its a wrap...

The year is rapidly drawing to a close

 and what a big year 2011 turned out to be....

solo exhibition

new directions on the farm

an art residency

an art grant for an art conference and exhibition

mini academic glory

I got to tick off quite a few things on my 'to do list' (quite a few things remain uncompleted - but that's ok.. I don't make lists to make myself feel bad when I can't do everything, I make them to help me keep track of what I want to get done)


2011 has not been all sunshine, flowers and rosy drops: we've had a very tough year on the farm (something I don't talk much about.... but let's just say - our backs are to the wall - this is as tough as it gets....) and a few weeks ago my best mate Pete (who is nearing 70) was diagnosed with a rare but dreadful form of dementia..... it's hard to talk about such things.... so I generally don't. I'll talk here of positive things instead - like some of the year's highlights: getting to meet fellow BAO peeps at Impact 7, and others in Bega at my solo show, my month of arty gestures, and volunteer work on a couple of local arty committees all rate a high mention.

The most fulfilling thing of 2011 was my limited involvement in the local koala survey and subsequently the ANU arty exchange.

Favourite new books for my library (and remember I don't really 'do' fiction) - India Flint's 'Second Skin',  Kate Herd's 'Kitchen Gardens of Australia', and 'Book Art' . Favourite finds - gorgeous bloggy peeps Velma and Anna, and some wonderful podcasts from - sustainable world radio, book artists and poets, arts and healing, treehugger, philosophy bites.... (hours of listening fun!)

But the best thing of the year (of every year) has been spending extra time with our kidlets (gosh they are growing up fast!) - they are such happy, healthy little creatures (sorry if my 'proud mumma' tattoo is too obvious!)... having kidlets is a great reality checker...


I'm hoping and planning for a quieter time in 2012 - I'm going to spend serious time in the studio working away on the Higher Degree research project - and (fingers crossed) I might FINALLY get the studio and garden open in May 2012 (a year behind schedule.... oh well...).

 all week long - including Christmas Day, FP has been creating formwork 

for that loooooong awaited path to the studio....

First thing in the new year I'm going to write a little more about art, the universe and everything (as previously promised/threatened). Late January I've booked into a 3 day food forest workshop at a local permaculture property (oooo excitements!). I've committed to another round of BAO (so the making of another small edition of books is in my future) and I anticipate launching into a weekly dose of arty gestures.  I've got a few other exciting things in the works - but it's too early to tell much about these yet.... here's a tiny pictorial hint of one thing santa bought me that I'm hoping to press into action this year...

Thank you to everyone who has dropped by here, sent notes or vibes of support or joined in the merriment over the past year - its been so lovely getting to know you!

Happy New Year everyone!