Trouble In Paradise
It never really occurred to me, the amount of art I have made that is intertwined with music. Both music that I love and music that I love to make. It wasn’t until the folks at Paradise Hills Gallery in Melbourne recently asked me to be part of their latest R’n’R-themed art show titled ‘Trouble In Paradise’ that I looked over my shoulder and realised the plethora of woodcuts I had that fit the bill.
This is the poster for the show.
From the various commissions and labour of love projects, I’ve chosen a couple of my favourites to exhibit next week… Some of them you will have seen if you’ve been to exhibitions of mine in the past. Others are brand new or rarely seen.
Given the theme, I will be focusing mainly on woodcuts that I’ve done as artwork for bands and musicians. On display and available for purchase will be the original artwork that adorns Kellie Lloyd’s new solo album. The original artwork and very last print that I did for Melbourne band Harmony’s debut 7″. The very last woodcut of artwork used by Brisbane/Austrian musician Heinz Riegler. And a portrait of Mikel from Brisbane/Melbourne hardcore punk band Teargas (below).
…and this? Well, this is a close up of a woodcut that will hopefully go on to have a life long after I’m finished with it. Tim at Tym Guitars and I dreamt up the idea of me using a guitar as a woodblock and on paper it seemed straightforward enough. In the end, it turned out to be a huge challenge and on the most expensive piece of wood that I’ve used to date. So far I have carved and printed both sides of the guitar and hand-printed an edition of four prints. Right now the body is with Tim who is putting the neck and guts onto it and with any luck the guitar will be hanging alongside the print at the show next week.
Anyway, I’m pretty stoked to be showing some of my work and seeing as I won’t be having a show of my own this year, it will be one of my few art outings.
It all opens Friday next week and you can keep up to date by clicking these links below:
Against the grain 