LET THERE BE LIGHT-Small Online Exhibition.

 Halo Oil on linen 82 x 183 cm 2009

 

I am working on a new painting. In the meantime I thought I'd 'curate' an online exhibition of a few of my paintings which 'speak' of light...in all its literal and metaphoric ways.

 

HALO

 

Halo [above] is a painting I have written about a few times. I'll admit to being very fond of this painting. The image of Earth with a 'halo' of atmosphere surrounding it has a few stories attached to it. I painted this on the 25th anniversary of my cousin Dr. Bill From's death on Mt Everest. He was killed when he slipped on an icey patch as he and his climbing mates were descending. More of the details are HERE. Funny thing is, when I painted Halo I was thinking about Bill, but I did not realise it was the month of the anniversairy or his birthday, until I googled his name to see if there was any online news about the attempt to climb Mt Everest.

 

Bill had just completed hi PhD [UQ] in ionospheric physics. He was literally studying Earth's atmosphere.

 

This painting is currently hanging in my lounge room and I love it.

 

 

 

 The Colour Of Knowledge Oil on linen 62 x 82 cm 2009

 

 

THE COLOUR OF KNOWLEDGE

 

The Colour Of Knowledge is another of my favourite pieces [I have lots!] If you want to read more please click HERE.

 

Briefly, the figures of Adam and Eve are central to the visual story. As Eve takes from the tree-of-knowledge antimonies enter the world giving rise to knowledge in the spaces between [eg: good and evil]. Knowedge is illuminatory and revelatory. In this painting knowledge is represented by the colour that cascades from the white light of Adam and Eve's existence prior to Eve taking from the tree-of-knowledge ie: when they could not see their differences. 

 

 

 

 Finding The Light Oil on linen 100 x 70 cm 2010

 

 

FINDING THE LIGHT

 

Here's a quote from my earlier post for this painting:

I have called this painting 'Finding The Light', because it implies a search which results in discovery. 'Light' can represent knowledge, discovery. It can also represent faith. It can represent the Divine. It can represent finding oneself. Coupled with the tree-of-life/knowledge it can represent LIFE.

I have created the 'light' with the small dots which cascade over the woman inside the vortex. This 'light' spills into the trees like veins pulsing through life's membranes.

 

Finding The Light is currently hanging in my guest bedroom and it looks great. There are windows on each side, the walls are painted a soft yellow...and every time I walk past the room and look in, I feel good!

 

 

Becoming The Light oil on linen 160 x120 cm 2012

 

 

BECOMING THE LIGHT

 

Every time I look at this painting I am surprised. Why? Because, it glimmers! A photo does not capture the glimmer and that's a shame. However, I do think that surprising paintings will never reveal their secrets in a photo...otherwise the photo would be the work of art!

 

The female figure, enclosed within a vortex, shimmers with light. As she relishes the peace at the quiet core of the vortex she is ready for illumination. As regular readers will notice my  transcultural/religious tree-of-life plays an important part in the matrix. Its pattern repeats across the painting, revealing energy forces and dynamics which propel and nurture.

 

 Seeking The Light Oil on linen 36 x 36 cm 2012

 

SEEKING THE LIGHT

 

I wrote in an earlier post,  the female figure, representing Mother Nature, seems to attract light. Her arms and feet erupt with vascular-like trees connecting her to whatever energy it is that propels life.

 

This small painting is hanging in a nook in my lounge room. Like the others above, whenever I look at it or it catches my eye, I feel a need to keep looking. It does really 'light up' the nook where it hangs. It seems to move, and as the light of day changes, it changes.

 

 

 The Quiet Fierceness of Light Oil on linen 90 x 180 cm 2012

 

 

QUIET FIERCENESS OF LIGHT

I did have this painting hanging above my dining room table, but it has SOLD. So, it now hangs in a lovely new place. And, it looks great too.

I wrote in an earlier post, In 'Quiet Fierceness of Light' a figure of a woman reaches across the canvas, as if she is straddling the depths of time. A flame of light provides a force which seems to propel her. But she garners this light in the spaces between the branches of the trees which erupt from her arms and legs.

and

The light in 'Quiet Fierceness of Light' is more about the light of knowledge...of ourselves, others and the universe. It is with and through knowledge that we shed light across the pathways of life. The light imbues us with wonder as it calls forth both beckoning and shining the way. Light that beckons is where we find challenge, drawing us towards it. If we are game we meet its glow.

