codex interruptum..... a tour

'Codex interruptum' has been up (mostly - the damn sticky on the back of the magnart plates is not so sticky on the walls of spiral) for just over a week now...

here's what the little space looks like....

(more of the story was blogged here and here )

in through the front door and it's 'codex nautilus' (an infinite book arranged as a boat)
and on the ground is a little installation 'navicula'
made of encyclopaedia page origami boats
(they are carrying a load of rock salt
and navigating the passage around towers of world book encyclopaedias)

 

 'navicula' (little boat)

 through the middle of the space - some booky pieces in the foreground
and 'sic transit gloria mundi' on the back wall....

last week a bloggy/booky/calligraphic colleague braved the space 

 (I was really touched that they travelled so far...)

we're standing in front of a mix of things.....
serpens volumen - arcus pluvius is sitting so neatly on a gallery shelf.... 

it looks like it was purpose-built!

above is 'virtus libris' (the virtuous book) and below is a de/recontruction of its (dirty) components - 'virtus ex libris' (virtues from the book)

as well as my more esoteric  photographic and sculptural works, I included a small collection of hand-bound books. Not only did I hope that this would be a sound financial move (this is a small country town, small gallery space)....  I wanted to celebrate the act of bookbinding - to juxtapose finely crafted, practical, traditional things amongst scenes of book destruction if you like.

(If I were working the show for a different space I think it would be done in a different manner - including the use of digital screens for my photographic pieces as opposed to photographic prints.....)

 

‘panton volvit plenus orbis’ (everything turns full circle) - installation of circular book forms

and a plinth with my carved reclaimed high school 'Gardeners' text..... 'ars gratia artis'

I have constructed more of these circular forms to install as part of the small sculpture show with SotE this coming week ...

and talking of upcoming events - today and tomorrow I'm participating in 'speed-dating for artists' - so I'm off to Merimbula later today to learn how to date the big arty commercial galleries... and tomorrow I present my work to 6 of them (in rapid succession). It will be 'interesting' if nothing else!

Next weekend I'm speaking a the SotE sculpture symposium, and I have a little ephemeral work I'm planning to unleash on an unsuspecting Bermagui on the Saturday (talk is on the Sunday)

Oh and this past week I met with ANU field studies mob (with John Reid in the lead) regarding ANU arty students invading the south coast in coming months - I may be making something in conjunction with them (we'll see what comes of that)


busy busy busy!

codex interruptum - the interrupted book

I have been focusing my (blogging) energies on my general site over the last while - and my artistic energies on extraneous projects - I've taken a committee position on both FSCLAP (Vice President of that puppy) and Sculpture on the Edge (Media... I think!) - and I've got a number of personal projects on the go at the moment as well.....

In May I'm opening Sams Creek Bookworks - it's a creative/business/community/ecological venture of mine and of course I'm stupidly overcomitted already but..... when the time is right to do these things, well things just have to be done.... so I'll just have to bite the bullet and get what needs to be done DONE

On that same tack - in just a few weeks time now I've committed myself to a small solo exhibition (is there such a thing?)

codex interruptum - the interrupted book will be a smallish affair - hopefully manageable and hopefully I'll be able to recoup my costs (as our financial situation at the moment is precarious!)

I'll primarily be showing the work from the end of my MVA, a few things that I won't be using in this MFA, and some craft items (some small hand bound books etc) - My motivation for holding the show at this time is to have some closure for my MVA work, to promote what I'm up to now (lest some folk think I've moved away or something!), and to give myself more confidence in showing this work publicly.


well here goes


I've shared lots of other news of book/award success on my usual blog..... but I'll reiterate in here in a short while - I'll also be sharing some of my plans for this year's work.... (I'm slowly getting there!)


right now - it's all hands on deck to get through the solo exhibition, the preparations for the launching of sams creek bookworks, all the other life commitment!!!!!




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annoying (bloggy) blips

for reasons unknown my blogger template here has altered my posts title and link colours - and just will NOT listen to my desires! 

naughty blog I say!

