Witches brew - Shibori

Rusty Roo workshop - Day 2 - 

after another delectable meal, beautiful sunset, lengthy memorable bonfire and a good nights sleep . . . . . 

We woke early to heavy mist, a Koala in the tree, wallabies at the ponds, birds squabbling on the bird stands . . . . and a full Cameron cooked breakfast . . .  mmmmmm!

We were all eager to open our eco dyed parcels, which looked gorgeous with all their additives . . . and then after congratulating ourselves on the great results, we got stuck straight into  tying and sewing our material - which took us all morning . . . . then when they were ready we dipped them in the Shibori vat, which Nancy had heating on a small wood fire.

We dipped out lengths of material at least three times and then took them out and rinsed them in clean water.

  

Some of us printed onto white material while others chose to overprinted the Eco dyed material with the Shibori.

Lunch, some more dipping and then time for another meal and another bonfire . . . tomorrow will see us doing out last minute projects, discussing where to from here, sharing information and then packing up . . . . I so adore these long weekends with friends learning a new process . . .

We all agreed that this is another process we will be repeating . . . 

A very enjoyable weekend . . . now to weave and sew . . . .Thankyou one and all!!!!!!

Eco Dyeing at the Rusty Roo

What an incredibly enjoyable weekend. 

There were seven of us at the Roo trying our hand at the process loosely referred to as 
Eco Dyeing. 






Cameron set up an area under the trees, and Nancy Brown our tutor, supplied the material, knowledge and incredible wealth and diversity of experience. 

Nancy's blog is a good read.
https://nancybrownstudio.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/gumleaf-sauerkraut/

https://nancybrownstudio.wordpress.com/category/artist-in-residence-2/

Using natural materials, like gum leaves, flowers, bark, and a few contrived additives, like old railway sleeper pegs, salt, red cabbage and onion skins - we - wrapped up bundles of the ingredients in our material- boiled up the bundles, and  soaked them overnight. . . . . 

The bundles looked a little like giant sushi rolls !!!  Quite beautiful. Even if you were not expecting to acquire some beautifully printed material - the process alone is very enjoyable. One pot had plant materials, one copper additives and one iron . . . 

Early Sunday Morning after a full Cameron cooked BBQ breakfast, we took the soaked bundles out of the pots - 

The results were surprising, interesting and distinctly wearable . . . .  we all agreed, we will have to do this again. 

 Tomorrow we will be trying Shibori . . . .mmmmmmm!!!. . . .we are all excited!
Nancy has made up 'the beast' and the blue gorgeousness is foaming and frothing . . . I imagine we will feel like witches working with a brew.

Now it is time to relax, reflect, and then for a delicious meal, some wine, and a bom fire. Nancy has her Guitar and 

Linda has her Shakuhachi (Japanese Flute which produces relaxing rain sounds)

Another wonderful day 

Dō a "way of life".

5 Ways  - layered - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Void

      

Getting ready for another exhibition takes thought, time and preparation. . . way before you even start on the body of work to be exhibited.

Meeting with your co-exhibitors is a given . . . where you chose to meet can be conducive to producing some interesting results.

For this 2015 exhibition, we have been using Ikebana, and the environment as our path towards inspiration.

Lily karmatz has been our instructor and guide. http://www.artislily.com/the_artist Lily is a Ikebana tutor, installation artist and accomplished painter, sculptor, ceramist and a mixed media artist. Her work is often ephemeral in nature and large in scale. A few of her Ikebana and installation works can be seen in the publication 'Ikebana Today' by international publisher, Stichting Kunstboek, Belgium. . 

Lily, Linda, Lyn, Kate and myself have worked at the Rusty Roo, Fingal, Mt Cootha forest, Stradbroke Island, Morton Island,  and now the latest outing to glean further inspiration led us to Victoria point, ( to fortify ourselves at The wishing well Cafe with breakfast and merriment ) and then onto the ferry to Coochiemudlo Island.

 Coochiemudlo Island is located within the Redland Shire in South-East Queensland, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The island lies in Moreton Bay, where it's shallow beaches and mangroves are protected from the breakers of the South Pacific. The island is easily reached by a short ferry trip from Victoria Point. Although Coochie, as the island is known locally, is only 5 square kilometres in size, it boasts more than 4 Km of beautiful beaches.

Photographing the installations.

Lily introduced us to discussing the Japanese dō (道:どう), meaning path or way. 

Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga (meaning "path"). The term refers to the idea of formulating propositions, subjecting them to philosophical critique, and then following a 'path' to realize them. 

Dō signifies a "way of life". 

Dō in the Japanese context, is an experiential term. Experiential in the sense that practising (the way of life) is the norm, to verify the validity of the discipline cultivated through a given art form. 

Time is never enough . . . after an enjoyable lunch, discussing 'dō ' we had another meander, before catching the ferry back to Victoria point, for afternoon tea . . . 

More dō (道:どう) and then time to go.

Another inspiring day!!!  . . . . so many layers, ideas . . . . and so much FUN!!  Thank you.

Next workshop . . . back at the Rusty Roo.  Eco Dyeing, using Nature, with Nancy Brown

Brisbane to Bargara

Brianna is in Bundaberg - Bargara for two weeks for work, and invited me to share some time with her.

C Bargara Resort

Brianna and I enjoyed the exhibition, at the Bundaberg Regional Galleries - 'Strong Women Strong Painting Strong Culture', curated by Deborah Sims and Matt Dickson . . .as Sunday 8th March was International Women’s Day! The exhibition was originally curated in 2011 for the Centenary of International Women’s Day and has been touring ever since. 

We thoroughly enjoyed the video of the women teaching their grandchildren the art of 'fighting for their man' and 'basket weaving'.

We adored our visit to Mon Repos Regional Park. Rangers and volunteers walked with us, under a full moon shimmering on the ocean, to watch a batch of Loggerhead turtles hatch, and then make their way to the water. Approx, only one in a thousand make the return trip.

Lavender farm, Gelato, Bundaberg distillery, eating out, shopping, walks and then more Gelato . . . and staying on the esplanade in a studio apartment at C Bargara resort with ocean views . . . . all very nice!!
Yes! Thank you for the invite gorgeous. . . .