Since leaving my teaching job a few years ago I have been missing the classroom and when I was asked to run a few workshops through the fabulous Timeless Textiles gallery in Newcastle I jumped at the chance.
Homespun Magazine
Meredith Woolnough featured in Homespun Magazine
I have been featured in a lovely Homespun magazine this month. This is a great mag for crafty and creative people full of projects and tips for getting your mind and hands busy. Pick up your copy in newsagents now!
Homespun Magazine
July 2013 (issue 122)
The Mandala series
Introducing my new series of embroidered artworks - 'The Mandala series'.
I have always had a fascination with mandala's and their spiritual and ritual associations. I remember a trip I took to Melbourne many years ago where I was lucky enough to witness a group of four Tibetan monks working on a sand mandala in the middle of federation square. I was amazed by the focus of the monks and the detail of the mandala that was painstakingly being constructed from sand. Since then I have always sought out mandalas in their various forms - both traditional and otherwise. While I am not going to get to deep into the rich history and theory behind mandala's I want to explain that the mandala represents the universe and is often used as an aid to meditation.
Upcoming Workshops
Later in the year I will be running a number of workshops focusing on some of my favourite art making techniques. These hands on workshops will have you experimenting and creating all day long. These will be a strong focus on my signature embroidery technique and also how to embed your small artworks into blocks of resin to create freestanding sculptures.
Final count down to Entwined @ Kerrie Lowe gallery
My latest exhibition 'Entwined' at Kerrie Lowe Gallery Newtown is opening very soon!
Artist Demonstrations at Seascape and Beyond
The annual Seascape and Beyond exhibition is fast approaching and like last year I will have a few artworks in the show. This exhibition held at Merewether Surf Lifesaving club supports Beyond Blue - the national depression initiative. Its always a great varied show and it supports a fantastic cause so come along if you are in the area.
Lindfield Art Show
I wil have a few of my newest pieces for sale at the Lindfield Art Show this weekend (15th - 17th March 2013). The Art show is a part of the broader Holy family Art Festival which is an annual event that raises finds for the Holy Family Catholic primary School. The festival looks jam packed full of great stalls and activities so it's a great day out for everyone.
Colour in your life episode
A few months ago I was filmed for the TV show 'Colour in your life' and I am excited to announce that the airing date is just around the corner! The episode is due to be aired on the 28th of April 2013. In the episode you can watch me explain and demonstrate how my work is created from the initial sketch to the final painted pin, all from the comfort of your living room.
Tune in to Television 4ME
Channel 74 - QLD, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth
Channel 64 - Regional NSW, VIC, ACT, Gold Coast
For those of you who can't wait that long you can see my episode here. Or watch it below (if you can put up with the poor quality).
Tune in to Television 4ME
Channel 74 - QLD, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth
Channel 64 - Regional NSW, VIC, ACT, Gold Coast
For those of you who can't wait that long you can see my episode here. Or watch it below (if you can put up with the poor quality).
New exhibition = new work
I am very excited to announce that I will be having an exhibition with the lovely and talented ceramic artist Christine Mackinnon later in the year. The show 'Entwined' is to be held at the Kerrie Lowe gallery in Newtown Sydney from April 12th - 7th May2013.
My handmade 'Save the Date' cards
I know this is not the usual type of post you would expect on this blog but I just had to share my latest creations (which have occupied my mind for many months now) ... the 'save the date cards' for my upcoming wedding.
Looking back over 2012
So 2012 is almost over, and what a year it has been!
This has been a roller coaster ride of a year for me, with a constant flow of ups and downs to keep me on my toes. 2012 has been the first year where I feel I can say I am a 'visual artist'. I get a little buzz every time I fill out a form and it asks for my occupation - it feels quite surreal to write 'artist' and I can't help but think that someone is going to pull me up on it one day and tell me 'No - you are not an artist, that's not a real job!' Luckily this awkward situation hasn't occurred just yet, and fingers crossed it never will.
Filming day ....
Today was a very fun and exciting day! Today I got to get a sneak peek into the world of television production. Let me tell you that those TV production people work really hard.
Going Resin crazy
Since my discovery of the fabulous (and sometimes frustrating) process of resin casting I have been busily creating resin sculptures to expand my artwork range. I started with only a handful of resin sculptures earlier in the year and now I have worked up to a collection of over 60 pieces. Needless to say I have gone a little bit resin crazy. I really enjoy working with this stuff and I love the lustrous surface of the resin. I think the work looks very precious inside the clear resin, like a trapped treasure.
