More Ablaze

Room shot

 Kit Out(Part 1) 2012

 Kit Out (part 2) 2012

Sleep In, 2011

 The catalogue!

BMA

There is something so exciting about seeing your own name in print on paper.
BMA is Canberra's local music/art get about guide, and always worth a read to see what's going on. At the moment there is an article on Blaze! You can read it online HERE.
A couple of weeks ago I had an interview with the writer Chloe- she was not only super friendly, she asked interesting and thoughtful questions too. It was so refreshing talking about my artwork to someone who listened so well.
There are also some words about the show on the CCAS social pages Here.

Extract

This is an extract from the exhibition catalogue for Blaze 6. I'm looking forward to including a lengthy little something on this show soon too.

Fiona Veikkanen Kit Out (part 2) 2012

The experience of art in everyday life also informs Fiona Veikkanen’s work. Her inventive ‘survival tools’ plead their own necessity, and that of art itself. The forms and materials she employs – canvas, old metal parts, inflatable mattresses - make them seem like they should be functional. They are not, of course, because art is about cultural survival. Veikkanen’s work will make you think, and it is built to endure. -Annika Harding and Alexander Boynes.

Coolcoolcool

I was thinking about the way every year when I go along to the annual opening of BLAZE at CCAS Gorman house I feel a sense of awe and wonder, ‘cos those artists are so damn cool.

This year it will be a little different.

My friend Mary said the best thing yesterday. I told her and Hannah how even though I’m a part of Blaze this year I’m just not as cool as the usual cool cats at Blaze each year!  She said it is simple to look cool and make making art look easy when all we see is the art finished. 

And it’s true. 

It’s not as though those guys didn’t have a wild time making that art with multiple failures and selected successes. When all we see is the finished product it’s easy to assume ease and coolcoolcool.

Being a CCAS resident this past year, and subsequently being a part of this Blaze has given me the inside story. The larger picture.  

There have been:

uncertainties

criticisms

worries

anticipation

freak outs

pig headedness

test pieces

crochet

painted trees

poppers

millions of suggestions

computers that don’t work

wild ideas

bad ideas

hot art that gives me shivers

stresses

excitement

talktalktalk

making like crazy.

I have seen the enormous amount of  sheer effort that goes into this show, the exciting, ugly and uncertain bits included.

Even though a certain amount of coolness and mystery won’t be a part of Blaze for me this year, I can’t wait for the celebration. I am looking forward to it more than ever!

Blaze 6

Blaze 6

Featuring: Dean Butters, Kate Barker, Helani Laisk, Bettina Hill, Ishak Masukor, Dan Lorrimer, Jonathan Webster, Fiona Veikkanen

Opening 6pm  Friday 17th Feb

Continues until 4th March 2012

Canberra Contemporary Art Space

Gorman House, 55 Ainslie Ave. Braddon. A.C.T.

Can't wait to see you there!

Works in Progress- (my studio)

1601

1601 is the name of a bare penthouse apartment perched above the lake, as well as an ephemeral exhibition that happened there this week. It was a great opportunity to dust off some of my old art and whip up some new.

Squeeze, 2011. Alfoil, blu tack, thread, found objects.

Squeeze(detail), 2011. Alfoil, blu tack, thread, found objects.

Squeeze(detail), 2011. Alfoil, blu tack, thread, found objects.

Squeeze(detail), 2011. Alfoil, blu tack, thread, found objects.

Bags and Brushes, 2010. Vinyl, Canvas, found objects, sand .

Enjoying the art

The view