Fur & Whiskers group show and new work

UPDATE: images of the opening can be viewed at my Facebook page

"The Origin of Fur and Whiskers" is a group show that I am taking part in this month. It's  looking to be a fun show with a mix of diverse work, I had a sneak peek of the show when I dropped off my work over the weekend. 

I'm submitting 2 works for this show the first is a series titled "The animal in you" made up of a group of nine portraits. Unfortunately due to the size of the gallery the full series will not be on display. I was thinking how animals are often used to describe personality traits. There are so many animal based idioms. The full series is made up of a series of a group of 9 using a shadow portrait as a base.

"animal in you series" by Sai-Wai Foo

I quite like the ambiguity of the silhouette, I did find myself imagining the types of people these were once there animal totems had been assigned to them. In there series there is a 'stubborn goat','top dog', 'show pony', 'spring chicken', 'bird brain', 'black sheep', 'curious cat', 'night owl' and a rather 'bull headed' lady.

"A Good Looking bird" by Sai-Wai Foo

The second piece is titled "A good looking bird" again playing on oft used vernacular to describe a good looking woman. The piece is an paper assemblage of an ostrich in a glass and steel housing. She is quite glamourous and fun to make with all her pleats, pearls and sequins, not to mention her lovely long eyelashes! She is housed in a steel & glass container, she kind of reminds me of the witch Mombi in Return to OZ.

Image from Return to Oz (image from http://oneofeachblog.com/tag/return-to-oz)

 
The show opens on 5th of October and is at Off the Kerb gallery founded & run by Shini an old school friend. It's really nice to renew a friendship that goes back to well let's just say quite a few years.  Shini is one half of a very talented set of twins I went to school with. They are both very talented artists in high school however did not pursue their creative careers until graduating from"sensible" degrees!  Shini made the jump to art school her sister Dhini moved to fashion; up until last year had her own label is now head designer for a fashion brand. It's great how both girls ended up in a creative field as I could not imagine either of them being very happy in "sensible" non-creative job!

Pop by the opening!
Love Miss Foo XXX

 Off the Kerb Gallery

The Origin of Fur and Whiskers

5th October - 19th October, 2012 (Opening on Friday 5th October 6-9pm)

Opening Hours are Thurs & Fri 12:30pm-6pm, Sat & Sun 12-5pm. Entry is Free.

66B Johnston St, Collingwood, 3066
9077 0174

Pink Ladies & parrots!

I'm taking part in the 5th annual "Pink Lady Art Exhibition" its a Bayside local community event that is a fund raising event for the Breast Cancer Network Australia. It's a nice way of getting my work to a different audience and more importantly supporting a good cause.

The exhibition is based around the 5 elements as a theme, as much as I love a theme I have to admit I was stuck for a bit. I decided to explore the "lady" element of the exhibition  and do something that was fun and tied in with my obsession with all things fashion.

The resulting work a flock of three fabulously coiffed and groomed parrots express their personal concerns about the elements in their own unique way. Paper assemblages made of original ink drawings are hand cut and coloured with water colour pigments, pleated vintage book papers sequins and pom poms these fine ladies are the fashionistas of the feathered kind.    

EARTH “forget taupe or beige, the only earth tone she cared about was spray tan…”

FIRE “fiery temper? Clearly they had never been in her way at a shoe sale…”

WATER  “she didn’t mind the water so long as her mascara didn’t run…”

Love Miss Foo XXX      

 

Opening: Friday October 26th 7-9pm 

Opening Preview – Entry $15 donated to Breast Cancer Network Australia!

Exhibition: Saturday October 27th & Sunday October 28th 10am-5pmFree Entry – All Weekend!

Awards Ceremony: Sunday October 28th @ 1pm

Bayside Arts & Cultural Centre (Brighton Town Hall)

cnr Wilson & Carpenter Streets, Brighton, VIC, 3186

(MEL Ref 67 F10)

tickets for the opening night preview or more information go to http://pinkladyart.com.au/

Old books, paper pleats & an artist book exhibition

** Update... the show got a write up http://melbourneartcritic.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/this-is-not-a-book-review/ thanks Mark from Black Mark.
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I have a lovely stash of vintage books which I use for my artwork. I was trying to work out how to store them as they are really quite beautiful & came across this amazing sculpture.

"Book Igloo" is an  installation titled Home by Colombian artist Miler Lagos. It's made up of lots of old books. That's it I want an igloo, I want one now.... insert foot stomp.