There is more to 'Quiet Fierceness of Light', but I'll leave that to you, the viewer. I leave you to travel your own journey with light!

 The Birth Of Knowledge and Faith Oil on linen 120 x 160 cm

 

 

 THE BIRTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH

 

This is may artist's statement for the 2012 Mandorla Art Prize, perth, Australia: This painting was selected as one of the finalists.

 

Two transcultural/religious trees-of-life/knowledge emanate from a woman’s outstretched arms and feet. She is the ‘sacred feminine’. In forming a circle she ‘sings’ and ‘dances’ her elemental grace of life continuance. More specifically I was thinking of two biblical women, one from the Old Testament and one from the New, Eve and Mary.

As Eve took from the tree she gave ‘birth’ to Knowledge in the spaces between antimonies. As Mother Mary gave birth to Jesus, the ‘Light of the World’, she also gave birth to Faith.

I imagine that as Eve took from the tree, the world cascaded into the colours and hues that allowed Adam and Eve to ‘see’ each other. I ‘see’ colour as representing Knowledge. In this painting the multi coloured trees and the ‘sacred feminine’ figure are surrounded by halo-like white light. The two trees also meet in a pulse of white. This white light represents Faith.

 

Until next time:
Cheers,
Kathryn
www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com

MULTIVERSE POSSIBILITIES

 

 

 Brian Greene, PhD, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University and  author, spoke with Amir D. Aczel at the Museum of Science on March 2, 2011.

Today I watched and listened to the video above. It is fantastically interesting. Prof. Brian Greene is interviewed by science writer Amir D Aczel about various theories for the existence of other universes. That we might exist in a multiverse takes wonderment beyond traditional horizons!

The two men have animated discussions about mathematics and physics, experimentation and observation. Prof. Greene has a marvelous way of explaining ideas very simply...using cups of water, analogies of all kinds including... sliced bread. Imagination plays its role in visioning the multiverse!

In December 2010 I wrote about a painting I had just completed. The painting is called Multiverse.To read this previous post please click HERE

Multiverse Oil on linen 80 x 100 cm 2010

 

 

Amongst other issues, Prof. Greene and Amir Aczel discussed what an infinite universe/multiverse might be...how far would it/they extend. Discussions about infinity are always interesting and can boggle the mind somewhat. No matter where one might be in the universe/multiverse the distances of time and space, are infinite. Thinking about infinity in one universe certainly stretches the imagination, let alone infinity in a multiverse!

 

I recommend you listen to the video!

 

 

Infinity Oil on linen 100 x 70 cm

 

 

I am nearly finished a large painting. I will photograph it in the next few days and write a post for it. It's another ouroboros painting. Well... it is the Year of the Snake!

 

Cheers,

Kathryn

www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com 



THE MOON

Memory Oil on linen 80 x 120 cm 2002
Memory Previous Post

I am working on a new painting...an 'everything landscape'. But, whilst I have been working, thinking, sitting and standing in front of my easel, I realised that over the years the moon has been a significant inspiration. As reguler readers know, the cosmos inspires me...not just the literal one out there in space, but also the metaphoric one within our psyches.

So I decided to upload a selection of my paintings where the moon appears. And, as I went through my files I realised that whilst the moon represents time and cycles it also anchors me to my childhood... or rather it stirs my inner child through memory. Indeed, the painting above is called Memory. Childhood memories were also the stimulus for the painting below When I Was A Child I Dreamt I could Fly.

In both paintings the phases of the moon orientate the figures in time and space. Time's dance of infinite cyclical movements, stirs the universal memory. I am reminded of a recent post Elemental Dance where I mention the Whirling Dervishes. Their mesmerising, and trance inducing, whirling movement seems to condense the universal/multiversal cycles of life to a persistently contemporary beauty which reminds us of life's propulsion. Like a vortex the Dervishes suspend time linking all experience.

When I Was A Child I Dreamt I Could Fly Oil on linen 80 x 120 cm 2003

When I Was A Child I Dreamt I Could Fly Previous Post

The painting below The Flat And Fanstastic Horizon is also grounded in memories of my childhood growing up on the flat treeless Pirrinuan Plain outside Dalby, in S.E Queensland Australia. The whole painting is created with a cascade of tree-of-life symbols. The full moon forms a portal-like presence in the night sky.

