tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887516096207810972024-03-14T06:12:12.142+10:00feffakookanMel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-71116446856135688492011-04-04T14:31:00.010+10:002011-04-07T17:27:09.425+10:00I heART Japan<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0fLu8TzWonTAZwQ0WQ6DpoOCUfaqVK2fWvQbxpAp6tcyHgDn0rFfGeut82yqhnck8kzNDRn023EfeB9RL391VlSFr2NoWJ4uhsQZDg0_H5cP92pHs0zlRZl8ukBBM4Wr89Txy_XthRQ/s400/i-heART-japan02-small.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591589492833701298" />Japan holds a special place in my heart. I spent 3 years at university studying its culture and language, an amazing couple of years living and working there in my early 20s, and many of my family and friends hail from Japan. So it has been distressing, to say the least, watching events unfold there over the last few weeks. <a href="http://www.kamenendo.blogspot.com/">Kenji Uranishi</a> - my dear friend, co-collaborator, studio buddy and all-round super guy - and his equally awesome wife Sonia have organised the <a href="http://myworld.ebay.com.au/i_heart_japan">I heART Japan online charity art auction</a> to raise money for the Red Cross Japan and Pacific Appeal 2011. They have gathered together a wonderful collection of work from 20 artists from across the country (ceramics, painting, photography, design, sculpture) to be auctioned on eBay from 7-10th April. I'm so glad to be able to be a part of this and have donated the two bowls pictured below for auction.<div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lSajDIFIB06VOM3UX9IYoNRnt-N-zvJCbNCAAz_zByl8aA0YVSWWWDxtffRTOiWwYNYVICp-7PyoRhLz20FsR-0CGSdqogCT2kYpcWfKZDe2cx-u1k-diJPSlSY02o3XP13oFea2X_0/s400/mel-robson-teabowls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591590671041713906" /><div><div>It has been a tragic and surreal start to the year and the magnitude of the disaster(s) is hard to comprehend. But if you can, please support the <a href="http://myworld.ebay.com.au/i_heart_japan">I heART Japan auction</a> and help out whilst also getting yourself some wonderful artworks.</div><div><br /></div><div>The work of all participating artists can be previewed <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=196940070336811&aid=45605">HERE</a> in advance of the auction and bidding starts <a href="http://myworld.ebay.com.au/i_heart_japan">HERE</a> on Thursday April 7th (8pm EST) and ends Sunday April 10th (8pm EST). </div></div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-27753219973669630392011-02-17T18:07:00.019+10:002011-02-25T15:52:24.083+10:00Forming Words<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo59TiIfmjeQnjcbvTFpF2EXr7Di76B3SRAviEDKcPWVLSHzH7cAvIR6RuOKIMIKZOpyxsHlqzWaVy4ViaLi5fWfTyc9L-y1msRnAzygzoVbxL4RJ3LNqwPTN-On-qNL0TwVxyd7IJXU/s1600/Forming-Words-invitation-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 183px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyo59TiIfmjeQnjcbvTFpF2EXr7Di76B3SRAviEDKcPWVLSHzH7cAvIR6RuOKIMIKZOpyxsHlqzWaVy4ViaLi5fWfTyc9L-y1msRnAzygzoVbxL4RJ3LNqwPTN-On-qNL0TwVxyd7IJXU/s400/Forming-Words-invitation-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574627279222349234" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well you know I love a bit of text, and I'm quite keen on ceramics too, so its nice to be part of a show that celebrates all things ceramicky AND texty. Here's the exhibition blurb, and a big thank you to </span></span><a href="http://www.sophiemilne.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sophie Milne</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and Ingrid Tufts for organising the show. Its at </span></span><a href="http://www.northcotepottery.com.au/pan-gallery"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pan Gallery</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in Melbourne, and opens March 3rd. Pop along if you can!</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:medium;"><p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Text on ceramics has a long and rich history, from ancient pictograms scratched on clay tablets to provocative works from the conceptual art movement of the 60s and 70s. </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Forming Words</span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is an exhibition designed to explore and articulate ideas within this popular movement in ceramic practice.</span></span></span></i></p><p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ceramic art has the ability to communicate without words, through touch, sight and use, making the decision to incorporate text a deliberate and potentially provocative choice. Eight Australian ceramicists exhibit works that explore how the written word furthers our appreciation of a three dimensional artwork, merging text and form to convey a cohesive idea."</span></span></span></i></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Exhibiting artists:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Jane Walton, Connie Lichti, Kylie Johnson, Mel Robson, Jan Downes, Ingrid Tufts, Wendy Hadfield-Smith, Sarit Cohen</span></span></span></p></span></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-84518218446344017422011-02-01T20:24:00.011+10:002011-02-02T20:37:05.093+10:00Waltjim Bat MatildaWe came across this the other night on <a href="http://nitv.org.au/">NITV</a> (National Indigenous Television). Its the best version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltzing_Matilda">Waltzing Matilda</a> I've heard! Keep an ear out for the baaaaaaaa. <div><br /></div><div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/11348260" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/11348260">Waltjim Bat Matilda - Ali Mills</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/skinnyfishmusicvideos">Skinnyfish Music</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-6023888332608436002011-02-01T13:33:00.006+10:002011-02-01T14:15:18.534+10:00Flood Relief Ceramic Auction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEN3tk_8ok1lhTFqw09YOLHSSBf5em3-h7WmeFL_L2aKarNapHJCwUraBh5iloDcHqjEEDuLhWG-G7-6f2r04pcc4uwui5tedX6g1QQzzlMOoQI8VuNoZFWTMKDu772YR0Paa-CkrgEFI/s1600/auction3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEN3tk_8ok1lhTFqw09YOLHSSBf5em3-h7WmeFL_L2aKarNapHJCwUraBh5iloDcHqjEEDuLhWG-G7-6f2r04pcc4uwui5tedX6g1QQzzlMOoQI8VuNoZFWTMKDu772YR0Paa-CkrgEFI/s400/auction3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568569649760951698" /></a><div>I am sure many of you are aware of the devastating floods that affected QLD (and other parts of the country) recently. To help raise funds for <a href="http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html">The Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal</a> the <i>indefatigable</i> Melbourne-based ceramicist <a href="http://www.vipoo.com/">Vipoo Srivilasa</a> has galvanised and organised over 40 ceramic artists to donate work to be auctioned on ebay, with all proceeds going to the flood fund.