Studio News - Michelle Walker - Artist | Creativity Coach | Author

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Michelle Walker

Contact

Michelle Walker
Artist | Author | Creativity Coach

michelle@michellewalkerart.com
Phone: +61 407 119 795

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Spending a couple of days volunteering for #laming

Spending a couple of days volunteering for #lamingtonnaturalhistoryasociation at the visitor information centre at #binnaburra

Took a few minutes before the first walkers arrived at the centre this morning to enjoy the colours and textures of some of the open forest and views from the #cavescircuitwalk

It’s good to be back, soaking up #naturesbeauty

New work being finished in the studio. More smal

New work being finished in the studio.

More small sculptures - another “after the mud dried” house and a new arrangement, titled “first and last generation”, after the quote by Barack Obama, who said this generation is the 1st to feel the effects of climate change and the last to have a chance to do anything about it.

Finished a new addition to the ‘Holding it Toget

Finished a new addition to the ‘Holding it Together’ series… the middle work follows the theme of the previous small sculptures with the use of salvaged timber, handmade iron nails (a gift from my late father) and patina copper. These materials leaking out… the title refers to the phrase I heard from so many friends and colleagues who said they were ‘barely holding it together’… I’ve been exploring the hidden and obscured and the withheld experiences that many in the community, having been through the floods, hold back from sharing. So much upheaval to carry. Such incredible resilience on so many fronts.

Last month I was fortunate enough to be selected a

Last month I was fortunate enough to be selected as a recipient of a c.a.s.e. inc Mentoring Grant. My mentor is the wonderful Wendy Mills, an artist who was at the forefront of public art design and making in the 1980s and 90s in Australia. She has such a wealth of knowledge and was the designer behind one of my favourite pieces of public art in Brisbane Queen Street mall. While it was officially called ‘On This Auspicious Occassion’, everyone knew it as ‘the water table’. Stainless steel and water.

My project is to investigate the upscaling of these 3 small works from my recent #AshMudTears exhibition to public art size. What’s possible? What materials will work? How will the work need to change in the process?

My aim is to have a proposal for SWELL Sculpture Festival at the beginning of next year. 🎯🤩

I’m grateful to @holliemckenziestudio who suggested the idea earlier this year when we were chatting about the work and to @c.a.s.e.inc for their generous grant to Wendy to enable me to pursue this project.

Have you done public art? Interested in sharing your thoughts and advice? I’d love to hear from you. Pls DM 🌸🌿🔆

Part of our job as artists I think is to do the di

Part of our job as artists I think is to do the difficult thing of looking past what we know {or think we know} to explore the next layer of what is knowable and what is possible for us as individuals and for us as a community.

I wonder is that something you think about? And if yes, where have you experienced that ‘going beyond the answers’ to reveal more?

It’s happening… after 15 months, I’m moving

It’s happening… after 15 months, I’m moving studios… As I’m keen to not move all paintings and jewellery I have in stock - honestly the less I have to pack up and cart over the better for me… so I’m offering a huge 30% off all original artwork and jewellery. Go to my website, click on the Moving Studios Sale tab and find something for you or a gift for someone you love. Sale on til 17 July! If you’ve been quietly watching from the stalls, jump in now 💃🏻🌸🤩

There’s a story to these three works I called ‘After the Mud Dried’…
they obviously relate to the 2022 floods and it’s aftermath… but the houses are made from the leg of a kitchen table salvaged after the floods… the long nails have been with me for years though. A gift from my father who was a builder. They were an elegant shape with a bit of greenish patina that made them interesting but I was never sure how to use them… til I saw the locals in town jacking up their homes to get out of harms way. The Fear of Future Floods.

And I thought -
*Perfect*
☺️

For more stories about the artwork in Ash, Mud & Tears, join @judewhiteart and I in conversation with @virginiareidart
Saturday 17 June at 2pm
@nrcgballina Cherry St Ballina

Join @judewhiteart and I for our talk about the As

Join @judewhiteart and I for our talk about the Ash, Mud & Tears exhibition on Saturday 17 June at 2pm. The event is being facilitated by Virginia Reid and will be held at @NRCGBallina 44 Cherry Street, Ballina.

The exhibition work captures the devastation and turmoil of fires and floods which have ravaged the region, and the recovery that has followed.

This talk is an opportunity to hear Jude and I speak of the practical and emotional components of our practice and our use of diverse media such as textiles, wood, metal, mud, botanicals, ash and found objects. We will also speak to how we have worked with the rawness and force experienced during the events, and associated loss, disruption and grief.

This event is free. No registrations are required. Seating will be available subject to capacity.

Artists Talk: Saturday 17 June, 2pm

Exhibition: Ash, Mud & Tears is on display at NRCG from 3 May to 25 June 2023

NRCG, Cherry Street Ballina

All welcome!

photo credit: Nelly le Comte @nelly_foto

Progress happening in the ceramic studio today…

Progress happening in the ceramic studio today… slowly these little investigations in white raku and black clay are coming together. More refinement to the surface needed on some, others are ready for their firing.

Loving this change of pace and medium.

Does anyone else take a radical detour in their art practice from time to time? If so, what’s been your new thing??

☺️🌸➰🔆

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