I have previously written about my Grandmother, who had a great interest in astronomy. She tried to teach me and my two brothers to identify certain stars and the constellations. Apart from my Grandmother's cosmological interests, the night sky of my childhood could not be ignored. On a clear night the Milky Way was like a swathe of glistening fabric flung across the heavens. The glistening was not dulled by any ambiant lighting from cities or major settlements. The stars and the moon glowed fulsomely and elegantly.

This takes me to another painting, a more recent one to The Flat And Fanstastic Horizon. In fact, only since starting this post have a I realised the connection between the two paintings. The second one is The Beginning Of Everything  [It is below The Flat And Fanstastic Horizon.] Please read my previous post where I write in more detail about my grandmother and the landscape of my childhood.

In 1969 when man first walked on the moon, my parents, particularly my Father, insisted my brothers and I stayed home from school to watch the landing on TV. I still remember the grainy black, white and grey images.

The Flat And Fanstastic Horizon Oil on canvas 100 x 120 cm 2006

The Beginning Of Everything Oil on linen 90 x 180 cm 2010

The Beginning of Everything previous post

In Unison Oil on linen 92 x 208 cm 2006

In Unison previous post

I did not write much about In Unison in my previous post but regular readers will identify my inspirations. And, there's the moon reminding us of cyclic rythms over time. This painting was sold to a collector in Korea.

Meeting Place Of The Mind Oil on linen 100 x 70 cm 2011

Meeting Place of The Mind previous post

In Meeting Place Of The Mind the morphed male/female figure, synaptic in its connective qualities, is hooked into the universal/mulitversal tune. The phases of the moon are watchful as they shed their varying nuances of light on generative impulses. The moon is more commonly thought of as a symbol of feminine power, with the sun symbolising masculine power. However, there are exceptions in some cultures [some African and American Indian tribes, in Japanese, Maori and some Oceanic symbolism where the moon has a masculine fertilising symbolism]. When I read this I thought of Meeting Place of The Mind where 'mind' is neither male nor female, but a force where life's compulsions become one.

Mother Nature Gouache on paper 30 x 42 cm unframed 2011

Previous post

In Mother Nature [above] the female figure, representing Mother Nature, seems partnered with the moon. In this case the moon is a symbol of feminine power. The fulsome light of the moon is reflected in the curves of Mother Nature's womanly body and the vascular/placenta-like branches erupting from her feet. The moon's light reveals Mother Nature' aura, shared with all existence.

Sap Of Life Oil on linen 55 x 80 cm

Sap Of Life previous post

Sap of Life essentially refers to water, the sap of life. As in Meeting Place of The Mind the female figure represents Mother Earth, her aura reflected in the moon's nuanced light. The feminine power to give life with a fertility that flows in an eternity of cycles dances along with the universal song, waxing and waning in timbre. Please read my previous post here

BOOK LAUNCH AND TESTIMONIALS

Just a reminder that my book launch for 'For Everyone: Words and Paintings' is Thursday 23 February! Click HERE for more details.

TESTIMONIALS

Not only is Kathryn a deeply talented, original and inspiring artist, she has a gift for wordsmithing as well! Utilizing the raw power of her art, ‘For Everyone’ is a masterful insight into the very essence of who we truly are, our complexities, our simplicities and who we are meant to be. Dr George Blair-West, Author of The Way of the Quest

In Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox’s book, 'For Everyone: Words and Paintings', the combination of words and images is a gift to the senses. I highly recommend it. Felix Calvino, Author of A Hatful of Cherries

For Everyone is absolutely beautiful and as I read the prose, and looked at the paintings, it was like going on a personal journey of my life. It touched on fond memories of my childhood and reinforced my beliefs in being an individual. As a teacher I know this book could be used in so many ways. In 2011 I organised and ran the Gifted and Talented Program in Writing at my school. Many students in my class published their poetry and stories in an Australian wide writing competition. I am continuing in this position in 2012 and will incorporate this unique book to help my students develop their ideas and be more expressive. The paintings and phrases in For Everyone are great conversation starters. They will also inspire and encourage students to be brave enough to share and express their thoughts and individuality. This book is a fabulous resource for educating and inspiring young people to share the beauty from within! Lou Walsh: Primary School Teacher

BLOGS/SITES OF INTEREST

Here are a few blogs/sites I think are interesting. It's a broad array!

