Cabinet cards…my latest obsession

Artcrush, Studio news/blog

We visited my Mother-in-law in celebration of her birthday this past weekend- and here she is with her grandchildren:

At her birthday party one of her friends Tienie Potgieter asked me about my art and current intrests. I told her about my recent work and then she offered me a box full of vintage photographs including Cabinet cards!!

I could not believe my luck!

CABINET CARDS: A style of photograph first introduced in 1863 by Windsor & Bridge in London, the cabinet card is a photographic print mounted on card stock. The Cabinet card got its name from its suitability for display in parlors — especially in cabinets — and was a popular medium for family portraits.

So while I am in the process of working through each and every one….finding inspiration, I am also scanning them to create a virtual file- and while I’m at it , I thought I will share a couple with you!

I even love the back of these cards!

about (m)others…

Artcrush, Studio news

The first time I heard Pink Floyd’s music was when I was 17. (that was a year before my mother passed away)

one of the pieces that will be part of the “Angels Tears” exhibition which opens early December at Grande Provence gallery

I was working as a waitress in an Italian Restaurant, and the owner played me a song which went like this…

Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar,
You’re gonna go far,
You’re gonna fly high,
You’re never gonna die,
You’re gonna make it if you try…

Steve, wherever you are now, thank you for introducing me to Pink Floyd!

Talking about Pink Floyd…

Amanda Palmer recently did a Pink Floyd cover called “Mother” (link) which really resonated with me. It’s like a lullaby for our troubled times.

“People have said that lullabies are the space to sing the unsung,” Pettit said. “A place to say the unsay-able. You’re alone. Nobody is listening, and you can express the feelings that are not okay to express in society.”

Thank you Amanda for having ‘balls’ to sing the unsung, to say the unsay-able … also

“There is no… attempt to threaten, frighten or construct a scene,” Lorca said, “only to thrust the child into the song, alone and unarmed, a little knight defenseless against his mother’s reality.”

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/many-lullabies-murder-ballads

Being a mother myself raising 2 boys, living in a world where (and I quote Kevin from Twitter).. “there is no shortage of infantile man-child’s running countries at the moment”

this mama doesn’t want all your nightmares come true..

this mama doesn’t want to put all her fears into you…

Mama wants you to fly, sing and dream..to climb over all the walls..

Another one for the ‘Angels Tears’ exhibition opening soon at Gallery Grande Provence

anyway….so my friend Lavender Fishoek recently told me about the story of David Blaine and his mother…she said it reminded her of me and my boys…WOW…seriously!!? this is the best compliment anyone has given me recently. But also an eye-opener and reminder, because I must admit, that after watching the interview, I realized that the older my boys get, the less I do things like that with them anymore…to really be in the moment-to go search for ‘King Kong’.

 

The story goes:

“One time I was walking through the park. And I was late. And she (his mother) was walking me before she had to go to work. And I was like: “Mom look! There is King Kong!” and instead of her saying: “No, no, we’re late, let’s go..” She said: “Where?”

So we walked all the way over and it was just a log.

But the idea that she let me imagine and believe and didn’t want to stifle that – that is what made her so incredible” – David Blaine

You can watch the full interview (which is very insightful about many things including fears and some advice from Mike Tyson) here 

On that note…goodnight friends. Sweet dreams

P.S recent earworm:  Mutter

P.P.S:

Let us not forget that the fundamental object of the lullaby is to put the child that is not sleepy, to sleep. They are songs for the hours and moments when the child feels like playing. In Tamames they sing:

Sleep, sleep, my child,

I have things to do,

wash your clothes

sit me down to sew.

-Lorca-

 

 

 

 

 

 

A visual requiem for Judith Mason

Art portfolio- my work, Artcrush, Studio news/blog

The group exhibition: A Visual Requiem for Judith Mason opens tomorrow at 11h00….If you are in the Tulbagh area = you are invited!- or contact the Christo Coetzee Museum & Gallery for more information…

I am honoured that my work are included in a group exhibition with other amazing South African Artists, bringing homage to a iconic and inspiring artist Judith Mason.

The following works by Judith Mason served as inspiration:

“Arachne” by Judith Mason

“The mission of Art” after “Arachne” by Judith Mason
Altered page, embroidery on rubber 2017

Woman in a fur coat by Judith Mason

“Evolution”
(after Woman in a fur coat by Judith Mason.)
Altered page, embroidery on rubber, 2017

painting By Judith Mason

“Lines ‘written’ on a friend” (for Judith Mason)
Altered page, embroidery on rubber, 2017

Artcrush: Neil Gaiman

Artcrush

“…pretend that you are someone who can do it. Be wise because the world needs more wisdom; and if you cannot be wise, pretend to be someone who is wise and just behave like they would…and now go and make interesting mistakes, break rules, and leave the world more interesting for your being here ….”

“This is really great, you should enjoy it!”

 

Artcrush: The writings of Marlene Dumas

Artcrush

"Het kwaad is banaal" (Evil is banal) 1984 Oil on Canvas - Marlene Dumas

“Het kwaad is banaal” (Evil is banal) 1984 Oil on Canvas – Marlene Dumas

If been struggling lately to re-write an artist statement for my upcoming exhibition in September; and since we are celebrating Women’s day tomorrow, I thought it would be a nice idea to share one of the many artists who I admire (in this case Marlene Dumas)’s writings:

marlende dumas

marlende dumas2

P.S where she writes ‘paint’ I read “Embroider” 🙂