Deborah and I in the Green Room at the ABC

Deborah and I had an interview with Sheridan Stewart at the ABC in Mildura which coincided with our exhibitions at the Art Vault. It was my first time being on a radio arts program, Deborah had done this before, but Sheridan is one of those people who put you at ease instantly which made the whole experience a real pleasure. It's great there is still radio time devoted to the arts which is noticeably absent on free to air TV.

Our interview is on Thursday morning, 4 Dec, between 7 - 7.30am. Tune into 104.3 ABC FM

The photos above were taken in the Green Room. For some reason I always thought the Green Room would be just that - green, but as you can see there's no hint of green anywhere. Just out of curiosity, I looked it up and it's interesting to read more about its origins. Click Green Room

In the Pages of the Sunraysia Daily

Deborah and I had an interview with Megan Frankel Vaughen from the Sunraysia Daily, so here's the article. Neither of us like getting our picture taken but I think the photo shoot worked out OK, and Megan was such a lovely person to deal with. Perhaps I should point out a mention is made that I was a track driver, but it should be track rider. Just to avoid any confusion! and how funny! 

Q&A at The Art Vault

Helen Healy, Deborah Klein and Shane Jones at the Art Vault

Last night was the opening of our exhibitions at the Art Vault in Mildura. Helen Healy made the introductions and asked Deborah and I questions about our work. She also asked us to comment on the demise of drawing in art schools and why drawing is important. One of my previous blogs goes into depth about the importance of drawing so I won't elaborate again. But I think everyone really liked what Deborah and I had to say!

It was a fun night and best of all was when Helen realised from reading my blog that a good friend of mine, Sue Verney, wrote a poem about one of the paintings in the exhibition. Helen asked me if it would be alright to read it out aloud to the audience and what a pity Sue was not there to hear a reading of her work. This very poem appears in a previous blog and coincidently it happened to be the painting hanging directly behind me in the picture above. Helen was very moved that a writer would compose a poem about an artist's work, and said how special that must make an artist feel. I couldn't agree more! We only wish that next time Sue will be present. Here is Sue's poem again.

RACECOURSE

After the silent gas cloud came

the empty racecourse looked the same.

But if not galloped upon or mown

how soon will it be overgrown?

Or without refreshment slake to dust

with shades of bone and sunburnt rust.

Deborah and I at the Art Vault

Deborah and I are about to depart for the Art Vault in Mildura. We're sharing a residency there as well as having solo exhibitions. If you're in Mildura on Wednesday evening the 26th Nov, then come to our opening. If not, the exhibitions are on until 15th Dec.

Horse Play

HORSE PLAY

After adulation of crowds

the peace and quiet of clouds:

having won every race

on earth, the champion mare

dreamed of dressage in the air-

with her jockey riding high

on a tightrope in the sky.

- Sue Verney

Into the Clouds, 2014, linocut, 15 x 20 cm

This post features a poem by Sue Verney as a response to my print Into the Clouds. Horses have inspired artists and writers for centuries and their magic has certainly moved Sue and I.

I'm also participating in an exhibition and fundraiser at the Australian Print Workshop from 28 Nov - 28 Feb. and this is the print they'll be showing and offering for sale. See the previous post for more details.

IMPRESSIONS 2014

The Australian Print Workshop is having its biennial fundraising project and exhibition. Comprising of 153 artists whose work has been donated to the APW at a special price, the exhibition will run from 28 Nov - 28 Feb. All the prints have the same dimensions of 20 x 15 cm (image size) with an edition of 10, 2 APW proofs and 1 artist's proof.

My contribution is a linocut titled Into the Clouds, and is an extension of the horse and rider imagery I have been exploring for the last 4 years. See post above.

The Australian Print Workshop

210 Gertrude Street 

Fitzroy, 3065

Tel: 03-94195466

auspw@bigpond.com

www.australianprintworkshop.com

Is Art Its Idea, Or Are They Two Different Things?

One of the most important characteristics that give meaning to art is radiance. Anyone can have ideas, but it's how well made something is that counts, and something is well made when it reflects the radiance of quality.

Great artists create great art when they transfer the light and space of the imagination through their medium. When this happens an idea is given a life of its own. This is the moment when something is well made, when the head, the heart and the hands work as one.

An author has to find the right words to turn an idea into life so it can become literature and if a song is badly performed then the sounds will not collect into music. If a sculpture is poorly constructed then its presence will not vibrate to the sculptor's vision. Painting and drawing have many forms of expression, but their lasting value is that light and space are present within the image.

What about an emotional response to an image regardless of how well made it is? A crucifix for example can inspire such a response to a devout Christian, even if it is crudely made, but is the cross art? A team banner can inspire sports fans but is the banner art or a slogan that has an emotional impact? Is an emotional impact enough?

If subject matter is the art, then the films of Alfred Hitchcock would be automatically bad because his films are primarily concerned with murder - a bad idea. Horror would also fit into the same category but there are great films and stories about murder and horror because they are well made, and others that lack quality because they are poorly made.

When we are engaged with a great work of art the sensation that we are looking at something amazing can be experienced. The quality of excellence imbues the work, but this is because what we are experiencing is well made and not because the idea or subject matter is noble or fascinating.

The radiance of light and space goes beyond ideas, techniques, narratives and materials, it is the reality of things. It's why a small radiant work of art can have more art in it than works that address important subject matter but be lacking in life

Shane Jones