Here is my current storage system for books...piled on the floor & while I was trying to take a  photo the wonder dog decided she wanted to get her fluffy self in the picture.

I have been working on a piece for an artist book exhibition here are a few snapshots of my work in progress.

 

 
It uses cut & pleated book papers in book form with vintage leather used for outer binding.  I love using old books as the quality of the  paper stock  is a real pleasure to work with, it folds easily and I love the foxing and patina that the papers take on with age.

The pleating & folding is something that I have been working with for a while; shadows formed by the pleated paper remind me of fabric ruffles and petticoats.
The piece is titled "The early bird gets the words...."

To display I have made a basic book supports, I think I will be making more of these as they are quite fun to make. The Powerhouse Museum has a brilliant section on their website outlining a series of conservation techniques - here's the link to the conservation resources with step by step guides on how to make book supports amongst other conservation techniques. 

My version of the book support 

The cardboard support is covered in tailoring horse hair canvas;  it's a heavy weight woven interfacing, used in tailoring jackets in particular lapels, collar and fronts to give firm body and stability. It used to be made literally of horse and goat hair but now its normally a mix of nylon/wool and other fibres. It also has a lovely colour & texture which works with the overall look & I have an acrylic box to house the finished piece. The material is a nice link between the textile look of the book.

Work in progress

The item will be on display at Artisan Books  which specialist in a books, periodicals and exhibition catalogues relating to art, craft, design and culture; as part of the 7th Annual Artist Book Exhibition, 11th of August - 8th of September. This exhibition explores the boundaries of how a book is defined, focusing on the books as a sculptural form.

Pop in and have a look!

Love Miss Foo XXX

159 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy Victoria  3065
AUSTRALIA

Hours:

Mon-Fri: 10.00-17.30
Sat: 11.00-16.30 

Young & Free at Toyota HQ & Exhibitions

  

QUICK UPDATE: I have posted picsof the exhibition  on www.facebook.com/pleatybunny

I've been on a bit of a art competition entering binge. I enjoy working to a brief, I find it challenging - also I really benefit from a deadline and love exploring a concept or subject matter which is not necessarily what I would chose normally.

Must be the freelance designer in me coming out as I have always liked problem solving involved with a challenging brief. My most satisfying design jobs have come out of projects in areas I am not familiar with. I suppose it is the benefit of fresh eyes and also the desire to get to know the subject matter. I think the same applies for art competitions for me. Besides I am finding it is a really good way to stay motivated and try out and experiment with new techniques and materials.

I recently submitted work for the Toyota Community Spirit Gallery which is in the Toyota Corporate headquarters in Port Melbourne. The exhibition titled "for we are young & free", all three pieces have been accepted for the exhibition with is pretty exciting as it is a submission based exhibition.

I've been using atlases a bit in my work & thought it would be nice to tie in the materials I normally use in a different context. The pieces are all housed in glass display domes giving them a curio look, I was thinking snow dome meets craft project/trophy.
The exhibition opens on the 8th of August, I've had a sneaky peak at some of the work during the delivery and install, can wait to see the exhibition in it's entirety as it's an amazing corporate gallery space with approximately 50 artists taking part.

 

Paper sculptures as they appear in the "for we are young and free" exhibition catalogue

The Community Spirit Gallery is open to the public at

Toyota Australia's Corporate Headquarters

 155 Bertie St, Port Melbourne 

Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (closed on public holidays)

Exhibition opens 8th of August & runs until 26th October 2012

 Love Miss Foo XXX


PS I am all over the place this month like a bad rash! With work is being shown at:

Feather your Nest

at Gleaners Inc

2 Ballarat St. Brunswick, 

Victoria 3071, Australia

3rd -31st August 

www.facebook.com/pages/Gleaners-Inc/216733858381484

Open Drawer

1158 Toorak Road,
Camberwell (Hartwell Village) 3124
(Mel. Ref 60 C6)
Tram No 75 - Stop No. 52

www.facebook.com/opendrawer

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am – 5.00pm

Thursday 10am – 7pm

Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm

7th Annual Artist Book Exhibition, 11th of August - 8th of September.

159 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy Victoria  3065
AUSTRALIA

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Artisan-Books-Australia/361978710486893

Hours:

Mon-Fri: 10.00-17.30
Sat: 11.00-16.30 

Feathering my nest..... exhibition at Gleaners Inc.

