This great shot by photographer Frances Mocnik shows the birds from the perspective of the front reception staff welcoming visitors to Novotel Sydney City Centre from York Street, Sydney. The hotel is near Martin Place and the heart of the business district. Frances has captured my birds flying in (left) and flying (out). I had envisaged when visitors dine at Birdie Bar & Brasserie they would gather around the table with family, friends or even a solo moment. Hence the ‘flying in’ concept. When people departed, I could visualise them ‘flying out’ and onwards – back to work, on their way home or taking in the sights of Sydney.
A bird’s eye view
Recently, I asked Photographer Frances Mocnik to document my birds in their new location at Novotel Sydney City Centre. Having my artworks professionally photographed assists with prosperity, applying for grants/awards/prizes and other opportunities where the viewer needs to see my birds at their best.
I think you would agree Frances has captured them beautifully. Enjoy!
A closer look at the finer details of Birdie
I thought you might like to see a closer look at my birds to see the fine detail of each pattern I drew. The tropical birds and plant life wallpaper in the restaurant provided a starting point to research and draw the patterns required for 22 birds in total. There is the rainbow lorikeet, cockatiel, the Hoopoe and Lesser Bird of Paradise. Each bird was matched with nature’s flora. Plant life included Pink Bromeliad, Escargot, Frangipani, Monstera and a palm-like leaf.
I’ll reveal my making processes over the coming weeks. From slip cast and joining to drawing, drilling, firing and polishing … it’s no wonder the project took me 3 and a half months to make.
Main photo by Andrew Sikorski from @art_atelier_photo; rest courtesy of various sources.
Reveal time!
I’m excited to show the birds in their beautiful frame. The public art consultants Artduo engaged Kurt Wang from Fidoso Picture Framing to frame not just one set of birds but two! I’ll reveal the 2nd set soon.
He did a wonderful job and arranged the birds as I had envisaged. I’m incredibly lucky the client and all involved agreed on the colour scheme of the background, slightly deep set box frame and warm colour to highlight the beauty of each bird. Sometimes minimalist can speak louder than words, in this case the porcelain and patterns lure the viewer in to see what the art is all about.
Photo courtesy of Artduo (edited by Anne) who collaborated with Novotel Sydney City Centre on this special renovation and newly launched Birdie Bar and Brasserie.
Closeup of Birdie | Public Artwork
A little preview of what’s to come. This is a closeup of one of my artworks located at Novotel City Centre in Sydney, Australia. I created a series of larger birds with patterns derived from the wallpaper chosen for the interiors of the recently launched Birdie Bar & Brasserie. Each one is hand made with a bird pattern and its accompanying flora. They are slipcast, pierced and /or pressed, fired twice, sanded, polished and then placed in their new home. I’ll reveal if it’s a plinth or wall artwork…can’t help myself as I do love a good art mystery!
Photo courtesy of Artduo who collaborated with Novotel on this special renovation.
Birdie | Novotel Sydney City Centre | new public artwork
In late 2023, I was approached to make birds for a hotel located in the heart of Sydney. I was overseas at the time, but the public art consultants and their client were happy to wait till I got home. I spent 3 and half months researching and making 22 birds based on the wallpaper in a new restaurant aptly called Birdie Bar and Brasserie. See previous post for restaurant interior. I can now reveal that Novotel Sydney City Centre are the proud owners of my artworks. Keep an eye out as I’ll post reveal the birds soon in their new home. Portrait of me by Andrew Sikorski who’s on instagram @art_atelier_photo. My gorgeous blue dress from London when we visited there in late 2023 from my favourite fashion house @andotherstories on Instagram and Facebook (&otherstories).
Soon to be revealed … a public art commission
I’m a little excited as recently I had a new public artwork installed in a hotel in the heart of Sydney’s City Centre. The wallpaper seen here was chosen for the interior of a newly launched restaurant and provided inspiration for the interior design team to engage me to create me two new bodies of work. Watch this space as I roll out what I made and where they are located. I do love a slow reveal.
I’m in an ad campaign!
Gosh! This was a while ago and I realised that I totally forgot to post about it here on my ceramics website. Admittedly, it was to promote my gallery (Gallery of Small Things | GOST), but my work did feature in the campaign by my local tourism body, VisitCanberra. They worked with Creative Agency Wunderman Thompson Australia to create a major domestic tourism campaign promoting Canberra and places to visit. I was one of three chosen for their Feb-July 2023 campaign. My little dishes feature in the campaign and I did suggest the pistachio to show just how tiny my ceramic dishes are 🙂
So, to see the ad please click on the YouTube video below:
Pollen range now at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery shop
I’m excited to announce that my Pollen earrings are now stocked at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery shop. This gallery is located on the fringes of Great Western Sydney. Think Windsor, Richmond and a bit further afield the Blue Mountains. It’s a great driving holiday if you are thinking of a little getaway that takes you through some fabulous places with history, cider and of course art galleries! I wrote a story about our driving itinerary which can be read here. The pollen range comes in stud or drop as well as sterling sliver or rose plated gold meaning you can positively bloom day and night, Anne x
Open Studio | Design Canberra Festival 19
I’m participating again in the Open Studios as part of Design Canberra Festival 2019. I’ve been doing this for a few years now and love meeting new and familiar faces as they see my studio and arts practice slowly grow. I’ve also been a bit busy with a gallery that I run so visitors will have an extra bonus of seeing Canberra’s (possibly Australia’s) smallest gallery – GOST. We have a beautiful garden that surrounds the studio/gallery. I’ll have new porcelain decorations in time for Christmas, along with my new colours in the pollen jewellery range, my popular birds and little dishes. So, pop on in as I’ll be open 11am to 4pm Saturday 9 November 19 along with many other studios on the Northside of Canberra.