EVERYBODY MEANS SOMETHING

WOLF ART + WORDS

DUCKSMAHAL

MONEYTHOUGHTS

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SYMBIARTIC

QUILTOPIA DESIGN

Cheers,

Kathryn

www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com 

BREATHING ACROSS TIME

Breathing Across Time Oil on linen 50 x 94 cm

My inspiration is Mother Nature. She 'speaks' to me. Regular readers will know of my concern for the environment, our earthly one, our cosmological one and our inner environment of the human psyche. I 'see' them all as linked, as One across time and space, indivisible.

And, my tree-of-life, the age-old transultural/religious tree symbol extends its roots and its branches into the inner and outer worlds of existence.

I am really excited about where the tree and Mother Nature are taking me. I am really enjoying painting, sketching my ideas and noting down thoughts. I 'see' a coalescence of various elements I have previously written about...beauty, compassion, distance, perspective, sacred feminine, systems and more. All of these 'speak' about our world and remind us of what we lose if we languish in complacency, rhetoric, celebrity worship and political posturing.

Breathing Across Time was inspired by my recent gouache on paper painting Breath which I wrote about two posts ago http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2011/10/breath.html  In Breathing Across Time

a woman's figure seems to float inside a vortex or spiral, as if it is a transporter across time. The quivering of a spiral reverberates with energy and force, like a lung breathing. The female figure is Mother Nature, and as she breaths so do we, so does the Earth, stars and other universes. Breath and pulse, the common signs of life.  

She Calls Gouache on paper 30 x 42 cm

So, to She Calls...Mother Nature, the sacred feminine calls us to breath in unison with her. The tree-of-life erupting from her arms and legs reminds us of the life force running through our veins. The vascular energy connects Mother Nature to us, to all... across time and space. The red female figure seems like an artery herself. As she beckons we 'see' that her heart and mind are connected. A hint for us to check our own connections.

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Please have a look at my new 'gallery' on my website called My Women 1991-Present

http://www.visualartist.info/visualartist/artist/subpage.asp?ex=gallery&I=1690&sub=6021&artistId=1292&PageId=1690

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And please check out the Directors' Cut [Blake Prize] online exhibition. My painting Compassion was selected. It is for sale too!

http://www.blakeprize.com.au/galleries/directors-cut

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Plus a GOOGLE preview of my book FOR EVERYONE where you can see the first 5-7 pages.

http://tinyurl.com/3uomgvy 

FOR EVERYONE- PRESS RELEASE

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8930218.htm

You can BUY FOR EVERYONE from AMAZON too!

http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Words-Paintings-Kathryn-Brimblecombe-Fox/dp/1452536902/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319755578&sr=1-1

The book launch will be February at Fireworks Gallery, Newstead Brisbane. I shall keep you posted!

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Plus, I have created a 'gallery' on my website of paintings Under $1000.

Ideal for Christmas presents!

http://www.visualartist.info/visualartist/artist/subpage.asp?ex=gallery&I=1690&sub=5814&artistId=1292&PageId=1690

The two paintings below are examples:

Collapsing Perspective Gouache on paper 21 x 15 cm $300 [unframed]

Trees Dancing Gouache on paper 21 x 15 cm $300 [unframed]

And, please check out all the other galleries on my website too:

www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com

Cheers,

Kathryn

http://www.youtube.com/user/kabrimblecombe?feature=mhee

www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com

PARADISE and 3D

Short video of PARADISE

PARADISE @ Purgatory Artspace

170 Abbotsford St

North Melbourne

Victoria, Australia

03 9329 1860

purgatoryartspace@gmail.com

Exhibition Dates: 8 September - 8 October

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11 am - 5 pm

...............................................................................................

AND Please come to:

MY ARTIST'S TALK

KATHRYN BRIMBLECOMBE-FOX

IN DISCUSSION WITH ART HISTORIAN

Dr. CHRISTINE DAUBER

Saturday 24 September

2-3pm

@ PARADISE

Purgatory Artspace

Light refreshments afterwards

Not so much concerned with the entertainment value attributed to popular culture, this artist’s work grapples with the ideological issues which haunt global politics today and seeks to express bonds of commonality rather than the disparateness of race, religion or politics. To this end, her images utilize an iconographical language that is global in its dimension. Her thematic use of arboreal imagery provides a point of access which crosses both histories and cultures to collapse the difference between east and west.  

