August 2022 | GOST news
August l 2022
Feature Artist | Alice Whish | Arts Policy, Committee & Photography
Feature Artist | Alice Whish | Jewellery
We are delighted to welcome contemporary jeweller Alice Whish to GOST. She is our 2nd last Feature Artist for 2022. I first saw Alice's work at the Australian Design Centre in Sydney and tucked her away for a possible stable artist as there was a small gap in our gallery to bring in delicate wearable art. When Alice said she had a residency to go to Rome in 2022 and would I mind waiting until her return of course I would! I was excited to hear of an artist being able to travel and undertake crucial research to form the basis of a body of new works. A few words from Alice about her residency:
" ... The friezes against the sky and on the tops of buildings are untouchable and when fallen from the buildings are small fragments some containing complete flowers. These have been my inspiration to reimagine the flora of Rome. I have created a series of pendants, where the flowers are now able to be touched, held, and worn. I have reimagined the flowers with colour, and form, freed from their two dimensional frieze the flowers are now animated against the body ... ".
We have two pendants from this residency as well as her popular Bundanon series. In an article for Garland magazine, Helen Wyatt reveals the making of these works:
"... Alice’s work, comprising rings, brooches, necklaces and earrings, reference the plants and birds of the understory within a very small area of the forest at Bundanon. In creating the works, she was particularly interested in the cultural burning practices—cool burning—of the Mudjingaalburaga fire group ... ".
Welcome Alice and we look forward to wearing your stunning pieces.
Image left | Bowerbird egg on green silk string | Image middle | Swamp banksia brooch | Image right | Grass is greener on the other side necklace | All images courtesy of the Artist
artsACT New Policy | CraftACT Excellence Committee | Canberra Photographic Society
It's been (and continues) to be a busy few months as I participate in various activities which forms part of GOST's mission to engage with community, arts and culture.
In April 2022, I was invited to be on a roundtable to provide insight into Innovation and Sustainability as part of the ACT Government's Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – Arts, Culture and Creative Policy 2022-26. I spoke about my collaborative relationship with the Arts and Tourism sector and how crucial it is to have this connection to be sustainable, resilient and innovative. I also spoke about inclusion and how GOST is a safe place for all members of our society to feel welcomed and encouraging other spaces to be accessible.
Thanks to artsACT for this opportunity to meet like-minded creative thinkers.
In June, I was invited to be on the Artistic Excellence Committee for CraftACT. It was lovely to be back assessing applications as I could build on previous committee experience. I spent many days reviewing, assessing and ranking applicants and appreciative to work with a group of talented representatives and CraftACT staff. I highly recommend artists to expand their practice and if offered an opportunity to give it a go!
Just recently, I had my first time reviewing 37 works submitted by members of the Canberra Photographic Society. It was a new experience as I'm not a photography expert, however I have an aesthetic eye which means I'm thinking with my business cap as well as my artistic experience. The works were mostly based on the theme wild with some open entries and so great to see a wide range of talent and provide feedback. I look forward to seeing more of the CPS especially as they will be celebrating their 80th anniversary in 2025. That's an awesome achievement.
Below are the images of the night which I selected as a tie - congrats to Ben Hogan and David Bassett. Both were compelling - I felt Ben had romanticised the seascape reminiscent of German painter Casper David Frederick with its soft, ethereal light. David’s birds show action, drama and what will happen next. I particularly loved the details of both birds from a slight raise of the kestrel’s shoulders to the transparency of the Willie’s blue wings.
Image left | Wild surf at Baraagga Bay by Ben Hogan | Image right | Willie vs Kestrel by David Bassett
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