Looking back on 2017

It is definitely that time of the year - a time to ponder, reflect and look back as well as forward.

As is now tradition here on the blog, I have looked back at what I have made over the year and selected my top ten as they say; or the work that spoke most to me once it was done.

It always, but always, surprises me when I sit down and go back through the archive of the year; to see just what has been done and achieved. It is sort of sad in a way how much I forget, but perhaps it isn't about forgetting that I've done them; more perhaps that I forgot they all happened in the space of this year!

So from 2017, listed alphabetically and no t in any way ranked 1-10, we have:

1. Heart of the Hinterland

We installed the final leg of this artwork in our local IGA earlier this year.  I was responsible for the words and for the design and layout of the words - quite the learning experience - but so lovely to see the artwork with its story whenever we visit...

2. Imagine Peace

Weathergrams have been an annual event on International Day of Peace for quite  a while now and I usually let them drift off when they have been blown, or rained, away.  But this year I repaired some - it felt necessary somehow to continue to work towards peace, to repair peace...to give peace another chance.

3. Kindness, Care and Hope

I started the year a bit worried about where the world changes would lead us all.  I am still not convinced that we are showing our best selves on a large scale; but I sent these small packs of words out into the world as reminders to kindred spirits. It was a lovely give-away and they make me smile. Kindest, Care and Hope remain.

4. Life Fragments

 I loved doing this work - working with the words of women who used McAuley House, a shelter for homeless women in Melbourne. Hand stitching their words onto four panels was a beautiful way to honour them and spend time; and to see them hanging in the new building is marvellous.

5. Nevertheless she persisted...

We start to get a little bit feminist and political here, but boy do we still need it!  It has been quite the year for women, and I love this feminist catch cry!

6. Postcard Prints

I am reminded of the benefits of just playing and exploring; trying new things, testing new ideas and techniques; doing things I would  never normally do.  I have been part of a delightful postcard print exchange (unsung heroes all) this year and have loved being pushed to use techniques I would normally shy away from - mono printing, collagraphs and drypoint for example. It was a seasonal exchange and so we have summer, autumn, winter spring.

7. Self-Portrait as a Reflection

This was a truly beautiful commission which challenged and stretched me with my letterpress and calligraphy. A beautiful poem by a young local poet who died too young - aged 23.

8. What about? Why Doesn't? What Can? What Does? - Letterpress

I prepared a large body of work for the Sydney Contemporary in September.  I worked on eight wall panels about family violence; and made four letterpress representations; and four calligraphic representations.  They were siblings in my mind. They were similar and quite different - the same image, both awkward to read, yet both sympathetic. It is tough work, and not for everybody, but it was important for me to make it , to say it and to share it.

9. What about? Why Doesn't? What Can? What Does? - Calligraphy

10. What? Why? What? What?

As part of the work for Sydney I made an edition of this small book. The book incorporates all four images (hand-coloured aluminium etchings). with four panels of tiny calligraphy and a letterpress title page. It is a detailed book and took lots of hard work, but I was so pleased with the way all of the elements came together and held.

As I reviewed the work, I first thought how different everything was; what diversity there was.  Then I looked closer and thought the themes appear broadly consistent in some ways - mostly women and peace/hope; and the palette. Always the palette. Quiet, muted, sympathetic.  So even tho I was doing varied work for different purposes; the themes and palette were pretty consistent.

So thank you for going a'wandering down memory lane with me. And thank you as always for visiting this blog, for letting me know your thoughts and for sharing art and peace and kindness care and hope...

With hope for more of all the good things in the next year...