If you live in or around Perth, Western Australia you might like to take a toddle down to the farmers market held on Sunday mornings in Midland. On the third Sunday of each month you’ll find a bunch of artists alongside the fruit and veg. You should be able to tell which is which. Squint if you have to – then we’ll know that you are one of us. (For those, not in the know, artists squint in lose some of the detail – it makes it easier to paint.)
In fact if you are an artist bring your easel and join us. If you actually live around the Midland area and happen to get the local paper (The Echo) – try this week’s page 7 for the run down – they ran a little story on us and, yes, that is me in the picture (to the left) pretending to work… snapped last time we were there.
Run by the Midland Art Group with joiner-inners from everywhere we get together and talk, and make art, and talk to the public. OK, so we mostly talk. The idea behind it is to get us all out of studios to show the public that we exist and see what we do.
I take a long a woodcut each time – actually it’s the same woodcut each time. It’s pretty big for a woodcut and fairly fine work. It’ll take a long time to do, especially since I talk so much. In fact since I talk so much, I think it’ll never get finished. When I’m not talking and actually start cutting someone inevitably comes along to ask a question – usually something like “Is that a sculpture?”… Welcome interruptions, always welcome, after all I don’t mind talking. The downside is that, I get into what I’m doing and when interrupted suddenly, tend to slip and stab a finger. My own finger, of course, not the person asking the question. The member of the public then gets to see what woodcutting is really all about – it’s not an art form at all it’s a blood sport.
So that’s it. Sunday morning’s, bring your easel and paints. Or charcoal. Or whatever… and join in. We set up between 6.30am and 7am. (Aargghhh…) and work til around 2pm. Don’t forget to bring your flask and lunch. And yes, you can bring a few pieces to show and sell, as well as show and tell.
Otherwise, if you’re a watcher rather than a doer – welcome.
Amanda