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>The auction goes live on Thursday February 3rd and will end on Sunday February 6th at 9pm. Its a pretty impressive list of both Australian and international artists so please go and have a look and support Vipoo's fantastic efforts and those affected by the floods. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can preview some of the works <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=272770&id=575149884&l=1fbbab1d0b">here</a>, and find out more information about the auction <a href="http://www.vipoo.com/">here</a>. </div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-18400512686572641862011-01-28T13:59:00.017+10:002011-02-05T15:38:48.763+10:00Things i'm coveting from afar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0X476w5fsSirkXtUjc2k4tnyLPUx8ar5hKv4jPxMvHQYSErZCAnLH2LueB7ed6blthpUZe57c_owAVzH1AOHmn3dUw8RsM8i_8MMdo_0wVFlz7ar1kFiB69BlGhEuilxS059HIEYl1k/s1600/HeartChair5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0X476w5fsSirkXtUjc2k4tnyLPUx8ar5hKv4jPxMvHQYSErZCAnLH2LueB7ed6blthpUZe57c_owAVzH1AOHmn3dUw8RsM8i_8MMdo_0wVFlz7ar1kFiB69BlGhEuilxS059HIEYl1k/s400/HeartChair5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567084441534274018" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have been coveting this chair for a couple of months now, ever since my friend Laura, half of the dynamic duo of Lismore-based chair lovers </span></span><a href="http://www.flourishandblume.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fourish and Blume</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, emailed me a pic of it. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">They’ve just started a </span></span><a href="http://www.flourishandblume.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, documenting the transformation of their finds of musty old chairs </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and couches (nicked from the roadside or garnered from the iconic </span></span><a href="http://www.tender.net.au/Default.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lismore Tender Centre</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) into beautiful pieces like this. Little dynamos they are! While the process of transformation is fascinating, one of the most interesting things is the astonishing amount of stuff they find down the back of the chairs and couches - everything from ten dollar notes, pens and keys through to miniature plastic tennis rackets and embroidered kookaburras.</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Have a look at their </span></span><a href="http://www.flourishandblume.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">brand new blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil23is3CdKSl7zcLVJPOyN7IxzkDVCI7J1PiiKHoeedKdFEnxWFwt-TbJ6iIl-Es1swlHNLi3ES-g2X9tKfS4mf8XR0wYSd4Std9-gZos40BzLlRrm5OBJSnr1D-OkGypkll5ogG-iLlE/s400/f1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567083494107513154" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And this beauuuuuuutiful bowl from ceramic artist </span><a href="http://www.mariakristofersson.se/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Maria Kristofersson</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (found via </span><a href="http://aplateaday.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a plate a day</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">). See more of her lovely work </span><a href="http://www.mariakristofersson.se/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-20473712220576499902011-01-19T11:32:00.015+10:002011-01-28T17:19:07.890+10:00Helter swelter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWxjWyLLsmJDig6o0bHfBH_RDxYGw9VbAgADnz4FobABdLlhBzz9pwQDN5PGm07aA1LhFvmQy3tb6H0NACoIi2PCoziBzOmDZMCw8UxqemvAkUKCu5_ugQL4fmsW8ZzMCziJ1aN_-Hxg/s1600/IMG_0213.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWxjWyLLsmJDig6o0bHfBH_RDxYGw9VbAgADnz4FobABdLlhBzz9pwQDN5PGm07aA1LhFvmQy3tb6H0NACoIi2PCoziBzOmDZMCw8UxqemvAkUKCu5_ugQL4fmsW8ZzMCziJ1aN_-Hxg/s400/IMG_0213.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563704130410731042" /></a>Geez....its hot out here. 42 degrees today. But strangely bearable.<div><br /><div>This picture was taken out at Simpson's Gap. I wasn't trying to be all special effectsy with it. My daughter dropped my camera on the ground and now all the photos come out with this slightly pyschadelic blurry edge. Sometimes it kind of works!</div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-80820258857687734632010-12-03T11:37:00.015+10:002011-01-28T17:28:15.775+10:00Fio and me<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10mUbpvIQwfbTBmkFLov68uQaV_uL0Uhe-fb38CbQ0s5fPpfCPMrMLI6C8f6B_i7ChHnCT5r80_Wkcd1zWtvY2KdW6N2tLbo-T6gf6JHkadOQJ7zseen-hWxp-RwkfyzxazklHwD_cPc/s400/IMG_9794.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546264198683291154" /><div style="text-align: left;">Brisbane based jeweller and object maker <a href="http://fio-contemporary.com/matt-dwyer/">Matt Dwyer (FIO)</a> and I have been working together over the last few months on some collaborative pieces for a client of his - a series of little porcelain, ebony and sterling silver cups to go with a very beautiful ebony and sterling silver teapot he made last year (see pic below). I've left the finished porcelain pieces with him in Brisbane to work his magic on them, inlaying the ebony and sterling silver, and can't wait to see the final result.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnZVqjnpvMWPPX0UpzXdsndXCLgokD7EvOnUCKC7rXIYqgpGANuD6ikO90r9KT2c5PyU94rD6E6_UEGahj17gKUVLAlVBB2ni9ic7PYqp_MQHsLHz5DIJPo5uIGn8Hf-7q5cxKznYw2U/s400/plume-teapot-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567089159645135602" /><div>We were hoping to do a few more things together but now that I have headed bush it will have to wait-a-while. As much as its nice to be pulling back a little from work, its so hard walking away from things like this! <a href="http://fio-contemporary.com/matt-dwyer/">Matt</a> has a beautiful shop/studio/workshop called <a href="http://fio-contemporary.com/matt-dwyer/">Fio</a> in at James Street in Brisbane. Drop in if you can, or check out his work <a href="http://fio-contemporary.com/matt-dwyer/">here</a>. I'll post images of the final pieces when they are done.</div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-24945384524657006862010-11-25T08:07:00.013+10:002010-11-25T09:03:26.857+10:00Off to the desert!