I had thought of writing something and in the end decided to simply show 2024 visually. Sometimes we just need to keep life less complicated …
Farewell 2024!
Open Studios | 9 and 10 November 2024
I’ll be participating in Open Studios as part of the 2024 Craft + Design Festival. I’m one of 36 artists participating in this yearly event which is proudly supported by Home by Holly.
I’ll have a small display with earlier works reduced up to 50%. I’m keen to make room in my studio as it’s filled with tubs of lovely ceramic plates, bowls, wall works that need a new home.
Pop on in from 10am to 4pm and say hello. Our garden is positively blooming for you to enjoy too. Our address is 27 Wade Street, Watson, Canberra. It’s also known as Gallery of Small Things when it pops up on your Google maps.
Photos: 1st image courtesy of Craft+Design website; Anne holding blue bird by Mel Hill Photo, Anne in her studio by Amanda Thorsen; Garden photo by Mel Hill Photo.
Birdie in Novotel foyer
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.
The journey of creating 22 birds
In late 2023, I was approached by public art consultants, Artduo to create two artworks for a hotel in Sydney. At that time it was embargoed as the launch would not occur till early 2024. For three and a half months I went about researching, drawing and selecting the birds and flora as the inspiration from the interiors of the hotel as well as a beautiful, tropical wallpaper being installed in a restaurant.
You can follow my journey by clicking on the image below to read the book.
Below are the birds and plant life which inspired the patterns I would create on the bodies of each bird. This takes time to consider the shape, feathers, structures in order for them to translate well when I pierce holes or press markings. Then I go on to the actual making. That alone is another story! In a nutshell, the birds are slip cast, joined, pattern penciled, pierced / pressed, fired, sanded and polished. It’s a laborious process but one I love so much due to my love of birdlife and all creatures/flora and fauna great and small.
The final install and seeing my imagined artworks captured beautifully by Sydney Photographer Frances Mocnik. I love the ‘peep’ shots too.
Thanks
I would like to thank Artduo for the opportunity to create two new artworks and pushing new boundaries for me with displaying them as a wall artwork. I’ve been displaying my birds as objects since 2015 so this was a very exciting outcome.
I would also like to thank Andrew Sikorski from Art Atelier Photography who photographed the birds for my portfolio. Kurt Wang at Fidoso Picture Framing who framed them beautifully. Photographer Frances Mocnik for documenting them in their new home.
Finally, my heartfelt thanks to Novotel Sydney City Centre for displaying ceramics as wall art in their newly renovated hotel and aptly reflecting your new restaurant Birdie Bar & Brasserie.
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.
