Archive for the ‘Paris’ Category
Sunday, October 2nd, 2011
I believe art can no longer be only confined within the walls of established art institutions and be thought as only painting or sculpture. At a time when we are at the peak of global creativity I see artists refusing to be labelled and contained. Art venues and spaces are struggling to keep up and are experimenting with new ways to present this explosion of creative output artists for multidisciplinary and multidimensional.
When I was in Paris last time, I saw evidence of this. In a city of almost 300,000 living artists Paris seems to find creative outlets for multidisciplinary and multidimensional. Little “Hybrid art” spaces are popping up everywhere in the streets. Artists themselves have had to think of innovative ways to get their art seen. Many making their home an art space open to the public.
Art squats, sandwiched between homes in residential areas, art has taken over abandoned buildings where a rich cultural life of concerts, debates, exhibitions, lectures and workshops unravels in clandestine venues.
When I’m in Paris I have a couple of creative spaces I made out of necessity. “Studioinabox” and “The Dungeon”
“Studioinabox” is a wooden trunk in the apartment living room where all my creative materials are stored. I create the work on top of the box or the floor space. I may even display or exhibit in side the box. As I move from country to country, my “nomad art’ has to be small and transportable. I enjoy the challenge creating in the immediate space and using only items, I collect from the streets,used packaging and a few other bought art supplies that I can fit into my “Studioinabox’
‘The Dungeon” is a space underneath an apartment block in Paris. It’s damp, smelly and creepy with dark corridors, full of earth walls with red wooden doors. The lights are on a timer and go out every minute, so you can be stuck in a very unearthly dark abyss, if you don’t press one of the buttons on the wall quick enough. I have devised a way to stop them turning off and over the years, I have become more brave and allow myself to connect to the dark hole, for longer periods. Eventually I want to open the space and show my video and photography down there. I also have ideas of a performance in the space.
In Australia, I find there are too many artists and not enough art spaces as well. So, I’m playing around with a few ideas using my home and website, as my art space for all sorts of creative experiments. Nothing, is fully formulated or resolved yet, and will keep you all informed of my progress from this blog.
Do you have a special space where you create and show your work?
Tags: Alternative spaces, art exhibitions, Art Squats Paris, artist story, creating, creative space, Europe, Exhibitions, Hybrid Arts, jenny davis, meet the tenant, Paris, Paris Art scene, street litter, studio, studioinabox, the dungeon, Underground Spaces
Posted in Art Squats Paris, artist story, ArtsBus, creating, Europe, Hybrid Arts, Paris, Paris Art scene, Street art, street litter, studioinabox, the dungeon, underground | No Comments »
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
WATCH my…
Gleaning Paris for Art Materials video. From the streets of Paris I collect stuff,junk to create with, plus other inspirations behind my ideas. Works in progress from my studio’s in Paris, Spain and Australia. Photos taken in Paris, Spain and Australia.
All artwork copyright to Jenny Davis
Tags: "art materials", abstract art, abstract art, Alternative spaces, Alternative spaces, Art materials, art paris "rubbish spain art" "australian artist" painting, artist story, blog feature, collecting, Collecting, creating, Europe, Hard garbage, inspiration, Inspiration, Installation, Installation, jenny davis, Jenny Davis, jennydavis art, outlook8studio, Paris, Photography, Photography, Reclaimed art, Recycled art, Sculpture, Sculpture, Street art, street litter, Studio, travel, Uncategorised, underground, Video, walking
Posted in artist story, blog feature, creating, Europe, Paris, Reclaimed art, Street art, street litter, Uncategorised, underground, Video | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Latest news!
I’ve just been featured at Artsy Shark. Thank you! Carolyn Edlund for all your hard work and for doing such a great job promoting artists and getting their work seen.
Featured Artist Jenny Davis
Artsy Shark presents Australian artist Jenny Davis. Her mixed media work uses recycled and reclaimed materials. Enjoy her portfolio and see more about Jenny here.
