Meeting Room West complete...maybe

Well here we are, almost a month since Toi Poneke celebrated 10 years in existence on a drizzly but ultimately colourful day and I am finally posting images. In order to brighten up the arts centre, residents were encouraged to hang their work in hallways and communal areas. Since wall drawings are my thing, I offered to give the 'Meeting Room West' (it's in the West Building) an all over paint job. There were certain considerations of course. It is a windowless and airless room with a large oval table and seating for 6 on patterned swivel chairs from the 1980's. After much consideration I decided to go with something subtle, warm and surprising.  In fact it's so subtle the photos don't really do it justice (plus with all that fluro lighting it was tricky to get a shot accurately showing the colour). If you're interested, the shade of pink, which I painted three of the walls is called 'Golden Springs' by Dulux. They guy in the shop described it as practically white and I knew I had chosen the right one. The day was a huge success. Visitor numbers have been estimated at 800 people and I got some lovely comments. 

However my presence in Meeting Room West had only just begun. I was also working toward showing three site responsive paintings which fall somewhere between a painting and a wall drawing. They are not easily to catagorise as they merge the two together (check out the images on my site under Artwork-Meeting Room West). When working on the wall drawing I knew it would stay up longer than the paintings I wanted to show, so made sure to leave one whole wall white. That way when someone else's work was displayed it wouldn't need to compete or be interrupted with the pink. I've had a few crits now on the paintings and wall drawing. I am considering a few minor tweeks. It then has one last life, before the paintings are 'free to explore other options'. In early October, Meeting Room West will host a group exhibition with other final year students. Once we come up with an exhibition name (so far the hardest part!!) then we will start advertising. Obviously more info will be coming soon. I hope you can make it.

 

Here's an install shot:

Drawings for paintings

Lately I've been working towards a group show coming up at Toi Poneke Arts Centre as part of my studies. Not officially a gallery show, but in a meeting room and overflowing into the hallway and kitchen area used by Arts Centre tenants. It's main theme is on alternative approaches to the use and display of art. Right up my alley. More info coming soon!! 

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Upcoming project at Toi Poneke Arts Centre

Semester 2 starts this week for my final year of BFA (Hons). The studio's looking tidy (I've just returned a huge stack of library books) but watch this space. It's gonna get crazy!

In other news, as part of Toi Poneke Art Centre's 10th Birthday I am kitting out Meeting Room West with a new paint job!! Yay. Still finalising the plan right now but come check it out at the party/open studios on Saturday 8 August.

Toi Poneke Arts Centre, 61 Abel Smith St, Wellington

https://www.facebook.com/toiponeke

Studio 2015-07-14

Not contracting but expanding

Last year I was creating wall drawings, about the size of a person. I enjoy doing these. For me it makes so much sense to make art about architecture on the architecture itself. I was given a challenge at the start of this year, partially in response to my decision to start making paintings that are less temporal and more, to put it honestly, sellable (not everyone can commission a large wall drawing). That challenge was to reduce in size, considerably. Make the work more intimate to see what happens. So I made the previously blogged paintings. 150 x 200mm. First they were on the front surface, then the paintings ran around the edges. Now they continue to expand and are creeping back onto the walls... So what are they? Paintings or wall drawings? What happens if the paintings are removed? Are the two parts still the same artwork? Are they something new? If someone bought one of these paintings would  I insist on it needing the wall drawing around it? Or could they just have the removable painting by itself? Lets just say, TBC for now. 

Slipping, expanding

The series of small paintings I have been working on are expanding, Originally from human size wall drawings I compacted them into 150x200mm boards. However they are filling not only the image plane but spreading around the edges. They are still growing. What happens when they outgrow the boards they are on and creep back onto the wall itself? We'll see next week when art industry experts from Wellington are invited into Massey University to give feedback on students work.

These paintings will also serve as a test for the upcoming group show at The Engine Room, Massey University's art gallery.

 

A little quirk

As life becomes complicated, I search for simplicity as a form of escape. It is a way to retreat back in time, when cares could be forgotten in a matter of minutes. I find it pleasing to bring into my world objects that are seemingly logical and understandable. The grown-up me then requires a little quirk. On further perusal, there is something amiss, something twisted. A puzzle. I am not good at riddles, but as I have written this one myself I feel the relief and pride in being able to answer it. For once I can get something right. For once I can be the winner.