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnUHoBmHgOSoRfARukt0unZdzcwwNem7G1FydfB0k6VPJPwGpLWmnIfjNuVMXYuRXPUrKoL96RplK-1GjLBYaJ29YU74XBDdWMiMjQ4BtvZQYnAvB7DJMTK-mF5Fp5LRQdSbKFstPp0o/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnUHoBmHgOSoRfARukt0unZdzcwwNem7G1FydfB0k6VPJPwGpLWmnIfjNuVMXYuRXPUrKoL96RplK-1GjLBYaJ29YU74XBDdWMiMjQ4BtvZQYnAvB7DJMTK-mF5Fp5LRQdSbKFstPp0o/s400/9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543254883000458818" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">We’ve just come back from a few days in </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Springs">Alice Springs</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">, checking out the town and surrounds, which in just a few short weeks is going to be our new home! Yep, Central Australia here we come! Its all very exciting! The Engineer (in collaboration with the sun) will be working on solving the world’s energy problems, and me and the little lady…well, we haven’t quite worked out what we’ll be doing there yet! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">The desert certainly did a good job of wooing us though – after all the near record rainfall it was a mild 28 degrees, the Todd river was flowing, the hills were covered in green (!!!), and purple and yellow wildflowers were sprouting everywhere! Somehow I don’t think January is going to be quite like that, but it was magic and any small anxieties I had about leaving the big smoke dissipated within 5 minutes of arriving.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">So, I will be hanging up the overalls for a while, and I must confess that I am quite excited about the prospect of a break from making - its been an exhausting couple of years! I will still be doing some work to finish off my </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://feffakookan.blogspot.com/2010/09/moving-forward.html">Australia Council project</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">, and a few other projects that are already underway, but it will be nice to pull back a little and soak up some new scenery, some new experiences and some new adventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">The next few weeks are all about the mammoth task of packing up my studio and our house….or I could just keep sitting here blogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Four posts in one day…I think that’s more than I’ve done all year! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">I believe this is called </span><i>procrastination</i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">Chop chop!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-69002486784575916652010-11-25T07:58:00.020+10:002010-11-25T09:10:00.068+10:00It tastes (and looks) better<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OIeenDdirs0CQeq0vPaAxDoPr2BIjHGEEOIdKAIq85l_CesKh5RyQjZzDR2_vCwQ5G8OyptJR4bkjL3aHrZDGmkc6o8gvuK4FWJDCIXcKD_-dqmkgl-NRSEfm6-r_UjFg3Xc3SnAdLM/s1600/img_book_itb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OIeenDdirs0CQeq0vPaAxDoPr2BIjHGEEOIdKAIq85l_CesKh5RyQjZzDR2_vCwQ5G8OyptJR4bkjL3aHrZDGmkc6o8gvuK4FWJDCIXcKD_-dqmkgl-NRSEfm6-r_UjFg3Xc3SnAdLM/s400/img_book_itb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543257268352491026" /></a><a href="http://kyliekwong.org/">Kylie Kwong's </a>latest book is jam packed with handmade ceramics from makers such as <a href="http://kirstencoelho.com/">Kirsten Coelho</a>, Lesa Farant and myself. Its nice to see my work filled with such yumminess! And nice to see a celeb chef using so many handmade pots.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVckXdV0hNPqXRSfIdl3vJpKzZeXITiz73L-_wVvXCx0jQOQLozAySoBqJcy_i0MWK0ytFazniCprwmKsesBNbUrbBuzXUTscmo3nveWckjpQ2JtjsGO8CXklDWfX2LUpBAB7vDHFBs8/s1600/IMG_9761.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVckXdV0hNPqXRSfIdl3vJpKzZeXITiz73L-_wVvXCx0jQOQLozAySoBqJcy_i0MWK0ytFazniCprwmKsesBNbUrbBuzXUTscmo3nveWckjpQ2JtjsGO8CXklDWfX2LUpBAB7vDHFBs8/s400/IMG_9761.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543257264924884226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(pickled rainbow chard) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-78673453674698523182010-11-25T07:00:00.005+10:002010-11-25T07:30:47.452+10:00Sewing Circle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhentsdjhZLwrCy_-iZXnpBxxvRjunKMZLDYPyfrHD-wLMVMAkx1kZL4C6MJWCxsEYL2ldOjDmUzSHJUqgB__f8GdNRi5emLSpsGJ6ALkaBgBkdhrnGyDKVxs_DacqeWxJksK0_Zx8a2I/s1600/invitation-sewing-circle-"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhentsdjhZLwrCy_-iZXnpBxxvRjunKMZLDYPyfrHD-wLMVMAkx1kZL4C6MJWCxsEYL2ldOjDmUzSHJUqgB__f8GdNRi5emLSpsGJ6ALkaBgBkdhrnGyDKVxs_DacqeWxJksK0_Zx8a2I/s400/invitation-sewing-circle-" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543224159579112258" /></a><div>If you're in Murwillumbah, or feel like a jaunt to a beautiful part of the world, be sure to check out another very clever designer and artist <a href="http://belinda-smith.blogspot.com/">Belinda Smith's</a> new work in her exhibition <i>Sewing Circle </i>at the <a href="http://tweed.nsw.gov.au/artgallery/">Tweed River Art Gallery.</a> December 3 - January 23.</div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-74588219716827307392010-11-24T16:00:00.005+10:002010-11-25T06:49:43.855+10:00Kenji the Great!Have a look at <a href="http://www.kamenendo.blogspot.com/">Kenji Uranishi's</a> beautiful public art works on the front (and back) cover of the latest <a href="http://www.potteryinaustralia.com/MAG/index_ed.html">Journal of Australian Ceramics</a>. Such a clever lad he is!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MoTQ2hE4QUezZ9g9PNQiiSgP-MWgdr_kDI2I1Q2GVsd9r68Zt7kqVB-Q11L-x0jWetcxCi7mwhW-ojFbveLWH-hfo4we45cvqUnlcQt9EpdWIbW-epIsFkg8muYb2gZFztQvXGXLhcw/s1600/IPSWICH_COURTHOUSE_ARTWORKS-084433-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MoTQ2hE4QUezZ9g9PNQiiSgP-MWgdr_kDI2I1Q2GVsd9r68Zt7kqVB-Q11L-x0jWetcxCi7mwhW-ojFbveLWH-hfo4we45cvqUnlcQt9EpdWIbW-epIsFkg8muYb2gZFztQvXGXLhcw/s400/IPSWICH_COURTHOUSE_ARTWORKS-084433-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543220976218343330" /></a><div><br /></div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-4987581951559505482010-10-28T13:12:00.023+10:002010-10-29T13:17:58.086+10:00Happy Holidays<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzhirT7TclIh00TTsVE2gAmWrko7KBv31N-c6JZp6Wig8QvsIpa5TM4TPOI5Ih57TAT3WpjHGJJIMhAS2Pm2TA20iKRiyBS16XD0_VcF3jYcyvmKaEFZB4GkX5SVXAooUAr130LBP-fE/s400/IMG_9165.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532935234231149938" />Hawaii has never really been on my list of places to go, so when an unexpected series of events led us there recently, I wasn't really sure what to expect. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. W.O.W. So after a few much-needed weeks of lazing in the sun and hiking around volcanoes and rainforests, I'm feeling refreshed and ready for our next adventure. Which I will tell you about shortly. From one extreme to the other....Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-46407146264706966222010-09-30T09:38:00.015+10:002010-09-30T10:08:34.390+10:00The Ipswich House:Heritage House Portraits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eAX3BzzvBgxxKhZDprv8nSbvlXiamzPoaAnBuW41PgOMsbaBPpPNu2KOaUHqSvE0yfKgEmLiJAooddOH0Jfl_ym6_tU2V9d61f5o-v0u6a60c7Jwcv0sIQd-N2fRXWX8Bgh6tEuw25M/s1600/Jane_Burton_Macfarlanes-House1_web.preview.