Reminiscing: Story of Stratford art project

I was reminded the other day of one of my projects I implemented whilst in London working at Westfield Shoppingtowns Ltd as their inaugural Public Art Coordinator.

Story of Stratford
image courtesy of http://uk.westfield.com

The project was called The Story of Stratford a two year art project to document the progress of the Stratford City development (the site adjacent to the 2012 Olympics). British artist who lives in the East End Helen Marshall, creatively lead the project working with participants from local schools. It was managed by A New Direction, an independent not for profit organisation which advocates for and facilitates creative learning, by connecting young people and schools with creative practitioners and organisations.

It documents the progress of the Stratford City development, from a building site in 2009 to an operational retail centre upon its opening in 2011 and the project explored how the history and regeneration of Stratford will change the lives of the students and their families.

Importantly the project enabled the children to engage with the site, develop their creativity and encourage learning in a fun and creative environment.

The project finished last year in 2011 and it is exciting to see how it has developed.

Finalist for Goulburn Regional Art Gallery Award

Nest, 2012, Constructed textiles. 16 x 13 x 7.5 cm
Photography by Art Atelier

Ive been selected as a finalist for the 2012 Goulburn Regional Art Awards.
Squee!
Winners will be announced at the opening on Thursday 22 November.
Fingers crossed
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Art Maps: Capital of Culture & QBN Art Trail

In amongst the exhibitions, working, teaching, studying and designing tea towels for the Canberra legacy of good design award I have been designing maps for Art Trails.

You may have seen them floating around Canberra promoting the local arts organisations. If you would like to down load a copy, visit the Craft ACT: Craft and Design website. Maps are also available from the Canberra Visitors Centre.

Hot off the press is the Queanbeyan Art Trail map - to promote this year's art trail which you can either do yourself, or participate in a chauffered bus tour on  Sunday 25 November 2013.

I participated in the bus tour for the Queanbeyan Art Trail last year and had a fabulous time. We discovered studios, saw artists at work, and visited galleries that I had been meaning to do so, but hadnt quite got there. Not to mention we were very well fed with morning tea at Benedict House, a lovely lunch under Wisteria vines, and wine at the Artist Shed studios. 

To download a copy of the map or to make a booking visit the Queanbeyan City Council. Maps are also available from the Queanbeyan Visitors Centre.

Happy 'Arting'!

My week in images

Monday: Scenic views

Tuesday: At work

Wednesday: glaze testing

Thursday: designing 

Friday: trying out new recipes

Saturday: champagne, coffee, cake and knitting with friends

Sunday: coffee in the sunshine

Fields of gold

Ive been zig zagging across the country and have seen some amazing views.

This is one of them. Spectacular, isnt it.

A field of golden canola, such a vibrant contrast to the muted tones of the Australian bush.

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Flashes of my past in the future exhibition

My work for the Flashes of my past in the future exhibition at M16 is a continuation of exploring images sketched of my cottage.

The sketches of domestic scenes have been translated into delicate embroidered objects. Sometimes the thread is almost invisible until illuminated by strong light – like a memory which almost forgotten, flashing back in a moment of clarity.

Cake Plate
Photography by Art Atelier

Milk Jug (bathroom)
Photography by Art Atelier

Nest 1 (kitchen)
Photography by Art Atelier

Sugar Bowl (inherited treasures)
Photography by Art Atelier

Tea Pot (conservatory)
Photography by Art Atelier

Daily Rituals (loungeroom)
Photography by Art Atelier

Jocelyn Rosen's photographic work is taken from her life over the last six months. It features portraits of friends and family as well as moments from travel to Japan, and the Gold Coast. The images are dark, complex and explore fleeting moments and observations of the unusual. Jocelyn likes pairing images and playing with contrasts in sets and

sequences. The portraits in this exhibition are paired with textures or landscapes or details. They speak to each other on an emotive level, providing context and mood.

Orange by Jocelyn Rosen

Rain by Jocelyn Rosen

Sisters by Jocelyn Rosen

White Waves by Jocelyn Rosen

We have planned a joint exhibition together over years. With notebooks at hand and over cups of tea or wine, ideas have been shared, discussed and forgotten, laughed away, or simply put on the back-burner. It is exciting for us to finally share some of their ideas at this point and exhibit our work in a gallery together.

Although using different mediums, the work is similar due to its personal nature, its fascination with form and texture, its considered nature and the fact that it features scenes from the interior life and domestic landscapes. We hope this is the first of many future collaborations as artists and friends.

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Award winning Tea Towel designs

Ive been keeping these designs a secret (which is jolly hard to do) for the past couple of months.

Thankfully they were launched a couple of weeks ago as part of the Canberra100 launch at the Canberra Theatre a week or so ago.

Yay! Now I can finally share them with you :)

Canberra Icons 1 (360 view of Lake Burley Griffen)
Photography by Art Atelier

Canberra Icons 2 (360 view of Lake Burley Griffen)
Photography by Art Atelier

The Canberra Icons tea towel is designed so that you can display them side by side, the design being continuous across the two tea towels.

I heart Canberra
Photography by Art Atelier

And the cheeky I heart Canberra with a love heart coming out of Parliament House. Some of you may remember my I heart Canberra that has a love heart sitting on top of Telstra Tower which was the predecessor to this current design.

Although they are not available until the end of October, you can place your orders now and to see the other winning designs by visiting the Craft ACT website or by emailing project [at] craftact.org.au.