using blue baling twine as I keep thinking of different forms to make and it is so easy to use and carry around with me.  I find that the bright shiny colour also photographs well.  Jigsaw puzzle pieces have been inspiring to use - believe it or not!  Recently I have incorporated them in a hexagonal weave basket (see picture on the left).  They do provide great colour and pattern to a basket - it's just not easy stitching them in place.

It is not long now until the Basketmakers of Victoria biennial exhibition 19 November - 1 December at the Collingwood Gallery in Victoria.  A few of the pieces on my website will be in this show.  Some of my baling twine pieces will be at the Katoomba Fine Art Gallery in N.S.W. from 1 - 30 November .

Fibres Ballarat

In my latest works I am using blue baling twine, exploring it’s weaving potential, it’s colour and shine and the way it contrasts with wire. I am also weaving around date palm stalks to make wall pieces.  The one pictured will travel with me to Fibres Ballarat which is being held in April.   It’s 15 x 15 cm in size and woven with paper covered wire and waxed linen thread and will be my contribution to a fundraising artwork exchange.   Later in the year I will be working on pieces for the biennial Basketmakers of Victoria ‘Entwine’ Exhibition to be held at the Collingwood Gallery.