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eAX3BzzvBgxxKhZDprv8nSbvlXiamzPoaAnBuW41PgOMsbaBPpPNu2KOaUHqSvE0yfKgEmLiJAooddOH0Jfl_ym6_tU2V9d61f5o-v0u6a60c7Jwcv0sIQd-N2fRXWX8Bgh6tEuw25M/s400/Jane_Burton_Macfarlanes-House1_web.preview.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522486961241447714" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#333333;"> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">A couple of years ago I worked on a fantastic project with the </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/">Ipswich Art Gallery</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">, who over the last few years have been commissioning QLD artists to create “house portraits” of some of the heritage houses of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They invited artists across a range of different mediums to respond to these houses, resulting in an amazing collection of diverse artworks all </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/2010/09/11/ipswich-house-heritage-house-portraits">c</a></span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/2010/09/11/ipswich-house-heritage-house-portraits">urrently on show at the gallery</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">. This was a bit of dream project for me and I really lost myself in researching the history of the house, the area and its past occupants (more about that </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://feffakookan.blogspot.com/2007/08/house-of-ones-own.html">here</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;"> and </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://feffakookan.blogspot.com/2008/02/on-trail.html">here</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;"> and </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://feffakookan.blogspot.com/2008/03/race-against-time.html">here</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The show is summed up nicely with the </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/">gallery</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;"> blurb: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A picturesque and illuminating foray into the history and vision of Queensland’s early domestic architecture as seen through the eyes of 13 contemporary Queensland artists, "The Ipswich House" examines the city’s significant architectural heritage through a selection of commissioned ‘house portraits’ across a diverse range of mediums.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> These house portraits are more than mere pictorial representations of the city’s heritage-listed buildings, instead offering explorations into the architectural design, construction and fabrication methods while also exposing more than a hint of the personal histories and memories of their former residents.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">So please drop by the </span><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><a href="http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/">Ipswich Art Gallery</a></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;"> if you can to see the results of this most excellent project. The show includes works by </span>Noel McKenna, Jane Burton, Barbara Heath, Michael Zavros, Richard Stringer, Maureen Hansen, Carl Warner, Annie Hogan, Christina Waterson , Madeleine Kelly, Bruce Buchanan, Judy Barrass and myself. There is also a <span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">very beautiful catalogue available with some great insights into each artists’ approach. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;">Exhibition runs until November 14<sup>th</sup> 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(image above: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jane Burton</span></span></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- font-style: inherit; line-height: 1; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; "><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- font-style: italic; line-height: 1; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> MacFarlane's House #1</span></span></span></em></span><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- font-style: italic; line-height: 1; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,</span></span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2010, Pigment print, 43 cm x 43 cm)</span></span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-3406414506269939472010-09-10T15:25:00.013+10:002010-09-14T08:56:52.263+10:00Moving Forward...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphW5oUQsv8h59duUKMl9ap5JcpEeWpo_717NIctjGa-O-se1Jww9gBlNK9MT6rxS4GRYBhkFJrK_97dTZVE8sY5nyu_wMKDfJaeIu5o8AZVAGLZcjyww_FuWHvRb0_6WFJnQccX1Gl-0/s1600/IMG_8289.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphW5oUQsv8h59duUKMl9ap5JcpEeWpo_717NIctjGa-O-se1Jww9gBlNK9MT6rxS4GRYBhkFJrK_97dTZVE8sY5nyu_wMKDfJaeIu5o8AZVAGLZcjyww_FuWHvRb0_6WFJnQccX1Gl-0/s400/IMG_8289.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516535551756800850" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My studio is gleeeeeeeaming. Aaah, such a nice feeling. It took me almost two days to clean it out. A massive spring clean. I almost didn’t want to use it again, so nice was it to have it in such sparkling order!! But I am about to embark on a new adventure and, along with the buying of shiny new journals and sketchbooks, the studio spring clean is an essential part of the ritual. I recently received an </span><a href="http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Australia Council</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> grant to make some new work for a solo show next year, and so I am just starting to turn my attention to this, getting ready for the rollercoaster ride that inevitably accompanies the development of new work! I have a starting point, but as always there are a kazillion directions I could go in, so many half formed ideas from the last couple of distracted years, and so many processes and techniques I want to experiment with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So I’ve spent the last few weeks madly scribbling down all my ideas and thoughts, trying to sift through it all, distill it down and work out a clearer direction. It’s a slow process, especially when you have a two year old vying for your attention and constantly demanding to play dress ups! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Developing new work is a process I both love and hate. It’s a process I know so well and yet one I can never take for granted. For me, the thrill and freedom of experimenting and researching and playing goes hand in hand with a kind of anxiety, because the whole way along you never quite know what the outcome will be. There are so many unknowns - and that can be both exciting and unnerving.