20 Sydney Artists join in the Crumbling Ecologies Project

I was delighted to receive an email from Bridget Kennedy a few months ago titled 'i love your beautiful project'. A NSW based artist, Bridget banded together a group of passionate artists to spend a Sunday in Sydney making a large batch of porcelain geranium leaves to contribute to our growing installation. The team of makers included - James McCallum, Szilvia Gyorgy, Bridget Kennedy, Corrine Fisher, Hannah Fisher, Emilie Fisher, Jude Belnick, Maddy Ghosh,Helen Earl, Ximena Tapia, Zeynep Bayraktar, Canbora Bayraktar, Rose Daridis, Brooke Thompson, Beau Thompson, Lucie Macany, Vicki Grima, Zoe Brand, Melanie Ihnen and Nina Still.

The merry bunch worked for hours through the piles upon piles of geraniums. I was delighted to see them using some good new techniques...


The day took place in ceramic artist Szilvia Gyorgy's studio in Sydney. They filled her studio kiln to the brim with geraniums. Here are some fantastic images from before and after firing from inside the kiln.
I can't wait to receive Bridget's parcel filled with the bounty of their porcelain beauties. I would especially like to thank Bridget and Szilvia for their generosity and time, for donating their materials and studio.


Where will the Crumbling Ecologies Project go to next?

Tethered

Crumbling Ecologies explores the idea that our life support system is tethered to an ecosystem of universal proportions from which no part is immune from the changes of its counterparts. There is an inescapable explosion of reaction through out the natural system that marks the shape of things to come.

In times of such economic crisis both art and environmental conservation funding is often limited. As a result the learning infrastructures that support artistic practice in Melbourne have changed, raising questions on the relevancy of craft within contemporary arts practice.

On closer inspection these delicate hand crafted leaves on the brink of crumbling embody the story of their makers. Porcelain is a material known for its strength; using the material in this way comments on the loss of educators and the knowledge their hands pass on.

Call Out to Artists and Crafters!

Artists and Crafters wanted to make thousands upon thousands of hand cast porcelain Geranium Leaves. No prior skills necessary, we will teach you the rest!

The Crumbling Ecologies Project will use thousands of hand cast porcelain geranium leaves to create a large installation in Gallery 1 at Craft Victoria, April 2012.

As a volunteering artist, what's in it for me?

-All artists involved in making the work will be credited in the exhibition at Craft Victoria.

-The fabrication of the work will be photographically documented form an artist zine to accompany the exhibition.

-You will learn a new skill to add to your arsenal: how to hand cast organic material into porcelain.

-The opportunity to become a part of the Creative Network: an independent group of artists and crafters that will share their skills with one another and collaborate on future art projects.

How much time will this take?

-You can come for an hour, you can come for a day, you can stay for the week- its totally up to you.

What will be done with the Geranium Leaves I make?

-The Crumbling Ecologies Project will use thousands of hand cast porcelain geranium leaves that on closer inspection appear on the brink of crumbling, embodying the story of their makers to create a large installation in Gallery 1 at Craft Victoria, April 2012.

-The leaves will be free for audience members visiting the gallery to take some if they wish. It is the aim of the project that through this interactive quality of the work we will be able to give back to the community, reach out to our audience and stimulate a dialogue on the role of the hand made in our everyday lives.

Does it cost anything?

-No.

Do I need to bring anything?

-Yourself, an apron, some food and drink.

Where will the making take place?

-in a studio in Caulfield, Victoria (about 20mins from Melbourne CBD)

If you would like to be involved in the project in any capacity please contact-

Jasmine - 0416 006 990, email - jasminetargett@hotmail.com