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!

Studio musings

Art portfolio- my work, Studio news/blog

I don’t know about you, but the more the real world freaks me out, the more I escape to a fantasy one, equipped with fantasy characters of my own making. So at the end of 2020 I started working on a series of altered photos once again. I say once again because I’ve been altering vintage photos since 2014 – for example:

Title: It’s contagious Medium: Vintage photograph, cotton thread and rubber 59 x 44 cm 2014/2015

So while I was waiting for the big reprints of vintage photos which I am currently working with (looking forward to share that journey with you soon). I also did smaller ones, some inspired by my mother-in-law whom we visited in December. I took a walk down in memory lane with her one evening going through a drawer full of photos. Some of the photographs were slightly damaged which she gifted to me, for example the one below.

I am happy to announce that this series found a home in Phoenix Arizona and will hopefully reach their destination soon with the help of Jetlog Logistics.

In other news: our eldest son is turning 13 on the 23rd of January. I asked him how does it feel to be a teenager. He said it feels okay except for some “symptoms” he is currently experiencing 😉

What a joy to be the mother of this child o’ mine.

Etienne photographed by Kleinjan Groenewald

Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Ooh, oh, where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Oh, where do we go now?
Where do we go? (Sweet child)
Where do we go now?
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay
Where do we go now?
Ah, ah

Last but not least….The group exhibition: “No holds barred” at RK Contemporary gallery is coming to an end on the 31st of January. Feel free to check it out if you get a chance.

Over-rated, You can’t touch this, Aim higher, Inflation, Do/Don’t (Embroidered rubber)

On that note….

Please keep safe – mentally and physically until next month. ❤

Synchronos

Art portfolio- my work, Studio news/blog

Goodmorning!

I hope you are having a lovely Festive season so far!

Now showing at Knysna Fine Art gallery: The group exhibition Synchronos

Installation view at Knysna Fine Art

“Eerder bang Jan as dooie Jan” 2019 (Altered vintage photograph, lace, cotton thread and rubber)

Installation view courtesy of the gallery

“Lovebirds” 2019 (Altered vintage photograph, cotton thread and rubber)

Installation view courtesy of the gallery

“Hy is met die helm gebore” 2019 (Altered vintage photograph, cotton thread and rubber)

 

Bats!

Art portfolio- my work

Thank you to everyone who came to the opening night of The Grimm Needle!

Wynvlieg, 2016 Found object, textile, cotton thread and rubber 21 x 29 x 7 cm

Wynvlieg, 2016 Found object, textile, cotton thread and rubber 21 x 29 x 7 cm

I had such a blast and hope to publish some pictures of the evening soon.

but before you bat an eyelid,

Don't bat an eyelid 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 27 x 22 cm

Don’t bat an eyelid 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 27 x 22 cm

I would to talk a little bit about the work below.

Vlerrie het muisneste 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 58 x 42 cm

Vlerrie het muisneste 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 58 x 42 cm

My primary school teacher used to tell me that my head is full of ‘muisneste’- ‘directly translated it means mouse-nests, but the meaning of the word to me gets lost in direct-translation.

I suppose she was referring to my day-dreaming.

Nostalgia is a vampire, 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 45 cm diameter (framed)

Nostalgia is a vampire, 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 45 cm diameter (framed)

talking about day-dreaming….the bat represent dreams to me…I’m not sure what it represents to other people/cultures, but in real life they are amazing creatures too…

“There is nothing more startling than the operation of the vampire.  It performs its surgery at dead of night in a darkened room, and, while drawing its meal, supports itself in the air by the beating of its wings.  We marvel at the kestrel as she hangs with rapidly moving wings in the air,…this winged mammal, stealthily sucking blood while poised like a living helicopter, displays a proficiency not excelled by any creature”. (encyclopedia)

Die suigeling, 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 45 cm diameter (framed)

Die suigeling, 2016 Cotton thread, vintage photograph and rubber 45 cm diameter (framed)

“Bats are devoted mothers, and carry their young with them, clinging to their fur, but the naked bat, having no fur for baby bats to cling to, has evolved a living cradle; a deep fleshy pouch on the underside of the body in which the thriving infant is carried.  With that in mind, and the further strange fact that some bats have added sucker discs, like the implements of the octopus, to their thumbs and feet, so enabling them to climb the smoothest surfaces, we must bid adieu to the wing handed folk, one of the most fantastic of all Natures’s experiments.” (encyclopedia)

Goodnight and sweet dreams xxx