I just love this story …inspires me to keep working on my art projects which link back to my own treks of working in underground spaces below Paris over the past 5 years.
Thirty years ago, in the dead of night, a group of six Parisian teenagers pulled off what would prove to be a fateful theft. They met up at a small café near the Eiffel Tower to review their plans—again—before heading out into the dark. Read full story by Jon Lackman …
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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
Over the past few months I have been making art inside the house as the studio has been cold this winter. One day, when all my exhibitions are “sell-outs”, I will be able to install adequate heating in the studio. Until then,I just wear extra hats, scarves and jackets.
Lately, I have become quite addicted to bookmaking and drawing. This year I’ve made all kinds of books, using recycled, vintage papers, wallpaper, fabric and canvas mixed with found objects and new materials.
My latest “A Bunch of Dirty Books’ are made from damaged vintage medical and natural scientist books. I dirtied the pages from an old dye recipe I found and will work within the pages and eventually make an edition of around 100 or more.
SPIRIT OF THE VALLEY
An abstract feeling ….In this painting I wanted to capture the “Spirit of the Valley” in an abstract way. The colours connect to the mood of Yarra Valley’s lively communities, rich in it’s, various cultures. The arts, food and wine intermingled with the tranquillity and soul of the surrounding landscape
To see all my work please go to my ‘Gallery”
Funny how things seem to workout. Recently I had a fall and broke my arm.
I have been wanting for ages to update my” Gallery” but, always find it too hard to drag myself away from the studio. Since breaking my arm though, I’ve had too slow down and take it easy. Over the past few weeks I have managed to use the computer with my left hand to upload more paintings, drawings and sculpture for you to browse.
I offer all my art at studio prices, eliminating huge gallery and agent fees.
Saving you $100’s…
Please see Buyer Info
If you have any questions or would like to see a high resolution photo of a piece, please contact me at Outlook8studio and I will do my best to help you.
Hope you enjoy !
“Stimulate your senses.Suggestive and powerful abstract art with a spark, to generate new ways of thinking, to move and inspire us. Jenny Davis award winning, Australian Contemporary artist , paint’s what she feels. Bold and stunningly colorful abstract paintings, that reveals the power and brightness of color, through the different effects of form and texture which spring from the canvas.”
Paula Trevisan, International Art,Ferrara , Italy in 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
Meet the Tenant Project – The Dungeon Paris
Over the past 3 months I have been living and making art with my daughter in Paris. I came here to finish off an arts project I started 2 years ago.
Meet the Tenant project began during the Summer of 2007, when I ventured down into the underground area of an apartment block in Asnieres sur seine. I sensed the presence of past lives lurking within the walls and this became the starting point for my project.
I call this space “The Dungeon” Within days I had massed hundreds of images, video, photos and drawings. I took them back to my studio in Australia and have been working on the project ever since. I edited the videos into an 18 minute piece and printed out some of the photos. Developed a story-line which keeps changing, and created a proposal to be performed . (See 1st draft below)
Today back in Paris 2010, I’m still no closer to resolving this project its forever ongoing and not sure where it will end up and its driving me mad.
Proposal No.1 $10,000 – Jenny Davis 2010
“Go to Paris from Australia & live in an underground space for 7 days and document everything that happens with video, photographs, drawings, whatever. All things created become yours. You will own the experience, everything, including my clothes, shoes, food containers ,implements etc…I will deliver them to you. The art piece is… The whole experience…. you can do with it what you want”
(Due to sub zero temps. this project was canceled and may be performed at a later date)
An underground space under the Notre Dame Paris
Map copyright PlanetWare.com
Every artist has their own way of preparing before creating. In this blog entry I would like to share with you what I do, before creating a site specific artwork.
A BIT ABOUT MY CREATIVE PROCESS
Capturing the wholeness of a space is most important for me.
For creating the work, or idea, I need to physically spend a lot of time in the space where I will be creating the work. Not only, do I need to consider the site visually, I also have to feel it, hear, the silence, the noise, touch the textures, and take in the aroma of the surrounding layers of the environment . This helps me to capture the realness and essence of the space.
All random ideas and thoughts are recorded. This may take the form of written notes, quick drawings, paintings, photos, taken at different times of the day and night. I may also use video and sound.
Sometimes my response is so strong, I will have a basic idea working around in my head before I get back to the studio. I then work out how Im going to take my idea into reality. Working with the creative process allows me to be more spontaneous in my approach to the making of the work. The materials I use can be randomly chosen as I go along or, I will purposely choose a material that will express my ideas.
How do you kick- start your creativity?
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.
