The Moody Sky

I had to look this cloud formation up.....it is called a Cirrostratus.

Last Saturday on the drive back from Alice Springs at about 5pm(stocking up on supplies) The sky began to change dramatically. The clouds come over and and made the most amazing patterns in the sky and cast beautiful shadows on the land. It may have been because the sky seems to go on forever or because the landcape is so open an free from construction scars but I dont think I have ever seen the evening light and then the sun set quite like this.  

    

The vast sky and the funny little hill in the middle of this landscape

The I think this is the stratocumulus cloud....well year 7 geography was a long time ago now so I am not sure.....beautiful though

     

The sun began to set and I held my breath. this was stunning and the pictures don't do it justice

These are one of my favourite clouds the Cirrocumulus. I also loved the little black outlines of the trees. 

 It seem that I can always be in awe of this place.....
 The next day the clouds were still lingering in the sky and I wondered if it meant rain was coming so I asked some of the women in the art centre.....I thought if anyone would know they would....I got a resounding 'no' to my question. It just meant that the seasons would be changing soon. Can't wait for a desert spring now.

The Bowl Project part 2 (the children)

Everyday I seem to be attracting more and more children who want to learn how to make pots on the wheel. They all seem so earnest and willing to learn. Every afternoon after school I am over run with young budding artists all wanting to make and decorate their own bowl the joy on their faces is lovely and they go happily on their way when their artwork is sitting proudly on the shelf with the others.

                                                                                                           

This is Dunsten throwing some pots with such determination and happiness. 

He is a brilliant student

Potters in the making......I have two young boys, Dunsten and Latham, who come back every afternoon after school. The concentration on their faces is amazing. 

Another great student. Latham

Annmarie

For a few hours in the afternoon there is an abundance of children. Such a great time of day. These two lovely ladies are thinking very hard about what to draw on their pots

The bowl project part 1

The artists have been transforming the simple bowls into works of art for the last week. every morning we open up the art centre at 9am (turning on the heaters....because it is freezing in the mornings) and wait for the artists to come in and get settles into the morning routine. The women have been using a sgraffito technique to make patterns and marks on the unfired bowls. We painted the green ware with a natural clay pan slip, which seems to be a very high iron bearing clay, and then using sharp tools scratched lines onto the surface of the bowls. 

Aren't they a wonderful sight all collected together?

the wonderful Marlene made this beautiful bowl.....this picture doesn't do it justice.

The artists are scratching into the clay pan slip.    

A lovely little landscape at the back.

     

When we get to play with clay

So for the last 4 or 5 days I have had a wheel at the art centre. The first Saturday it arrived I was so excited to start throwing again. The art centre is closed on a Saturday so I had a beautiful light filled, quiet space in which to work. I really started to get back into the swing of things again and before the end of the day I had about 30 bowls ready and waiting for the artists to decorate with their beautiful designs and marks.

My little corner in the centre.

So come Monday we mixed up some slip from the natural clay pan in Titjikala and painted the deep red, brown clay onto the bowls. Then it was time for the artists to make their mark.

Margret and Marlene  

Marcia

This is one of the young men. I have been told he is usually very reluctant to make any art work....... 

and June

Week One

The end of week one....... 

So my first week in Titjikala has been incredible. I can't remember now what I had been preparing myself for or expecting prior to arriving in this Community of about 200 people, 30 + artists, many children and countless free roaming camp dogs but I doubt I could have expected this over whelming feeling of love for this country. 

I remember visiting central Australia on a school trip when I was in year 11 and feeling so small yet content to be a part of the landscape. It was beautiful then and it is beautiful now (and just as vast).

I have been spending my time getting to know some of the artists, sorting out the ceramics cupboard in the art centre, drawing and going for long, peaceful walks (when I say peaceful I mean no cars, no trains, No industrial noises and most of all no sirens of any kind) listening to the camp dogs playing/fighting. 

I found bisqued tea pots and bowls ready to be decorated with the colours and lines. BUT I also found some Clay pan Clay....this was very exciting as it has a beautiful rich red colour. I have plans for this.

Some Beautiful work in the Gallery at the art centre. The very sensitive and lovely naive picture is by a lady Called Christabella and the the painting of the flowers is done by a very lovely lady called Hazel.

Works waiting to be hung....I love the wire Emu.

The colour of the rocky mountains really does go that wonderful deep purple in the evening. Magical

Just behind the art centre.

    

Just a little wander in the bush

Walks in the bush......my new favourite thing to do.

There are so many beautiful rusted tin cans and scrap but I really loved this image of the tin returning to the earth

I love walking down the red dirt track....so far removed from the paved streets of Sydney

The paddy mellon....

Sydney to Alice Springs to Titjikala

This is probably a little over due as I have been in the Northern Territories (or more precisely the small aboriginal arts community of Titjikala) for about 4 days now. I am sorry this post has been delayed but as you can imagine I have been taking all the wonderful sounds, colours, and creativity of the red centre.


I have embarked on a 10 week internship to discover the artworks created by the indigenous people of the Tapatjatjaka Art Centre in Titjikala, a small community of about 200 people just 120km South of Alice Springs.


I feel very privileged to be allowed into such a small community of artists who work in Painting, weaving and found object sculptures. 

The Road to Titjikala

Frost in the garden

These photos were taken a few weeks ago and I came across them on my computer this morning. 


One  chilly morning the frost was so thick and the light so perfect I just had to put on some gumboots on and wander around the garden. The crunch beneath my feet was so satisfying and fun. It was fresh and quiet. A beautiful moment. 

From the studio

These photos are beautiful.....Thank you Kern

The boats.....a work in progress

The sun through my studio window.......this is real winter sun.

These two photos make me very happy. these pinch bowls are very simple but they have such whimsical qualities in the light of the winter sun.
I have so much going on in one little space. The bench is always covered with new ideas and works in progress. I am moving from ladders to boats and a few indulgent pinch pots (i love working the clay in my fingers til it is worked to its limits)