One thing leads to another, everything is connected…
split second images flash by – embed
opening cracks
rough
rust
decay
rubble
dirt
paint
crumble
torn
scratchy
weathered
worn
unseen
forgotten
abandoned beauty…
Posts Tagged ‘Art Projects’
View of Urban Paris.
Friday, April 6th, 2018Fragments. An old chair. Inspiration for new work.
Wednesday, February 7th, 2018As a small child I pulled things apart. Even, before I could talk, I ripped apart dolls and toys. I used to make little displays, installations of the fragments and other discarded things. Today I still pull things apart. I find fragments more pleasing and sometimes, even more interesting than the original object.
Recently, I pulled apart an old chair that had been hanging around for years. The wood was still good. The cloth and leather had grit and rust, just perfect for sculpture. The rustic bits and pieces also related to some textile fragments, I unpicked from an 1800’s, quilt topper. I’m still working on outcomes and painting has crept in too. Below are some pics of the process.
BOAA – Biennale of Australian Art 2018.
Thursday, June 15th, 2017I am happy to announce I have been selected from 800 artists across Australia, to be part of BOAA-Biennale of Australian Art in 2018.
BOAA is a multi layered art festival with various opportunities for artistic engagement. My work will be part of the ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ project, which will be BOAA’s largest installation. Supported by the City of Ballarat, this installation will form an impressive sea of images representing artists Australia wide and it will be displayed in Ballarat’s historic Mining Exchange building.
No. 2. Old clothes. Recycling. Art Making.
Sunday, March 1st, 2015Follow-up from a previous post Old clothes. Recycling. Art Making.
Playing with textiles, wax and trying to work out my new camera.
De-constructing a man’s suit.
Wafers of wax, felt & linen
Specimens to play with flesh- like
Waxed string twined
Spirals
Hand- sewn surface marks
Links to Joseph Beuy’s felt works and underground spaces seen in Paris
Similar to scientific or, geological specimens from an antique book
Paris Manhole. Underground Spaces.
Sunday, October 26th, 2014Found Abstractions
Manholes utility holes, cable chambers, access chambers, inspection chambers, maintenance holes, confined spaces) Top openings to underground spaces.
Photographs taken in Paris, France and England by Jenny Davis. 2005,2007 & 2009.
” No Yes” Book.
Monday, September 22nd, 2014Today I made my first ever limited edition artist books. The past few weeks I’ve been working with Queensland artist, Jack Oudyn creating, 2 original artist books. We sent the original books across the country many times in the post, from Victoria to QLD, so we could both add our marks.
“No Yes” Book 1/3
It has been a challenge to get the maths right with the edition. They are far from perfect and I lost a few marks in the process, which, I think only adds to their charm and it’s been a lot of fun, learning from mistakes made along the way.
Each little “No Yes” book measures W4 x H5 x L40cm. made from 160gsm. goatskin parchment paper in cream.
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- Testing Colours
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- “No Yes” Book Front
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- Testing Sizes
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- “No Yes” Book Side 1
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- Book Print Copies
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- “No Yes” Book Side 2
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- “No Yes” Book w/out String
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- Sizing Up
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- “No Yes” Foldout
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- “No Yes” Book 1/3 Finished
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- Testing Sizes
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- “No Yes” Book 1/3 Finished
Collaborative Art Project.
Sunday, August 24th, 2014The original “No Yes” book below is now finished after 2 collaborative swaps with Australian artist Jack Oudyn
Please see previous post on “Collaborative Art”
1st swap with my marks only
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- “No Yes” Book
2nd swap with Jacks marks and we both decided it was finished!
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- “No Yes” Book
It has an oriental feel to it.
Coming up soon, the other finished artist book!
Sun Prints. Coffee. Vintage Textiles.
Saturday, August 23rd, 2014Experimenting today with sun prints using coffee and the sun
Vintage damaged cloth stretched over wooden frames with French flourish stamping
Tattered antique French doilies placed on top of stretched cloth
Using the doilies as a stencils spray with coffee and vinegar diluted in hot water and leave under the sun for an hour or so
Resulting in subtle ghostly images embedded for further embellishment later
Iron each image 3 mins. to make colour fast
Collaborative Art. Artist Books.
Sunday, August 17th, 2014
We mostly think of artists working alone in a studio to produce works of art but, artists have also been working collaboratively, in groups and partnerships for centuries, even in the Renaissance. Now with technology, it’s even easier to connect and work with other creative people.
Lately, I have been working on a collaborative arts project with Australian artist Jack Oudyn using a couple of little handmade books I created .
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- “No Yes” Book
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- Work in progress…
The books are sent by snail- mail back and forth to each other. We then, work on each page, the reverse sides or, add to each others marks and collage, until we are both satisfied with the piece.
We will then, colour photocopy the book and both have a copy, or keep an original each.
After 2 collaborative swaps the book below is still a work in progress. Today, I created more marks and will send it off to Jack, for more additions or thoughts on the project.
