Paper Ponderings
FIONA DEMPSTER - MAKER WITH WORDS
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Thursday Thoughts...
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Some details of Pebbles, Stones & Rocks
Despite appalling weather on the Sunday, the exhibition's first weekend was a real success. There are so many lovely moments in the show - where you come upon a piece, and angle or a glimpse that is restful or intriguing. I like the way these two pieces of mine show up...
And this one of Susan's from the Noosa hinterland is as well.
And these two prints of Tory's, along with several of her editions of each of them, are also sold.
The show is open until Sunday 12 May, Fridays-Sundays from 10am to 4pm, at Deckled Edge Press studio in Maleny.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Pebbles, Stones and Rocks is open!
After a really busy week doing all the last minute things that need doing, we successfully completed the set up of the exhibition and were thrilled to open it on Saturday.
We had each approached the theme so differently, and as ever it was a joy to see how well the work held together.
Susan's soft drawing and collage and layering are sublime. Two pieces which were previously small artists' books have been laid down and attached to make a delightful and restful grid - with threads catching your eye here and there.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Thursday Thoughts...
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
The grief side of Pebbles, Stones & Rocks...
As mentioned, for the show which opens on Saturday, I have explored the connections between grief and stones.
I wrote three small poems about grief and what it can feel like as you travel along with such a confronting companion. They are called Grief is a Stone I, II & II, with hopefully some sense of movement over time.
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Pebbles, Stones & Rocks opens soon...
Our lovely wee showing "Pebbles, Stones & Rocks" opens next Saturday and runs until Sunday 12 May, open Friday-Sunday, 10am - 4pm.
This weekend has been very much about cleaning up and clearing out the studio space to make it lovely for the work as it arrives and as we begin to hang and display it. Once again I am showing with my three friends - Tory Richards, Susan Bowers and Stephanie McLennan. Together we did the Red Thread exhibition back in 2021.
For this showing I pondered pebbles and stones, and explored how grief has so many connections to them. The way grief feels heavy and burden to be carried; how its rough and raw edges can cut nad tear; and how over time the edges are smoothes, and the weight becomes bearable.
I also celebrated the beauty of pebbles and their role as memory holders, part of our collections of travel and place, and the joy that is sparked when we hold them in our hands and remember. My first steps in silver jewellery making have been taken, with the series of pebble-inspired pendants and earrings called "recollections".
Today I will show my jewellery selection and on Tuesday I will show the final grief work. I have been working on this series since returning from Scotland, and learning much and finessing my skills over time.
The silver jewellery comes in lovely boxes with a wrap and a tag which on the underneath side shows the jewellery inside.
The earrings sit nestled in a black insert. All of the shapes are pebble-like, nothing perfect, nothing fully circular, all allowing a little bit of movement and play. I like the layering of the pebbles and the movement; and also the delicacy and lightness.
The pendants come in the same boxes, just larger, and again have layers of pebbles forms and differing finishes.
I also created silver stud earrings for folk and placed them in some lovely old tins, alongside a pebble for memory, and some words on warm beeswax-infused paper. There are 6 pairs of studs, and one single stud - seven tins all up.