Christine Dauber Ph D. (Dean's Honours) MA, BA Honours (Art History) University of Queensland

AND, here are some photos of PARADISE

1.

2.

PARADISE'S opening on Friday night [9 September] was a huge amount of fun. I had some 3 D glasses for people to look at the paintings with if they wanted. Well, the remarks of astonishment and surprise at how many of my paintings separated into multiple layers, when viewed with the 3 D glasses, certainly added to the ambiance of the event. Lots of conversation, questions and fantastic feedback about PARADISE.

As regular readers of this BLOG are aware, I did not know my paintings had a 3 D potential until quite recently. A visitor to my exhibition FRISSON last year suggested that I should try 3 D glasses. He actually went home and brought some back for me. And, wow! This same visitor returned to my exhibition VORTEX earlier this year and brought some 3 D glasses, which he gave to me. Again, many of the paintings in VORTEX separated into multiple layers, with some so amazingly 3D that I felt I could reach behind the figures and trees etc.

So, I decided that for PARADISE I would buy a number of 3 D glasses to have at the exhibition for people to enjoy. And, from my experience at the opening night and again on Saturday, when I stayed at the exhibition, the 3D glasses certainly added to people's enjoyment of the exhibition. The 3 D glasses are still there for people to use while the exhibition is on.

3.

3D NOT MERE ENTERTAINMENT

Regular readers will also know that I can't just sit with the 3D phenomena as mere entertainment! Given my interest in multiple perspectives, both literal and metaphoric, I think the 3D quality is an amazing outcome. Although unintentional the 3Dness of my paintings has possibly been manifested from 'other' subconscious or intuitive places. Ideas of multi dimensionality and perspectivity, experienced intellectually and emotionally, spatially and temporally, inspire much of my work. Here is one previous post where I write about some of my ideas on perspective. http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/03/alternative-to-perspective-inside.html

A paradise can be a physical space or a place deep within our inner psyches. Humankind's quest to find paradise either as a physcial place of perfection or an inner peace, is ongoing. However, what if paradise is here and now? What if the quest blinds us to the perfection that already exists? As I think about the 3D quality of my paintings I wonder if the dimensionality requests the viewer to ponder these questions. I wonder if we need to take time to look beyond the surface? New media and technology seem to promise 'other' worlds, perhaps new utopias and paradises, but what if this promise is an illusion, another diversion? Indeed, technology's urgency to garner attention leaves us attending to many things, sometimes all at the same time. Fleeting images and sound bites maybe exhausting us as they scatter our attention, or even more concerning, train us the skim across the surface of life.

One other interesting thing about seeing my paintings through 3D glasses, is that once the glasses are taken off, it's as if the eye has been trained to see the paintings in 3D. Whilst the effect is not as strong, the naked eye starts to discern the multiple layers and the paintings do not retreat to a flat surface. Now, is this a metaphor for exposing ourselves to new ways of seeing?! 

4.

5.

6.

7.

All the paintings are for sale and range from $650 AUD for the small 30 x 30 cm ones [photo number 6] to $7,300 AUD for the large painting 'Cosmic Dust' [in middle of photo number 3]. The three paintings 'Finding The Light', 'Infinity' and 'Meeting Place Of The Mind' are all $3,900AUD [photo number 5] This gives you an idea of the price range.

Please check out Carolyn McDowall's article about PARADISE

http://www.thecultureconcept.com/circle/paradise-in-purgatory-kathryn-brimblecombe-fox-finding-light

AND

http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/3275-paradise

OH! AND!!!
The Tattersall's Landscape Art Prize was announced last week. Joe Furlonger won the $25,000 by invitation only prize.

The exhibition has now been moved from the Tattersall's Club for public viewing at Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle St, Brisbane CBD. The exhibition will continue there until Friday 23rd September. More details at this link: http://apq.com.au/Text/1312866207576-3978/

My painting 'The Beginning Of Everything: Remembering Distance' Oil on linen 90 x 180 cm is in the exhibition. here's teh post I wrote at the time of painting it. http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/11/beginning-of-everything.html

Cheers,

Kathryn

WEB: www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com

Youtube Channel  http://www.youtube.com/user/kabrimblecombe?feature=mhee

MEETING PLACE OF THE MIND

Meeting Place Of The Mind Oil on linen 100 x 70 cm

Click on the image to make it enlarge.