Jenny Davis is an Australian artist, working from studios in Victoria, Australia and Paris, France, where she sometimes lives. As an artist, she enjoys working in many disciplines including: painting, sculpture, photography, installation, video, collage, recycled design, sound and virtual worlds. Jenny has shown her work in many countries, including Australia, Germany, Spain, France and USA. Her work is in private and public collections across Australia, UK, Europe and the U.S.A.
Starting out primarily as an abstract painter and sculptor, Jenny’s arts practice has evolved and crosses over into many areas and disciplines. Recycling and reusing items in her work is very important. Stuff that usually goes into landfills and gleaned from the streets of Melbourne and Paris, or wherever she travels. Street litter, food packaging, advertising materials, advertising materials and all kind of paper ephemera are collected and saved for this purpose.
“All this wonderful stuff I reclaim and use in my collage and sculpture.”
“My source of creativity is spontaneous. It can mean spending days even weeks in the studio and strange places contemplating and “collecting energy”. Once I focus and sit with that energy it can take off in all areas. I then definitely need to put down a feeling or emotion, with colour, marks, words, assembled objects, or digital images still and moving. Whatever it takes to get it out! I use various techniques, materials and tools to realize my ideas.
The same goes with my photography. It’s spontaneous and unrehearsed. I like to tell strange stories with my photography and will put myself in uncomfortable spaces to achieve this. I have a wonderful space I found in Paris, I call the dungeon. I can spend hours down there waiting for something to take off. “
At the moment, I am fascinated by the narrative we tell ourselves, when placed in unfamiliar situations. Our mind seems to fly into “spontaneous imagination” and not focus in the moment. I want to seize those imaginary stories and create something with it.
I love spaces underground. There’s a life underneath the earth, and people don’t know about it, but it’s very busy and living, I have taken photos of the Eiffel Tower but I go under it, and look at closer fragments. I’m inspired by many things: Creative minds, Science as art, varies art movements and artists, Ernst, Miro, Tapies, Surrealism, Dada, Abstract Expressionists’, Natural history, Psychology, de-construction , Chaos theory, collecting found- objects and street litter, graffiti, street art, books, vintage and antique, travel and more.
Tags: abstract art, abstract art, Art for sale, Art for sale, Artist interview, artist promotions, artist story, Arts marketing, Arts marketing, Arts promotion, Arts promotion, ArtsBus, artsy shark, blog feature, Collage, collage, Collecting, collecting, creating, Drawing, Drawing, Exhibitions, Exhibitions, Famous artists, Featured artist, inspiration, Inspiration, jenny davis, Jenny Davis, Paris, Paris Art, paris art, Photography, Photography, Reclaimed art, recycled art, Recycled art, Sculpture, Sculpture, street litter, Uncategorised, Video
Posted in Artist interview, artist promotions, artist story, ArtsBus, artsy shark, blog feature, creating, Famous artists, Featured artist, Paris, Reclaimed art, street litter, Uncategorised, Video | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
Upstairs at Duroc is an English language literary and art journal based in Paris.
The next issue no. 13 of Upstairs at Duroc will be out late 2011
Why am I pleased ? because 2 of my art pieces “Parisgrit” and “250 Degrees” have been selected to be published alongside notable writers.
I will let you know more about this exciting news when Upstairs at Duroc No. 13 magazine is out and ready to read.
Tags: abstract art, abstract art, Art Books, Art Books, Artists books, ArtsBus, Books, creating, Europe, literature, magazines, Paris, paris art, Paris Art, Paris Art scene, Uncategorised
Posted in Artists books, ArtsBus, Books, creating, Europe, literature, magazines, Paris, Paris Art scene, Uncategorised | No Comments »
Friday, May 13th, 2011
My French son-in-law can be so much fun. When I go over to Paris we both go out and glean stuff off the streets. We do it on foot as we don’t have a car. Usually we leave my daughter at home as she is not as keen as us, to collect what we like. Once we are back at the apartment with our stash, I sift through it and set aside a little to play with and then I send the rest back home to Australia.
