Corporeal, Part 2

   Corporeal/Ethereal, 2012, linocut, 60 x 50 cm, ed. 23

As promised in my previous post, here is a reproduction of Corporeal/Ethereal, my linocut for Rona Green’s Corporeal.

Although it didn't directly inspire this image, I found much of what I wanted to express about body/spirit dichotomy reflected in a song lyric by Dory Previn. Here is a fragment:

Dory Previn, early 1970s

Curse the mind that mounts the clouds

In search of mythical kings

And only mystical things

Mystical things

Cry for the soul that will not face

The body as an equal place

And I never learned to touch for real

And feel the things iguanas feel

Down

Down

Down

Where they play…

Dory Previn, Mythical Kings and Iguanas, 1971.

To see her perform the song, click HERE.

Previn, a superb, shamefully underrated American singer/songwriter died earlier this year. I still treasure the memory of her concert at London’s Albert Hall in the 1970s. This work is respectfully dedicated to her memory.

The twenty-three Corporeal artists are:

Graeme Drendel, Di Ellis, Philip Faulks, Rodney Forbes, Susan Fraser, David Frazer, Rona Green, Rew Hanks, Kaylene Kelly, Michael Kempson, Alexi Keywan, Martin King, Deborah Klein, Terry Matassoni, Ron McBurnie, Janet Parker-Smith, Travis Paterson, Ben Rak, Heather Shimmen, Stephen Spurrier, Anne Starling, Clayton Tremlett, Scott Trevelyan

Warmest thanks to Rona Green for instigating this challenging and rewarding project which I’m so proud to be part of, and to Andrew Gunnell for printing the edition of Corporeal/Ethereal.

Corporeal will be exhibited at Geelong Gallery, Victoria, during February-May 2013. Based on the works Rona showed me yesterday in her studio, it's going to be an impressive show. (Full details TBA nearer the time.)

Corporeal, Part 1

A project that has occupied me of late is the linocut Corporeal/Ethereal, my contribution to the Rona Green-curated print exchange portfolio Corporeal. (See also Blog Post October 8.) I was very drawn to the theme and began preliminary research some months ago. Several weeks and dozens of rough drawings later, however, few of my ideas felt quite right. Even compositions that appeared to have some potential failed to take the square-ish format fully into account (designated paper size was 60 x 50 cm.) Reluctantly, I had to abandon them all - at least as far as Corporeal was concerned - and put the project on temporary hold.

Concurrently I’d also been experimenting with painted silhouettes, some of which have featured in recent posts. I came to believe that I would eventually find my way back to Corporeal through the silhouettes, if only I could hold the faith while I took the necessary time to develop them further. This was indeed what eventuated. 

Corporeal/Ethereal was editioned by Andrew Gunnell; the completed work will feature in my next post. Another forthcoming post will illustrate its impact on the project that followed directly afterwards. In fact, although it’s still a little too soon to tell, it may well be a key image in terms of my work’s future direction.

Pictured above: Corporeal/Ethereal block: work in progress

Lino cutting at Ballarat

It's hard to believe that only a week ago it seemed that Spring had finally decided to live up to its name; Ballarat's infamously cold Winter always hangs on with dreary, grim persistence. Don't get me wrong. There's much that I love about Winter, but this one had definitely overstayed its welcome.

Taking advantage of what turned out to be only a brief respite from the cold, I moved operations out to the sunroom. Its warmth, which to a great extent has remained even after the cool (and wet) change, is so much more conducive for cutting lino.

It was good for the spirit besides, especially when combined with musical accompaniment from the magpies in the garden. To me their song is as lyrical as Mozart, as uplifting as the sunshine - and considerably more enduring than the latter.

The linocut in progress pictured above (captured during that all too brief spell of sunshine) is destined for the exhibition/exchange Corporeal, curated by Rona Green.