My love affair with ephemeral art
I did a ephemeral workshop with the wonderful artist, Shona Wilson. Basketry could be certainly considered a type of ephemeral art, but this workshop was about doing art that is completely transient, temporary and short-lived. I loved it so much I now create it when ever I can. I have made several pieces with marine creatures in shells that literally last 2 minutes. 
Collecting palm inflorescence
All of the materials I use are collected. Usually it means I'm driving around and notice a piece of palm inflorescence that has been put out on the verge on green waste day and I stop my car and drag it into the boot. If they are green, they can be quite heavy.
At Christmas time, I notice neighbours of my parents have lots of palms so I knocked on the door and asked if they had any they could give me. When I ask, people always fall over themselves to give them to me. When they are on the tree, they have berries which fall in their hundreds and can be very annoying and hard to manage.
So here are the inflorescence's I collected over the holidays. Fitting them all in my car to bring home was not easy!
Original Christmas gifts at Artisan Markets
Having spent the year focusing on exhibition work I have made a series of smaller pieces perfect for Christmas gifts and will be at the Coal Loader Artisan Markets 15 December 2013.
The Coal Loader Artisans Market offers people an opportunity to purchase original and creative handmade products directly from emerging and contemporary designers, artists and makers, while enjoying the atmosphere of the historic Waverton Coal Loader site.
15 December, 9am to 3pm.
2 Balls Head Drive
Waverton
Here are a selection of pieces:
Primrose Park Art and Craft Centre’s 2013 exhibition
If you missed 'It Takes Two' at InSitu it will be featured at the Primrose Park Art and Craft Centre’s 2013 exhibition. I will also be doing an artist talk on Sunday 17 November.
Primrose Park Art and Craft Centre’s 2013 exhibition will showcase the creativity of local artisans specialising in basketry, paper arts, bookbinding, calligraphy and photography.
The exhibition will run from 15 to 23 November 2013 at Hutley Hall, North Sydney and will be officially opened on 15 November by the Mayor of North Sydney, Councillor Jilly Gibson.
Jean Riley, Chair of Primrose Exhibition Planning Committee said, “This exhibition is a great community event to encourage the public to get more involved in art as well as to support local artists by sharing their work with the community”.
“With the support of the North Sydney Council the Primrose Park Art and Craft Centre aims to help aspiring artists to enhance their skills while gaining valuable feedback and support from experienced artists”.
As part of the exhibition artists will share insights into their art through a series of talks on Sunday 17 November.
“Attending the artist talks is a great way for visitors to get inside the mind of the artist to discover the intention of their artwork and learn about the artist’s technique.”
“We hope this exhibition inspires other young artists to explore their creativity or learn a new medium such as basketry or paper arts,” said Ms Riley.
Official Opening: Friday 15 November 2013, 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
Open Daily: 10:00am – 5:00pm 15- 23 November 2013.
Address: Hutley Hall, Council Chambers, 200 Miller Street, North Sydney 2060.
Artist talks: Sunday 17 November 2013, 11:00am – 12:00am and 2:00pm – 3:00pm.
"It Takes Two" featured in Mosman Daily
"It Takes Two" at the Primrose Park exhibition was featured in the local paper - The Mosman Daily.
My weaving story featured in SMH
Five ways to switch off
Kate Jones
Catriona Pollard says a creative outlet helps her switch off.Checking your phone constantly? Refreshing your inbox every few minutes?
It's a sure sign you need to switch off.
But overcoming a technology addiction is easier said than done when smart phones allow us to bring work wherever we go. Turning off the phone and ignoring the emails just isn't a realistic option, so can you kick the habit?
Find an outlet that doesn't involve phones or computers
Her friends say she "plays with sticks", but Catriona Pollard prefers to call it "the art of weaving".
Pollard took up basketry after she started to feel the pressure of operating her public relations agency CP communications.
"A few years ago I got to the point where I felt I was starting to get burnt out by the intense pressure of constantly being on deadline," Pollard says.
"I thought I had a creative outlet because my job was creative, but I really need other outlets to manage my workload."
Photography appealed to Pollard, but she realised it involved yet more time in front of a computer. Instead, she turned to something completely new and different.
"I saw the local community centre was having a basketry weekend and I signed up," she says.
"When I did it, I knew this was it. It was like a form of meditation and it was such a simplistic task – the exact opposite of what I have to do in my job every day."
Pollard now regularly scours garden waste for plants she can use to sculpt and weave. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and she is on the committee of NSW Basketry.
In Situ 2013: Mosman Festival of Sculpture & Installation
My work, It Takes Two, has been selected for In Situ 2013.
Situ 2013 is a collaborative sculpture exhibition between Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman businesses and participating artists. It comes under the umbrella of the Festival of Mosman and is a key event in its calendar.
‘It Takes Two’ represents the connection and relationship we have with each other and the world around us. Both pieces are the same, yet different. Like all of us. We are surrounded by unique beauty– which often we don’t notice. Maybe it’s time we did.
Made from collected Palm inflorescences, Gymea lily, rattan hand dyed using bark from gum trees.
It Takes Two will be featured in the shop front of Husk from Saturday 5 October – Sunday 20 October 2013.
Forest Basket featured in Art Almanac
So excited to see my basket "Forest Basket" featured in Art Almanac!