I'll just have to put up with it for the time being - as it's going to need more attention to finicky html code than I'm either interested (or capable!) of undertaking right now

but geeeez that blue and icky purple is bugging me!

codex interruptum - the interrupted book

I've just finalised details for a solo exhibition of (mostly older) booky works with a few newer pieces thrown in for good measure.....

codex interruptum - the interrupted book

Sprial Gallery

Bega

18 Feb - 9 March 2011 

further details and nervous breakdown to follow shortly.....



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exegesis chapter draft

I'm presently attempting to complete my first (not in order) exegesis chapter by the end of next week - eeeeek! I commenced the writing before heading off to the permaculture course at the beginning of the month - and just as well. I'm a shockingly slow writer. I agonise over everything (and have this compulsion to cross check and footnote EVERY little thing). The first piece I'm writing is about biblioclasm - and how historical and contemporary examples of book destruction influence my studio work (which I've got to say is not happening right now - because I'm reading and writing.....)

sigh

its going to be a loooooooong week



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permaculture design certificate - day twelve - the finale!

Phew the twelfth and final day of the permaculture design certificate (and yes I made it! I'm now licensed to use the word 'permaculture' in what I may do and say and join in the greater worldwide permy network - something I think will increase in importance considering the direction my work is taking....)




Today it was time to present our group designs as the final part of the PDC.....


Our design trio consisted of myself, Massi (a young italian guy currently staying/working at a local organic vege garden) and Gayle (a public servant, vegan and active member of the ACT Greens - and it was her Yass garden we attempted to redesign.)

Here's our draft working design (worked on the previous day...).....

its rough and ready - (time was a premium - we only had roughly 6 hours from brief to completed drawing) but our 'collage approach' (yep I introduced the non-arty folk to the joys of collage...) gave us an idea of where we were going to against Gayle's wish list ....


 Here's our final drawing.....

 

Then we had to give a 20 min presentation explaining our design choices.... (I almost did a nervous up-chuck waiting for our turn!) Certificates were dispensed, contacts gathered, and then it was over..... well at least the course was over.... the real journey in permaculture is now about to begin.

Prior to undertaking the course I had already considered myself amongst the enlightened converted but as the course progressed I felt myself undergoing an enormous paradigm shift. Permaculture is simultaneously practical and esoterically philosophical... it is all-encompassing, engaging all the senses and involving the micro- to macro-scale. I had anticipated permaculture becoming an active ingredient in my artworks and practice - at least in terms of this project, but quite frankly the PDC has blown that simple 'ambition' completely out of the water - permaculture will be, from this time onward, the foundation upon which I will conduct myself in the world.

The ethical basis of permaculture: Care for the Earth, Care for People, Fair Share - is really so straight forward that its hard to figure out why the whole world hasn't turned permy already....

 

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permaculture design certificate - day eleven...

Day 11.... the second last day..... and night! (yep it was dinner and party night - always an important aspect of the course)

During the day it was all about getting going on our mini group design projects that were to be presented the following day - but there was also more theory units to undertake.... With John leading the group the focus was on intentional communities (like bend - bega eco neighbourhood development - which John played an instrumental role... he had a lot of valuable experience to impart) and on planning for disaster.

Later in the evening my kiddies came to visit and have dinner with the group - they had a ball running around the place and even more fun when the evening's entertainment (everyone was asked to contribute a litte something to the night's entertainment.... so we had Damon as master of ceremonies (and player of mighty fine blues and roots.... he stepped in between acts with little ditties..... including his 'permaculture' song..... funnnneeee!), Cam juggled, Mog showed pics of her arty-work, John sang an old redgum classic, Dan showed off his yogic balancing tricks, Peti gave a slide show of her lovely rock home, Penny, (a wwoofer who helped to feed us over the 2 weeks) with her most beautific unaccompanied voice, sang a C14th sacred tune, Dean (caretaker of 'the crossing') recited one of his poems, Eric sang and played guitar, and me? I read the Margaret Wild/ Ron Brooks classic children's picture book, 'Fox'......

and a good time was had by all.... (I was too busy enjoying myself to take pics!)



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