Well for the first time in ages, almost the last two years to be exact, I have something positive to report on the artistic front.

For those of you that don’t know, 2019 (pre Covid, if you can remember that far back) proved to be an exceptionally successful year for my ceramics. In addition to winning the inaugural TAFE art prize, I also won the 2019 Outstanding Local Artist award, as part of the Hornsby Art Prize, The prize was to have been a solo exhibition at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre as part of the Hornsby Art Prize 2020. This was canned because of Covid as also was the 2021 exhibition. However my exhibition is finally going ahead. March 2022, daily from Friday 11th to Sat 19th! No opening because of Covid restrictions but I’ll be there every day from 10 to 4! Hope to see you there!

I’ll be posting more material over the next couple of weeks but, for now, here is the invite.

My studio video!

My studio!

Arts trail!

Later this month I'm taking part in the inaugural Lyrebird Arts trail, details below. I'll be at venue 2. Hope to see you there!

Re-magine

Here is my Fallen Angel currently on display as part of Hornsby council's Re-magine exhibition.

 

 

 

I actually made him several months ago and, when  I went to  get him to deliver him to Wallarobba for the art prize, I was unpleasantly surprised to find that the plastic used to make the "cloud" had started to break down. Not sure if this was caused by the glue and/or the paint or if it was designed to break down anyway.

 

I was a bit worried that he might not survive the journey however, fortunately, he did!  

He's back!

 

 

Watch out Westminster!

 

Not that I'm totally convinced that Scottish independence is the way to go but it's nice to see the SNP properly represented:)

 

North Sydney Art Prize installed!

 

 

I have just finished installing my rabbits at the Coal Loader as my entry in the North Sydney Art Prize.

Here they are

 

The exhibition opens on Saturday 7th March and runs until Sunday 22nd March.

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.