Escadaria Selaron- Rio de Janeiro

Occasionally I experience something incredible, beautiful or even revolting which i just know will influence my artistic endeavours wether I like it or not. 

Today was one of those days.

 

Escadaria-Selaron

Near where I am currently staying in Rio de Janeiro is this wildly obsessive and still growing masterpiece- Escadaria Selaron. After wandering up a dingy alleyway that smells like piss I discovered an enormous mosaic encrusted staircase, vibrant and pumping with activity.

Immense in scale and containing thousands of tiles from many different countries this is a work in progress with the artist- Selaron -still continuing the artwork on a daily basis. 

Lately I have been falling ever more in love with mosaics, patchworks and stained glass windows, and so this was seriously exciting!

I love the combinations of colour and form. I love the way one tile influences the next- the shapes and patterns that emerge on small and large scales- both the intimate details and the impressive optical illusions of the whole. I am breath taken by the sheer mass of individual pieces, and yet the way each of those pieces is specifically, carefully placed. 

Selaron was there today, diligently working away, he was very friendly and insisted on signing a postcard for my son.

Selaron welcomes contributions of tiles from all over the world from anyone keen to donate. He plans to continue this work for the rest of his life. What a guy.

Impressions of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Over the last couple of weeks I've been taking rubbings from in and around Belo Horizonte.

I love the combination of my own drawing marks and the definite pattern that emerges from beneath. I feel a bit funny about doing them sometimes- in the middle of a busy foot path or a traffic island, but strange looks don't hurt and I never regret getting one. 

 I find the back of the paper almost as equally interesting, the way it maintains the impression of the place so directly.

Rubbing up against the etched in graffiti of a monumental portuguese baroque church in Ouro Preto, just out of Belo Horizonte

Adam

This is Adam.

Adam with his big banana.

 Last year Adam won the Qantas contemporary art prize including flights and a few expenses, and guess what, i got to come too. There are some serious perks to being married to an amazing artist. So here we are in a small flat in a big city- Belo Horizonte- in Brazil. 

Advertisement for artist talk Adam is doing this Thurs. 

 Proud to spruik him, Adam has been making all kinds of incredible art since arriving in Brazil about six weeks ago. Banana Hands (pictured above) is a fine example of the witty, carefully constructed artworks that Adam has been making.
  This Thursday night he will be giving an artist talk and showing some work at a small gallery in the city centre. I know it will be a great night.

Adam is currently undertaking an artist residency at a place called JACA- you can see their site HERE.

 It is just outside Belo Horizonte in a town called Jardim Canada where the soil is mahogony red, bananas grow by the side of the road and the industrial feel of the town strangely reminded me of Fyshwick- a suburb back home in Canberra.

Speaking of Canberra, the CCAS website features several photos and an update from Adam here in Belo Horizonte. What a guy.

In Brazil

So here I am in Brazil- it has been two weeks today!

Enjoying a 'coco'- everyone loves them and you can buy them from the corner shop.

I am excited about the prospect of making some art here, but even more keen to let myself take a breather and really soak everything in. I sat in a park under a palm tree yesterday and wrote down some words- this is what i scribbled:

'I have felt so congested here. BOMBARDED. Frozen. I think I've been in shock. They call that culture shock huh. I notice everything and can't process it all at once- and then notice nothing. Everything is different and therefore so noticeable. The stones in the footpaths, the shape of the spoons, the shoes on their feet, the way my hair dries differently, nightclub sounds at night, and into the morning, that bar that digs into my bum when sitting on that couch, the numerous flowers, tree trunks, decorative security measures, tones of voice, exclamations, my food digesting, feet sweating and those people over there- juggling in the park. I have been here two weeks now. Today is slightly different. I think I am finally starting to soak it all in. And I like it. I don't stare, gasp or cry QUITE so much. There must be a healthy medium where the brain edits out the unnecessary information so we can focus on what is a priority- and leave space for the possibility of new creations. I think I am noticeing less- and in so doing noticing more.....'

I have some small ideas for what I will make while I am here, but in the mean time am keen for adventure and fresh observations. 

High Tea

 These are the little dainties i created for the re-PIN show at ANCA. It is such a great show with some really impressive work. I loved how diverse the art was whilst still being a really unified show. Make sure you check it out- show continues until 3rd June.

High Tea, 2012.

Iced Vovo, 2012. Wool, plastic, pin.

Scone, 2012. Wool, pin.

 Berry Pie, 2012. Wool, plastic, pin.

 Macaroon, 2012. Wool, plastic, pin.

re-PIN

The PIN show at ANCA last year was such a highlight. I am looking forward to the event even more this year as this time I'm a part of it.

I hope you can make it along to ANCA for the opening party including some small tasty treats.

For a sneak peak of what I've made you can check out the ANCA website HERE.

Cliftons Art Prize

I have resolved to enter more art competitions. I like the idea of winning anyway.  

Warm Wool, 2011. Woollen blankets, steel, foam, cotton, found objects.

(Photo: Damien Geary)

Cliftons Art prize is a competition I entered a few weeks ago, and I was pleased to find out that I am a finalist! I entered a sculpture I made last year- Warm Wool. This artwork has been gracing my lounge room for some time now but could do with getting out and about for awhile.

The art prize is hosted by this company who have branches all over the world- and subsequently these competitions in their venues across the globe. I was surprised to discover a Canberra division but here it is.

The exhibition runs from 21st May- 27 June 2012 at

Cliftons

Level 2, 10 Moore Street

Canberra City.

9-5pm Mon- Fri.

Check out the other Canberra and also international finalists HERE.