Christmas Cheer

Post by Adriana Alvarez.

I’ve been making my own Christmas cards since my twenties. It’s always a bit of a last minute rush despite always promising myself that next year I’ll do it earlier. They’re not always handmade, sometimes they have been my designs or illustrations which I get printed onto cards but the intention of doing something unique and personal is still there.

Some have been more successful than others and in the last few years I’ve been trying to get the kids involved without much success. They help for the first few but then I’m left to finish the rest off on my own which is OK, maybe they’ll grow into it. Eventually they get sent off probably not making it in time for Christmas but they are always sent before Christmas, anyway isn’t it the thought that counts?

This years effort has got an Australiana feel. It’s a bit cheesy but it’s Christmas and it’s a good time to spread some fun and cheer. So here’s my Christmas greeting to you all.

Hope you have a wonderful festive season and your New Year begins with some cheer.

Seekers

Our very own Amy Middleton, part of the hillscene editorial team is having an exhibition of her beautiful, intricate artwork called ‘Seekers’ at Burrinja Cafe. Here’s what she had to say about her work and creative process.

1/ How would you describe your creative practice?

You know that scene in a movie where in a sleep deprived frenzy, the lead character covers their bedroom wall in newspaper clippings, maps, and photographs, then uses a giant red marker to thread together the dates, places and faces to identify the bad guy… and essentially resolve all further existential crisis the character might be facing? (If you are shaking your head in confusion please watch The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and everything from here on will make sense!) I totally identify with those movie moments; my creative practise unfolds in a similar way. That mapping process is continually taking place in my mind. Being an artist and working in the arts means I am constantly surrounded by creative people, conversations, collaborations, many to do lists (I have an unhealthy dependency on post it notes). Each time I create a new series of works, it is a consolidation of all the clues I have been carrying around in my head. Once the work is made, I receive an amazing gift of a few moments of clarity… before the creative clutter filters through and I start again!

2/ Please describe the space where you do most of your making?

I have a perfectly lovely studio at home but I rarely use it… it is too quiet and isolated. I thrive on ‘social noise’… just knowing that there are people nearby carrying on with their lives, creating a buzz makes me happy. I end up carrying a lot of my art materials around with me and I make spontaneously. My dining room table gets a lot of attention… it is more of a project table. At the moment it is cluttered with sketch books, spray cans and stencils, hand-made Christmas cards, a half-finished taxidermy parrot (not mine… WIP by hubby!), tattoo designs, books and a lot of post it notes! I am considering working out of a more collaborative studio space next year… as an experiment!

3/ Tell us about your current exhibition, Seekers.

Seekers is a series of illustrations and prints that salute the pursuit of adventure. It is a tribute to unfamiliar explorers, fictional maps and unconventional landmarks. Most of my works occur in series similar to chapters of a book, Seekers includes three series called ‘Fictional Landmarks’, ‘Objects & Emotions’ and ‘Henk & Lola’. I really enjoyed making the ‘Henk & Lola’ works; it features two tiny orienteering bugs whose task it is to map out an ever-evolving world. They have created six maps that represent their observations of social landscape of their most recent explorations. I dare say they will make another appearance in future works! The exhibition will be on display in the Burrinja Café until the 14th of December if you fancy taking a peek. For more info go to, www.burrinja.org.au

4/ Who are your creative hero’s?

Gasp… too many! Off the top of my head, Rachel Whiteread, Sabrina Ward Harrison, Del Kathryn Barton and street art duo behind Herakut… Drooooll!

5/ Where can people find more information on your practise or upcoming exhibition or projects?

Between my website and Facey I pretty much cover it all…

www.amymiddleton.com or facebook