Meeting Place Of The Mind is a new painting, which I have been working on for many weeks. After creating the background I placed the painting in a spot where I'd see it as I went about my daily activities. I did this because I had too many ideas and could not work out which one I'd focus upon. By having the painting in sight I could sift through my ideas more easily, until just one seemed right.

I knew I wanted to paint an image which did not cover over the entire background. Why? Because I actually think the background is quite beautiful. I created it through a controlled accident, which is how I create most of my backgrounds. There are normally a couple of layers of paint involved, with each of these needing to be dry before the next phase happens.

The image is a man and woman, who seem to morph into one being. Their outstretched arms reach forward erupting into cascading trees. The vortex/spiral enclosing the figures is like a spring of energy, suggesting that the man and woman, who are at the centre of this energy are... conduits, the core, the essential element, the stillness that is replete. The moon, in its phases, represents time and the energy of push and pull, an innate balance.

Regular readers will note that the trees are my much loved transcultural/religious tree-of-life motif. They will also note that the spiral/vortex is another of my recurring visual guides. I wanted to create an image which 'spoke' of mind, thinking, intelligence...all in their broadest senses from nano to universal, from human to divine. The trees, figures and the spiral in Meeting Place Of The Mind have an almost synaptic appearance, which I am really pleased about, because it references interconnectedness and the life propelling nature of systems. I have previously written about systems. Here's a link to a previous post. http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2009/10/majesty-and-order.html

The synaptic appearance has pleased me because synapses enable the passage of signals to be passed in the brain. These signals are pretty important for life propulsion! In Meeting Place Of The Mind the trees take on a dendritic appearance, but whilst references to the brain are obvious, in this case the 'dendrites' are seemingly connected to the universe. As the phases of the moon remind us of it's push/pull energy, the quiver of the spiral dances to the rythm, the vibrations of life forces. And, did you know the Greek word for tree is dendron?

The meeting place of 'the mind' is a wonderful concept...I think anyway! It conjures up things like collective thinking, compassionate energy, innate intelligence, universal consciousness. I deliberately did not use the plural of mind ie: minds, in the title, because I wanted to suggest something march larger than the mere sum of its parts...a gestalt that takes our thinking to places beyond compartments to stretch our imaginations. Paradise!

This is one of my favourite paintings.

 

Cheers,

Kathryn

www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com

INFINITY

Infinity Oil on linen 100 x 70 cm

Well, I am back on computer deck! My new system seems to be pretty good. But, my head hurts with all the new things and new ways of working. But, I am on top of it!

My new painting above is called Infinity. My much loved transcultural/religious tree-of-life radiates at each end of a central vortex, which encircles the figure of a woman [humanity]. The two trees are connected to each other and beyond. Each tree is encircled with illuminating light, the top tree with multiple new trees painted in yellow and the bottom tree extended by a yellow 'halo'. Yet, if the viewer follows the curve of each tree across the vortex a figure 8 is revealed. On its side this figure symbolises infinity.

The trees-of life also represent life continuing...forever...in one form or another! Indeed, we humans may be just a blip in the universal/multiversal continuum? The vortex, which regular readers will know, is another of my major interests. More so, the quiet place inside the vortex where stillness pervades with essential forces that allow us to see, hear and feel things we did not could be seen, heard or felt. A place of listening. In this new painting this place of listening is at a cross roads...if you can 'see' the figure 8.

Cross roads have all sorts of associations, but generally they represent choice, whether it be a literal direction or not. Arriving at a metaphoric cross road can be frightening, which often means we don't take the time to settle into the quiet stillness of the vortex core. Instead we thrash around in the turmoil of the outer vortex. This is a time when we often experience the 'dark night of the soul'

I have previously written about this dark night, but not in a wollowing way. Instead, I added the word 'beyond' ie: Beyond The Dark Night Of The Soul, to give some hope of being able to pass through the experience http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2009/11/beyond-dark-night-of-soul.html

http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/04/painting-above-is-called-beyond-dark.html

Infinity also contains a portal...regular readers will know I like them too!. The portal is created by the circle of blue leaves which seems to invite the viewer inside...or is it outside?

