well thank god that's over

Don't get me wrong, Sculpture by the Sea was great, but it was completely exhausting. Really happy to have sold my work, and especially that the new owners live fifty meters from Marks park. Also very pleased to have received the Kids Choice award. Thanks Kids! I love the Dinosaur Designs trophy. I didn't expect that. Almost better than the cash!
So now I have a large bag of plastic that broke off the house that I need to reattach. I'll do that tomorrow. Then I have to try and find somewhere to put all the leftover plastic/toys etc, and resurrect my garage. I have no idea where to put it. It all seems far too big a job on this 40 degree afternoon.
Here are a couple of pictures of the Dream Home in situ. Thanks to everyone who supported me in making it and everyone who came to see it. It makes it all worthwhile.

Being installed in new home. Note how far it has to go down into the courtyard...that's Gregs face underneath the bottom of the house.

School groups going crazy for bubbles

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.