Bare Bones and other tales

It is hard to imagine this space in another month or two - the main studio and office area placed opposite the laundry and powder room. The bare bones of a new space. Currently playing with the zones - a place to work / office and life administration, a cutting station, a sewing area that will fit my Bernina workhorses and overlocker. Equally important, a space and place for reflection, reading and rest. There is a single, large window from which the WMBM will create an oasis in the outside recess - meeting the needs of viewing pleasure while maximising natural light. The laundry has a special linen cupboard designed for bolts of PFD fabric and storage of bulky items. Back in the room, I'm thinking a wall of storage and more bench space and finally, the best position for a portable design wall. There is no rush and I'm happy to wait and see how best to respond to this new environment. The space will let me know what to do.

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Making progress Trees #2

The mess before the beauty

The excavator's words have stuck in my head, rent free. ' I have to make one hell of a mess before it can become beautiful. There is no beautiful end without the mess '. Or words to that effect. The retaining walls at the back of the house have to be finished before anything else can happen in the yard - and in between downpours, a few expletives and more rain, it has beena testing time for all involved in the construction. I thought about his words - and the effort of making a quilt from scratch. The planning, drawing, testing, dyeing, playing, creating, starting again, creating and the final 'ah ha'. There is so much 'mess' before a quilt is resolved becomes a thing of meaning and beautiful in its own way. Blessed are the excavators.

Mapping it out - initial thoughts

I find the process that resolves itself as a textile work challenging. In the beginning I am clueless. This is as much a strength as a source of mild anxiety. I have learnt persistence and turning up are as important as creative thinking. I'm mindful my first response is not going to be the best so I'm starting with a mind-dump. My focus is the Neville Bonner Pedestrian bridge connecting Queens Wharf to South Bank. Thoughts are scratched deep into journal pages. I'll find more connections over coming months. Right now I'm challenged and torn. What started as perfunctory research about Meanjin's (Brisbane's) newest bridge has developed into a sense of disappointment and WTFWTWPT (WTF-were-the-white-people-thinking)? I'm unpacking those thoughts in my journal - the architects and their inspiration, the consortium , what the bridge connects, where it leads, Yuggera and Turrbul people's connections to this part of the river, Mr Neville Bonner's own ...

Ali George Artist

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