http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2011/02/portal.html 

CSG

Public concern about the coal seam gas industry has increased incredibly here in Australia in the last few months. Regular readers will know of my thoughts! The concern is now not predominantly from rural areas, but also from the city and eastern seaboard. There have been a number of peaceful protests in the last week. Check out:
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/human-signs-against-csg-20110529-1fabx.html
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/qld-rally-targets-coal-seam-gas-industry-20110531-1fedq.html

Please read my previous post to pick up two more articles, one written by a biochemist refuting the claim that gas is more environmentally friendly than carbon. The other article is written by an environmental lawyer. He makes some very pertinent comments about the consultative process, cumulative issues and future generations. http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2011/05/hiatus.html

And my GAS GALLERY
http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2011/05/gas-gallery.html

My personal opinion is that if things do not change, issues surrounding the CSG industry will see some of the most vehement protesting and public outrage Australia has seen. Why, because if food, water and the environment are under threat people's basis instincts for survival are threatened. Recent incidences such as a gas well blow out on a property at Daandine [not far from where I grew up] certainly cause major worry. The media, across the country, is now also reporting on such issues.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/qld-farmer-worried-about-gas-leak-on-land-20110523-1f063.html

PARADISE
Just a reminder that my exhibition 'Paradise' at Purgatory Artspace in Melbourne is 8 Sept -8 Oct. Opening Friday 9 September.

 

Paradise Oil on linen 62 x 82 cm

Cheers,
Kathryn
www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com

COMMODIFIED

Commodified Oil on linen 30 x 30 cm 2011

PARADISE @ Purgatory Artspace Melbourne

'Paradise' is open to the public from Thursday 8 September! The opening night is Friday 9 September 6-8 pm. The exhibition dates are 8 September - 8 October, 11 am - 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday at PURGATORY ARTSPACE, 170 Abbotsford St, North Melbourne.

Please check out http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/

and http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/3275-paradise

'COMMODIFIED' Oil on linen 30 x 30 cm 2011

The painting is obviously a map of Australia, but upon closer scrutiny the viewer will discern that the 'map' is created with small $ signs. Regular readers of this BLOG will know that I use small $ signs to depict water, soil etc to pose or stimulate questions about how we 'value' our land. I deliberately make the $ signs small so that from a distance the viewer does not discern them, but when the viewer is close the $ signs become clearly apparent. This play with distance asks questions such as, 'Have you noticed?' It plays with the responsibility we all have to negotiate distance as we live locally in an increasingly globalised world. AND, I don't mean just physical distance, but temporal, cultural, emotional and spiritual.


I am deeply concerned about the sustainability of prime and strategic farmland in Australia. An enslaught of rapid and hectic activity from mining companies, especially coal seam gas miners, threatens this sustainability. I am anti any kind of activity that threatens water sustainability, strategic and prime food producing farmland. With a burgeoning population the world needs to maintain its farmlands in order to feed people. After all, you cannot flick the light switch if you've expired from hunger! Governments need to ensure prime farmlands, and the farmers who farm them, are protected from invasive mining activities. These include those activities that threaten above and below ground water supplies and quality, soil health, and efficient and environmentally sound farming practices. Regular readers will know that I have written about these before. Here are some links to previous posts:
http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2011/01/underground-currency.html
http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/12/oils-aint-oilsany-more.html
http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/11/food-fantasy-in-future.html
http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/11/murray-darling-currency.html

Governments must prioritise food sustainability for obvious humane reasons, but also for political stability. Hungry stomachs make for angry hearts, and angry hearts make for civil unrest and worse.

'Commodified' is a simple looking painting...indeed it did not take as long as some of my more intricate ones, but it speaks of the madness erupting across parts of Qld and NSW [indeed across the globe! Have you seen 'Gasland'?] with regards to potential degradation of farmlands by mining activities. This madness is what I see as the outer VORTEX, the chaotic whirlwind that does not allow for contemplation and considered scrutiny...or for a scientific analysis of risk. Two soil scientists who spoke at the public forum on the CSG industry, which I attended at the University of Queensland late last year, both started their presentations describing what's happening as 'madness'. Here's the link to my post about the forum:  http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/11/donkey-and-other-things.html

Cheers,
Kathryn
http://www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com/

VORTEX: EXHIBITION AND ARTIST'S TALK

Stillness Within Gouache on paper 30 x 42 cm

http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/06/stillness.html

I still do not have my proper internet at home, but when I visiting the Telstra Shop today, for an unrelated reason, I mentioned I still did not have internet due to a continuing area Bigpond network outage...and I was given a 5 gigabyte Mobile WiFi device. So, I am reconnected and I am SO happy. I can now send out all my email invitations for my exhibition VORTEX: Seeking Stillness At Its Core. I have had them drafted in my draft folder for ages.

