‘Surfacing’ Art Journal

19/11/2009

Ophelia (working title) 2

Filed under: Artists, Sketchbooks, Textiles, exploration — Tags: , — Lesley @ 1:10 pm

I’ve made over thirty images related to ‘Ophelia’ and still no image really pleases me.   The ones below maybe acceptable.   I like the intentional fading out of the sides of the images.  This would allow for an interesting surface on which to print. This, however,  has got to stop,  make a decision!  I’ve always found it a problem in bringing work to a ‘close.’

As a student I amassed a large number of sketchbooks within which my ideas never saw the light of day.  Obviously things have improved  since then but the dilemma remains.  I’m actually afraid this work is in danger of becoming stale.  My focus perhaps too narrow much as I enjoy working with hair and detritus.  Time to let go for a while.  I’ve also added three new links in my sidebar.  Friends Kayla and Gavin and one by Joanna Ebenstein I recently discovered.  All fascinating stuff.

Lesley Bricknell (2009) sample image

Lesley Bricknell (2009) sample image

15/11/2009

artifice

Filed under: Artists, Exhibitions — Tags: , , — Lesley @ 4:21 pm

A friend who  stayed with us recently has given me a catalogue of Alice Maher’s exhibition ‘Natural Artifice’ on show in Brighton.  Gavin always chooses such perfect presents.   I was aware of Alice Maher’s earlier work using cast off hair, dead honey bees, red berries and nettles and pins.  For me such work displays a tenacity in the collecting, sorting and handling of such materials.   Materials that stain, mark and harm the skin as pointed out in the catalogue notes.

In recent work the artist appears in a photograph  wearing a necklace of lambs’ hearts.  In another piece snail trails are ‘fixed’ on fired ceramic plates.   Startling pieces.  I was completely knocked out by her charcoal drawings.  Thick, dense, immaculate.  Not a trace of a smudge anywhere around the crisp black outlines.  It’s lovely when you are given a present like this that opens up previous memories, obsessions (not snails!)

Alice Maher (2006) 'The Lovers' charcoal on paper 152.5x102cm

Meanwhile I’ve started an online ‘Portfolio‘ of my final pieces.  I’m trying to incorporate my website into an integrated blog site.  So far I’ve only suceeded in changing my domain name on the blog!  A few selected  final pieces, however, may be a nice addition. to this site.

14/11/2009

‘Hybrids’

Filed under: Artists, Exhibitions, installation — Tags: , — Lesley @ 11:07 am

At first glance Leeza Meksin’s installation ‘Splayed Rack’ (2008) looks as though it is a number of separate, individual pieces. On closer examination, however, it is one related structure documented from different angles and in different light conditions.  My favourite angle is of it snaking along the parapet in what appears to be early morning.  I think of spandex as pliant, stretchy.  Utilatrian.  Dance and sportswear.  Here it is immobile, fixed, weighed down with stones, wired.  The choice of metallic spandex is a good one too.  Its metal surfaces no doubt soft to the touch.  I’m not quite sure, possibly it is rigid too.   I can’t imagine these pieces flying off the roof.  To me they are a kind of trampoline or safety net that does not function.  Cannot function.

Leeza Meksin (2008) 'Splayed Rack' installation

In other visual work Leeza Meksin uses acrylic paint, corrugated plastic, dyes and enamels to good effect.  I am all in favour of her varied use of contrasting materials so possibly we have some common ground.    I’m drawn to work like this time and time again.  Constructed, robust, ordered.  So different from my own somewhat ephemeral pieces.     Leeza’s work is shown on culturehall an artist resource site I mentioned earlier in my blog.  The exhibition space is curated every two weeks by other artist members.  Egalitarian!

Older Posts »

Blog at WordPress.com.