I haven’t been to France for over a year now and today I received a mysterious brown box in the post from Paris.I wasn’t expecting anything so, I was very excited to open it.
I eagerly opened the box and inside was a gorgeous pile of stuff. When I say stuff, I don’t mean glamorous things from Paris, like Loreal , Chanel or Louis Vuitton hand bags. I mean, the box was a treasure trove of French ‘detritus” litter, junk, rubbish. Stuff that usually goes into landfill, stuff gleaned from the streets of Paris. Food packaging, pretty boxes, champagne bottle tops, clothing tags, fabric scraps, glow in the dark bits of plastic, advertising and all kind of paper ephemera plus a replenish supply of baguette bags for my handmade books ….
All this wonderful stuff I reclaim and use in my collage and sculpture.
Merci, Merci , Merci ! Davidx
View my video on “Gleaning Paris for Art Materials”
Tags: Art Books, Art materials, Artists books, Books, boxes, channel, Collage, collecting, Collecting, Craft, creating, Europe, French, Hard garbage, Inspiration, Merci, paper ephemera, Paris, Paris Art, ralph laurence, recycled art, Recycled art, Sculpture, Sculpture, Street art, street litter, Uncategorised, underground spaces, Vintage fabrics, Wine Labels
Posted in Craft, creating, Europe, Paris, Street art, street litter, Uncategorised | No Comments »
Monday, April 18th, 2011
“Handmade Urban Trash book + Bag of Bits” 100% Recycled
*Recycle
*Reuse
*Remake
I don’t like to waste anything, so,recently I made a series of wire-bound books made from materials I recycled.The books are inspired by the 3 R’s and my interest into underground spaces, tunnels, derelict warehouses, city apartment storage areas, dilapidated factories & industrial spaces in Melbourne and Paris. I collect the debris left behind in the streets,consumer packaging,found objects, postcards, clothing tags, wires, bottle tops and more. All these things I like to incorporate into my pieces.
About my Books
A series of wire and hand punched, bound books decorated with wires and junk from France, plastic sheep tags and other found items. The front and back covers are glossy images from my original artworks created using street litter found from the suburbs of Melbourne Australia. Throughout the books you will discover, recycled papers, white with vintage graph papers, envelope patterned papers with hand – dyed tags and baguette bags from Paris made into pockets.Under the “Best Friends” rubber band you will find a bag of bits to embellish.
If you would like to buy a book for yourself or as a gift you can buy them here
Tags: Alternative spaces, Alternative spaces, Art Books, Art Books, Art for sale, Art for sale, Artists books, Books, Collecting, collecting, cottontail Craft & Vintage, Paris, Recycled art, recycled art, street litter, Uncategorised, Underground Spaces, underground spaces
Posted in Artists books, Books, cottontail Craft & Vintage, Paris, street litter, Uncategorised | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
MEET THE TENANT BOOK (20% discount)
During the week I was cleaning out my book shelves and came across my book, “Meet the Tenant”. An underground survey of Paris. It’s an unusual photographic survey of Paris. My photographs in this book are a “non-clichéd” look at Paris. Instead of focusing on the famous monuments, I zoom in on what is beneath the surface, photographing hidden places, including a storage area under an apartment.
I know I’m crazy but, I love spaces underground.
“There’s a life underneath the earth, and people don’t know about it, but it’s very busy and living,” she said.“I have taken photos of the Eiffel Tower but I go under it, and look at closer fragments.”
