January 28, 2019January 29, 2019 by Leonie Andrews

The Dobell Drawing Prize 2019

I’m thrilled to share the news with you that my work ‘365 Days’ is one of 58 finalists in the Dobell Drawing Prize 2019. The Prize showcases the expanded field of drawing, celebrating innovation, technical skills and diverse media.

The National Art School in association with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation will present the Dobell Drawing Prize on 28 March 2019.

365 Days, January side

365 Days, December side

Over the course of 2017, I used a simple set of rules to generate a work where my hands and my memory made marks, without the intervention of my sight. The rules were stitch daily and stitch with my eyes closed. The year’s marks read as a map of my mind and hands finding their way across a bounded space.

The judges, Michelle Belgiorno, Simon Cooper and Ben Quilty, said of the submissions:

“We were amazed not only by the number of entries, but by their quality and sheer variety of approaches to drawing. It’s clear that today’s artists explore drawing’s full range of possibilities – from sculptural, performative and digital drawings, to extremely skilful works using classic materials such as charcoal and ink. We’re thrilled to see such technical talent and innovation reflected in this year’s shortlist.”

The exhibition of finalist’s works, will be held at the National Art School, running from 28 March – 25 May 2019

National Art School | Forbes St, Darlinghurst NSW

January 26, 2019 by Leonie Andrews

Studies

v.
not to discipline the yarn but to coax it
not to tell the story but to ask it
This is my advice to you.

(Reprinted with permission from Claudia McGill)
https://claudiamcgill.wordpress.com/2019/01/24/put-pen-to-paper-marathon-2019-week-4/

One of my preliminary study pieces for the Opening Stitches project. Opening stitches for this piece were provided by Alexis Yeadon and Susan Weisser.

January 24, 2019February 14, 2019 by Leonie Andrews

Opening Stitches Project

In 2019 I am starting a new project called Opening Stitches. In this project I ask people to provide a square of cloth with one or two sets of ‘opening stitches’ on it. I will then take the cloth and continue stitching in response to the stitches provided to me.

I plan to combine the collected pieces into one or more works that may be exhibited in future. All participants will be credited for their work (unless you wish to have your name withheld).

You can follow my progress on Instagram @leonieandrewsart

If you are interested in participating please contact me for mailing details.

Guildelines for joining the project

The start of two trial pieces in this series.

One of my trial pieces at 24 January 2019

Detail of my trial piece, 2019. Opening stitches provided by Alexis Yeadon and Susan Weisser.

January 4, 2019January 4, 2019 by Leonie Andrews

Kusama

I have long enjoyed seeing the work of Yayoi Kusama and today I got a double shot. We went and saw the documentary about her life and work ‘Kusama-Infinity’ and then drove over to the National Gallery of Australia to see her installation work ‘The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens.

Highly recommended!

The movie spends some time looking at her early work in America. This was what I found most interesting. Her early work really ‘stands up’, over time. It’s a lot tougher than the brightly coloured work we tend to associate with her today. I also got a better understanding of the misogyny and rip-offs she faced (and other female artists too) during that time. Her resilience is even more remarkable than I had realised.

Back at the National Gallery of Australia we met up with friends and had a look at one of her signature installations. I learned from the documentary that these were originally referred to as “peep shows”, which reflects the tougher work she was making in her younger days.

Pumpkins peep show.