North Sydney Art Prize!

Good news! My rabbits have been accepted into the North Sydney Art Prize which is being held in the historic Coal Loader site at Waverton right on the Sydney harbour foreshore.

Here are some of them in the garden!

As the theme of the exhibition is environmental sustainability, I am entitling them Plague Proportions with the following statement

 

My installation, Plague Proportions, has upwards of a dozen rabbits crowded together in an unsustainably dense group to illustrate how the delicate balance of the Australian environment, can be upset by an imported species. The humble rabbit, in itself, well trained and handled, has been proven to be a useful member of its native habitat for hundreds of years, whereas, imported and allowed to run riot, they are  having a devastating and long term effect on the Australian environment in just over 200. I also see the rabbit, whose fecundity is legendary, as a metaphor for the human species whose population is burgeoning out of control in many areas of the world least able to sustain it.

 

You can catch them there next March!

West Ryde Shopfront Sculpture Trail

My  "Fowl Play" and "Beefburger are currently on display as part of the West Ryde Shopfront Sculpture Trail.

 

You can catch them at Ace Shoe Repairs and Café Neon respectively until December 13th!

Energy Field Exhibition

My take on Australian culture entitled "Advance Australia Fair", currently on display at the See Street Gallery, Meadowbank TAFE, as part of the Energy Field exhibition by Advanced Diploma and Open Studio students.

 

And my homage to the man at the top, "Our Beloved Leader", not!

 

You can catch them there until 13th November.

My Kingdom for a Horse!

Last week, Andy and I spend the week in Mudgee, attending a sculpture workshop held at Rosby Wines taught by Sam Valenz and Stephen Hall. The idea was to work collaboratively as a pair to create a life sized horse statue from natural materials, inspired primarily by the equine statues of Deborah Butterfield, which would form part of the annual Sculptures in the Garden exhibition being held at Rosby on the weekend of the 11th and 12th October 2014.

 

The armatures had already been erected by Sam and Stephen when we arrived. This is our one  with the first pieces of wood attached.

 

Andy putting some of the finishing touches to the head.

 

And finally, voila!

 

 

I've called him" Blue" because of the reddish colour of the wood:) He will be for sale at Sculptures in the Garden and I plan to donate the entire proceeds  to the Mudgee Support Group of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.  

 

Some of the other steeds that will be on exhibition

 

 

 

Many thanks to Sam and Stephen for all their help and support and to Kay Norton-Knight and family for hosting the event in their beautiful property. 

For the next move in my plan of attack!

"Tony A Candle"!

You'll enjoy watching him burn!

 

Abbott Proof Fence!

Now Alex is about to be history, time to turn my attention to Tony!

 

 

Abbott Proof Fence anyone!

Oh "NO"!

My latest victim!

In order, Bob Brown, Julia Gillard, Bob Carr and Barry O’farrell (all Australian Polies) have all either been pushed or resigned after I produced a caricature of them and my Tony Abbott Candle (“You’ll enjoy watching him burn!”) has been optimistically purchased by quite a few people.

Now it's Alex's turn to get the flick! This will greatly enhance my reputation locally:) No Scottish Independence this time around!

OMG Sept 18th!

And the big day has finally arrived! So it's back to the UK to support the troops! The result is meant to be very close so every little bit helps!

Supporting local culture!

Or what passes for it at Hornsby RSL!

 

Doing the rounds, at Macquarie Hills Potters!

Off to visit Macquarie Hills Potters at Balcombe Heights estate, Baulkham Hills. The building forms part of the old masonic orphanage.

 

Taking every opportunity to promote the cause:)

 

 

And, of course, always into promoting culture...

 

But need to keep promoting the cause this close to September 18th!  ( Don't think anyone has told Alex that us ex patriots don't have a vote:(  ) 

 

Taking in the local sights!

Downtown Hornsby!

 

Meanwhile back at the ranch!

Visiting the relies!

 

From the Antipodes!

Alex traverses the globe in record time. Here he is assisting in the installation of my exhibit at Hidden 2014, the sculpture exhibition held annually at Rookwood cemetery.

A little R and R!

Can't work all the time! Alex taking a spot of bucolic relaxation just outside the Capital at Flotterstone in the Pentland Hills. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental!

And soaking up a bit more culture. Here with Lorenzo. I know he gets about but, no, he hasn't nipped over to Florence. This one is part of the sculpture court at Edinburgh Art College. Nice to see some nineteenth century anachronisms are still with us:)

Just imagine, over the years, the legions of budding artists forced to draw this headless wonder. I mean the torso of course, not Alex!

Hmm, posing with Donatello's St. George! Better not let the opposition get a hold of this one:( Don't tell me Edinburgh Art College Sculpture Court doesn't have a St. Andrew tucked away somewhere!

Alex's latest publicity stunt!

Alex at John Knox's house in the Royal Mile with my father in law looking disapprovingly on or maybe just being resigned. Well he was an enthusiastic proponent of Scottish autonomy (John Knox that is, not my father in law) so it's important to emphasise these connections with Sept 18th coming up!

On the campaign trail with Alex!

Alex has really exceeded himself in the last few days. Paid a visit to New Abbey in Dumfries and Galloway.

 

Where he visited the ruined Sweetheart Abbey and  the New Abbey Corn Mill.

 

Here he is, about to take the reins. Could this be a premonition of things to come?

 

 

And here he is again, nose to the grindstone, as all our politicians would have us believe they are!

 

But that's not all, he also found time to visit Club Med II.

 

 

Last time I saw Club Med II was at Garden Island in Sydney, over 10 years ago, when she was in the dry dock having some work done. Actually I had lunch on board. It was really good although the staff were most apologetic that it didn't come up to the normal standard when they were cruising No langoustine! Quel horreur!

 

And he found time to take in a bit of culture...

 

 

Taking in the Titian exhibition currently on at the National Gallery of Scotland.

 

And finally, that promotional picture beloved by politicians, with the distinctive Edinburgh skyline in the background. Pity about the scaffolding on the esplanade:(

 

 

 

You have to admit, the man has energy! Watch this space:)

 

Events in Parramatta!

I went to the official opening of Pop Goes The Easel at Parramatta yesterday and was a bit taken aback to see tanks coming down the main street.

 

No, it wasn't Parramatta's declaration of independence inspired by the upcoming Scottish referendum, turns out it was the Lancers 100th anniversary parade. It drew a few more crowds than PGTE:)

 

Here are some of my works on show in the window that did draw a bit of attention!

 

 

Back to the Capital to drum up a bit of support!

Goodness, not long to go now! Better get out and about.

 Posing with one of Edinburgh's best loved icons, Greyfriars Bobby.

 

Just checking out the pub named after him!

 

 

And paying final respects!

 

 

And now, visiting the scene of the action! Roll on September 18th!

Checking out the sights!

Just checking out the start of the new Forth Road Bridge. Apparently the current one, at 50 years old is showing its age. Now how old is the  Forth Rail Bridge, 1890, wasn't it? Ah, they just don't make them like they used to:(

You can just see a column for the new bridge in the background.