If you would like to buy a copy of my book…
Buy “Meet the Tenant’
DESCRIPTION: ” Meet the Tenant” Photography in Paris Australian Artist Jenny Davis. After a venture into the dungeon area under a Paris apartment. I could feel past lives lurking within its damp walls and eerie narrow chambers of numbered red doors. I spent many days down there alone soaking in the atmosphere of the space in order to connect to some sort of creative energy which eventually took off in all directions. I am fascinated by the beauty in the unseen the contained and murky, sometimes thought of as dirty and ugly.
Tags: abstract, Alternative spaces, Alternative spaces, art blog, Art Books, Art Books, artist, Artists books, ArtsBus, australia, book, Books, colourful, contemporary, creative space, creative space, crime, design, digital, etsy, Europe, gallery, graphic, inspiration, jenny davis, lulu, meet the tenant, modern, original, Painting, Paris, Paris Art, photo, photo book, Photography, Photography, publish, red, redbubble, Spain, Uncategorised, underground, underground spaces, unique
Posted in Artists books, ArtsBus, Books, Europe, Paris, Uncategorised, underground | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
Thank you very much Kimberley Seedy and Lawrence Pinder, for the great article and photographs you created for the Leader newspaper about my latest exhibition at Burrinja 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey Victoria
11 Feb 11 @ 06:01am by Kimberley Seedy
Jenny Davis shows some of the paintings and photographs at her Burrinja Cafe exhibition.s LAWRENCE PINDER N33FP405
A COLLECTION of paintings and photographs featuring some overseas locations are on display in a new exhibition in Upwey. Abstraction and Beyond, featuring the work of artist Jenny Davis, is on at the Burrinja Cafe until March 1.
It consists of seven framed abstract oil paintings on paper, created in Barcelona in 2005, together with mounted night photographs shot in underground locations in Paris in 2010.
Davis describes her photographs as a “non-cliched” look at Paris.
Instead of focusing on the famous monuments, she zoomed in on what was beneath the surface, photographing hidden places, including a storage area under an apartment.
Davis said she loved the spaces underground.
“There’s a life underneath the earth, and people don’t know about it, but it’s very busy and living,” she said.
“I have taken photos of the Eiffel Tower but I go under it, and look at closer fragments.”
Burrinja Cafe is at 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey.
Tags: abstract art, Alternative spaces, Alternative spaces, art artist, Art for sale, Art for sale, ArtsBus, australia, burrinja, creative space, creative space, doorways, Europe, Exhibitions, Exhibitions, french park, French photos, jenny davis, leader newspapers, night photo, nocturnal photo, Painting, Painting, Paris, Paris Art, Photography, Photography, spaces, Spain, Spanish art, Street art, Uncategorised, underground, underground spaces, Work on paper
Posted in ArtsBus, Europe, Paris, Spain, Street art, Uncategorised, underground | No Comments »
Saturday, February 5th, 2011
Exhibition update:
“Abstraction & Beyond”
Feb.2-1 March
Burrinja Cultural Center
351 Glenfern Road (cnr Matson Drv),
Upwey, VIC, 3158 .
Open Daily 9am-5pm.
If you are heading over to the Dandenongs over the next month, checkout my exhibition “Abstraction & Beyond’ at the Burrinja Cultural Center in Upwey, Victoria.
I just finished hanging the exhibition on Tuesday with the help of Amy Jo Jory, who runs the gallery at Burrinja. A cross-cultural mix of oil paintings I created at an arts residency in Barcelona, Spain, together with mounted night photographs I shot in Paris last winter.
I’m very pleased with the way it looks. My Spain paintings really connect to the space. At Burrinja they have taken on a very Australian feel yet, they are also Spanish. I can see both cultures in the paintings.
I’m relieved it’s finally up and running and all the hard work has been done. Now I like to sit back, let go of the work and relax. Although I love having exhibitions, once they are over, I am always glad to move on and begin new ideas and projects.
