When we saw them in their raw state in the dark corner of a studio who would have thought that this was the vision that Nicky had for them?

I think that they reflect much more of a blue sky than I could see. I love the simplicity and delicacy of the decoration. Of course I said ‘lovely’ ‘beautiful’ oh my’

‘when are you going to sell them?’

and she said ‘no, not right, not done, not finished, etc’

He sounded fantastic, much better than 25 years ago, and since it was a solo show we really got to see him perform. He played a huge range of music from jazz standards to his own rock. He played his own hits that have been reworked and virtually unplugged apart from a distortion pedal or two. The crowd loved it and he included the audience of die-hards in the show. It was great.

I love the thought of entering something in the Royal Melbourne Shoe. Its so Melbourne, historical, big country townish. I bet a lot of bitching and fighting goes on. Do I want to get involved in all of that? Do I have to? Isn’t it the point sort of? getting along with everyone, rubbing up against people causing friction and then resolving it? I’m in the situation at the moment where I work pretty much on my own. I have ‘colleagues’ like the Squirt and other marketers but we work along side not with, which is quite different. There is a lot of cameraderie in the market scene. But I think this set is definitely older and wiser. For instance when I was taking these photos some of the crafters were a bit stroppy when I said I might blog about it. Some were really interested and happy. It takes all kinds? Well no matter where you go you have to deal with people and they with you.

These photos are full of promise and excitement because I happen to know that Nicky hasn’t ‘done anything’ for a long time, but has recently rented this space and has evidently made a start. When she sent this to me she said that her creative space is not a sun drenched place of enlightenment but a concrete corner in Nth Melb, full of monotone clay. No colours, only texture and shape. But the sun is shining for Nicky in this place. I think from a sewing point of view it must be nice to be able to narrow it down like that. Deal with texture and shape first and then deal with colour. Is that how it works?

Since I have a market on Saturday I have been promising myself that I would dash over to Footscray to have a preview of Nick’s paintings so that I could tap out a little something about them but…..its the school holidays. So here is a snap and a link and the opening is on Saturday 3rd of October at the

Trocadero Artspace

Level 1  Hopkins St Footscray

I’m going to get there next week for sure when school goes back so I will have a little more to say. His work though is fine and sensitive and worth a look. I have seen portraits only by Nick and I am a fan of the portrait. He captures a moment and a person beautifully. Samples can be seen on his website

Today the toddler and I took the tram to the city, to the foyer of Vic Uni to see some sketches by Paul Borg. Now when I say some I mean hundreds of these small sketches are packed like sardines, cheek by jowl into shallow glass cabinets in the dimly lit foyer off Flinders St in Melbourne. We were left alone by the dozens of students who paced past us on their busy way as we pressed our noses against the glass to look at these finely sketched and sensitively wrought pages of urban life, all embracing the same moment, that of repose as they pass the time on public transport.

None of the drawings in On the Line are for sale and it is easy to see that they all belong together. While they stand alone as portraits they seem to be almost bonded together by the journey. The individuals in the picture are dependent upon the others to give them their significance. They are a crowd of faces that I found myself scanning as we do in crowds sometimes when everyone looks familiar, but no-one is actually known. They are beautiful and touching individually and as a whole…..on until the 25th September.

]]> http://cottagenerd.com.au/2009/08/17/on-the-line/feed/ 0 http://cottagenerd.com.au/2009/08/15/its-coming-along/ http://cottagenerd.com.au/2009/08/15/its-coming-along/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:23:06 +0000 hourigan http://cottagenerd.com.au/?p=227

Hello,
The good news is that it’s open studio time at mitten fortress.
Saturday the 8th of August 11-3pm
studio 2, 3rd floor. 329 Little Collins st.
Melbourne.

(On the corner of elizabeth st) – (flyer attached)

We will be showing  set of seen and unseen work
books, prints, drawings, work on wood, etc etc.
As well as acorn and cat-rabbtit creations.

Also, I’ll be in the next show at Gorker Gallery,

40 Thieves The Cuban Connection

on the 13th of August, and some new street work this week.

I’ll be showing an entire sketchbook.

I am also working on an intensive building project

a solo show for December at Gorker

gallery. Eyes out.