Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Joy and Exhaustion!

Its two days since my exhibition opening on Sunday. It was a wonderful gathering, in a magical location, on a magnificent day. I was sleep deprived but happy, all my misgivings of the day before vanished when I walked in with my family and thought, this looks pretty good! I had thought it was all terrible only the day before. Its amazing what a difference a bit of distance can make.

I met some fabulous locals who were very passionate about the river, some of my dearest friends and most special people managed to get there and the staff at there were fantastic. There were even a couple of very special guests, including ....Olive the baby possum!




My dear friend is a Foster Mum for stranded wild life, she was due for a feed at 1pm - so she came along.

I also managed to enjoy the lead up to it and the opening too, even thought was an incredible amount of work to do, (I must confess and I did stress a bit). The River Mantra of go with the flow really did seem to help...


So, thats one exhibition done. Now to get to work on the next one(after the last two days of recovery).


I am already feeling inspired and ready to tackle the next exhibition. I have started on another large drawing tonight that I feel it may underpin the whole show. A document of the whole Yarra River on a 3mt roll of paper...she is half unrolled in the studio now waiting for me. I feel a new discipline coming on...and the inspiration and motivation too. Excellent tonic for exhaustion too!

I have been laid up recovering the last two days since the exhibition, but I am feeling better now and ready to get back into the studio.

Here are some pictures, more to come later....







Detail : Beneath History Katie Roberts 2009

Warburton was wonderful, it really is a special place to me, and it seems a lot of other people too. So here are some photos of the river as it runs through the town, behind th shops and gallery.






Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Getting Close....




It's exciting!

I am experiencing that exciting and frightening feeling that most artists go through between 3-1 weeks before an exhibition. I am there now. It is less then two weeks to my opening in Warburton and there is, of course, heaps to do. But, this exhibition is deliberately low key and relatively simple, in the lead up to the Montsalvat exhibition at the end of the year. I'm trying not to stress too much and get these things done with ease - the philosophy of things happen when they're meant to happen, is keeping me there most of the time. The invitations are being printed now, they were delayed, which meant I got to tweak my design and learn to accept the natural pace of things, rather then pushing them. I think its called 'going with the flow'.

Which is a very good metaphor really, given the river theme of the exhibition and all.

So now just to finalising drawings, mounting and framing, catalogues, cards and artist statement.... As well as distributing invites, posters, media, catering, transporting, curating, installing, and then opening! Hopefully all while enjoying the experience along the way, and not feeling too overwhelmed by it all. Go with the flow, go with the flow.

Here's your invitation...