No more white bread and roses

After participating in the Invasion Day rally of 2018,  I was ashamed to be an Australian, with our national reluctance to give indigenous people a proper voice (as enshrined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart which calls for a First Nation voice in the Constitution), to learn about relationship with and care for land, to improve the life expectancy of indigenous Australians, about our obsession with all things European.  

Bread for all and roses too is a refrain that has been historically used (in the Union and women’s suffrage movements) as a metaphor for people’s right to bread (home, shelter and security), roses (music, education and books) and a voice. My material, barbed wire is commonly used to create fences around land and claim ownership. It is my hope is that this piece will encourage people to consider the importance of supporting indigenous Australians to determine their own future.

Inspired by creative beautiful objects which have been fashioned or woven from natural fibres for centuries and often by women. It is part of the Useless Beauty series. Fashioned from mild steel and barbed wire. It is designed to be located outside.

450 (high) x 350 (wide)x 750 (long)

Useless Beauty # 2

Useless beauty pursues a fascination with utility, with the question of value. Inspired by bags, in particular beach bags, which are both useful and beautiful, this piece responds to the unbroken question: “What’s it for?”  Fashioned from mild steel plate, rolled, welded, forged and crushed in a hydraulic press. It has been finished with a clear finish to reduce corrosion.  This piece is designed to be located inside.

400 cms (high) x 200 (wide)  

Gently

"Gently" is chilling out at Bowen and Kenneth in Daylesford

Kinetic sculpture

A 2.1 metre kinetic sculpture installed in a garden in Albury NSW 

Keeping up with Ralph

Ralph went off to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Ralph and round base are created from rolled steel strap and rod. 
Dimensions: 1 metre high x 1100 long

Cosmo the dog

Cosmo is created from flat steel strap and rod. 

Dimensions: 650cm high x 1300 long

Cosmo at the beach before she goes to her new home in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne.

Cosi and her friend

2016 was my year of the dog.  After much experimentation, I discovered the capacity for rolled steel bar to create the movement and personality that I was seeking. Our dog, Cosi is keeping her friend company while they survey their new territory.

.

Dimensions - 350cm high x 900 length