Welcome 2012 - Bushwalking at Springbrook National Park

 Happy New Year everyone, wishing you a wonderful 2012.
We started the year by heading out to Springbrook National Park for some bushwalking. Springbrook National Park forms part of the World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia with many walks in various environments. We started at Natural Bridge with a looping walk descending through lush rainforest with strangler figs (above), huge hoop pines, Araucaria cunninghamii, and epiphytes in the canopy, down to the creek level cave and waterfall of natural bridge. I'll be heading back here again to take a longer look at the dense rainforest with it's layer upon layer of vegetation.

 Next we headed to 'Best of all Lookout' which sits on the escarpment top on the border between Queensland and New South Wales. With a name like this it seemed a definite choice for our day, but there is more to this short lookout walk. The area is renowned for having a small stand of Antarctic beech, (above)Nothofagus moorei, a remnant Gondwana species from a time when Australia was closer to Antarctica and a wetter climate. A shroud of mist enveloped the road as we neared the walk carpark, we had left home on the coast in brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the high twenties. As we left the car we donned jumpers for the fifteen degrees now outside. It was like entering an enchanted forest on this walk, every surface of plant and rock was encrusted, smothered and dangling in luminous green life, from lichens, moss and vines to fungi, ferns and 'old mans beard'. I loved the feel of the place, quite magical. The lookout has spectacular views, though slightly cloud shrouded on our visit, but definitely worth the visit.

 Our last walk for the day was at Springbrook Plateau on the Twin Falls track which took us along the top of the escarpment and then down to the base of the rock escarpment to walk behind waterfalls, through rock crevices and then up to the escarpment top again. It was a very enjoyable walk with dramatic changes in vegetation between the top and bottom. The higher areas were drier with banksias, grass trees, casuarinas and trees shedding volumes of bark.

 The lower walk was damp with low light entering through a dense canopy. The trail takes you past and behind several waterfalls, keeping the air cool even on a hot summers day.

 Back on the escarpment top we stopped at this spot for lunch with views to the Gold Coast and Pacific Ocean beyond. It was a great start to the year.

Summer exhibition opening at SALT

'Under the white wisteria' 2011. Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 152cm, Nicola Moss.

The Summer Exhibition Program at Salt Contemporary Art Gallery begins on Boxing Day with works by David Beaumont, Rudi Jass and myself. Paintings I have in the show are from my Wonderland series, featuring inspiration from Montsalvat Artist Colony in Eltham, Victoria, where I was artist in residence for four weeks during October.
I savored the soft light of long dawns and dusks, so different to the sharp bright light of home in Queensland. This combined with exuberant spring growth in the gardens of Montsalvat grounds have left strong impressions with me. There is an 'other worldly' feel to Montsalvat, with its medieval and French inspired buildings, and the ever strutting peacock displays. But mainly it is the quiet times, early morning and late evening with light fading that I think of most.

Opening drinks are on Tuesday 27th December at 5pm, with the show continuing to Saturday 7th January.

Not so fast

We all know time is constant and we each have the same amount each year, but still it is often said, and heard, how quickly the year has passed and how it just seems to get quicker. I had to rethink this recently though, when reminded of an exhibition that took place in January this year. It seemed like such a long time since the opening and workshops, but it was this year. It seemed incompatible - an event at the start of this year feeling a long time ago and that the year had passed quickly.
 I've been thinking about it and concluded, that it's not so much time passing quickly, more that we fit so much in to our lives (or try to), often at a frenetic pace, and this in part is what gives the illusion of time passing quickly...it's all the go, go go! Perhaps the year passing is not fast, just choc-a-block full with little time for relaxing. So I'd like to wish everyone the enjoyment of some chill out time over the festive season.

Reflecting on 2011, it's been fun and full and slightly more balanced than the one before. I'd like to thank everyone who shared their time and experiences with me. Big thanks to my husband, first time ironman and all time supporter, recipient of two husband of the year awards in 2011 (I am slightly bias :-) All my family, it was great to catch up with you throughout the year.
Friends...you know who you are, thanks for the gallery going, openings support, residency collaboration, garden advise, french dinner, weather watching, beach walking, art making, seed sharing, bird listening, ideas thinking, philosophy, side line cheering, hiking, blog posting, photo taking, gift giving, shared food and all round good times.
Thank yous too to the gallery directors and staff who have shown, supported and encouraged my artwork in 2011.

Wishing you a merry festive season and all the best for 2012.

Coochiemudlo Island

Bliss! I headed over to Coochiemudlo Island this week with Helena, for a day of outdoor work. The tide was high when we arrived with large green spheres of mangrove foliage appearing to float on the waters surface. It was very pleasant set up under the shade with a light sea breeze to cool the air. We often venture over when the tides are low, so the change was good and encouraged a fresh look at the landscape. I made a series of works on paper that responded to foliage shapes silhouetted against the bright sky. And while waiting for paint to dry lay on the sand soaking up the atmosphere...a perfect day.
Little mangrove shoots are beginning to establish in the bay we visit, it will be interesting to see how these transform over time. I went for a stroll collecting any plastic rubbish I found washed up and entangled in the mangroves, which ended up being an odd mix of party balloon, fishing line, fishing net rope and an action toy. I'm looking at rubbish in environments as part of my project work next year, will have to wait a little to see how these end up in more developed work.