And, readers, I promise you I chose the title for the exhibition long before cyclones started pummeling an already pummelled Qld.

BRISBANE FLOOD

On Wednesday 12 January I evacuated from my house with the Brisbane River rising on one side and overflowing into low lying nearby parkland. Water had started filling my street from this overflow and also from gushing storm water drains. I had not gone to bed on Tuesday night because I was taking all that I could from downstairs to my upstairs...making sure there was some order to the chaos too. I had sandbagged external doors, my pool pumps had been detached and taken to higher ground. My car, and my daughter's car, were full of petrol and parked up the hill. My dog was at a friend's house. Friends were so wonderful!

But, to my great relief the water did not get into my house or yard. On Thursday morning when I gingerly waded through some water to ascertain my house's condition I was so thankful to see that me and my neighbours had been spared major damage. We are the lucky ones, as I know many people who suffered severe damage, and thus the interruption to lives, financial stress and so on.

On the weekend after the flood my street was inundated with volunteers, who helped with everything the flood had caused. I am so grateful to all those people who assisted me with shifting mud. I had fallen heavily on the Wednesday morning and ignored wounds on my ankle. Well... yes... they got infected and I needed antibiotics, and redressing of the wounds every second day at my doctor's surgery. I stuck a plastic bag over my foot, but it still did not allow me to get muddy in order to help all those who were helping me. The power came back on 6 days after I evacuated, and that was also the day my children returned home. I am so glad they were not here when I was madly preparing!

VORTEX

I am getting excited about my forthcoming show which opens in just under 3 weeks. The flood and aftermath forced me to stop painting for about 2 weeks, but I have taken my easel back downstairs to my studio...aka garage! Ah...yes...I am not moving everything else back until after the cyclone season! The sand bags are still guarding my doors!

VORTEX: Seeking Stillness At its Core

Graydon Gallery, 29 Merthyr Rd, New Farm, Brisbane

Tuesday 22 Feb - Sunday 6 March

Open Daily 10 am - 6 pm

Opening Night Wednesday 23 Feb 6-8 pm

Can We Eat Coal For Breakfast-NO! Gouache on paper 30 x 42 cm

http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/11/food-fantasy-in-future.html

ARTIST'S TALK!

ARTIST’S TALK: KATHRYN BRIMBLECOMBE-FOX

IN DISCUSSION WITH ART HISTORIAN DR. CHRISTINE DAUBER
@ VORTEX: Seeking Stillness At Its Core

GRAYDON GALLERY
29 MERTHYR RD
NEW FARM, BRISBANE

DATE: Saturday 26 February.

TIME: 3 PM – 3.45 pm and drinks afterwards.

Painting for Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox is a spiritual event. Her work has a lyrical optimism that emanates from the beauty of the work itself and from the poetic nature of her supporting texts. Her personal oeuvre is both intelligent and understated. It comes with a big agenda-to make the world a better place in which to live. A daunting goal: but for Brimblecombe-Fox, optimism is a state of mind-a matter of choice- a way of always moving forward. This means her painting is ethically driven, politically informed and aesthetically pleasing. Dr. Christine Dauber

VORTEX: Seeking Stillness At Its Core
• Exploring the possibility of stillness in the vortex core where we can listen to things we did not know could be heard, see things we did not know could be seen and feel things we did not know could be felt. As we live locally in an increasingly globalised world new perspectives inspire compassion for self and others.
• Investigating the distance between the nano and cosmological, and thus revealing new perspectives.
• And...WATER...well how does water go down the plughole? As a farmer’s daughter Kathryn has an intense interest in the conversations and debates about water, its uses, value, commodification, infrastructure, sustainability. These are her ‘quiet activism’ paintings!

Online gallery @ http://kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/2010/10/water-gallery.html

BLOG http://www.kathrynbrimblecombeart.blogspot.com/
WEBSITE http://www.kathrynbrimblecombe-fox.com/
MOB: 0409 059 018 PH: From Monday 21 Feb [07] 32542325

Cheers,
Kathryn