Veteran Community Story Writing and Art Competition

The Story Writing and Art Competition (SWAC) is an annual art/painting, craft, photography, story writing and poetry event run specifically for members of Victoria’s ex-service community.  The competition is open to current and ex- service men and women as well as his/her partner, children and grandchildren.

The competition began in 1962 at the Repatriation General Hospital in Heidelberg, Melbourne, as therapy for returned soldiers. Today, it continues to enhance participants’ health and wellbeing by providing the opportunity to develop new skills, interests and social support.  This year there was a record number of entries from those currently serving, demonstrating the power creating art has at such times.

My grandfather served as a Commando in World War 2 and encouraged me to enter an artwork I completed many years ago that reflects upon war.  I noticed there was also a textile and fibre category so decided to take the opportunity to enter some wire lace.  I thought this would be an opportunity to exhibit and allow a wider audience to see this style of lace.

My grandfather accompanied me to the opening and to my surprise and our delight my lace piece entitled Gum Leaves had won third prize.  I am looking forward to attending the award ceremony in November.

 This award, along with my recent recognition at the Triennial Lace Awards has encouraged me to continue to explore the world of wire lace and continue to develop my own style and designs using this medium. 

The Australian Lace Guild - Trienial Lace Awards for 2015

The Triennial Award is a competition held every three years by the Australian Lace Guild.  The theme for 2015 was Gold.  There are various categories including bobbin, needle and mixed laces as well as group entries.  This year I decided to enter a piece under the bobbin lace category.  This was a huge step for me as until this year, I had never entered a piece of lace into anything other than a country show.

As per my previous post I participated in a lace demonstration at the National Gallery of Victoria ealier this year as part of their Exquisite Threads exhibition.  The exhibition coincided with my decision to make a piece for the Trienial Awards so I went along looking for inspiration for my design.  I certainly found it.

Below is the piece I made. It is made with copper wire.  The design is made in three sections and then joined.

Here you can see where I found my inspiration at Exquisite Threads.  These are strong connections to the shapes lines and form of three of the pieces from the exhibition.

The winners for the award were announced at the AGM during the National Conference.  To my delight I was awarded Highly Commended.  It is an honour to learn that my piece is regarded highly amongst the lace community. 

I really enjoyed designing this piece and creating it.  The whole process just seemed to flow together.  It has certainly inspired me to continue designing and creating pieces in wire.

The theme for the next Trienial Award is footprints.  If I pulled this piece together in four months lets see where my imagination, skills and drive can take me in three years........

Exquisite Threads – English Embroidery 1600s-1900s

 Image from NGVsite

Exquisite Threads – English Embroidery 1600s-1900s is currently on at the NGV international until July 12.

The Australian Lace Guild has been invited to talk and demonstrate a variety of laces as part of the exhibition on June 14 and July 11 at 11:45am.  I am excited and a tad nervous to be demonstrating wire lace at this event on both days. So if you are free please come and have a look.  It will be a great way to see a variety of laces on display and being made at the same time.

The exhibition itself is a great collection and well displayed. From samplers made by seven year olds in the 1700s to art deco fashion of the 1920s.  Taking the time to view the short videos of how some of the pieces are made is well worthwhile.

This is one of may favourite pieces, an apron from the 1730s.  Image from the NGV site.

Why is this on my blog for contemporary lace you may ask?  Because the traditions and skills of the past are what inspire our creations for the future.

5000 Poppies reflection

I was privileged to visit 5000 Poppies  on April 24 and again on April 25.  What an incredible project.  I am in awe of the women who dreamt of the project and supported it and nurtured it as it grew from 5000 to over 250,000.000 poppies.

 

Poppies were draped on the steps of Federation Square and found in the surrounding garden beds, atrium and galleries.  

Try as I might I could not find my poppy however I did manage to find some other lovely lace poppies.

A massive congratulations to the project and I hope the poppies can continue to travel and be seen at various locations long into the future.

Lace in Blooms

Lace in Blooms was an event for City of Darebin's True North Arts Festival which was held 17-19  April 2015.

The three day event aimed to showcase the expanding creative culture in Darebin's North.  The festival is in it's third year and this year expanded to include Preston and Thornbury.

I had wanted to participate in this festival since it's inception and this year seemed perfect as the expansion beyond Reservoir's borders meant I could approach my favourite florist, North St Botanical, as a location.  Emily, the owner, was so accommodating and generous to accept my request to make lace in her window as part of the festival.

Lace in Blooms saw the beauty of lace and flowers merge in the shopfront of North St Botanical.  A personal reflection of my lacemaking since inception, combined with inspirational lace pieces, were displayed in the window.  Throughout the weekend the lovely Caroline and Dawn, of the Banksia lacemaking group, and I demonstrated lacemaking in the window.  The aim was to display the art of lacemaking in a unique location to increase public awareness of this traditional craft.

It was a truly amazing location to demonstrate lace and see the world pass by.  I could look up from my pillow to and see an amazing wall of flowers and look out to see the happenings of High St Thornbury.  Then during the day I witnessed the very talented Emily and Holly make stunning floral arrangements while I chatted to passers by and visitors to the store.

Lace making is alive in the City of Darebin and a public demonstration such as this let the community know about it.

Thanks to the City of Darebin, North St Botianical, The Victorian Lace Guild and the Banksia Lace Group for their support in making this project such a success.

Here is the finished piece of lace I worked on when sitting in the window.  This was given to the amazing Emily from North St Botanical to say thanks for being such an awesome person and welcoming this project into her stunning store.

5000 poppies

The 5000 Poppies project is an amazing public artwork that will transform Federation Square in Melbourne on ANZAC Day 2015.  Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the ANZAC Centenary, marking 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War.

5000 Poppies started as grass roots project to pay tribute to and respect Australian servicemen and women for more than a century of service in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.  The project has grown dramatically since inception and will now be a staggering 800m2 in size.

The award winning landscape designer, Phillip Johnson has come on board to assist in developing the design for the hundred of thousand poppies contributed for the project.

I am in total awe of the women who created this project.  Even though the project has grown to a size they never dreamed of, they still treat each handmade poppy, most of which are dedicated to loved ones, with care and respect.  They value and cherish the many volunteers who are piecing the work together and the countless participants who have contributed to this project.  You can see some of the love here.

It is hoped the piece will tour after ANZAC Day and that it will be gifted to the Australian War Memorial for all Australians to enjoy.

In 2010 I made a single poppy and placed it in federation square on Remembrance Ray.  For 5000 Poppies I made another single poppy just like it to join the field of poppies in Federation Sqaure for ANZAC Day 2015.  If I can find it in the field there may be another post about this project.

Next Generation

My last post commented on how the little folk in my life have been keeping me from lace.  This is not entirely true as my eldest child, aged 5, has shown a keen interest in lace.  So much so that last Christmas I gave her a pillow, pins, bobbins and thread.

Much to my delight she seems to really enjoy lace making and her passion and determination makes me feel that this craft may continue in the next generation.