ABC radio interview
A few months ago I was interviewed by the lovely Jill Emberson from Newcastle radio ABC 1233. The interview aligned with my first solo exhibition in the fabulous Timeless Textiles gallery and we chatted about my work, my process and my move to Newcastle.
The ArtExpo
So the Sydney Art Expo is over and done with for another year ... and what a crazy weekend it was. Having never participated in an expo before I wasn't really sure what to expect and after all the anticipation and lead up I can't believe that now it is over.
One of the best parts of the expo for me was meeting other artists and talking shop. Everyone that I met was lovely and so inspirational. Some of my favourites were Jessica Watts who paints realistic birds and children but with a cheeky twist, Deborah Keogh with her hauntingly beautiful portraits of children, Gabe Somers' sparkling seascapes and Brendan Mogg's tactile oil paintings. A special mention needs to go out to John Kennedy who was my neighbour at the expo. His amazing paintings and drawings take my breath away with the detail and the imagination that goes into each one. I was lucky enough to swap one of my pieces for the drawing that John created before my eyes on the last day at his stand. Thanks John!
Overall the Art Expo was a great experience and a wonderful event to be a part of. I had some great sales and made some fantastic contacts with artists and galleries alike. I few opportunities look like they will be coming out of this event so stay tuned for new exciting things on the horizon.
In the weeks leading up to the expo I was flat out sewing my last few pieces before rushing them off to the framers. Then I went mad creating about 60 resin pieces to ensure I had enough for what I hoped would be a great demand. There seemed to be mountain of admin work to deal with and all those last min things like wall labels and cataloguing etc. I was stressing out about how I would fit all my work into my tiny stand so I even made a little to scale diorama of my stand measurements with scaled artwork images so I could plan out my hanging arrangement. Some might say that is a sign that I am very anal-retentive ... but I like to just think that I am super organised. However after all my fussing the artwork, furniture and bits and pieces were all packed up in the trusty ute like a huge tetras puzzle (I don't think it has ever been that full) and shipped off to the Hordern pavilion for an early morning setup.
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| My stall planning diorama |
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| Resin pieces all labeled ready to be packed |
Set up went well but it still took 3 people almost 6 hours to pull my little stand together. Who would have imagined so much work is involved in such a seemingly simple task. You would think that a small stand would be easy to set up but I was trying to fit the maximum amount of work in a very limited space while still trying to make the stall feel balanced and uncluttered. Since all my pieces are slightly different sizes this was a bit of a challenge but in the end I was really happy with my stand and there was only one piece that I didn't get to hang.
It was great to see the other artists and galleries setting up - you could clearly see who were the seasoned expo goers because they had their setup down pat and could get their stands hung in record time. One guy even had his own custom wall decal stickers and a laser level ... which made me feel very primitive with my humble measuring tape, pencil and calculator.
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| The expo coming together on setup morning |
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| Stand set up - Day 1 |
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| The stand set up - Day 2 |
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| the stand set up - Day 2 |
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| The expo in full swing |
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| Gabe Sommers' stand |
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| John Kennedy (Jedika) drawing at his stand |
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| My original John kennedy Sketch |
Overall the Art Expo was a great experience and a wonderful event to be a part of. I had some great sales and made some fantastic contacts with artists and galleries alike. I few opportunities look like they will be coming out of this event so stay tuned for new exciting things on the horizon.
Thank you to everyone who came along to the expo or helped me out in any way to make the weekend a success. Now I am going to have a much deserved day off from work (phew) ... but i am back in the studio tomorrow to create new beautiful things!
Sydney ArtExpo
This year I am taking part in the Sydney ArtExpo at the Hordern pavilion. It should be a great weekend and a great opportunity to showcase my work and meet some other fabulous art minded people. The expo is a great way to purchase artwork, you can see an amazing range of established and emerging artists selling their wares. Apparently things fly out the door so come early (ideally on the preview night) if you want to see all that the show has to offer.
For the expo I am working on a new resin collection and some new framed wall pieces; including some adorable tiny framed Ginko leaf pieces that I am currently in love with.
Here is a sneak peek at a few of the new pieces I have been working on for the expo. Hope to see you there!
For the expo I am working on a new resin collection and some new framed wall pieces; including some adorable tiny framed Ginko leaf pieces that I am currently in love with.
Here is a sneak peek at a few of the new pieces I have been working on for the expo. Hope to see you there!
