Steph Project 3

Week 9

Fiona Foley:

Through research and reflection of my previous assessments, I have developed an interest in the use of words on memorial structures. I found the works of Fiona Foley to be very interesting especially her exhibition entitled ‘Forbidden’, which was shown at the MCA and the GOMA. Foley’s learning research can be found at this address. It is clear and easy to understand.

http://www.mca.com.au/media/uploads/files/FFoley_resource_web_version.pdf

Samplers:

Continuing on with this idea of words and language I revisited the idea of samplers in textiles. I was able to find samplers that were made as commemorative memorabilia. I think this is an exciting find as it is directly associated with textiles.

1814 “the virgins prayer” sampler by phebe Edmonds

Commemorative of George III death

http://www.antiques.com/classified_items.php?SeArChItEmS=&startrage=&endrange=&catid=155&GoPageNo=10

Previous works:

I have also revisited a previous work of mine that has a strong sense of memorial and employs the idea of memorabilia:

“I want to be able to give the book as a treasured gift, I want it to be loved and in time put in the back of a drawer, but when rediscovered create the same feelings of immense warmth and love to the owner. Creating a beautiful aesthetic was also a strong element I wished to explore in the final series, as I believe that seeing something beautiful is the perfect impetus to remind us of the loved one and provoke feelings of warmth, love and fondness, much like an old photo album. Inspired by artists such as India flint and martia Macklin and their use of natural materials, I experimented with a range of techniques, exploring the marking possibilities of the leaf from rubbings to prints, also incorporating rubbings and silks from the finished works from my previous ‘translation’ series. These rubbings have become the pages of the book, the foundations of the story incorporating my family home, creating a beautiful connection between the country landscape, maps, my family and my grandfather. Once again handwriting became an important mark made in the book, with words that my father wrote to describe his father, as I wanted to keep a pure authenticity to the book by creating a true representation of my grandfather memories, through words from his son. I felt the need to become a part of the book also, not only as the maker but as a member of our family, therefore I experimented with the use of my fingerprints, completely unique to me as leaves are to a tree, I wanted to emphasis the mark left by each individual as ‘our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we have touched’” – new dimensions project,  

 

I would like to continue this exploration of memorabilia, there fore I would like to produce a sample series of works that can be kept as keepsakes. I think the idea of rubbings and fingerprints is also an interesting way to leave a trace of us. I would also like to continue my exploration of the corporal effect and idea of encasing and encapsulation. 

WEEK 10

Through research of Fiona Foley in week 9, I became interested in the memorial of everyday objects. In her exhibition "Forbidden", she cast nine mangrove pods in aluminum. From this starting point I have started to explore memorials in relation to common everyday things, such as hair, fingerprints and teeth, which people collect from their loved ones. Commonly locks of hair are placed in lockets to be worn around the neck, an imprint of a baby’s hand and foot is very common on a canvas or pillows, and also parents collecting their childs first teeth. I have experimented with using my own hair and rubbing gold leaf throughout it to simulate the idea of casting the hair in a locket or a precious metal, I have also explored my own fingerprints.

I have collected the little cards from my grandmother, which used to display buttons. I am finding this to be an interesting way of displaying these "object". I am currently waiting on a letter containing some teeth to be sent from home, which I plan to gold leaf also. 

After visiting the Archibald prize I have become interested in the use of books and handwriting as a memorial object also, as there was a work that was exhibited which had the work painted onto the fronts of books, therefore I have experimented with fingerprints and lino prints onto text. I have also explored through sampling the idea of framing a memorial piece therefore I have employed collage of lino prints, cross stitching, fingerprinted silk and ted dye calico with the inclusion of gold leaf.