Eastern Suburbs Art Group

Esag got together with dancers for a casting meeting tonight at Coogee Diggers.  We filmed the performances, which were I think uniformly interesting. It was amazing to me how people could get together and in ten minutes choreograph such diverse routines. We have pencilled in 21 August as the night of the performance. A new website will be made soon.

I had a scare today when I caught the intercity to Goulburn because having not slept enough the night before I fell asleep during the journey. Lucky for me a friend called several times finally waking me up when the train had already been parked alongside Goulburn Statino for about ten minutes. I scrambled out with my bags and met up with Michael Garside who runs Gallery 59. The trip back on another train (see above) was less fraught because I didn't have to barrel on like I barrelled off before! Michael at his gallery discussed plans for my third solo show, to open on 8 March running for two weeks. When I got home I thought up the name for the show, I'd had a few ideas but seeing the space and seeing the works in the space I had a better notion of what to expect. I settled on "Gold 4WD" which is the title of one of the works. If anyone knows a person in Canberra or surrounds who likes good art please let them know about this show. Michael is a painter himself and he ...

The show was sort of like greeting the future, I felt exhausted like I’d been travelling in a time machine but the feelings were all of hope and anticipation. I discovered how hard it is to get people to come into the gallery off the street. They walk along, glance at the poster in the window, scope out the interior … … and walk on regardless.  I might have to do something about the impact of the feature pieces. The ones visible from the window. Bigger, brighter, most splashy. Vibrant. Entrancing. I did sell one piece (thanks Paul) a 2022 paramontage titled ‘Birth’ that includes photos layered and a poem. The photos come specifically from the TV and from a show opening I went to in 2008 at a time when I was struggling with my mental health. I might be in another group show, just putting the word out there and hope that people are able to keep in touch so we can meet up again and chat. My sticker campaign for the ‘Media of mass psychology’ was successful in that one person (in a yel...

Busy day today hanging my first solo show at Laerk Space 163 Wilson St Newtown. I got there in the car at 11.30am and we laid out the pictures along the walls to start with. Once all the picture were in the right place I hung them on drops using the picture hanging system installed. Each hook has to be positioned in the ideal eye line and the spirit level used to get the pictures perfectly straight. Annie the gallerist did the planning and adjusted the works on their hooks to get the ideal setting. I went away in the early afternoon and returned later on with some wine for the opening on Thursday night as well as some posters with material for the show. First day in the gallery tomorrow from midday. If you’re around the area drop by for a chat.

I've put up the painting 'Abstract set III' above my desk in my bedroom it pleases me greatly in this prominent position where I can look at it when the fancy takes me. Unfortunately the show in Darlinghurst won't go ahead we're not sure of the reason but even though the gallerist asked for materials two weeks in advance of the hanging day and we supplied everything a month ahead, she cancelled at the beginning of June. Perhaps it has something to do with the financial returns expected. Whatever the reasons it's too late to mourn spilt milk and we'll aim for another venue.

On Sun Simon and I went to Wooloomooloo to me with Rozee Cutrone a local and an artist who’d expressed an interest on Instagram in swapping some of her paintings for some of mine. Naturally I was happy about this and Simon and I caught the bus/train to get to the CBD from where we walked. I was happy when Rozee chose four (two sets) of “kotowaza” paintings, saying, “I don’t think you know how good these are.” Later I’d also give her ‘The human condition III’ a paramontage I’d also brought along with some others. In return I got these drawings and a painting that is based on a bull. The drawings are lovely, with simple lines, and Rozee pointed out on the day how similar our handwriting is. In fact it’s uncanny. After leaving Woolloomooloo Simon and I caught a cab to Milsone Point to meet with another artist, Billy Lake, to discuss with her doing a show in June. When I got home and the next day I got in touch with my framer to discuss preparing things to exhibit. Will keep you posted how...