I delivered some work for an upcoming exhibition at Gleaners inc. the exhibition is part of  Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed festival. I have 2 pieces in the show that references the theme "Feather your Nest".

One piece is titled"Iced Vovos, jam fancies & cups of tea" It's of one of my crazy parrots replete with pleats, poms poms & sequins. I like to think she is squawking mid cackle during a tea party. Its about nesting, being and feeling at home.

Detail of "Iced Vovos, jam fancies & cups of tea"by Sai-Wai Foo

The second piece is a small scale sculpture, titled "Flight of fancy". I am a bit obsessed with bottles and glass at the moment; also about catching a moment in time like a souvenir. Clearly my fixation on snow domes and tourist kitsch is paying off.
It's a small black bird in flight over pleated clouds/petals made of book papers in a small glass dome with a champagne cork. (It's expanding on my artist book piece I made recently - which will be on  display at  Artisan Books as part of the 7th Annual Artist Book Exhibition, 11th of August - 8th of September)

 

"Flight of fancy" by Sai-Wai Foo

I think it maybe a a bit of a comment on my hording of materials too. I see things pop them away, it maybe awhile until use them but there is some method in my squirrel like ways!
The pieces will be on show at Gleaners Inc at the Stairway to Nowhere Gallery as part of the Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed festival .

Feather your Nest

at Gleaners Inc

2 Ballarat St. Brunswick, 

Victoria 3071, Australia

The show opens on Friday, August the 3rd at 5.30pm and will have drinks and nibbles and discount shopping on the night! The show runs through to August the 31st so pop by!

 Love Miss Foo XXX

Small show, doggies & knitting

A small show....

I've been very kindly offered a small gallery space upstairs at Open Drawer until the end of the month. I have just dropped a selection of work off to the ladies so it being hung over the weekend. It's a small show with some of the Pleatybunny menagerie that will be happily residing upstairs - pop by & see them. There are doggies, bunnies, song birds and parrots galore! (see pics below of some of the work)

Open Drawer

1158 Toorak Road,
Camberwell (Hartwell Village) 3124
(Mel. Ref 60 C6)
Tram No 75 - Stop No. 52

https://www.facebook.com/opendrawer

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am – 5.00pm

Thursday 10am – 7pm

Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm

"The Siblings"

"Beauregard" the Frenchie &"Pinto" the chihuahua 

Some mad parrots

"Cicely" who has a penchant for Champagne & "Roxie"

Of doggies.... 

I am very fond of the friends of the fluffy four legged variety so artist's who deal with this subject matter are very close to my heart. My former printmaking lecturer Deb Williams has recently been interviewed for the series "Inside Art" on Channel 31 Wednesdays 8.30pm. 

Below is the link talking about the dog as muse. 

Check out Deb's Website as there is some really beautiful work in the galleries http://deborahwilliams.com.au/

 

Rather chuffed as Mini the Wonder dog's excellent snout makes a (small) apppearance in the clip... yes, I am a proud & tragic stage mother. I had taken Mini over to Deb's studio for a  snout session as Deb was looking for dogs with interesting noses for a series of prints. Mini has a particularly noble nose.....

Mini's snout in the bottom right hand corner! Work pictured is by Deb Williams and image is from a screen capture from Inside Art 

Left:Deb in her studio Right: Mini in Deb's studio walking around like she owned the place 

Of Knitting.....

The lovely people at Australian Country Spinners have free knitting patterns!! There is a great selection at online that are based on their archived vintage 80's patterns - I am particularly fond of the bobble knit cardigan! Patterns can be downloaded here

If the thought of a whole garment is too scary; you're looking for a little project or you're a novice knitter and want some practice have a look at Knitting for Dog Rescue Groups. 


Chantal and her mother Pierrette are two lovely ladies who are behind this not for profit group. They knit and also coordinate volunteers to knit doggie jumpers to give to Australian Dog Rescue groups for their old, sick and hairless dogs. They can be contacted via their facebook page or else via email on knittingfordogrescue@hotmail.com if you are able to help in anyway!

Chantal is super talented she makes amazing and intricate leather guitar and bass straps. As well as working in the film industry look at the film & costume gallery as you will definitely recognize much of her work!!! (all I can say is AWESOME!!)


Check out Chantal's Website here: www.pccord.com

Left: Chantal hard at work in her studio Right: one of Chantal's beautiful leather guitar straps

Images from Chantal Cordy's website www.pccord.com

love Miss Foo XXX