Sunday, February 12, 2012

Berbagi Opening

The crowd at the opening night, 2 February

The Berbagi artists

Di Tait (Curator), Janet De Boer OAM (Opening Guest), and Naruse (Bali Artist)

Friday, December 23, 2011

Introducing Berbagi....Media Release Extract

A stunning exhibition inspired by a visit to Bali will open the University of Sunshine Coast Gallery’s annual exhibition program at 6 pm on 2nd February.  Berbagi, which means ‘sharing’ in Bahasa Indonesia will include works from Australian and international papermakers and will be opened by_Janet De Boer O.A.M.

University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery Curator, Dawn Oelrich said “We are delighted to offer an international exhibition to start off the year. The Queensland Paper Makers Inc. always produce thought-provoking work”.

Inspiration for the exhibition came after a group of  Queensland artists made a trip to Bali where they met and spent time with two paper artists living and working in the Ubud area. Mr Naruse Kiyoshi from the Greenman Studio and Mr Joseph Borde from Aliran Studio have been invited to join with the group to present this exhibition. 

Exhibition curator and exhibiting artist, Diane Tait said “Naruse Kiyoshi is coming to Queensland for the exhibition opening and he is staying on to run workshops for local papermakers at Noosa Arts and Crafts in Noosaville.”
 
“For anyone who has travelled to Bali this exhibition will renew memories of their time on this magical island. Walking through rice paddies, a visit to a puppet museum, the food and  the colour and noise of the Balinese environment all have inspired the Queensland artists.” She said.  “The Bali artists’ work is more restrained and shows a way of creating beautiful works from natural fibres that is very rarely seen in Australia.  Berbagi is an opportunity for audiences to see Bali through the eyes of paper and fibre artists . There are large and small scale works in the exhibition, and architects and interior designers might be especially interested in some of the unique work by the two visiting artists.” Said DianeTait.

Berbagi  is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the workshop program is made possible by a Regional Arts Development Fund grant, a Queensland Government and Arts Queensland partnership with Sunshine Coast Regional Council to support local arts and culture.

The exhibition will be on display from 2 February to 3 March at the USC Gallery.

The gallery is located at the University campus on Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs. It is open free to the public from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, but is closed Sundays and public holidays.

The 2012 University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery exhibition program is proudly supported by major sponsors The Proost DeDeyne Family and the Big Kart Track.
Naruse Kiyoshi, Woven Paper Screen

Jill Brose, Fragments in the Sky

Lynne Fellowes, Seeking Direction

Joseph Borde, Sao Seed Bowl

Friday, July 8, 2011

Dion Channer Weekend

Nine members of Qld Papermakers recently enjoyed a weekend away north of Gympie.  We spent 2 days experimenting with papermaking at the studio of paper artist Dion Channer.  Dion is originally from the UK but lived in Italy before coming to Australia, bringing with him all his wonderful papermaking equipment including a Hollander beater and vacuum table, as well as a large amount of unprocessed mulberry fibre. His equipment and fibre took up a 20 ft. container, a very costly exercise but his setup with all this equipment enables him to full immerse himself in his art practice.  

Dion's vacuum table allows the creation of very large sheets of paper, measuring approx 2m x 1m.  Everyone got to make one of these large sheets which gave us lots of practice!  We also kept ourselves busy with other activities such as cooking, beating, and couching sheets of paper from Dion's fibre supply of mulberry bark fibre and cotton linters.  We also used own fibre including banana and a weed from Helga's property.

Thank you to Dion and his partner Sue for their generousity and hospitality as nine keen papermakers invaded their property.

Photos from the weekend have been posted onto the website http://www.papermakersqld.org.au/.

From front to back, left to right:
Dion, Helga, Joolie, Joanne,
Zeta, Glenda, Di, Jill, Sandra & Jan.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Market Stall at Moreton Bay Region Art Awards

Last Saturday, Ngaire, Jan and Sandra ran a stall at the Moreton Bay Region Art Awards, at the Pine Rivers Gallery in northern Brisbane.

Ngaire skillfully demonstrated papermaking with her mini-kit, impressing passersby with the beautiful little designs she was making using an embossing technique and coloured pulp.

Jan kept the sales flowing, selling Joanna's sheets of paper and prints.

It was a very successful day with lots of people taking information about the Papermakers, a great PR exercise.

Ngaire demonstrating to some very interested ladies

Ngaire and Jan at the stall

The display

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Next Meeting 22 May

Eco-Dyeing Paper Activity

Basically we are using a shibori technique where colours are transferred from objects onto the paper using pressure, in a hot dye bath of iron and eucalypt leaves. No chemicals added, all natural.
It’s just an introduction to what you can experiment with at home. Sandra will have some samples to look at.

Everyone to bring –
• Rubber bands, string, metal clips
• Brown/Red Onion skins
• Small flat metal objects (nails, washers, lids off cans etc) - rusty is good
• Eucalyptus leaves
• Other fresh leaves with interesting silhouettes etc
• Any plant material you’d like to try – herbs, flowers like marigolds etc
• Watercolour paper or sketch book paper


Sandra will supply –
• Paddle pop sticks
• A good pre-loved brew
• Cooking pot & facilities
• Goodies to try in the dye pot


Sandra will have Raines Watercolour Paper (micador brand) which works really well with the eco-dyeing as it doesn’t have much sizing in it. You can buy some from Sandra on the day to try if you like. It’s available at Oxlades if you want to pre-purchase some.