Burrinja Café & Bar
Open every day
Bookings: 9754 5707
Burrinja Café provides great food and coffee in a fantastic intimate atmosphere that continues the indigenous theme of Burrinja Gallery. It is an 80 seat fully licensed café that will seduce you the moment you walk in. Escape the hustle into warm ochres, great art and comfy lounges. Enjoy lunch, group get-togethers, music events, or just relax. Burrinja cafe is the ideal place to eat while visiting Burrinja to enjoy the great art or day-tripping in the Dandenong Ranges.
Functions
Burrinja & Café Bar caters for all types of functions.
Call for details on our wide range of tailored menu options
Music – see Events for the line up of music, spoken word and more at Burrinja Café
Fabulous cakes, coffees, chai and more – all fresh!·
Menu selections are always being updated, and we can cater to your individual needs
More Café Gig & Events Info at the Burrinja Cafe website
Tags: abstract art, Alternative spaces, Alternative spaces, art artist, Art for sale, Art for sale, ArtsBus, australia, burrinja, creative space, creative space, doorways, Exhibitions, Exhibitions, french park, French photos, jenny davis, leader newspapers, night photo, nocturnal photo, Painting, Painting, Paris, paris art, Paris Art, Photography, Photography, spaces, Spain, Spanish art, Uncategorised, underground, Underground Spaces, Work on paper
Posted in ArtsBus, Paris, Spain, Uncategorised | No Comments »
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
A couple of exciting things have happened to me lately that I’d like to share with you.
My latest exhibition at TPTP Project space in Montmartre Paris, France.
ROOM OF REFERENCES invites artists to share idea-evoking images and objects, and look into the ones of others. The piece can be of any kind (art work, photo, drawing, music piece, book, magazine, letter or other object) as long as it has very special/profound meaning to you, and has worked as inspiration source for you during a longer period.
You can see more about the exhibition at the gallery’s website.
https://sites.google.com/site/roomofreferences/
This is one in a series of shots I took in the underneath
area of an apartment building in Asnieres-sur-seine, Paris 2007.
The image inspired me to create “Meet the Tenant” project.
Since 2007 I have continued the project, had an image
published in a horror magazine in Australia,created a portfolio of photographs, a video
and sound installation which was exhibited in Melbourne
Australia, 2008. I also developed an art proposal seen here
http://www.outlook8studio.com/2010/01/24/meet-the-tenant-project/
In 2009/10 went back to Paris to photograph and video in
the same space including other other underground areas for future art projects in Paris and Melbourne.
Also ,when I was in Paris earlier this year I was selected to put in 3 of my paintings into a new publication “Abstractions 2010” ,New Art Review magazine, MI.USA
You can purchase the book here http://new-art-review.com/bookstore.html
Cheers for now
Tags: Alternative spaces, Alternative spaces, art magazine, artist books, artist books, artist run space, Europe, Exhibitions, Exhibitions, Installation, Installation, jenny davis, Montmartre, outlook8studio, Paris, Photography, project space, TPTP Space
Posted in Europe, Paris, underground chambers | No Comments »
Friday, January 29th, 2010
Fresh from my temporary studio in Paris….. It has been an interesting challenge creating from my “Studioinabox” in Paris set up for me by my daughter Amy .Ive had to work differently from my usual larger pieces. Pieces have become more intricate and detailed.I even created some more hand made books and collages using whatever I could find .I am enjoying re-cycling everything I can get my hands on….I just sent back to Australia 5, 7kg. boxes of junk ,collected from the streets and stuff that lovely people have given to me to re-use in my art.
Tags: Alternative spaces, Alternative spaces, Art for sale, Art for sale, Art Projects, art studio, artist, australia, box, challenge, collage, collecting, Collecting, Europe, Exhibitions, Exhibitions, Fun Stuff, hand made books, jenny davis, junk, News, old roses, Painting, Painting, Paris, Paris studio, roses, stitching, Studio, studio, textile art, Uncategorised
Posted in Europe, Paris, Uncategorised | No Comments »
Monday, October 27th, 2008
Latest news
MEET THE TENANT-I have just finished creating my first publication.
