Tuesday 24 February 2009

Germaine Greer at the Melbourne Writers Festival 2008

A friend has just reminded me to watch this, and I'm so grateful.
Germaine asks and provokes the right questions and debates/discussions...I really want to find a way to make a difference and continue aspects of her thesis within my work; namely that constant feeling of guilt and imbalance I experience living in Australia, and in Tasmania in particular.

There is a layer of blackness under the surface of the landscape here which does not, and never will belong to us Anglo-Occupators, and it feels so wrong and negative to assume ownership of something we don't even understand because we don't have the ice ages of experience and mythology indigenous Australians have and which gives them the subconscious and conscious language to communicate with the land, which is all-important on this continent.

I feel very motivated to pursue this further and really make some uncomfortable artwork to somehow address and translate these issues, which I feel are important and essential to address...obviously I'm writing this now with the instant flush of passion and emotion which Germaine's speech has given me, and so I may not sound terribly coherent right here...I will leave that to my artwork to realise, as I give it the time and space it requires to formulate a convincing argument and physical appearance!

Happy viewing...

Monday 23 February 2009

Hybrid Creature Comforts Cosy, 2009

The cautiously shy Hybrid Creature Comforts Cosy (of the Genus Handfabricatus Teacosii), on its quest for cake and tea near the visitor's car park on top of Mount Wellington in Southern Tasmania, in the Autumn evening light....

This tea cosy I made for a swap I'm doing with fellow Tasmanian textile artist extra-ordinaire, Catherine Badcock (AKA Cat-Rabbit), and I took a lot of inspiration from her own amazing work to create a truly personable tea cosy, with a definite personality and feeding habits....

Devonshire Teas are its main diet...with occasional bursts of cup cake feeding frenzies...this cosy has gone feral and has taken to hovering near tourists' cars in the hope of cake crumbs....

Hand embroidery on Thai silk, French silk and French silk curtain braid, American rabbit fur (gift from a friend there), local deer antler from a Tasmanian deer farm, steel support, Tasmanian wool, laser printed cotton lining (my own design, courtesy of Spoonflower.com), dolls eyes and leather.

Height: 60cm
Photos: Tara Badcock (Location: Mt Wellington, Southern Tasmania)
Collection: Catherine Badcock, Tasmania








Tuesday 17 February 2009

New tea cosy, hot out of the studio this morning!

I finished 'Teacosy* Number 9; Sugarpink Colonial Day Cosy' this morning and mailed it off with four other cosies to Melbourne for the Stitches & Craft show that I've been invited to display some cosies at.

Of course I had to try the cosy on.....

Hand embroidery and transfer prints on silk, Merino Wool, German cotton velvet, hand printed linen, found old brass bits.
Height: 38cm
Photos: The Artist
Made in February 2009.





Friday 13 February 2009

Teacosy* Revolution context inspiration...

I love love love the music of Icelandic group, Sigor Ros and this film clip to one of their songs really tickles me! I like to think of the Teacosy* Revolution as being able to provoke similar interpretations...perhaps the tea cosies are like the elderly people in this film clip...enjoying something of a debauched and cheeky life!!

There's obviously a need for Teacosy* Revolution graffitti...something special and quite beautiful and culturally enhancing...

Hmmm....things to think about as I make two new tea cosies to post on Monday to The Stitched and Craft Show exhibition to coincide with L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Week and hosted by Living Creatively.

This exhibition my tea cosies are in will also be seen in Sydney and Brisbane during 2009.
The girls from HandMadeNation will also be at the Melbourne event, so it's going to be huge!!