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Solnit"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rebecca Solnit</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> writes in her book </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Field Guide to Getting Lost</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (recently recommended to me by </span><a href="http://mariannehuhn.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marianne Huhn</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) that when it comes to discovery “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">it seems to be an art of recognizing the role of the unforseen, of keeping your balance amid surprises, of collaborating with chance, of recognizing that there are some essential mysteries in the world and thereby a limit to calculation, to plan, to control</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That’s kind of it in a nutshell! So, here goes. Time to mess the studio up again. </span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-66531413987093663222010-09-09T08:41:00.018+10:002010-09-09T14:08:55.415+10:00Elle Interiors Norway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAdJE4LOLSsDhlFHwFTugyCp8IKh1iKYXNcdm1oNeUGSFkj0un3WcDFrdcZNLSm6vYfGR1Mdiu0U-BLSRXIT3XU4ykJ0RGrdS4KL9yWyXYL06bBoKpj-HA8t1XEwGUhG3L4HVHgbLVjw/s1600/elle-int.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAdJE4LOLSsDhlFHwFTugyCp8IKh1iKYXNcdm1oNeUGSFkj0un3WcDFrdcZNLSm6vYfGR1Mdiu0U-BLSRXIT3XU4ykJ0RGrdS4KL9yWyXYL06bBoKpj-HA8t1XEwGUhG3L4HVHgbLVjw/s400/elle-int.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514757630756285042" /></a><div>A feature on me in last month's <a href="http://www.elleinterior.no/">Elle Interiors</a> magazine, Norway. Its all in Norwegian, so I have no idea what it says... but it looks nice! As does the rest of the mag, full of covetable objects and abodes - such style those Norwegians. </div><div><br /></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-91584135742180214462010-08-16T14:53:00.021+10:002010-08-23T15:02:16.447+10:00FORM<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wqsS8RIEKOO0jNhrxNYmB1B7SXA2JRWUkn5zavtayoUzNr1prjxR9v9NU8oMIGrxQduqhK54Ts1NjvUQwhu2pyGIjEgeWzOcwVJtjOHNmDSJTJuHESXGApUmrc6t-f-tgPHCb0T6s4c/s400/IMG_8317.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505872067650266610" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I’m currently working my way through a commissioned series of beakers to be used as gifts for new members of </span></span><a href="http://www.form.net.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">FORM</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. It’s part of a membership drive that has already seen 400 very lovely </span></span><a href="http://mariannehuhn.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Marianne Huhn</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> cups go out to lucky new members (including me). Like many of our organisations advocating for craft/design/creativity in this country, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.form.net.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">FORM</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> play a really important and crucial role in supporting artists and fostering awareness and creativity in the community. I’ve received a lot of support from these organisations over the years, for which I am eternally grateful. Not sure if I would have been able to steer my way through the sometimes overwhelming journey from wide eyed student to a professional practice without them.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKtWqlCqZxe1LdGAEgIbsJW7QR2nFdwnwo0-R4ZESodnyVEkZA02qK66Z0Vp9dMtDDFSzF3OYA1EBLaJItjd7m0AlOfos5YAmuHiTLdhThaJqTiCjAxY76-BBBpT19NVy6NfVltcHJsY/s400/IMG_8523.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505873609030657746" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I was a little daunted by this commission at first. I start going a bit loopy repeating the same process over and over again and would never cut it as a production potter. But it has actually proven to be quite a relaxing and enjoyable process so far. I set myself up at my work table with everything laid out, make a nice cup of tea and a few snacks to keep me going, turn on Radio National and away I go. Pour wipe polish paint cut paste stick pour wipe polish paint cut paste stick. Its nice to just focus on the one thing for a change, instead of flying around trying to do ten things at once, which is how it usually is in my studio these days.</span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiteU_n0ZqmQ6ks54r4TBBxKrjvI5S5deaG7uDX_yFzo432LLJmJPG32WIfBS5jXwftjaM510mHUBCVRBUutm3nD7jaQ3dogZhaVgIpgswiFcEqgzmfNKHFlCy53bdynBIHsWey8x4VDg/s400/IMG_8208.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505874374873067234" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So now, not only do you get all the information, invitations, publications and benefits of being a member of </span><a href="http://www.form.net.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">FORM</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, you’ll also receive a little ole Mel Robson beaker too. Now if </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">that’s</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> not a reason to join, then I don’t know what is….!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">127 down, 73 to go!</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-63291692135740073462010-07-29T13:04:00.007+10:002010-07-29T13:11:20.888+10:00And just a bit more blue...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UkzB1lqAeXTR2EAskThMEjC_x2dhFjtYOEAokwMeNmm3Ebzl6wgnXFC3m7e9ukv9AedtIylu5mhoKxU6eWBCdnsdSaotFagqEM706e-vrtWQmpFRoKb-d3Kj4wYF0A6ROj0pyku_2Z4/s1600/IMG_8398.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UkzB1lqAeXTR2EAskThMEjC_x2dhFjtYOEAokwMeNmm3Ebzl6wgnXFC3m7e9ukv9AedtIylu5mhoKxU6eWBCdnsdSaotFagqEM706e-vrtWQmpFRoKb-d3Kj4wYF0A6ROj0pyku_2Z4/s400/IMG_8398.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499159102184386274" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL8MBxGEths3YQzHYT5wQmELJD9cmdXOggCfwBbbc6V7PV2wSX2LhGZRlrwpf5TAehu4UMiztuT3-z0LB-fcnMNGp8e5bKLLiiuCZm9mIMDF29pW2MJRhebfZGgIrSmfZFnY1H9RNOUk/s1600/IMG_8414.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL8MBxGEths3YQzHYT5wQmELJD9cmdXOggCfwBbbc6V7PV2wSX2LhGZRlrwpf5TAehu4UMiztuT3-z0LB-fcnMNGp8e5bKLLiiuCZm9mIMDF29pW2MJRhebfZGgIrSmfZFnY1H9RNOUk/s400/IMG_8414.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499159011790199042" /></a>And some blue themed wall tiles. Available through <a href="http://www.object.com.au/">Object/Collect</a> during the <a href="http://www.object.com.au/springseries/event/blue/">Blue exhibition</a>.Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-4900294723020744712010-07-22T13:27:00.032+10:002010-07-23T15:24:56.583+10:00My Endless Loooooove<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMEMTuTKq0C2v0FFfQJJT7r6uQ58tIIV-82U_qgF3swlp2dlwc19IkLie6NZrBOv590wJ5T24371T4r27WAT5J1RDK7cITmAOKuPyCXiJVKXYdTxEz3_hP7oIhmbbJW0twKO-_MIR9_E/s1600/IMG_8057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMEMTuTKq0C2v0FFfQJJT7r6uQ58tIIV-82U_qgF3swlp2dlwc19IkLie6NZrBOv590wJ5T24371T4r27WAT5J1RDK7cITmAOKuPyCXiJVKXYdTxEz3_hP7oIhmbbJW0twKO-_MIR9_E/s400/IMG_8057.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496567271941726754" /></a>I've just sent off the last of my work for the upcoming BLUE show at <a href="http://www.object.com.au/">Object Gallery</a>, which opens next week. I've had a ball working on these pieces and despite numerous technical hiccups (making large round flat things from porcelain can be a little challenging sometimes) I got there in the end. As I mentioned in an <a href="http://feffakookan.blogspot.com/2010/06/something-old-something-new.html">earlier post</a>, I was working with the phrase <i>something old something new something borrowed something blue</i>, which refers to a wedding tradition for good luck that apparently goes back to Victorian times. Blue was said to symbolise love, loyalty and fidelity and the works I've made explore some ideas around love and marriage and the rituals and traditions that go with that. I came across some fantastic stuff in researching this, but some of my favourites were the endless lists of top ten wedding songs. <div><br /></div><div>Here's just one of them.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b>Top 10 Wedding Songs</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> 1 Everything I do (I Do It For You) Brian Adams</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">2 Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">3 My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">4 Light Up My Life (Debby Boone)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">5 I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">6 Hoplessly Devoted To You (Olivia Newton John)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">7 The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">8 Can't Smile Without You (Barry Manilow)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">9 I Just Called To Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">10 I Got You Babe (Sonny & Cher)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Not so sure about number 6... I would have thought a song about a girl being dumped and nursing her broken heart might not be such a good omen as a wedding song, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">although always happy to see Livvy on a list. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">A glaring omission from this list is of course </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">that all-time classic love song "My Endless Love" which (according to Wikipedia) is "the greatest love song of all time" (must be true then). Think Blue Lagoon, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, lots of breathy singing and extended wavering vowels, long looks and dramatic crescendos. When it comes to wedding songs it doesn't get much better than this....???!!</span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS52CM1FaVZQLFDuIO_87xZ1refIlTxTKKl6EVdTDMJVFA39Ws00-QHuCmxZWfX2r6VybumJPA35waFtsaLr1sWYpusbE1m_Y_AYPsp2Bc4oKsKp5Uyrmp8nJOBt7-IXSIYNr19RNOe9c/s1600/IMG_8129.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS52CM1FaVZQLFDuIO_87xZ1refIlTxTKKl6EVdTDMJVFA39Ws00-QHuCmxZWfX2r6VybumJPA35waFtsaLr1sWYpusbE1m_Y_AYPsp2Bc4oKsKp5Uyrmp8nJOBt7-IXSIYNr19RNOe9c/s400/IMG_8129.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496567263142935378" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BLUE opens July 31st and kicks off Object's </span><a href="http://www.object.com.au/springseries/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spring Series 2010</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. You can read a little more about the show and the artists involved </span><a href="http://www.object.com.au/springseries/event/blue/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here. </span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTT2c7iYdZBzUSx-NVC645YkB5VYj5cYzaWk8HpocUdnpp-s1Eai_bsA22hf2aTyotk1yh0aSj9wSlX5xjFQeTRoCCINv-mJBmC4npgGRahkY7K4p3cOJiz6SQbAwK9Z4SSPSlH2U5R0/s400/IMG_8063.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496567255257138386" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Love_(song)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">her</span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Love_(song)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e's</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> some fascinating facts about the song My Endless Love, and a </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnfwnOp6uek&feature=related"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">live rendition </span></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnfwnOp6uek&feature=related"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">by Lionel and Di</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (wearing a very fetching frock). Go on, you know you want to. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-65647884020741200532010-07-21T23:10:00.006+10:002010-07-21T23:23:49.013+10:00Pru at Ray's<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDUUOCpLdhlrtP5e-2zvmMR4hf20tjsITDsNyAtldVONqa7u6Px_QOJkiat6veRmCTlSYyPEduBYI7nHLzg8yLli-DAlPeC0ksEvvh8Adpqq77gthiMGuqETl3LyTmd8Bb4uV70BmaQQ/s400/36.Crud.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496347201683764546" />If you're in Sydney over the next few weeks you really should go and have a look at Pru Morrison's show at <a href="http://www.rayhughesgallery.com/">Ray Hughes Gallery</a>. There's some absolute pearlers in this one! Apart from her witty and off the wall social and political observations, the technical elements of this body of work are mighty impressive. She's a wizz!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fa486lGutF-Zyr7ggQpn31fU0cpWj8rJTY7idveH3gHGPeoMelAGibdxmJSkFr6gCpxgEJ_l8oLip5vmvBjJyOWs12ldpZaSd4ELzrszQ4KY472ZWgSFxwFrTKVWcxShbcl4z0nSpc4/s1600/18.tin-rabbits-detail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fa486lGutF-Zyr7ggQpn31fU0cpWj8rJTY7idveH3gHGPeoMelAGibdxmJSkFr6gCpxgEJ_l8oLip5vmvBjJyOWs12ldpZaSd4ELzrszQ4KY472ZWgSFxwFrTKVWcxShbcl4z0nSpc4/s400/18.tin-rabbits-detail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496349254293801938" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtL3ZFB-3hW6j75zDgjfdRMI9w_05j3rCp6Smx1W0EN7OTwVNbqMbzvHOY1xCiLCMxFaYACPjuiUoQcUqmvb0XfgP48t-xi9FxScNiODLVboAmG9W2ZdBpqhHtBas3SDYi1G5GxNGcOM/s1600/29.big-red.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtL3ZFB-3hW6j75zDgjfdRMI9w_05j3rCp6Smx1W0EN7OTwVNbqMbzvHOY1xCiLCMxFaYACPjuiUoQcUqmvb0XfgP48t-xi9FxScNiODLVboAmG9W2ZdBpqhHtBas3SDYi1G5GxNGcOM/s400/29.big-red.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496347209610096386" /></a>The show runs from July 23rd to August 18th and you can see more images of the work <a href="http://www.rayhughesgallery.com/ExhibitionDisplay.asp?exhibitionId=237">here</a>.