Click on the button to see a preview:
MEET THE TENANT by Australian Artist Jenny Davis
ABOUT THE BOOK Stylish small-format self published coffee table book
SIZE “9×7”
STYLE White Glossy Hardcover- Coloured photo and Title
PAGES 42 low gloss archival quality pages of 46 colour & 11 B/W of High quality HR Photographs.
LANGUAGE: English
COUNTRY: Australia
CATEGORY: Arts & Photography
COPYRIGHT YEAR: Jenny Davis © 2008
DESCRIPTION:
” Meet the Tenant” A visual essay shot in Paris by Australian Artist Jenny Davis. This is not your usual “cliché” view of Paris. ” What lurks under the City of Paris……..
I am fascinated by the beauty in the unseen the contained and murky, sometimes thought of as dirty and ugly “Meet the Tenant” started in Paris 2007 after I ventured into the dungeon area, under a Paris apartment. I could feel past lives lurking within it’s damp walls and eerie narrow chambers of numbered red doors. I spent many days down there alone, soaking in the atmosphere of the space, in order to connect to some sort of creative energy. Eventually, it took off in all directions.
This book will be very limited in it’s print run
PLEASE NOTE
The sale of this book or any other of my prints or photography does not transfer any copyright or reproduction rights. COPYRIGHT: Jenny Davis © 2015
Tags: art book, Art Books, art gallery, artist book, Arts promotion, Arts promotion, glossy book, jenny davis, limited edition artist books, Paris, photographs, Photography, Photography, picture book, self publishing, underground spaces
Posted in Paris, the dungeon, underground chambers | No Comments »
Thursday, October 25th, 2007
PARISGRIT VIDEO & SOUND INSTALLATION
Photography – Painting – Collage
In Paris there is beauty everywhere. So where did my ‘head-down’ inspiration for Parisgrit come from?
Probably my contrary view that beauty is what we make it. So I explored the underground spaces, surfaces, corners, crevices, signage, graffiti and even discarded packaging of Paris, finding as much interest there as a tourist sees in the classic art and architecture.
It’s all street art – digital images, street litter and objects for collage – that I impulsively, obsessively collected from the Paris under my feet. Parisgrit is the other beauty of Paris, the ignored and neglected surprises and symbols, filtered through the mischief in my heart and grit in my eyes! Amusez vous …Jenny Davis 2007
In May 2007 ,I traveled to Paris and was part of an exhibition in Berlin with 4 other Melbourne artists, After a few hitches the artists finally enjoyed an opening at the Bob Curtiz Contemporary Movement gallery in Berlin ,which included the attendance of dignitaries’ from the Australian embassy in Germany.
I also spent 3 months in Asnieres-Sur-Seine in Paris, the once home of 18th century painter, Georges Seurat who painted the famous “Une Baignade a`Asnieres”
Living amongst the local, ethnic communities I was able to breathe in the essence of life and culture of Paris. Time was spent strolling through the museums, Louvre, D’orsay and the Pompidou, and the not so touristy areas, to network with the artists & galleries to see what their local artists were up to. I observed the spirit of the “French Café” noticing much of it remains as, it was in the earlier days with its red districts, brothels and porno joints, all still colorfully alive.
I explored areas like Mont Martre and places where legendary artists and writers once frequented. Where art movements, such as, Dadaism, Impressionism and Surrealism were argued and created. I loaded myself with camera, video, paintbrush and rubbish bags and explored underground spaces, surfaces, corners, crevices, signage, the Metro and Graffiti. I collected discarded, street litter and consumer packaging and bought it back to Australia to create with back in my studio.
Tags: collecting, contemporary art, Europe, Exhibitions, Installation, jenny davis, Painting, Paris, Parisgrit, Photography, Sculpture, Street art, Video
Posted in Europe, Paris, Street art, Video | No Comments »
