http://www.robparkart.info/newsrobpk2006.html

robertson park artists studio classes events halvosen hall robertson park perth, western australia home

2006 ROBERTSON PARK ARTISTS STUDIO NEWSLETTER

News from current and past studio artists (in the order supplied)

LAUREN WILHELM

New Studio Artist Lauren Wilhelm said that “since joining the studio in May 2006 I've learnt a lot from the fellow artists and have really enjoyed the atmosphere in the studio amidst the greenery of the park.

I came into the studio running, with a looming solo exhibition at Tristan's planned for that July and a group show at Stuart St Gallery in September.

Nevertheless all came together without too many problems, albeit a few semi-wet oil paintings hanging on the wall for the open night!

I've found that committing to a studio space has really enhanced my enthusiasm for my art, and I've made a lot of opportunities happen in the way of exhibitions in the future.

In 2007 I'm participating in Art Melbourne in April through Stuart St Gallery, a group show in New York in May and a solo exhibition in Maree Mizon's Sydney gallery in July, and that's just the beginning.” www.laurenwilhelm.com

GRAHAM HAY

In January 2006 I taught a second time at the McGregor Summer School at the University of South Queensland. It’s simply the most creative retreat in Australia with 600+ students and artists making art and music from morning to night, plus daily artists slideshows and music concerts.

I spent half of March and April giving introduction and master classes in Singapore and an unreal month as an invited guest at the National Collage of Arts in Pakistan.

Despite my travels and exhibition commitments in Perth, Japan, Pakistan and Kalgoorlie I have enjoyed the more relaxed experience teaching pottery and sculpture techniques to over 40 adult students in the studio classes.

Currently I’m building a 2.5m high compressed paper sculpture for a competition at the Busselton Southbound Music Festival www.sunsetevents.com.au, at which an expected 20,000 audience will be entertained by Wolfmother and others bands.

March 2007 will see me presenting a talk on paperclay to 4,500 delegates at NCECA, the peak world ceramic education conference in Louisville, USA, and give six workshops across the US and Canada, before a family reunion in New Zealand.

SUSANNE HAMLIN-SULLIVAN

It’s good to be back with the Rob Park mob, following a three month stint as “Artist in Residence: with the Printmakers Association of Western Australia (PAWA) in their “Byte Gallery” from May to September 2006.

PAWA are keeping me pretty busy, I’m the Secretary, as well as Newsletter Editor, amongst a number of other tasks. The last AGM saw a smaller committee, but we’re a great group and really achieving a number of new initiatives, and lots of fun.

An exhibition I shared with friend and fellow Perth artist, Shelley Cowper was held at the Monart Gallery, Dalkeith. One of my works (the largest, most expensive painting) sold the day before the exhibition opened, with the purchaser requesting it be shipped to Sydney immediately!

I’m currently in two exhibitions: Treasure Box Take III, again at Monart Gallery, Dalkeith - November/December 2006, and also the International Print Exhibition and Exchange in Townsville, running November/December. Compact Prints 2006, a biennial International Print Exhibition and Exchange, has been an opportunity to connect with 124 local and international artists.

There are a few yipee’s echoing around my house right now as I’ve been accepted to undertake BFA Honours, at the University of Western Australia (UWA) next year. I’m looking forward to a lot of reading!

2007 already has me exhibition planning. My third solo: “Of Portals, Waves and Other Expressions” will be held at The University Club, UWA, opening the first Saturday in March. Also I’m working towards “Universal Abundance” to be held in the Moore’s Building Contemporary Art Gallery later in the year, sharing with other active members of PAWA.

As part of the 2007 – the Year of the Surf Life Saver, artists from different Printmaking studios from around the country have created prints for an exhibition “Reel Heroes- Safe Beaches” to be held at the Robyn Bauer Gallery in Brisbane, February next year. We each created limited edition 25 prints to be distributed around the country.

Next year, sometime, I’m planning to come up for air – hope to see you there. Cheers. http://members.westnet.com.au/jls_shs" target="win2">http://members.westnet.com.au/jls_shs

CAROL ROWLING

2005 saw Carol working furiously preparing works for a Code Red exhibition which was in October 05, having come back from a year in Sydney just prior to that and also works for Robertson Park Exhibition also in October.

2006 saw a trip overseas to the Scandinavian countries to look up Danish ancestors on the island of Bornholm and preparing work for Town of Vincent art awards and Boans Warehouse Gallery of Modern Art.

Currently I have works at the new Code Red Gallery in East Fremantle and Stuart St Gallery Nth Perth. www.carolrowling.com.au/.

SARAH JANE MARCHANT

UK artist Sarah joined the studio in September 2006 after travelling and being inspired by the Kimberley Region of WA.

Sarah exhibited at the Kimberley Art Prize is Derby earlier this year and also has a selection of work on display at The Old Broome Lock Up.

