The Train Track series!

Since I can remember, I have always had a liking for all things involving trains. It might have started with walking an old track behind my primary school that once carried the Outer Circle Railway of Melbourne. Built in 1880s, and boasting 11 stations in its peak, it was finally closed and the tracks pulled up 1920s. But the romance of a steam era rail system drew me in. Since then I have taken many train journeys, been a public transport activist, and still today don’t have a driver’s licence.

Then in early 2011, possibly inspired by a pending and rather daunting overseas trip, I made my first small linocut of some train tracks.

Sometimes the wrong way is the right way

And during the summer of 2011/2012, I made 3 more. They are all around 15cm x 15cm.

I will stop wherever the ground will listen

Travelling forward, there's always another way

The Meeting Place of Our Life Lines

And over the summer 2012/2013 just gone, I have been carving 3 more blocks of lino. Here's number 5, that I posted earlier.

The paths of our future are made and not found

 Stay tuned for the final 2 train tracks. They are bigger than the last (30cm x 15), almost finished, and each is an edition of 9. 

And what's more, these final 3 will be in my upcoming solo show in April in Williamstown!

And then I think I am done! 

Seven train journeys for seven days of the week??

But let's see how I feel next summer 2013/2114!!!

Editions Exhibition

I am very fortunate to be one of the artists in this current exhibition of Melbourne printmakers.

The show opened last Tuesday 12th February with great fanfare, and is on for the next 2 weeks. As you can see I am in some great artistic company!

Whilst this gallery is not new itself, the exhibition opening was also the grand opening of TACIT Gallery in its new location, just a stone's throw from Vic Park station.

And well done to Stephanie Jane Rampton for curating such a great show.

Here's one of my new copper plate etchings that is in this exhibition.

The Plastic Gyre of Port Phillip

There were quite a few people at the Opening night who were confused by its title and meaning. It was inspired by idyllic summer days in Altona, looking back across Port Phillip Bay to the (partially imagined) city of Melbourne. It also references the great oceanic gyres. These oceanic currents have in recent times trapped manmade ocean debris into huge floating islands of plastic rubbish and have come to be known as the Great Pacific or North Atlantic Garbage Patches. And I just learnt today from my friends Helly and Helen, that Port Phillip Bay does indeed have its own mini gyres. Hopefully this is food for thought about where we put plastic in our lives.

Under the Bolte

This is another new etching in this exhibition. For those trying to spot the location, it is the Upfield train line, next to the Moonee Ponds Creek, in West Melbourne. I have a little thing about bridges (and train tracks)! 

Welcome

How exciting! This is my first post on my first ever blog! Welcome to you and me!

And what's more, here's a pic of one of my most recent linocuts!



The Paths of our Future are made not found.

This is one of the latest works in my ongoing series of linocuts exploring train tracks as a metaphor for life journeys.

It is number 5!!

Look out for number 6 and 7 that are almost done!

And stay tuned for the story for how this series first came into being, back in April 2011! And I will show you pics of all the train tracks. But that will be in another post!