Goddesses of Earth and Sky

Some time ago I found these images online and I thought that I would share them as these creations are just spectacular. The headdress of the top model is reminiscent of two new works which I will be unveiling at my new exhibition next month. Both works utilize antlers as a symbol of primal power crowning goddess-like female presences.

To A Young Lady, Who Was Fond Of Fortune Telling

For each of my exhibitions I like to find a poem which encapsulates the emotional state I am in while creating a new body of work. For my up and coming exhibition 'Cabinet of Curiosities' I have chosen a wonderful poem by British poet Matthew Prior entitled; 'To A Young Lady, Who Was Fond Of Fortune Telling.'

I will post the poem and the work it has inspired on the night of the opening here in Perth but I thought I would share with you the biography I found on Poemhunter.com. Prior seems to have lead a very exciting life but what really fascinates me is the fact that he was born in 17th century but lived until the 20th!

Yes I know it's just a typo but what an exquisite one at that.

Matthew Prior by Thomas Hudson

Matthew Prior, poet and diplomat, was born near Wimborne Minster, Dorset. His family moved to London while he was still a child. He was educated at Westminister School, but was taken out when his father died and apprenticed to his uncle, a tavern-keeper. In 1680 he went to Cambridge on a scholarship from the Earl of Dorset and while there he co-wrote with Charles Montague, The Hind and the Panther Transversed to the Story of the Country and City Mouse (1687), a burlesque on Dryden's Hind and the Panther which cuts it down to size by making it absurd.

Prior held various diplomatic posts, and in 1700 entered parliament with the Tories. He was Ambassador at Paris when he was recalled at the death of Queen Anne in 1715, and imprisoned for two years. During his time in prison he composed Alma or the Progress of the Mind (1715), a sceptical and humorous poem for which he is best known today. A folio edition of his work was published in 1719 and secured him a profit of 4000 guineas. He died in 1921 in Down Hall which he had purchased two years previously. At its best his work stands alongside Swift, and was admired by Samuel Johnson and William Cowper. He is buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Living Art

For many years our house had been a rental and when we bought it the garden reflected the lack of care and neglect that is so typical in such properties. Our first job was to remove all the plants and start with a blank canvas. We added high jarrah sleeper beds to the garden proper and planted such fruit trees as the Tahitian Sapote or Chocolate Pudding Tree, longan, mango and many more. In a closing down sale we found a pair of Indian gates studded with brass flowers and this wonderful garden gate opens onto a small walkway where I have begun to plant a succulent garden. It has become a great adventure trying to source new specimens for this garden as I adore the sculptural qualities of these hardy plants. Until now I had held a conservative view of what could be achieved with succulents but as one search lead to another I found a whole world of inspiration from other artistic succulent lovers. The idea of succulent topiary can add such charm to a garden, especially one which has to deal with Perth's harsh summer climate. 

You can use this simple method http://lenkindesign.blogspot.com/2007/09/succulent-topiaries.html to make all kinds of wonderful objects:

The Rusty Trowel

http://genosgarden.blogspot.com

http://www.bridetobe.com.au

As succulents are so easy to propagate I am going to give this a go, it looks like such fun and can be really effective.

Compositions in Metal

This week I have been recovering from an operation and as I could not move around too much and was restless I decided to look into my collection of bits and pieces and compose these two necklaces.

The first is based on a charm bracelet and comprises little trinkets from my travels including a solid gold sphinx from the Norman Lindsay museum, a masonic medal purchased in the Barossa Valley and a medal from the Vatican blessed by Pope John Paul II.

Masonic Charm Necklace

The second includes a vintage Masonic medallion set on each side by stirling silver medals, Swarovski pearls and chandelier crystals.

Antoinette's Sphinx Necklace

Preserved Stories

Agnes Richter's Jacket

In a Victorian-era German asylum, seamstress Agnes Richter painstakingly stitched a mysterious autobiographical text into every inch of the jacket she created from her institutional uniform. 

                                                                                                      - gailhornstein.com

                                                                                                        


Throughout my life I have been fascinated by objects which have survived past the time in which they were created. I feel as if these articles can in some way take us back through their histories and reveal something of their owners and the society that shaped them. I like to collect items which hold a special significance to me and one of these is a pair of tiny gloves given to my by my husband shortly after we first met. These are very special articles to me because of the inscription from 1935 written on the faded envelope containing the gloves - 'A mitten of mothers your grandma that she wore when young in England many years ago approximately (1840)'. This link to the history of the gloves is quite touching and when I tried them on they were far too small for my hands. Grandma must have been a petite lady when she first donned them and their sentimental value to her daughter is apparent. I feel honored to posses such a special piece of this families history. Like the gloves and their envelope, Agnes Richter's jacket provides a window into another life, it is an object left behind that speaks of her life and is lovingly cared for to preserve her story.

A Mitten of Mothers

Peacock Feather Wedding Dress

'It may not be the longest, but surely is one of the most impressive wedding dresses. With its 2,009 peacock feathers taking 8 months to finish, this peacock sensation costs $1,5 Million.'

                                                                                                                                                                                   - Stylefrizz.com

Mrs. Maxwell

I am so excited, I've just purchased this amazing 1860s stereoview of taxidermist Mrs. Maxwell posing with a bunch of taxidermy mounts at Colorado museum. This will be the basis of a large painting in the future, I am hard at work on paintings for 'Cabinet of Curiosities' my next exhibition at Murano & Gullotti Gallery in November but as I have all the images I need for that exhibition I will keep this for my next show.

The Poetry Lesson

The Poetry Lesson

In 2010 I painted this piece for the exhibition 'The Velvet Album'. It was inspired by a photo of a Victorian couple and I loved the idea that these two were so close but convention kept them apart, for the moment. They share their inner feelings through the sheets of poetry laid out before them and the gentleman is holding 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost. I like to wonder which road they will take, will it be together or will they wander down a path of quiet reflection, contemplating what might have been.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

Robert Frost

Antoinettes Atelier

Rococo 1770s Historical Wig -De Lamballe- Marie Antoinette Wig, by Kathleen Marie

Ever since I was young and my parents threw elaborate Halloween parties I have enjoyed an intense love of theatrical costumes. This piece inspired by Marie Antoinette is the epitome of fantastic head wear and its creator should be applauded for her elegance and taste. I'm so glad there are such inspired people out there making every day a little brighter with their love of theatricality and their sense of style.

To find out more go to: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AntoinettesAtelier?ref=pr_shop_more

Jessica Joslin

Jessica Joslin is my favorite living artist and has such a wonderfully enigmatic style. I have the greatest respect for her sculptural fantasies. Her little creatures are so clean and beautifully made they astound me with their delicacy and their beauty. I have followed Joslin's career for years now and I would dearly love to see these creations in the flesh and hope one day to have a little friend of my own.

Below are my two favorite pieces from her recent 2010 exhibitions and you can find more about her art here:http://jessicajoslin.com/jessica/

Lucky

Odilia