Uninvited hands

 

I was given the suggestion for this poster. The original suggested words were "patriarchy the uninvited laying on of hands"- but there were too many words for the poster. It had a connection to a media release during the event; but it also had links it to churches; and it definitely reflected the fact that many women are subjected to uninvited touches and comments by men who seem to think it is ok and in fact their right - but then again that is patriarchy right???

The layered image above was deliberate - layers and layers of subtle patriarchy and layers and layers of uninvited handling.

I took a photo of where I'm up to in the series - only one to go after this current poster if I'm happy with the 3X3 grid.

I feel this poster has a strong message.

And of course there are a couple of Domestic Posters (aka tea-towels) - a little more subtle ink on the weave.

You might have noticed that the second I in 'uninvited' has a nick out of the bottom - it is in fact an upside-down 1 - one of the limitations of sets of wood type and the need for a little creativity.

Orchids, moon and fragments

 

G's orchid house offered some uplifting gorgeousness this morning as you can see from above and below.

We were able to check out the full moon last night as it flitted from behind the clouds.

A few other fragments from the phone - blue banded bee at the studio, blossoms from the garden and peeling paint from a wall in Nambour.

Reflecting on a challenging week

 

The past week has made me somewhat angry given the tragic and preventable deaths of a woman and then a young baby - both victims of male violence against women. The image below might be a bit challenging for some - rubine red ink on the glass plate. I chose red for the word avenges because it references the murder of women.

The events lead me to investigate the links between the patriarchal system and violence against women. The European Institute for Gender Equality says,"patriarchal violence is any kind of violence that creates or maintains men's power and dominance, or avenges the loss of their power." I thought that the last part of the statements what lies behind the murder of women and children by men in domestic violence situations - an ultimate act of control and power.

The poster I have printed is a refection of this horrendous and extreme expression of patriarchy. This is my seventh poster in this patriarchy series.

Patriarchy poster on the drying table with some of Fiona's posters

Over printing on A4 paper to take the ink off the type - I might find a role for them down the track

Not just about the making

 

Fiona and I have six works each in the Editions exhibitions in the Nambour Old Ambo gallery. We often say that the art work is not complete with the making. In the case of the exhibition as you can see from the above photo there are quite a few documents - tedious but all necessary.

I'm doing the planning for a commission for a three post 'sculptural' piece for a friends garden. The sketch below is the outcome of our initial discussion.

And I checked to see if I had the timber for the posts - all good on that score.

When I can get back into the workshop next week I will start making the concave leaf forms in the sketch below. I was given some metal to recycle into leaves; but it has too much nickel in it and so can't be folded hence the decision to make concave leaf forms.

Morning walk and other phone fragments

 

A dark start of the morning - we must be heading to winter; but the sun was coming through the trees to the east as I headed out - as you can see from the light on the spiders' webs (above) and the trees below.

Into the walk the sun was picking up delicate features and colours. The butterfly seemed to have taken a beating in the wind but was still hanging in there.

My Wednesday walk now cuts through Graham's orchid house where some of his recently acquired beauties were on show.

Gorgeous type

 

My eye is still in recovery mode and going well; but I'm still taking it carefully. So one of the tasks I could do was to print a sample of our Mistral font - 48pt and 72pt (above). This is gorgeous metal type for doing smaller posters and cards.

We were fortunate to buy a type draw with these two type sizes in it when we bought a cabinet of draws. We had not seen this font before. Some of the type was quite dirty and had not been cleaned properly before being returned to the draw - printing samples helps with the cleaning process.

Given the size of the type there is not a lot for doing extensive work; but the work done with it will always have a special unique quality to it. Interesting that some of the numbers are upside down in the sample - could have proofed it better?

It took me all day to set up, print and diss the type for the two samplers - I needed to print the 72pt on two cards - hence two lots of locking up and printing - but worth having these in the sample folders created by Fiona.

A draw of 72 and 48 point spacers used in the lock up.

Big enough to bully; but not man enough to say sorry

 

 What a week - we had a woman strong enough to put herself before the public regarding the humiliation and destructive behaviour of those in power; and then we had a weak Prime Minister who used his destructive, ill-informed and belittling power under parliamentary privilege who has not had the strength of character to say sorry.

It was as though I could not avoid printing this poster as part of my patriarchy poster series. The poster is in A3 landscape format - printed with vintage wood type.

I hope that the poor behaviour of some men in power over the last few weeks might encourage a few more men to say enough is enough of this bullying behaviour and speak up for justice for women and equality.