</div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-31498649146708364352010-06-02T12:04:00.016+10:002010-11-25T09:13:56.581+10:00Something old something new....<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfuizVMaVESIwySDjfhcrf3FveLQ1uXA5zDWcTYXR_ZJRP5nlCtbpU7l62sVKPfRgcXBklOfZJ4HnnELIn1REgB5_Vu0_9iUOELn3Hkncg0WGAZYlWK9gukj_XNQh00B-CYx9iojA1Sw/s1600/IMG_7733w.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfuizVMaVESIwySDjfhcrf3FveLQ1uXA5zDWcTYXR_ZJRP5nlCtbpU7l62sVKPfRgcXBklOfZJ4HnnELIn1REgB5_Vu0_9iUOELn3Hkncg0WGAZYlWK9gukj_XNQh00B-CYx9iojA1Sw/s400/IMG_7733w.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477999007286735554" /></a>I have been to more weddings in the last 6 months than I have in my entire life. It seems that getting married is big right now! Which is fine by me - love a good wedding I do! So when <a href="http://www.object.com.au/">Object</a> asked me earlier this year if I wanted to be part of an exhibition called BLUE, where each artist was asked to make some work responding to a saying or a phrase containing the word blue, I jumped at the chance to get some of this marriage business out of my system and into some work - and to knock off a few overdue wedding presents at the same time! So working with the phrase S<i>omething Old Something New Something Borrowed Something Blue</i> I've been playing around with some pieces that are a bit of a mixture of all that. Here's a sneak peak of what i've come up with for starters.<div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21E7z3_aExtrBx0k10ets_AU0Xdf9q4LaXyj2CCi9ONF_KwzGK4W9NpKHyqjKLp5UEJldlGuNIZwTqtz7AILZZ1H6C29i7ekjX4mOzfuPMJxNTLu2sou9Oi8v6o3DW7yYRIGELmKKDdU/s400/IMG_7674w.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477996338891834130" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-Av2fdWwpw_okmGTLzZe8HwBaZ1vL3YVI0yLKYGoibuFme8ulIz8d7lHQo-H0fVIOhh-ahmeGlhML9GkEMkMRUItwLOlWDjg84bkKTI-GukQocN7Fw6Q5ikExidzt_gZEuihOvzLNJM/s1600/IMG_7739w.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-Av2fdWwpw_okmGTLzZe8HwBaZ1vL3YVI0yLKYGoibuFme8ulIz8d7lHQo-H0fVIOhh-ahmeGlhML9GkEMkMRUItwLOlWDjg84bkKTI-GukQocN7Fw6Q5ikExidzt_gZEuihOvzLNJM/s400/IMG_7739w.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477996679977430978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzffEOP36YlTeyi-lm504DNnqPXQkhv476gllLHVSPGfkD1s3ONaMawS5tCOXc2jWQVaZvOmirvBcPkbv8uZn7Z0KQYsR0vwQ4nF4lktRSgLc7Od3Mxa_FT597UD0xbXbrK707E1iutJ0/s1600/IMG_7745.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 389px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzffEOP36YlTeyi-lm504DNnqPXQkhv476gllLHVSPGfkD1s3ONaMawS5tCOXc2jWQVaZvOmirvBcPkbv8uZn7Z0KQYsR0vwQ4nF4lktRSgLc7Od3Mxa_FT597UD0xbXbrK707E1iutJ0/s400/IMG_7745.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477991867290537410" /></a>The show opens at <a href="http://www.object.com.au/">Object</a> in Sydney at the end of July. </div></div></div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-59274666520843210372010-06-02T11:03:00.004+10:002010-06-02T11:11:40.651+10:00Pee Bear Teapot!Yet another fabulous offering from Melbourne Ceramicist <a href="http://www.vipoo.com/">Vipoo Srivilasa</a>.<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg90Md6pBHgAk-nBkp89625CC2ayGCUd_8ZYB9f8QHb4eYsQn2rhOl6vS8zyleKfNxA_BXR11Dom7VTDlTi3Oq8-GxPeoBKMEdcZBTy6vCIiF1m8o8h3WApQRhO8gBqyD7rNKzDOmoCJ8/s1600/DSC_1873.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg90Md6pBHgAk-nBkp89625CC2ayGCUd_8ZYB9f8QHb4eYsQn2rhOl6vS8zyleKfNxA_BXR11Dom7VTDlTi3Oq8-GxPeoBKMEdcZBTy6vCIiF1m8o8h3WApQRhO8gBqyD7rNKzDOmoCJ8/s400/DSC_1873.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477976943588543202" /></a><div>The teapot is the result of a collaboration between <a href="http://www.vipoo.com/">Vipoo</a> and a Thai Celadon Factory, made during his residency in Chang Mai in Northern Thailand last year. If you're in Sydney more of Vipoo's work can be seen at <a href="http://www.2danksstreet.com.au">Depot Gallery (2 Danks St, Waterloo)</a> from 15-26 of June.</div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-37825420369892850022010-05-21T14:58:00.010+10:002010-05-26T14:46:01.875+10:00What a Caulker (corker)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI-fgtI9fotR1FiSw_bZGLbJ8-hMJZ-TH_C1qf1VYxhy5RBhTHgSsReouMRBFEKMG1bMA60HqCW2qF3t4AsokczzzkSiZw9PjA2WFQzZYsDJ4aedKUouDYuflzaMEto2SAi7D3wUPxeM/s1600/IMG_7304.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI-fgtI9fotR1FiSw_bZGLbJ8-hMJZ-TH_C1qf1VYxhy5RBhTHgSsReouMRBFEKMG1bMA60HqCW2qF3t4AsokczzzkSiZw9PjA2WFQzZYsDJ4aedKUouDYuflzaMEto2SAi7D3wUPxeM/s400/IMG_7304.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473583339343141490" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Now when it comes to tools I know there are a lot of people out there who like to make their own. I admire that, but I’m not one of them. I’m more than happy to pop down to the shop and buy myself a shiny new ready made tool. So I must say I was rather proud of myself recently for doing a bit of DIY in the tool department. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I’ve been playing around with some new work that will require handles. Now I can pull handles from clay, but I seem to be only ever able to pull one kind of handle. Every time I try to make them a little differently they just don’t look quite right. So I decided to save myself a whole lot of time and frustration and whip myself up a little hand extruder with the help of <a href="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramic-studio-equipment/clay-extruders/video-tip-of-the-week-make-your-own-hand-held-clay-extruder/">this video</a> (via <a href="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/">ceramic arts daily</a>) and a very amusing character called Dave Henry. A quick trip to Bunnings for a caulking gun and some PVC pipe, a bit of drilling and sawing, and voila, my very own hand extruder with 3 different handle forms (so far). It’s a corker! I keep hearing James Bond and Mission Impossible soundtracks in my head as I aim at the bench and watch the handles ooze out!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-1382448739681455272010-05-19T15:17:00.009+10:002010-05-19T15:51:16.889+10:00A few new bitsSome new pieces for an upcoming show at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.jamfactory.com.au">The Jam Factory</a>.