I find it lots of fun and liberating working in this way, as well as, a bit scary. You never know if you will connect with each others mark- making and make the piece, work for both artists.
You can see the “No Yes” book finished here…
Mail Art. Nomad Art. Transportable Art.
Wednesday, July 9th, 2014Finished Mail Art. Sending off to Australia, France, South Africa, USA, Canada and Portugal.
“Earth Works” series.
Gocco screen print. Distress inks. Stencil. Thread. Collage. Coloured pencil on vintage graph paper and found cardboard packaging.
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- “Mail Art” Jenny Davis
Spirit of the Valley
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010SPIRIT 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
“Studioinabox Paris
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.
Meet the Tenant Project – The Dungeon Paris
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
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
Preparing for a site specific artwork
Sunday, January 24th, 2010Every 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?
My Found-object Sculpture
Saturday, June 27th, 2009
DIARY ENTRY 2005“Surfaces tell the stories of History’s children. I travelled the surface of the battles. Napoleon and Hitler’s slaughter. The senseless bloodshed of scores of the Holy wars. As I entered the borders it invaded my skin, then, seeping into my soul, I saw where it happened over and over again. It clings to me and will stay.
In England I saw a ghost in nave at Canterbury Cathedral and visited the wonderful sea side village of Rye. Nearby the weird, bizarre but wonderful Dungeness. And the fantastic museum in Maidstone where I was the only one, creeping through the old corridors. I loved its ancientness.
In Spain, I felt the genius of Dali, Gaudi , Miro, Picasso and Antoni Tapies.The magic of Don Quixote, Flamenco, the dance and Catalan language.
I had fun with Tarrentino’s, Pulp Fiction in France and the beautiful city of Paris with its beautiful goldness, but no toilets. I fell in love with Venice , Florence and the Renaissance. The architecture cathedrals and more.”
ART FOR LIFE: bushfire appeal
Friday, March 20th, 2009
ART FOR LIFE: Art Auction Bushfire Appeal
What is Art For Life all about
The Art for Life Bushfire Appeal has been established to raise money for the rebuilding of communities tragically affected by the recent bushfires in Victoria.
It is a grassroots “community for community” effort to raise funds but we also want it to be a celebration of our communities creative spirit and provide exposure and recognition for Australian artists and their works.
100% of funds raised from the sale of works will go to the cause. As well as that, within our best efforts, every aspect of the event will be donated to maximize the amount that can go to the cause. All involved in making this idea a reality are volunteering their time, this includes the entertainers and function volunteer staff who we gratefully acknowledge.
Art For Life bushfire appeal is an auction of donated art works to be held in the Melbourne Town Hall Supper Room on 27 March from 6.30pm.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The event is sponsored by Melbourne City Council under the auspices by The Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation
Some of the contributing artists include Lisa Roet, Heather Shimmen, Angela Brennan, Debra Rhee, Jamie Daddo, Jenny Davis, Thomas DeKessler, Elisabeth Sands and Mary Newsome.
Letters from the Border
Sunday, March 8th, 2009
Letters from the Border Jenny Davis
The flower rose from the desert floor
Pushing its way through the dry hard crust like a white rag flapping its surrender into the dust
Time slowed to a halt for one soldier he clicked the camera.
An interruption to the vile slaughter he had witnessed earlier that morning
The image arrived penetrating the depths of her soul for she knew the little desert flower from the border would change the fragility of humanity forever
Finally after all the fires in Victoria I’m starting to create again and catch up with my work in the studio. Pictures above show images of the hubcap I created for the Landfillart project in US.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
LETTERS FROM THE BORDER is actually a series of many pieces I have been working on for years…..This piece is a collage of images taken from my collections.
A copy of an original Imperial letter from Berlin I own dated early 1900’s
A piece of writing I created in 2003 in connection to Iraq Photos and emails I received from a US soldier when he was on the border in Kuwait waiting to invade Iraq.He described to me what happened to his troops on that day and night.
They were bombed 30 times as they crossed the border.
We conversed with emails for a few months then nothing .I don’t know what happened to him I haven’t been able to find out.
The bomb like image is a photo of a plastic toy I have that sits inside one of my box sculptures.The soldier images are from the photos he sent me of himself and his crew. I had made a few zines out of these images then I tore one up for this work. It was all originally on stretched canvas but I cut it out for the hubcap and sealed it….
The desert flower refers to a photo he sent me as he was entering over the border into Iraq…a little flower a glimmer of hope in the dry dusty desert
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Landfillart is an international effort encompassing one-thousand-forty-one (1,041) artists to claim a piece of rusted metal garbage and create fine art.
The ultimate goals of this project are twofold. The first is to compile a book with the story and photos of the evolution of http://www.landfillart.org and the coming together of 1041 artists worldwide for a common cause, making great art out of rusted refuse. Only artists could lead such a charge. The other goal is to select 200 of these metal canvases to travel and inspire other such movement