I am joining in with Shae’s things I know meme again this week because I know a lot of things and this is one way for me to share them without sounding like a know it all.
I know that reading Shae’s blog post this morning where she declares that she is farticus made me smile. No woman, I AM FARTICUS!
I know that small things often have a very big impact.
I commented on a post written by Eden Riley the other week and Eden sent me the shell she had photographed. This tiny tiny shell only a bit bigger than my thumbnail will soon have inspired a whole series of work.I pinched this photo from Eden’s blog.
When I am absentmindedly doodling, or when I let myself be transported to the quiet space within, these swirls in the shell are a recurring feature in my art work. Whether they are lines drawn in the clay with a wet finger, while I am thinking of other things or pen marks on the back of an envelope drawn while I am on hold to centrelink. These marks are always there just below the surface. I asked Eden for the shell because I liked the tiny blue swirl on the flat side and thought to use that as decoration in a pot. The ridges and swirls on the underside of the shell were an unexpected bonus and I felt slightly disjointed for a while as I thought about beauty and destruction. I felt very strongly that the Earth Mother was saying, “See Kimmy, here I am again, listen to me,you need to make work of the earth.
I am trying not to listen to the planet as it screams at me to make more work, as it takes me such a long time to recover.I have held myself back from making any earth pots as the energy it takes is enormous. I am faffing about making bread and butter items for the shop, instead of dead bird bowls. I am more concerned with paying my rent than paying my dues and I have deliberately kept my shoes on to minimise the humming in my soul as the birds keep on dying.
This next series of photos illustrate what I mean. The post is here if you want to read about it Blood and Ashes, Oil and Despair. I couldn’t get the birds out of my head. The dead birds nagged at me until I made the work. And it took me weeks to recover from the making.
I know I started this post out on a humourous note declaring that, “No Shae, I AM Farticus!” and then I went to a darker place. It was as unexpected a journey to me my dear internets, as it was to you. I had just planned to touch lightly on the surface issue of friendships and small things making large differences when, “Bam” the birds ambushed me.
And so, here we are together again internet, just you and I on the cusp of another journey. I think I would like you to hold my hand please.
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This is a beautiful post, I really love your work. Where do you sell it?
Thanks Kate, I am a partner in a ceramic co-op (Off Centre) in the Salamanca Arts Centre here in Hobart. I also accept commissions. If any of my work takes your fancy I can make it for you. 🙂
Would it survive being shipped do you think? Just going to have a proper look through your gallery
Yes, I have successfully sent cups, platters and shells interstate and overseas 🙂
Wow.
Extraordinary .. and, I love that you never actually asked me for the shell. I read your comment and knew I had to post it to you, like it was yours already. Have you ever read Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s “Gifts from the Sea?”
I’ll email you a beautiful photo of a bird .. it died on our roof. Dave noticed it only when it had half-decomposed, so there was bits of flesh and beautiful bright colours on it. Amazing.
I would love the photo of the bird thanks Eden, No I haven’t read “Gifts from the Sea” I will hunt it up. The shell is pretty special I took it up to the studio today and pressed it into some clay to make a stamp. I was thinking of you as I was working away in my studio today.
Love, love, love your dead bird work. And of course it took it out of you. Complete honesty is exhausting. But worth it. Particularly if it is honesty on the part of a creator like yourself.
Thankyou. I found the oiled bird bowl just shattered me. I think it was a combination of grieving my Mum and the oil spill. I couldn’t make anything with any soul for about a month to six weeks afterwards
I love the photo you took of the shell. I love that you left it all creamy. Perfect.
thanks Tiff
That shell is so swirly sensual and tactile – perfect for grounding you back to Mother Earth 🙂
So, while I’m holding your hand ya wanna play patty cake? 😛
now I have the rhyme stuck in my head. Thanks Jayne…
You know I think this kind of sums up the spirit of things I know. They wander a bit and show how it REALLy is for us in the moment we write them.
BTW, I AM FARTICUS!
I AM FARTICUS. hehehe Actually today I think the dog is farticus
I don’t think anyone could use farticus and deadbirds in one post with such delicate and thoughtful words.
Thank you Gemma.
You really need to stop writing posts that make me think so much… don’t you know that my brain is frazzled and seared and unsure? But there is something about spirals….
Of course your brain is frazzled woman you are smack bang in the middle of mummydom. It is a proven fact that toddlers suck out their Mother’s brain cells, via their lower legs. So everytime to see a woman with a toddler clinging to her leg you know that the little bugger is feasting on his poor frazzled Mums brain cells. Like little zombies they are, except cuter.
had to comment on this, Kim you had me spitting my tea all over the computer in laughter xx
my work here is done.
Love all things spiral. Have a triple spiral tattooed on my back.
Love your work.
And NO. I am farticus
Thanks Shae. You might well be Farticus, even though we all know I am farticus (especially this morning).
Spirals are so calming. I love them. The second photo of the shell reminded me of decoration on a cake, sweet and creamy, yet your surprise me with your deeper reflections on it.