There is ‘A Time for Everything …’

'Cointreau' Still-Life on Shoebox Paper by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch ©2013

Once upon a time …

… an older compositional work went through several metamorphic art technique processes in order to be transformed. The original inspired cubist-influence image was reproduced onto a black tonal copier film transparency. This was then used to create a photographic screen-print stencil form via a light exposure technique. It’s owner, once happy with a satisfactory screen image result (i.e. not too thick, not too thin so the fine newsprint text would print OK ~ this took a couple of time consuming and costly efforts BTW), then began to experiment with direct hands-on screen-printing the photographic stencil image, onto various selected paper and fabric surfaces.

Still-Life Cointreau on Shoebox Paper is a ‘unique state’ image, screen-printed with black water-based screen-printing ink onto an irregular sheet of recycled paper. The paper's former state was once scrunched up but now flattened out, wrinkles and all.  It is a natural organic type of textured light tissue paper, found in owner's acquired shoe boxes at the time.

This newly transformed composition pulls the work even further toward it’s Cubist intent.

• “The Cubist painters rejected the inherited concept that art should copy nature, or that they should adopt the traditional techniques of perspective, modeling, and foreshortening. They wanted instead to emphasize the two-dimensionality of the canvas. So they reduced and fractured objects into geometric forms, and then realigned these within a shallow, relief-like space. They also used multiple or contrasting vantage points.” ~ Cubism (metmuseum.org)

• “In Cubist artwork, objects are analyzed, broken up and reassembled in an abstracted form—instead of depicting objects from one viewpoint, the artist depicts the subject from a multitude of viewpoints to represent the subject in a greater context.³” ~ Cubism, From Wikipedia

There is ‘a time for everything …’
This work has never appeared before in the public arena until this month – October, 2013. After another minor transformation for it's presentation, i.e. mounted onto a 16″ × 12″ canvas for hanging, the work has made it’s debut at the Cairns Regional Gallery. It is being exhibited and is for sale (via the silent bidding process), as part of their Annual Fundraising event ~ ‘The Affordable Art Auction’ 4 – 18 October, 2013.

'Cointreau' Still-Life on Shoebox Paper by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch

 Mounted print with border |Redbubble

'Cointreau' Still-Life on Shoebox Paper by Kerryn Madsen-Pietsch

   Framed Print |Redbubble

 Thanks for visiting.

Collaborative Screen-Printing Project '96-'97 (Part 1)

'Tropical Inspirations' 1996-97

Medium - Fabric Paint

Support - Cotton Sateen Fabric

Technique - Hand screen-printed imagery using several stencil techniques & designs

i.e. Combination of paper stencil, photographic and wax screen designs.

Height 1200 mm x Width 2000 mm

Background

First half of 1996 I had attended 2 (10 x 3hr per week) Screen Printing Tuesday night courses at the new Screen Printing Studio (converted from an old tractor shed) located at the new developing Tanks Art Centre site, EdgeHill, Cairns. Rae O'Connell was the then newly employed coordinator/screen-printing instructor of the Studio by Cairns City Council.  Rae had moved from Darwin where she had been operating her own successful textile design and screen-printing business. 

Even though it was a long one hour plus drive from Innisfail to Cairns in the evening and then back again, (5 hours all up round total incl.class) I successfully went for two terms because I felt there was much more to learn and skills to develop even though the tutor Rae only covered and delivered the same basic level techniques each time.  Having access to the equipment and the large printing table allowed me to produce designs for final individual products.

Applying for a RADF Project Grant
Eager to go another level, in the latter of 1996 I instigated and applied for a Regional Art Development Funded (RADF) project grant from the then Johnstone Shire Council and was successful. It involved employing Rae as the professional tutor and getting local community workshop participants to learn and apply screenprinting techniques and designs to a collaborative site specific artwork at Good Counsel College (GCC), Innisfail, Far North Queensland.

Workshops
I both coordinated and participated in the 6 x 2 days (weekends) screenprinting workshops, five of which were held at the Art room, GCC, Innisfail and the other to access equipment at the Screen-Printing Studio, Tanks Art Centre in Cairns. These were conducted during the months of October through to December, 1996.

Design Briefing
There was the initial design brief and concept process between the school principal, overseer tutor Rae O'Connell and participants. My overall concept design was chosen and the hard work commenced. It took approximately another 6 weeks after the workshops, by myself during the school holiday time, to finish off all sections and resolve the border for its final completion.

Eventual Hanging
The large screenprinted fabric was sent to a prof. framer in Cairns to be stretched, framed (without glass) with a rounded white lacquered profile moulding. Eventually it gets hung in the school's administration block but is later on removed to make way for a large official school wooden plaque of names!  After some time sadly neglected in the admin's 'storage room', the school's Librian takes charge and makes claim to hanging Tropical Inspirations proudly in the Library's teaching room area where it can still be viewed today by the school's many students and teachers.

Tropical Inspirations ~ Detail Section (1)

Tropical Inspirations ~ Detail Section (1)



 Tropical Inspirations ~ Detail Section (2)

Tropical Inspirations ~ Detail Section (2)

*Note ~ I have documentary photos of the RADF project in progress but at the present time I don't the time to scan and load up some of these images for showing due to shop work commitments.

(To be continued at a later date...)

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