A day at QAG and GOMA

I had some time out of the studio yesterday with a trip into the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art. I avoided the block buster Matisse show this time, but was not disappointed with several interesting collections on show.

Currently at GOMA until 19th February 2012, is Ten Years of Contemporary Art: The James C Sourris AM Collection. In recent years, Brisbane benefactor James C Sourris, AM, has been gathering an extensive collection of contemporary Australian art, focusing on the first decade of the twenty-first century and paying particular attention to Queensland artists.
There are many stunning works in the exhibition, with some signature paintings on canvas by Judy Watson; skillful portraits on a grand scale by Vernon Ah Kee, and intriguing layered paintings by Madeleine Kelly, to name just a few. I also was delighted to see another painting by Rosslynd Piggott (who I mentioned in a previous post) from her unfolding flower - cloudscape series.


A multi-media exhibition at GOMA, The Hand, the Eye, and the Heart, was interesting to view, with some videos really holding my attention. One in particular investigated commemorative rituals, superstitions and beliefs we hold in various cultures, it was thought provoking, like many of the works in this show.

There were some new acquisitions on show at QAG and a large multi panel work by Guan Wei that caught my eye. Of course there were many other works I enjoyed on my wander around the galleries, all making for a refreshing and inspiring day of viewing.

Peppermint Magazine article

During October I was contacted by Emily Lush, a freelance writer from Brisbane, to say she was planning to write a small article about my art practice for the upcoming issue of Peppermint Magazine. I was very happy to answer some questions and am delighted with Emily's writing, which captures the essence of my practice beautifully. Personally I find it interesting to read or hear how others interpret my work, it's partly that they are removed from the making and can look at it with fresh eyes, something that can be difficult to do with your own work. I also appreciate writing which is skillful, (not really my forte.)

Peppermint is focused on showcasing the best in eco and handmade design from Australia and the rest of the world. Fashion, accessories, natural beauty, art, film, design, social issues, lifestyle and culture.

A big Thank you to Emily and Peppermint.

A Taste of Salt - pop up exhibition in Ballarat

Salt Contemporary Art is hosting a 'pop up' exhibition - A Taste of Salt - in Ballarat this week. The exhibition features paintings, works on paper and sculpture; I'm very happy to see my paintings will be in the show at 14 Camp Street, Ballarat (B1 Gallery space).

If you are in the area and have an opportunity to pop in, please feel most welcome. The opening is on Thursday December 1st, from 5.30 – 8.30pm, RSVP (please send your details if you can make it) to info@salt-art.com.au , or contact Fiona Kelly (Director) on 03 52583988.

The Exhibition continues on Friday December 2nd, 12 – 4pm

Exhibiting artists include Alan Bates, David Beaumont, Peter Blizzard, Nona Burden, Tarli Glover, Rudi Jass, Nicola Moss, Craig Parnaby, Neville Pilven, Anne Saunders and Doug Wright.

Also in the show are limited edition works on paper by selected artists including John Olsen, Christine Johnson, Dean Bowen, Rona Green and Sally Smart.

Collectibles at Spiro Grace Art Rooms

'Tide Lines 6', 2011. Nicola Moss. Acrylic, hand cut papers, rice paper. Framed size 40 x 40cm.

I have three new smaller hand cut paperworks on show in the group exhibition Collectibles, opening this Friday at SGAR: Spiro Grace Art Rooms in Spring Hill, Brisbane. These works began on site at Coochiemudlo Island and were completed with hand cut paper elements back in the studio.
Collectibles features small scale and affordable pieces by over 15 Australian artists and designers.
It would be lovely to see you at the opening if you can make it, please say hi if you do.

Exhibition Opening Friday 2nd December
6 - 8pm

Exchange

Exchange has opened this week at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough. Congratulations to Amanda van Gils for doing a wonderful job of curating and managing the exhibition. Very excited to see who's artwork I will receive.
(Click above if you'd like a larger image.)

Focus

Before I start talking about focus, have a laugh at my pink socks...I have.

So...Focus. When asked before leaving for my residency at Montsalvat, what it was that I hoped to achieve, or 'What are the benefits of a residency' opposed to working in  my own studio; one component of my answer was a reference to the focused time I thought I would experience. The absence of home chores to a large degree and working on one project are ways that I thought my time would be more focused. By the end of the residency I noted other circumstance that created a focused atmosphere. There was no TV or radio at Montsalvat, I don't watch much, but this was nothing and I have to admit I didn't miss it. As residents we provided our own internet access, which lead in part to reduced usage, but really we were just so busy - perhaps fulfilled is a better word, with making our works that checking emails, etc during the day just didn't happen. What I noticed is how productive we were, how much work was achieved when our focus was on process and making.
Administration of an arts practice can chew up large amounts of time, checking emails throughout the day at home, generally leads to more time sitting in front of the screen. It's about discipline really and the obvious realisation, or confirmation, that the world doesn't end if I look at my emails once a day. I am bringing this appreciation of focus home to the studio and look forward to more productive use of my studio time...even a balance somewhere between the before and during residence would be beneficial.