<div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipar4Hh2pbaBsaZLAfjxppXRZeOuIBkUV9ft9s7P98gxJP0wECZzCGQiQCfPAhzSn8GYoudjph2KvfidErWCATTGja8fWq835zshHV4R2B8jCDYT7HR6xhaVDABxygXNLnwNTNLCHVK18/s400/mel-robson-teabowls-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472847312345304754" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREbVvhyphenhyphen1Uab225dGXd_Jo0p1KujvYugOPZqO5dLcO095MspHzankxizIuN5GxDaKlPG1dtrXXVX8-0OfY80I8WRKzE9IGdO8JB3j7GxaHl_jka1Dua3Yx-mrVkwib0HJD8TWgpRW0JhU/s400/mel-robson-teabowls-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472847303261944162" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhlf9hPF0of5GAOQu31nMnfMEU9xolLkUJCsxn6dx8x5cwYfMRtwHPXze74cns-xno8iye61B3svVfhVAipIN5p1AiFM617tRu5S2aqAZZsZYAJ_ozQLfRuuqxsLxsZ0MwtylHS-ELDY/s1600/mel-robson-teabowls-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhlf9hPF0of5GAOQu31nMnfMEU9xolLkUJCsxn6dx8x5cwYfMRtwHPXze74cns-xno8iye61B3svVfhVAipIN5p1AiFM617tRu5S2aqAZZsZYAJ_ozQLfRuuqxsLxsZ0MwtylHS-ELDY/s400/mel-robson-teabowls-4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472848460957202498" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">I've had that too ra loo ra loo ra tune (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C3UHiD29BI">irish lullaby</a>) stuck in my head for weeks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More to come soon....!</div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-33991738613830099042010-05-19T15:01:00.014+10:002010-05-20T13:08:25.211+10:00Time Travel<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vLyVh2OrmnqDhg_o1oT7Ew9KXBskAddcKFnSGinvDt4jdXv12PmYs26VVEHKe-EWD57nyRRCuS3LiA9Z5Xs3CHx_SsF6KtlRiGkw40b6cx91iraNTon8BNLpHMPgSJm9U1EWEngP_lg/s400/time-travel_wwide_NEW300310-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472849816528370898" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I’m part of an exhibition that is currently showing at the </span></span><a href="http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/ArtGallery/ArtGalleryHome.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Tweed River Regional Gallery</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> called </span></span><i><a href="http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/ArtGallery/ArtGalleryExhibitionsDetail.aspx?Doc=pdfs/CurrentExhibitions.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Time Travel: reimagining the past</span></span></span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. It’s a selection of works from contemporary Australian artists who draw on past eras for inspiration. Curated by Susi Muddiman and Gail McDermott it’s a really amazing collection of works from artists across the country.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The </span></span><a href="http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/artgallery/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Tweed River Gallery</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> is in the very beautiful town of </span></span><a href="http://www.murwillumbah.com.au/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Murwillumbah</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, which is where I grew up. A lot of my work draws on that time of my life, and images from that era feature frequently in my pieces. We moved away when I was 15, and at the time I was SO glad to get out of there and move on to bigger and better things (like…er…the Gold Coast!!!). Of course, these days I dream of living back in that area! So I’m really looking forward to heading down on June </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">6</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to give a talk about my work, along with a few other artists from the show, so if you are in the area please pop along!</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaelw34VkpCmeu2YQHIBim2C_Plkq4z7uq0cmqzlgMCdeGmFtV78Fxfc1u-m4_5Vx_kaikmkiRuaQ5p4TVd6L2ALVhkFwI59j-MhFzoEhxHym3J9P5HOEp-a_yY4pPni_jTaKufGZOUKU/s1600/house-2.jpg"></a></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Artists in the show include: Julie Bartholomew, Gordon Bennett, Penny Byrne, Samantha Everton, Anna Ferran, Rew Hanks, Neil Jenkins, Jonathon Jones, Lindy Lee, Keith Looby, Fiona Lowry, Alasdair Macintyre, Dean Manning, Danie Mellor, VR Morrison, Kate O’Brien, Ben Quilty, Valerie Sparks, Robyn Stacey, Arlene TextaQueen, Christine Wilcocks and Anne Zahalka.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaelw34VkpCmeu2YQHIBim2C_Plkq4z7uq0cmqzlgMCdeGmFtV78Fxfc1u-m4_5Vx_kaikmkiRuaQ5p4TVd6L2ALVhkFwI59j-MhFzoEhxHym3J9P5HOEp-a_yY4pPni_jTaKufGZOUKU/s1600/house-2.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaelw34VkpCmeu2YQHIBim2C_Plkq4z7uq0cmqzlgMCdeGmFtV78Fxfc1u-m4_5Vx_kaikmkiRuaQ5p4TVd6L2ALVhkFwI59j-MhFzoEhxHym3J9P5HOEp-a_yY4pPni_jTaKufGZOUKU/s400/house-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473181769835998546" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A pic of the lovely old house I grew up in</span></p></div></div></div>Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288751609620781097.post-88185499186488218872010-04-25T09:35:00.011+10:002010-04-25T09:50:32.925+10:00Making a start...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmHMYXg6xVaerB9GbZqOHgwKU-QiI3iI2ZMqduXpayfeoImNcJLV4PKTOAH1zQkkVyD55sCDk2sHJQdgh8RSlYkQwf-AqLcwPQpbWxfvgYP9ohSdEG2OxlpcpVGXAa3f7wpC4X4RIhcc/s1600/IMG_7272.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmHMYXg6xVaerB9GbZqOHgwKU-QiI3iI2ZMqduXpayfeoImNcJLV4PKTOAH1zQkkVyD55sCDk2sHJQdgh8RSlYkQwf-AqLcwPQpbWxfvgYP9ohSdEG2OxlpcpVGXAa3f7wpC4X4RIhcc/s400/IMG_7272.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463855601088055218" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Once a week </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.kamenendo.blogspot.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kenji</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (his hands above) and I get together and catch up on the week’s goings on while our littlies run around creating havoc together. We drink tea and talk a lot about what we’re up to in the studio. Collaboration is a frequent topic and over the years we’ve come up with numerous ideas of things we’d like to do together - but actually getting around to doing any of these things is another matter entirely! Apart from the </span><a href="http://www.sandwichmountain.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Little People</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (sadly neglected for a long while) we haven’t made a lot of progress! So we were both quite excited today to have finally been able to organise an afternoon in the studio together to work on a collaborative idea we’ve been talking about for a long time. It was just a start, a chance to play around with a few things and to look at how our processes, techniques and ideas might be able to work together in a way that fits for both of us, but also in a way that pushes both of us a little. After a lot of excited chatter and some pushing and prodding and pouring of clay we dragged ourselves away from the moulds and tools and clay and slip and wandered around the corner to pick the kids up. It was short but sweet, and it might be weeks (or months) before we get another chance to play, but at least we finally made a start!</span></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Mel Robsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714215334398202579noreply@blogger.com3