Sunday, 28 July 2013

LOVE LOVE LOVE....

I love group shows especially when they are with a fun group of makers & artisans. Whenever I get an email from Gleaners Inc about taking part in a show I get really excited!

"Take Heart" at Gleaners Inc. show opens the 2nd of August & runs until the 31st of August
a show Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed festival. I took part last year here's the link to that particular blog post.

I've been a bit obsessed with Milagros, reliquaries, ex votos and scared hearts of late. I've been finding pinterest really good for collecting images for ideas my pinterest board for this project and getting the creative juices flowing. 

I think it is the shiny gilded gold foil & over the top decorations, I'm of the more is more school of thought an love the use of gold foiling & precious metals in  iconography - something which seems to re-occur despite the differences in religions and belief systems world-wide. About 10 years ago I went to an amazing gold & silver leaf themed exhibition at the Tokyo museum in Japan. To be honest I think I had a moment of Stendhal syndrome at this particular exhibition. I suppose it would pass for some sort of quasi-religious/transcendental/mythical experience depending on your faith. I've always had a penchant for the glittery & shiny must have been the sheer volume of beautiful, gilded, gorgeousness that got me! Seriously pop something shiny in front of me and I can be utterly distracted.

Here are a few images of my work for the show they are paper assemblages with a bit of a craft/sewing element with the steel pins & also a slightly creepy anatomical/ medical book element too. My thinking is that with a bit of metallic paint & ruffled pleated paper can make anything look pretty. They are shadow box framed and a homage to the sacre coeur images I love.
Pop along and have a look show, there's a few other shows & events as part of the festival so checkout the Craft Vic web page.

Gleaners Inc
2 Ballarat St
Brunswick 3056
Trading hours 
M-F 11-5
Sat 11-4 
Sun 12-4
Another festival that is coming up that I'm involved with is MSFW Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. I'm taking part in an off-site event titled "beasts in the wardrobe", which is being hosted and held in collaboration with the amazing boutique Madame Virtue. 
That is due to start in late August so just stay tuned for the blog post!

  Love Miss FOO XXX



Monday, 8 July 2013

Hot House at Quirk & co - Look.Stop.Shop and other stuff!


It's been pretty busy in Miss Foo's world of late so the blog posts have been sporadic at best. 
I've got a little project that is coming to fruition this week, "hot house" is a group window installation that is being hosted by the lovelies at Quirk & Co. It is mix of lighting sculptures by Nick Johns, a series of lush terrariums by Miniscapes and a large paper sculpture by yours truly! The opening night is Thursday 11th July from 6-8pm & the installation will be up until month end.
It's  part of Look.Stop.Shop the theme this year is "Hot Stuff" and it's being curated by Three Thousand and presented by the City of Melbourne, so check out the link for more details as there are loads of events running through July.

Where 
466 Victoria St, North Melbourne
When
Opening Thu Jul 11, 6–8pm. Installation runs until Jul 26.
How much
Free!

 Detail shots of my sculpture
PS have another coming up project with the City of Melbourne during MSFW, it will be titled "beasts in the wardrobe" at the end of August. It's being hosted by Madame Virtue ... can't wait to get my paws on all their couture archives and the delicious accessories! YAY dress ups! (but more on that in another post!)


I managed to catch the Hollywood costume exhibition at ACMI I was super excited as I am a costume and film buff. As always with any textile based show the lighting levels are low to protect the fabrics, so give your eyes time to adjust. I would suggest to go in the morning when they first open to avoid the crowds! 
The dialogues between the directors, actors and designers a must see as they really put the role of costume in context and gives you insight into the process of designing & creating the characters.

Highlights for me included:

- Sean Young's outfit from "Blade Runner"
- Scarlett O'Hare's Curtain dress from "Gone with the Wind
- Paisley sequined & beaded pants suit from Valley of the Dolls
- The Bridal costumes from breath taking "The Last Emperor" from 1987
- Robert De Niro's suit from "Casino", peach suit? Say no more!
- Tippi Hedren's suit from the "birds"  the interview with Edith Head is pretty amazing too
-  Liz Taylor's costumes from Cleopatra 
- Marilyn Monroe's infamous white dress from the "Seven Year Itch"
- Greta Garbo's tuxedo... Sigh!
 - It would be remiss of me not to mention Judy Garland's Dorothy outfit from "The Wizard of Oz" What was also striking was the size and scale of these outfits, you realise just how tiny some of these actors are!
- costumes by Eiko Ishioka, I'm utterly obsessed with her. They have costumes from "Bram Stoker's Dracula" in the show but she was one of those amazing multi-talent individuals who was an art director, costumer, graphic designer with an amazing vision , she passed away in early 2012. Known for designing, Grace Jones stage costumes for the Hurricane tour, for films like "The Fall", "The Cell", "The Immortals". I have a pinterest board  dedicated to her work, as I have been unable to get hold of the now out of print book!

Because of exhibition I am now obsessed with watching tonnes of films, I suppose it is a perfect activity for staying tucked under a blankie in my oneise!

Love Miss Foo XXX