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| Red Nautilus - Polyester embroidery thread |
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| Twisted Leaf - polyester embroidery thread |
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| Curled Frond - polyester embroidery thread |
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| little Ginko leaves - polyester embroidery thread |
Art Expo Sydney 2012
September 21 - 23Hordern Pavilion, Entertainment quarter, Moore park, Sydney
Friday (preview evening): 5 - 9pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Tickets:
Adult: $17 children
concession: $13
10-16years: $10
Children under 10: FREE
family (2 adults + 2 children): $35
buy tickets online here or at the door
Ethereal Threads Opening Night
Last Thursday my solo exhibition Etherial Threads opened at Timeless Textiles gallery. I have been to several of the Timeless textiles openings and they are always delightful events with good food, wine and company to be had. Being my first show up here in Newcastle I didn't really know what to expect and I wasn't really sure if anyone would even turn up as my usual cohort of friends and followers are mostly based down in Sydney. But I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who came to the opening, many of which Anne (the gallery director) had never seen before, meaning that this exhibition had brought new blood to Timeless Textiles. The exhibition has also coincidentally coincided with the galleries first birthday, so there was lots to celebrate on the night.
Just after the exhibition the blog Empress Wu Designs did a lovely review on my work and the exhibition. Check it out here.
Thank you to everyone who came to the opening or who has visited the exhibition, your interest in my work and support is what keeps me going.
Just after the exhibition the blog Empress Wu Designs did a lovely review on my work and the exhibition. Check it out here.
Thank you to everyone who came to the opening or who has visited the exhibition, your interest in my work and support is what keeps me going.
Last min prep and stairway sanding
My solo exhibition 'Etherial Threads' opens in three days and I am currently in a flurry of last second preparation. There are still a few freestanding sculptures to finish, the resin work must be sanded and polished and I need to photograph and catalogue all the new pieces. I always get a little buzz of excitement before I set up a new show. It is the time when all the work comes together and is presented beautifully. I get to see all my efforts up on a wall in a gallery rather than just a stack leaning against the wall in the studio.
Etherial Threads
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| Sanding the resin - my least favourite job |
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| Sanding on the front doorstep |
I set up the show tomorrow and then I am giving myself a day off before the opening night on Thursday! here is a sneak peek at the new resin work and some small embroidered bowls I have been working on.
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| New resin pieces |
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| new resin pieces in wooden boxes |
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| Star coral embroidered bowls |
Etherial Threads
16th August - 9th September 2012
7 Beaumont St Islington
Opening night: Thursday 16th August 6-8pm
Solo show - Ethereal threads
Next month I will be having a solo show at the fabulous Timeless Textiles gallery in Islington (Newcastle). This show was originally booked in for early next year but due to a last min cancellation the director (the lovely Anne Kempton) asked me if it was possible to bring my show forward. Riding on the success of Thread Paper Fibre Clay I was excited to have the opportunity to exhibit again so soon. It is also great to be exhibiting a little closer to home as this will be my first big show in my hometown of Newcastle. So now all I have to do is pull together a solo show in under a month....eeep. Better get sewing!
Below are a few words about the exhibition (and my work):
The
work of Meredith Woolnough explores the power and fragility of nature through intricately
embroidered sculptures. The shapes and patterns found in coral and leaves are
replicated in tiny stitches that build up to form specimen like constructions
that are light and delicate. Each piece is carefully mounted onto paper with pins
to give the embroidery relief from the page so that it captures the light and
flings shadows onto the paper creating depth, volume and movement.
Thread Paper Fibre Clay
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| Opening night at Thread Paper Fibre Clay |
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| Opening night at Thread Paper Fibre Clay |
The recent exhibition 'Thread Paper Fibre Clay' has been a huge success with lots of positive feedback from all who view the show. The four artists are quite different in their media and approach to art making but they balance very well together to create a wonderful unified atmosphere within the space.
Opening night was a huge success with a great turnout. We enjoyed the musical talents of budding musician James Wohlfiel on guitar to set the mood for the night. Thank you to everyone who has supported the exhibition through visiting and purchasing the wonderful artwork.
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| Depot II Gallery - Thread Paper Fibre Clay exhibition |
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| Artwork my meredith Woolnough |
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| Artwork by Rae Woolnough, Lisa Rodden and Christine Mackinnon |
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| The artists: Rae Woolnough, Christine Mackinnon, Meredith Woolnough & Lisa Rodden |