Opening my sub stack this morning I realise the date is just over three months since my last post. On the one hand it has passed quickly and on the other it seems a long time ago. Much has happened..
January began with final preparation and travel to Poatina in Tasmania for a refreshing and inspiring week participating in Faith and the Arts. FATA is an annual five day residential multi-disciplinary arts gathering, during which I led an elective in Contemplative Sketching. A much loved evening event during FATA is the open mic night where participants gather and share their work. This year I stepped out of my comfort zone to read Salvator Rosa, a poem from my book ONE, and the reading was accompanied by the photos in that collection. One thing which added to my hesitancy was the fact that the audience included accomplished poets who inspire me. I had nothing to fear, and they were encouraging and supportive, but sharing our creative expression brings with it a vulnerability that doesn’t really go away. With much to reflect on over the week my journal holds lists of dot points and thoughts to move forward.
Photographically I’ve explored a few directions.
Whilst in Poatina a friend I stayed with taught me how to develop my own black & white film in the laundry. What fun we had! I was inspired!
Also in Poatina we made photographs of each other using the garden shed as a camera with a copier lens gaffa taped to the door and taking turns to stand inside with a sheet of paper.
I started a profile on “52 Frames” photo challenge and started well with some images that I wouldn’t have made otherwise. I’ll get back to it in due time.
My search continues for a way to scan my negatives and print them in a way that matches the vision I had for them, without alteration by auto-correcting software that pushes the contrast.
And I’ve been exploring the way photography integrates into my overall Arts Practice.
February was a big month ahead of a two month road trip during March and April.
Framing paintings.
Large acrylic painting on canvas in response to Revelation chapter 1 completed and installed at our local church.
Delivering artwork to a local gallery - “Salvator Grasses” (above), gouache, approx 20 x 11 cm.
Sending artwork to Melbourne for the A4 Australia exhibition Click here for the Contemporary Art Society Victoria website, A4 Australia gallery page and scroll down alphabetically to Sharon Roberts. Then click again to see the whole image.
Ordering of new Tassie oak frames to have on hand.
Continuing a communication course I’ve committed to for this year - speaking, not writing.
Preparing and packing my “Studio in a box” for the trip.
Planning and packing the other things one needs for a two month trip that includes remote camping in a tent.
And of course home, family and friends.
And then we were on the road. We traveled 8,800 kilometres, and returned home three weeks early with me on crutches.
Having set up our campsite at Mt Remarkable National Park in the southern Flinders Ranges, we decided to go for a short wander along the creek in the late afternoon before preparing dinner. The weather was pleasant, the breeze was light, and the River Red Gums were quite a sight. We wandered further along the track, just a little more, just a little more. I stopped to draw a Redgum in my sketchbook as Brett moved further on to photograph a tree at the next bend. On his return I’d finished sketching, and the light softly caught the edge of a large gum just off the track. We both had our cameras and were immersed in the moment. I turned my camera 90 degrees to a portrait format, but the uppermost branches weren’t in the viewfinder. “If I crouch down for a lower viewpoint, the branches will fit and it will give a stronger sense of the towering tree”. Click goes the camera. And attempting to stand up again - Click goes the knee. Oh dear! Now the fun began. Long story short. Brett was able to get me out to the car where we drove to Port Augusta hospital. Released with crutches, assurance it wasn’t broken as per the X-rays, a letter for my doctor and the ok to travel home, we then began the three day journey back to Queensland. Thankfully it was comfortable in the car with my leg bent. And now I rest at home, awaiting surgery and anticipating a full recovery.
Brett says it’s safer for me to stay with painting than photography
.So Mt. Remarkable, Mungo National Park, Menindee Lakes and the Darling River Run are waiting to be explored another time.
Thanks for reading,
Cheers,
Sharon
Thanks Sarah, I didn't look at it the photo until we were home and unpacked, and I am really glad it turned out well.
When you write it all out you’ve sure had a full start to the year Sharon…beautiful photos…I always love black and white.