From Little Things

Photography: Greg Lippiatt

I was recently invited to participate in the arty part of The Five Lands Walk, which is an annual event celebrating the area from McMasters beach to Terrigal. This installation was at Avoca beach and was my take on the whale migration that is regularly witnessed from those lucky enough to live on an east coast beach. The sculptures are made from water bottles and their lids, which are a pet hate of mine for their environmental nastiness. I think they look much nicer cut up and reconstructed.

plastic planet

If we chuck enough of this stuff away, I figure our world might end up looking a bit like this. When it does, it will be a mighty heavy weight on all our shoulders.
This piece (sans model) and many others, will be exhibited in "Fragile Planet" which opens on the 4th of December at NG art Gallery, Little Queen St, Chippendale.

"The exhibition 'Fragile Planet' explores the dichotomy between our human desire to save the planet and our addiction to consumption that threatens the very existence of earth."

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork will be donated to the Australian Conservation Foundation.

SXS

Photo: Greg Lippiatt

There is really not that much more satisfying for an artist than to see reactions to their creation. After all, we create works to stimulate a reaction. Sometimes the interpretation is something we didn't even consider or intend. Sometimes criticisms are made that offer valuable feedback for the next work. Sometimes people will dislike a work or it will speak to them in volumes. Sometimes they will walk right past it and not even notice it.
I am happy to say, that many of the people who saw my wreath liked it. It made them smile, and hopefully for some, made them think about the underlying message of waste and loss of precious resources. On the whole though, my aim is primarily to create something of beauty. For me, art is as much about beauty as it is about creating meaning without words.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to it by way of materials and encouragement.Without an audience, I would probably not perform.


Photo: Greg Lippiatt

wreath

In order to not have one of those blogs that gets really boring because it never gets updated, I thought I might post some pictures of the flowers that will be a part of my sculpture by the sea installation. www.sculpturebythesea.com

Some of the flowers in the wreath have stories of their own. Some make references to popular culture, personal beliefs, or simply the natural connection between individual plastic components. I also use visual puns to connect pieces which sometimes also allude to existing flower names. Each flower starts with a single piece and grows slowly by trying a variety of combinations of colours and shapes.

Bo Peep

She is calling out to her sheep as they hide amongst the lush cable-tie grass. She has a skirt made from the trap from a mouse trap game.

Border Protection

Maybe if we closed down detention centres and spent the 200 million dollars we spend on them every year on a more productive and humane solution to asylum seekers...
Maybe we wouldn't have to keep building ridiculous fences.

Measure of Success

A friend gave me the little white house which was given to her as a promotional gift from her real estate agent. It's actually a tape measure that pulls up from the chimney. There is so much emphasis on owning your own home that if you don't, you are somehow perceived as not quite having made it in the world. This house is not only surrounded by the proverbial white picket fence...it is also in a leafy suburb. now, if they could only make the repayments.

Bear in a Bucket

I used to collect kinder surprises when you had to put them together. Apparently now, the toys are complete. No assembly required. Suffice to say, I have a box of them and occasionally employ them as the feature for individual flowers. I like the alliterative aspect to this one.

bowerbird

Sometimes I have a picture in my head and it turns into three dimensions. It's my brothers 50th birthday next month. This is his present. I am fairly confident he doesn't make a habit of looking at this page so it's probably ok to unveil him here. He is a Satin Bower bird. The inspiration for the title of this blog. He comes to me in dreams and holds a special place in my heart. When I see one in reality, I am moved, for the connection we have is undeniable. He is a collector of beautiful colour. A hoarder. He sculpts an elaborate bower around the jewels he finds and lures potential lovers to his creation. My brother and I are cursed/blessed with the same affliction. I think it's genetic. We collect to the point of suffocation. We sort and catalogue, assign and combine. This bird is made of things he might have collected, had I not found them first.

diversion

At last a new thing! I have taken a little break from my SXS flowers and constructed this little guy. He is the man in the suit, going to the job he hates. Made from discarded plastic. Little marvels of human engineering and invention, which, like him, are so often ignored for their true value and potential. He is time personified. How briefly we exist, how easily we discard our precious moments.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LIFE!!

SNEEK PEEK

Top secret project under construction. That is all I'm at liberty to say.

(thanks to Chris for taking the photos www.chrisgleisner.com)