Since joining the Robertson Park Cult she has exhibited and sold at both the Town of Vincent and Vic Park Art Awards, as well as the group show “Spring Fling” with fellow studio artists Graham, Carol and Frances at Boans Gallery of Modern Art in East Perth.

Currently Sarah is showing at the Kalgoorlie Boulder Art Prize. (Ed: Sarah married in December and moving to Melbourne). View her widsite: www.sarah.marchant.com.

CASSANDRA CHARLICK

As one of the newest members of the studio, Cassandra has been painting at Robertson Park since September.

Having been confined to apartment spaces for the past few years, she is finding it liberating to finally have the space to paint.

Cassandra met Lauren while preparing for her exhibition at Tristan's, and upon learning of the space available jumped at the chance to be a part of the lively art group down at the studio.

She is focused on creating bold canvases with strong form and colour and she likes to experiment with texture.

Nature and the female form are recurring themes and she is very interested in motifs and patterns, both historical and oriental.

Artists that inspire her include Gustav Klimt, Tamara de Lempicka, Alphonse Mucha and Erte.

She is looking forward to preparing for an exhibition in 2007 with her mother, Robyn Camerer.

WENDY MCARTHUR

Twenty months after relocating to Leeds, UK I am, feeling more settled, not as homesick and enjoying been connected with my new environment.

In February 2006 I was asked to do my first corporate commission in the UK, completing the first in June, of three large oil paintings of the Victoria Mills in Shipley.

In April, I was awarded a public art commission for the NHS Bromley Trust, maternity ward project, completing this in September.

After which I was asked to part take in a lecture for MA students about public art in the non-art health environment, at Goldsmith College in London.

Now living in a semi bungalow overlooking the Bramley Fall Woods has made my stay in Leeds so much more special and tranquil.

The new friends that I have connected with; the amazing landscape scenery of the North and my walk through the ginnels to my local, the Abbey Inn with its quirky folk nights has certainly given me rise to new imagination.

For 2007 I have been asked to create new work for an exhibition in Ripon with various Yorkshire emerging artists, showing our work alongside Salvador Dali’s, with the theme of Alice in Wonderland.

My new studio should be completed early 2007, where I am developing new portraits, abstracts, expressive landscapes and soon sculpture.

What more can I say? Contentment and excitement are my key influences to create, and live in a great new place. www.wendymcarthur.com.au.

ROBYN CAMERER

Robyn Camerer joined the Robinson Park Studio this year, sharing a studio space with her daughter, Cassandra.

She finds it inspiring and encouraging to be with other members of the studio and to have the support and advice that encompasses that.

It very exciting for her to be involved with the studio because it is the first time she has had a specific area dedicated to her creative practice since finishing all her painting units studying a Visual Arts degree at ECU.

A highlight of the week spent painting at the studio is Friday morning tea sharing Paul's wonderful cakes with coffee.

It provides great interaction and discussion time with the other artists, also with visitors and students.

Robyn's painting style varies from figurative to textured abstract works.

She loves to use bold colours and experiments with different methods and techniques on canvas.

Next year she plans to have a joint exhibition with Cassandra.

UMBERTO ALFARO

This year, 2006, has been a year of mixed feelings.

Early in the year I participated in the LACA (Latin American Cultural Association) Exhibition “Arte Latino” as well as several Art Award Exhibitions.

After that and for the following months I was working for my fourth solo exhibition “Pulpitations IV” originally planned for October 2006.

In July Perth children kept me busy as I conducted a Papier Mache course at the Tresillian Centre in Nedlands.

The death of my Mo-mother (my second mother, Lucia’s mother) in June made me postpone everything as we moved to Chile from August to October.

November was spent organizing my daughter Kali’s fundraising photographic exhibition.

At present I am back to work for my “Pulpitations IV” which will be held in late March 2007.

Many projects need to be completed, as once again I’ll be participating in the next “Arte Latino” in May 2007.

Next year will be cut in half again as we are planning to travel to The Netherlands, France, The Czech Republic, and Russia in July.

In The Netherlands I will take the opportunity to demonstrate some of my Papier Mache techniques to a group of ladies from the staff at the Shell Company in The Hague.

I will also hold “Mexican Piñata” lessons for children at The Hague International School.

When I look at myself in the mirror I say: “Umberto, next year you will be very busy”.

DIOKNO PASILAN

Since their performance at the last studio exhibition in October 2005, his Kurbist Gong Band he continues to experiment with traditional songs and improvisations with polyrhythm.

They use kulintang, South East Asian Gongs, and even makeshift instruments such as the crickello, a string instrument made from a cricket bat.

The band invites local musicians, visual artists, performers and community members in collaborative improvisational recordings and sound performances (M: 0437 060 903) kurbistgongband@yahoo.com.au

Through to January 2007 Diokno’s (and the communities in Masinlo, Palawan), exhibition Danas: Ginhawa, will be at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).

Further details on the studio, including a map are at http://www.robparkart.info/

This newsletter is to keep you informed about the Robertson Park Artists Studio. If you do/don't want to receive it in future, contact Graham by clicking here.